Helen Barrington

The Town Board meeting agenda included approving previous minutes from the December 17, 2025 meeting and the 2026 Organizational Meeting from January 2, 2026. Key resolutions involved recognizing February 2026 as African American History Month and February 6, 2026, as National Go Red For Women Day. The board authorized the renewal of membership fees for the New York State Recreation and Park Society and the payment of ASCAP Music Licensing Fees for the 2026 Music in The Park series. Significant actions included adopting the revised Records Management Policy and Procedure Manual (revised in 2025), authorizing the acquisition of two new 2026 Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles, accepting the resignation of Police Dispatcher Kara M. Blakeman, and her conditional appointment as Typist to the Police Chief. A conditional offer was also extended to Christopher K. Del Vecchio for the Full Time Police Dispatcher position. The board approved a resolution to cancel a previous resolution concerning Route 9/20 roadwork due to an error in the project name, and accepted the resignation of Senior Auto Mechanic Nicholas Mokhiber. Furthermore, the board approved the repair and replacement of a motor for a DPW Wheeled Loader, authorized soliciting bids for tree removal services, and accepted a Professional Services Agreement with LaBella Associates, D.P.C., for a new Police Station Feasibility Study not to exceed $70,000.00. Appointments included Trevor D. Cavagnaro as Auto Mechanic and Gabrielle Elacqua as a Full-Time Clerk. The board approved contracting for Cured-In-Place Pipe Lining for storm sewer lines ($130,000.00) and Columbia Turnpike sewer line ($38,672.50). Approval was also granted for the Consumer Price Index increase (4.6%) for Cake Sludge Hauling with County Waste & Recycling. Finally, the board authorized initiating SEQRA review as Lead Agency for two projects: the 401 Columbia Tpke Major Site Plan and the Meppen Senior Housing Major Site Plan and Subdivision. The meeting also scheduled two public hearings for February 11, 2026, regarding proposed local laws to increase income-eligibility levels for senior-citizen and disabled-citizen exemptions from Town taxes.

Key discussions during the meeting included confirming the recovery of the CAC email address and noting that council members still needed to address technical changes for email access. Updates regarding other board meetings focused on the Clinton Heights Fire Department building proposal, which received a negative declaration under SEQRA, with associated public hearings scheduled for early December 2025. The Town Board passed the new Comprehensive Zoning Law on November 19, 2025, with updates to be posted online after filing. For development projects, the Council reviewed Phase Two of the Town Center landscaping plan, discussing species selection, including alternatives to Green Mountain Sugar Maple for parking lot islands, and noting environmental concerns regarding Japanese Lilac, Spiraea x Bumalda "Dart's Red," and Seagreen Juniper. Other discussions involved the Hampton Manor Lake Water Redirect proposal, where the phosphorus content difference between lake water and well water was noted, and the potential cost of redirecting water to improve lake health, which requires further investigation. The Council also reviewed protocols for pesticide application on Hemlock trees at Town Park, confirmed the date for an on-site park meeting, and discussed tree tagging methods for prioritization, including mapping via geotagged photos.

The key topics discussed during this special meeting included scheduling a public hearing for the 2026 Preliminary Budget and adopting the 2026 Preliminary Budget itself. Resolutions were also passed concerning the appointment of a part-time police dispatcher and authorizing the Supervisor to sign Memorandums of Agreement with Council 82 and CSEA to change health care plans for Police Officers, Emergency Communications Dispatchers, and Department of Public Works employees, respectively, due to significant premium increases. Furthermore, the Board adopted a Negative Declaration under SEQRA for the Clinton Heights Fire Department Project submitted by Turnpike Redevelopment Group, LLC, and scheduled a future public hearing for the associated Major Site Plan and 2-Lot Subdivision. Finally, a public hearing was scheduled regarding a proposed new location for an East Greenbush Police Station.

The Town Board Meeting addressed numerous resolutions. Key actions included approving minutes from a Public Hearing on April 9, 2025, and the Town Board Meeting of April 16, 2025. The Board accepted the resignation for retirement of Police Sergeant Ernest A. Tubbs, effective May 23, 2025. Resolutions were passed to authorize seeking qualifications for a new Town Police Station feasibility study, approve summer camp staff appointments, and solicit bids for utility audit services. The Board designated 'No Parking' on the odd side of Ternan Avenue, authorized a communication waiving the notice period for Grand Margaritas' liquor license application, and assumed lead agency status under SEQRA for two major site plans (East Greenbush Fire Company and CM Designs). The Board scheduled a Special Meeting for June 11, 2025, to appoint and swear in new police officers. Payments were authorized for urgent hydrant installation following a State of Emergency on April 4, 2025, and for urgent repairs at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The provisional appointment of Ronald "Lee" Hornyak to Light Equipment Operator was confirmed, and authorization was granted for Jeffrey Nestler to attend the Cornell Local Roads Program Highway School. The Board authorized retaining Marshall & Sterling for Municipal Liability Insurance broker services and adjusted the job responsibilities and salary for Stephen Boniface as Code Enforcement Officer and Department Head. Additionally, the Supervisor was authorized to amend the contract with MJ Engineering for Zoning Update and GEIS Project services, and compensation rates for members of the Boards of Assessment Review were adjusted. Appointments for secretaries for the Boards of Assessment Review were made, and an award was approved for the purchase and installation of a safety fence near the DPW Garage. A resolution to hire Lexipol for grant writing services was tabled.

The Planning Board meeting involved several key agenda items, including the postponement of a public hearing for the Clinton Heights Fire Department subdivision (24-10) for 45 days. The Board recommended approval, subject to numerous conditions, of the Major Site Plan/Special Use Permit for CM Designs (24-17a) for a commercial and storage building. For Town Center Phase 2 (24-18), the Board recommended approval of the Major Site Plan for a residential apartment building, contingent upon addressing outstanding technical details and obtaining various permits. For the EW Birch Major Subdivision (25-19), the Board adopted a negative declaration under SEQRA and accepted the preliminary plat, scheduling a public hearing for January 14, 2026. Regarding KenseyBri LLC (23-13), the Board recommended that the Town Board classify the project as an unlisted action and seek lead agency status for SEQR review, maintaining that the review would proceed under previous zoning regulations. Finally, the Board considered the Black Diamond Design Landscaping special use permit application (25-24), determining it required a SUP in the CMU Zone and scheduling a public hearing for January 14, 2026. The Board also reviewed the ZBA report for Regeneron (ZBA# 2025-08) and approved the November 12, 2025 minutes.