New Year, New Set of Numbering

So says the agenda of the January 23 Town Board Meeting. Reading too much into that statement could make your head spin..(actually it is referring to the numbering used for proposed local laws, which is reset to 1 at the beginning of each year).

The Board meeting began with a discussion of Proposed Local Law Number 1 of 2023 -- which would eliminate designed residential developments from the Town Code. That section of the town code would allow multi-family developments in areas zoned residential. As has been discussed in previous meetings -- this provision is inconsistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan and is an oversight that should have been corrected years ago.

A correction which would have prevented developers from investing in the design of projects the immediate community and town boards have indicated they are not in favor of - alas, developers have gone ahead and planned ... and presented their views at the Public Hearing. But it is done.. for now.....

A series of discussions were then held on housekeeping items- 2 new signs for the Town Hall Parking area designated for veterans.. Building & Grounds updates on projects almost done... including a discussion of 4 Bus Stop Shelters in storage that haven't been installed because the estimate for the required concrete pad is $50,000 each (does that seem an order of magnitude off?)..a request from a sports community club for a Turf field for football and lacrosse -- again numbers with lots of zeros estimated. A proposal for an RFP for Town Planner, Attorney and Engineer was discussed -- one councilman suggesting that it would take too much time in an election year -- yet this topic was NOT discussed during the reorganization meeting held in early January -- so an interesting limbo for these critical roles -- with no clear understanding how they are measured.

The Resolution to authorize spending money for road repaving was tabled because the details on costs and roads to be repaved need to be clarified. Executive Session called at 9:15 with the board returning at 9:55 -- the town attorney sonorously proclaiming that "no action was taken in executive session"...whereupon the board voted to ratify the CSEA (local 814) and Teamster (local 445) contracts... so clearly some action was taken.