Jeffrey Hoch

The board discussed the transition to a new town website and reviewed reports from the Town Assessor regarding 2026 reassessment and permit updates. Financial matters included a review of February financials, approval of Budget Transfer Resolution #15, and the acceptance of the Supervisor's report. The board initiated a new local law establishing a twelve-month moratorium on utility-scale energy storage systems and planned a public hearing. Operational updates included an auction for surplus highway department overhead doors, the issuance of a bid notice for heating services, and water department scheduling for billing and hydrant flushing. Additionally, the board accepted a resignation from the Zoning Board, approved park maintenance, and authorized the payment of March 2026 abstracts.

The board reviewed the application for Miller's Meat Market and determined to hold approval pending further review by the county. Regarding the application for Frank Merry, the board voted against making any changes to the requested variance. Additionally, the board discussed and finalized the upcoming holiday meeting schedule, and acknowledged the resignation of a board member.

The meeting included reports from the Town Assessor, County Legislator regarding a proposed Land Bank, and the CPA. The board reviewed and approved multiple resolutions for budget transfers and adjustments for the 2025 fiscal year, covering highway department retro-pay, disability and social security insurance, and various contractual accounts. The supervisor's report was accepted, and there was discussion regarding RACOG updates, a future public hearing for farmland protection, and upcoming highway projects including a new heating system for the garage. Additionally, the board approved the payment of monthly abstracts and accepted various monthly reports from the Tax Collector, Town Clerk, and Town Justice.

The re-organizational meeting addressed numerous appointments for the year 2026, including the authorization for the Town Supervisor to invest Town monies, appointments for Budget Officer, Operator of Record for Watson Water Systems, Deputy Town Clerk, Planning Board member, Zoning Board Chairman, Public Health Officer, Dog Control Officer, and Court Clerk. Oaths of office were detailed for various positions. Designations were made for Deputy Supervisor, Deputy Highway Superintendent, committee memberships, meeting night, official newspaper, banks, attorney, CPA, sexton, custodian, and fee schedules. The Town Board also authorized pre-payments for specific vendors and the payment of budgeted annual bills for volunteer fire departments and other entities. Several resolutions were passed to transfer funds between various budgetary line items.

The regular meeting included a discussion regarding citizen inquiry about posting public notices on social media instead of the newspaper, with the Supervisor noting that alternative options would be discussed at an upcoming NY Association of Towns meeting. The Town Assessor submitted a memorandum for record, and December financials were reviewed with potential budget resolutions discussed. The Supervisor's report for December 2025 was accepted. Key new business included the discussion and subsequent approval of a four-year shared services agreement between the Town of Watson and NYSDOT, commencing in January 2026. The Highway Department received and accepted one bid for the removal and installation of new overhead doors at 6965 Number Four Road, and the Board discussed potentially selling the old doors. Further discussion on updating the Highway Garage heating system was noted. Approval was granted to order a York Rake. The need to renew the water withdrawal permit was noted. The Town Board also examined the Justice Court Fund Distribution Summary and discussed the potential formation of a Town of Watson Historical Committee. Finally, the January 2025 abstracts were approved for payment, and monthly reports for December 2025 (Town Clerk & Dog Fund and Justice) were accepted.