Sara Morris

The meeting commenced with a recognition ceremony honoring Dennis P. Ley for over 51 years of dedicated service to the Beacon Fire Department, noting his commitment through decades of change and his service as a chief officer on multiple occasions. Following this, public comments addressed several community concerns. One speaker discussed the upcoming 11th annual Beacon St. Patrick's Day Parade of Green scheduled for March 14th. Another resident voiced concerns regarding potential development plans for the Carmelite property, emphasizing the need to maintain the existing R1 single-family zoning to prevent increased runoff issues affecting the Jess Park lake/wetland area. This resident also requested assistance with debris removal from the lake. A subsequent speaker emphasized the community's need for increased safety measures following a recent incident, requesting action items such as access to pepper spray, improved school walking routes, emergency phones, and improved street lighting on Tyron Avenue. Another resident raised concerns about the process regarding the Forge Trail development and questioned the city's public relations efforts, advocating for a building moratorium similar to the Village of Fishkill, and calling for the establishment of a legal historic preservation commission. The public hearing segment included a required discussion for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, with a proposal to use funds for replacing approximately 450 linear feet of sidewalk near South Avenue Elementary School. A second public hearing addressed local law changes concerning parking regulations, specifically reserving parking spaces at the municipal hall center, designating three reserved spaces for residents near the sold Maze Hook and Ladder building, and renaming that parking lot.

The City Council meeting agenda included several items requiring resolutions and potential public hearings. Key discussions centered on authorizing bond issuances for financing the construction of the Mount Beacon Water Storage Tank, the purchase of a Vacuum Truck, and the purchase of Highway Department Equipment. The council also addressed referring an Amended Concept Plan for 248 Tioronda Avenue to planning boards, setting a public hearing for a proposed local law concerning parking, and referring a proposed local law regarding land use matter referrals. The meeting also included a workshop addressing historic property nominations under the Historic District and Landmark Overlay (HDLO) Zone, including a review of 2026 potential nominations and the benefits of inclusion, as well as discussion of 2026 CDBG Funding for the South Avenue Sidewalk Replacement Project.

The regular meeting of the City Council addressed several legislative and administrative items. Key discussions included the designation of acting City Administrators, a review of the City Administrator's Command Letter, and the adoption of several resolutions. Resolutions covered approving the City Council Rules of Procedure, designating the Poughkeepsie Journal as the Newspaper of Record, appointing Amber Grant as Acting Mayor, and appointing several individuals—John Gunn, James Vermuelen, Kevin Byrne, and David Jensen—to the Planning Board. Additionally, the council adopted a resolution awarding a contract to Blue Heron Construction for the Aeration Blower Replacement Project, authorized the execution of a License Agreement for the Beacon Flea Market, and approved the 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule.

The City Council agenda included several appointments to various committees: Marisa Lomonaco and Holly O'Grady to the Conservation Advisory Committee, Andrew Kurtiak to the Tree Advisory Committee, and Samuel Schmitz to the Traffic and Safety Planning Committee. Key resolutions involved authorizing an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of East Fishkill for Tax Assessor Services, requesting an extension of authorization to impose a Room Occupancy Tax, and setting a public hearing for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant Program. The meeting also included a workshop on the HDLO and the process for property nomination, followed by reports from the Mayor, City Council, and City Administrator.

The session involved a hybrid workshop preceding a formal council meeting. Key discussions focused on adopting the council rules of procedure for 2026, including a proposed change to combine workshops and council meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month. Clarification was sought regarding public comment rules, specifically concerning the mayor's authority in placing speakers on the agenda and suggestions for adding clarifying language concerning council member suggestions for community segments. Another significant topic was the recording of meetings, with discussion aimed at revising the current rule (Clause 11) to better align with case law regarding non-disruptive cell phone recording versus larger equipment setups. The council also discussed the proposed 2026 meeting schedule, aiming for two hybrid meetings (workshop followed by formal meeting) per month, noting benefits for administrative staff workflow and comparison with neighboring community schedules. Concerns were raised about potentially discouraging public comment by placing it after the workshop, and the possibility of flipping the order or ensuring public comment occurs early in the formal session was considered.