Asia Anthony

The City of Newburgh's Multi-Year Financial Plan (2026-2029) outlines strategic actions to maintain fiscal integrity, ensure service sustainability, and responsibly plan for future investments. The plan focuses on four main goals for the General Fund: strategic use of appropriated fund balance, revenue development (including property taxes, hotel occupancy tax, and urban renewal), expenditure stabilization (managing personnel costs and overtime), and debt and capital financial planning. Additionally, the plan addresses multiyear rate increases for the Water and Sewer Funds to cover expenses and mandates, and aims to stabilize the Sanitation Fund's net assets by monitoring user fees and achieving surpluses.

This document outlines the City of Newburgh's long-term financial outlook and strategic actions for the period of 2026-2029. It aims to maintain fiscal integrity, ensure service sustainability, and responsibly plan for future investments. Key strategic goals for the General Fund include the strategic use of appropriated fund balance, revenue development, expenditure stabilization, and debt and capital financial planning. The plan also addresses financial stability for the Water, Sewer, and Sanitation Funds through multiyear rate increases, securing state reimbursements, and improving net asset balances.

The meeting addressed several site plan approval extension requests, including applications for warehouse expansion and conversion of buildings into mixed-use properties, all of which were granted one-year extensions pending no significant changes to the Master Plan or City Code. Under Old Business, the Board discussed a site plan application to convert a residential building into an apartment house, ultimately granting Site Plan approval subject to outstanding City Engineer comments and issuing a negative declaration under SEQRA. New Business focused on a proposal to merge several lots to construct a new 5-building mixed-use development involving Brownfield contamination capping, incorporating indoor parking, office space, and apartments. Key discussion points for the new development included public access to the waterfront, required referrals to external agencies (DEC, SHPO, CAC), traffic impact analysis, and the design style being incongruent with the area. The Board declared intent to be Lead Agency under SEQRA for this new project and referred it to the TAC.

The meeting commenced with roll call and confirmation of quorum. Key agenda items involved the approval of the minutes from the November 17, 2025, meeting and the review and approval of the Treasurer's report, detailing balances across several operating, payroll, application, and investment accounts. The Audit and Finance Committee recommended the board approve several policies, including the Investment Policy, Procurement Policy, and Property Acquisition Policy. The Chairperson read the 2026 mission statement, noting minor textual changes from the 2025 version. The Governance Committee reviewed several policies, including bylaws, anti-harassment, and conflict of interest policies, with specific discussion and adoption of changes to the local labor policy, specifically regarding OSHA certification levels and drug screening requirements. The board then adopted a slate of officers for the upcoming year. The Council reported on the closing of the FSH Hotel financial assistance and the impending closure of the Shaw building and Brookfield IV5 warehouse transactions, requiring document signatures. The Executive Director noted that the annual audit was scheduled for the week of January 19th. New business included a presentation by Metalwise, Inc. and NCPP Newberg LLC regarding the establishment of a new metal fabrication facility, emphasizing vertical integration through in-house coil processing to reduce lead times from weeks to days, and the discussion of automated machinery and job creation.

The session included an Executive Session agenda item pertaining to discussions involving the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters related to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of such an entity.