Town of Hague

The meeting included discussions regarding a military banner project, the town's comprehensive plan update, and wastewater system variances. The comprehensive plan update involved a public hearing, board member comments, and a review of the zoning code. The board also addressed environmental impact considerations and the potential need for new committees and volunteers to support the plan's implementation.

The meeting included discussions about the 2026 preliminary budget public hearing. Topics raised included inquiries about salary figures for the assessor's clerk, allocation of funds for the highway garage, and the elimination of the emergency disaster line item. There were questions about the town's capital account, the amount of money set aside, and how investments would affect food tax. Discussion of the town's financial status, including CDs, MMDA accounts, and cash flow, with comparisons to other towns, also took place.

The meeting addressed corrections to the minutes from the previous meeting. There was a discussion regarding the Rural Schools Association, with Linda and Mike to confirm their membership status for 2025. David reported on the assessment review, including responses to FOIL requests and the State's unwillingness to share PDC reports. The committee discussed the possibility of changing the equalization rate for the town and/or school district. The meeting also touched on PILOTs and concerns about their valuation and inclusion in apportionment. Additionally, the committee discussed the math instruction program used by Special Ed and the Backpack Program. A letter to NYSED was reviewed, and budget requests were discussed.

The meeting included discussions on the second anniversary of the SAC's founding, the NY Rural Schools Association (RSA) Summer Conference, Ticonderoga assessment issues, and potential legal issues during an executive session. The committee expressed its dedication to improving academic performance and ensuring fairer school taxes. Findings from the RSA Summer Conference highlighted concerns about Ticonderoga CSD's board governance and healthcare costs. The committee also addressed discrepancies with Ti assessments and planned a review of the assessment process.

The committee discussed the budget and BoE voting results, as well as next steps in the Academic Performance Improvement (API) initiative. They considered requesting a meeting with the Superintendent and Elementary Principal to discuss programs, teacher training, and plans for assisting poorer students. The committee also planned to develop API questions for the June 17th BoE meeting and discussed the Essex County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) and PILOT agreements impacting school taxes.