Getting ready for 2026

The December 8 Town Board Meeting , with 4 members in attendance, consisted of a wrap of 2025 and getting teed up for 2026. During the Public Portion of the agenda, a resident made a very heart warming gesture of thanks to retiring Council person Angela Bettina with her comments and a gift of a bouquet of roses. That triggered the thanks and adulation from fellow council members, expressing their thanks for Angela's service on the planning board and the town board and acknowledging her help to them when they were new in their roles. Angela thanked everyone and said it was all about "the residents".

The Consent Agenda - all resolutions approved

• Resolution Scheduling the 2026 Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Town of Wappinger -- January 12 at 7:00 PM

• Resolution Appointing a Solid Waste Attendant at the Recycle Center - Patrick Ganley

• Resolution Appointing Deputy Fire Inspector - Gerard Boyle

• Resolution Reappointing member to the Board of Assessment Review - Eric Axelson

• Resolution acknowledging the appointment of Deputy Town Clerk to the Town of Wappinger - Lisa Patterson

• Resolution Appointing Registrar and Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics for the Village of Wappingers Falls - Lisa Patterson

Resolutions -

• Resolution Adopting the Town of Wappinger Employee Manual -approved

  • the first update in 15 (!) years

• Resolution introducing Local Law Number 1 of 2026 amending Chapter 122 of the Town Code Amending Fee Schedule on Legalization Fees

  • This has the effect of stopping the practice of identifying building code issues, some unknown to the current property owners, of not only forcing them to get a permit (fee attached) and an inspection for the work done (sometimes decades ago) and THEN ISSUING a FINE on top of that. This will not prevent the ability to issue a fine to a property owner who is deliberitaly ignoring property/code violations, but will prevent undo financial burden on those who have inherited a property/ or made a legitimate mistake.

  • Public Hearing set for January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM

• Resolution introducing Local Law Number 2 of 2026 Amending the Town Code regarding Wintertime Parking Restrictions

  • Updating legislation passed in 2018 which a snow emergency was declared by the National Weather Service. This resolution will allow town officials to declare a snow emergency. When a snow emergency is declared - on the street parking is not allowed.

  • Public Hearing set for January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM

• Resolution. Authorizing Amendments to the 2025 budget - tabled

Items for Special Consideration

The event at Schlathaus Park the previous Saturday, despite the frigid temperatures was a hit with all the council members. They had fun with the snow machine, the lights, the parade - the dance floor is 95% finished - the community center in the building will be opened soon (and be a temporary home for sr. center as the sr. center in the town hall is refurbished beginning 12/26) -- they enjoyed the videos made of the event. And apparently the residents attending had a good time also.

Royal Ridge neighborhood is getting new gas lines - any questions - Al Cassella has the details.

NYC DEP project in Chelsea - the planned end date of the project is changing to 2030 - based on some engineering issues. In the interim the site in Chelsea is being cleaned-up/landscaped.

Wreaths across America - at Wappingers Rural Cemetery/St. Mary's December 13 - December 14 New Hackensack and Middlebush Cemeteries.