Ronald E. Clum

The Town Board addressed multiple administrative and operational items, including the approval of a significant audit, the processing of unclaimed Justice Court bail, and various year-end budget adjustments across multiple municipal accounts. Discussions included the authorization of veterinary service payments for Animal Control, the hiring of a full-time Animal Control Officer and a part-time Police Officer, and the approval of a live streaming services agreement. Engineering matters involved awarding contracts for the Roseton Hills Sewer Plant generator maintenance, several change orders for the Newburgh Recreation Center, and the approval of the Overlook Farms Stormwater Agreement. The board also accepted a bid for T-shirt procurement, settled a tax certiorari proceeding with Roseton Generating, LLC, and authorized a settlement related to a NYVRA lawsuit involving the adoption of a ranked-choice voting system.

The Board convened to address several development projects. Key discussions included an initial appearance for an EV charging station at 142 Route 17K, which was tabled due to the applicant's absence. The Board reviewed a site plan and ARB application for the Avion Ventures warehouse, focusing on the timing of DOT approvals and sanitary sewer investigation. A public hearing was held for the Poppy Lane three-lot subdivision, where neighbors raised concerns regarding storm water management, drainage impacts on adjacent properties and wetlands, and the adequacy of engineering reports. The Board recommended tabling the Poppy Lane decision to allow for additional review and responses to public concerns.

The meeting addressed several public hearings for variance requests. For the Nick and Jennifer DiLemme application, the Board voted to keep the public hearing open until April, directing the applicant to re-notice due to the complexity of historical zoning codes and the need for due process in presenting their case regarding a preexisting nonconforming use status. The application for Cash for Cans, seeking area variances for a front yard setback and lack of vehicle protection for an existing sign, was discussed under the five-factor balancing test, and the variances were ultimately approved. The hearing for Joseph and Bridget Zappone, concerning an area variance for a lot line change related to an existing pool shed being too close to the property line (0.7 feet versus the required 5 feet), was deferred to allow the applicant to confer with the owners after new information about the prefabricated nature of the shed and its potential movability was introduced, with an adjacent property owner also presenting concerns.

The meeting addressed several agenda items, beginning with the Britain Woods project, where the Planning Board acknowledged receipt of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 258-unit multi-family site plan. The Board agreed to schedule further discussion of the FEIS for one month out to allow consultants time to review the document. The second item involved 223 South Plank Road, LLC, requesting an initial appearance for a site plan regarding a change in use from residential to commercial for an existing 1,100-square-foot building. The Board ultimately voted to grant a waiver of site plan review for this change in use, as no exterior improvements were proposed. The third item, Rocket Subdivision (four-lot subdivision), discussed addressing outstanding comments, including driveway dedication and storm water permit coverage, and the Board set the project for a public hearing on March 19th. The final item, Subdivision of Lands of MSM TR, was an initial appearance for a clearing and grading proposal for a four-lot subdivision. The Board passed a motion declaring intent to act as lead agency for this project. The scheduled executive session for pending litigation was tabled for a future meeting.

The Town Board meeting addressed numerous agenda items. Key financial actions included approving a $370,000 cash transfer for the Recreation Building, approving the January 2026 Status Report and Budget Status Report, and approving several year-end budget transfers, notably one of $40,000 for Legal-Litigation Defense. In Animal Control matters, the Board approved the hiring of Jason Kozak as a Part-Time Animal Control Officer and authorized the start of the process to hire a Full-Time Animal Control Officer, alongside approvals for veterinary service payments. The Recreation Department received approval to initiate the hiring process for various laborer and attendant positions and to solicit sealed bus bids for 2026 trips. The Justice Court received approval to begin the hiring process for a Court Clerk and to promote Cheron Huling to Clerk to Town Justice. Engineering matters involved awarding the survey work for the Hill Street and Hobb Street Watermain project to Tectonic Engineering Consultants, approving a $130,000 budget transfer, and establishing securities and inspection fees for the Manheim / Newburgh auto auction expansion projects concerning stormwater, landscaping, and tree preservation. Additionally, the Board approved an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Town of New Windsor for valve exercising equipment lending and another for the loan of portable generators. Department reports covered Police use of force training, the status of the new records management system, Highway department activities including snow clearing and road repairs, and upcoming Recreation Department events. A significant portion of the meeting involved reading and approving a letter opposing the location of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center within Orange County. Public comment focused heavily on the ICE facility, the need for local job creation, the status of the comprehensive plan, and the timing of prior meeting minutes.