Village of Liberty

The board reviewed a report from Delaware Engineering and discussed event permit updates with the Police Chief. The board approved rescheduling an upcoming meeting, established a summer meeting schedule, confirmed the appointment of new village employees, and authorized specific water/sewer account payment arrangements and credits. Additionally, the board approved the payment of vouchers.

The Board of Trustees discussed and approved several items, including the purchase of a new utility software program, the appointment of a Claims Auditor, and the rescission and replacement of sewer rent resolutions. Additional actions included the separation of police grant bank accounts, the declaration of a surplus vehicle, corrections to tax map property classifications, and the approval of engineering contracts and applications for CDBG funding. The Board also addressed personnel matters, including promotions and new hires, and established a committee for CSEA negotiations.

The board discussed correspondence regarding snow removal fines and received public feedback concerning emergency planning, sidewalk maintenance, and a water billing discrepancy. The board tabled an event permit request for further review, finalized the schedule for various upcoming meetings in April, and approved a letter of support for a grant application for the Swan Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. Additionally, the board addressed the delinquency of a local sanitation bill, approved payments for post-audit vouchers and other project-related bills, and held an executive session to discuss contract negotiations and potential litigation.

Key discussions included a proposal from the American Legion Post 109 to hang Hero Flags, which was taken under advisement. The matter of Smart Parking Meters was tabled pending review of all parking lot issues. Several resolutions were approved concerning the CDBG Project (Grant #642PW106-25), including the designation of a Labor Standards Officer and a Section 3 Compliance Officer, both assigned to Mark Blauer dba Blauer Associates. The Board also approved a resolution committing $60,000 in Village funds for the Phase 2 Water System Improvements Project and approved an administrative services contract with Blauer Associates not to exceed $60,000. Event permit requests for two campaign rallies were tabled pending cost explanations from the Police Chief. The Board voted to send a letter of support for the County of Sullivan's FY2026 BUILD grant application. A resolution was passed authorizing spending from the Opioid Settlement Fund to purchase a vehicle for the Quick Response Team expansion. A request for water credit was denied. Local Law #1-2026, rezoning a specific tax map parcel to R-2 Zoning District, and Local Law #2-2026, requiring adjoining landowners to repair and maintain sidewalks, were both approved after declaring the Village as lead agency and issuing a Negative Declaration. The Clerk's Office hours for the public were adjusted to 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Board discussed updating the water billing program, and payment for post audit vouchers was approved. An executive session was held to discuss the employment history of an employee in the Code Enforcement Office.

The meeting included public hearings and discussions on several agenda items. For Yoel Weiss's request for a special use permit to open a professional office building with 9-10 offices, a public hearing was opened, neighbors voiced concerns which the proposer addressed regarding the existing structure and parking, and subsequently, the board voted to issue a negative declaration and approve the application. For Gezinite Kinder Daycare's request for a special use permit to open a daycare, the board approved the application contingent upon following the requirements outlined in the May 6, 2025 letter from the DOT. Under New Business, an applicant, Mortdecai Loeffler, requested permission to convert a single-family home at 7 Jeane Street into a two-family home, which required a motion to declare lead agency, and the board subsequently set a public hearing for July 10th to discuss the matter further, contingent on obtaining an updated surveyor's map showing correct parking dimensions.