Town Board Meeting -where the majority of the time was in Executive Session- December 11

The December 11 town board meeting began early - with an Executive Session - to interview a candidate for the Town Comptroller's position.

After returning from the executive session and adopting the agenda, the public portion of the meeting began.

First up was a member of the Planning Board - explaining that a stipluation settling a lawsuit involving the Planning Board was never discussed or reviewed or approved by the Planning Board - and requested that the Town Board take action to vacate the stipulation.

A number of individuals from a group called the New York Citizens Audit took time to explain that they have evidence that the 2020 and 2022 elections in NY State are fraught with errors.

You can find their information at AuditNY.Com. If you also do a search, you can find analysis and explanation refuting their claims such as https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/oct/29/new-york-citizens-audit/no-difference-in-voter-roll-data-and-election-resu/.

The group is asking the town board to consider supporting/signing onto a request that there is a recount of the 2020 election. We hope the Town Board is VERY CAREFUL before such an action.

Mr. Stenger also used the Public Comment period to remind the board that the court has ordered them to entertain the application by the developer for the proposed development off of Old Hopewell Road under the Zoning Code before the recent Zoning Code change removing Clustered Housing as an option. He emphasized he would like to sit down with members of the Board (2 at a time, in keeping with Open Meeting Law) to have a conversation.

Another Hometown Heros review by Kevin Hathorn with an update on the Hometown Heros banners and memorial blocks at Schlathaus Park (the banners are safe for the winter, will be in the Town Hall Meeting Room and Kevin can get started on putting in Memorial Blocks).

Then a long discussion about recommendations from the Town Clerk's office/Town Highway Superintendent about how to prevent abuse at the Town Recycling Center (which of course is affecting the costs that all town taxpayers must bear) and a recommendation to increase a few fees by $5. The Town Boad members had objections to the recommendations without providing a solution -- and also prided themselves in rejecting a recommendation for a $5 increase in yearly fees. (Please note.. this is the same town board that voted in the last meeting for an over 11% increase in the Town Outside Tax Levy .... while congratulating themselves on the decrease in the rate per $1000 valuation -- which of course.. .since real estate values continue to esclate - is a bit of giving sleaves out of a vest) .... so Yea!! spend that $5 saved wisely fellow citizens.

Then came the resolutions --

Resolution authorizing an Agreement with the Teamsters -- Tabled ... for EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution for Payment of Attorney's Fees - Tabled - for EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Camo - Consistent with previous contracts - PASSED

Resolution authorizing Filing and Pefecting an appeal with Mid-Hudson Holdings - Tabled for EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution authorizing Right of Way for Verizon Wireless - for EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution authorizing a revised Water Tenance Agreement for Nature Preserve - EXECUTIVE SESSION

Resolution Appointing Jessica Servidio as Town Comptroller - Passed (beginning January 2)

Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Shredder - tabled

Resolution Approving Stipulaiton of Settlement - EXECUTIVE SESSION

Barbara Gutlzer then expressed her thanks for Dr. Thurston giving her a position to allow her to serve again. Town Council Member Beale thanked Dr. Thurston for his service.

The Executive Session began at 8:40 -- and ended at 10:10 -- in addition to the 45 minutes at the beginning of the meeting.

At this point the board announced that several resolutions will remain tabled until the reorganization meeting in the new year , but did agree that the Town Attorney can work with the Verizon team to ensure that the recommended resolution be updated, despite the request of the Verizon representative to approve with the recommended changes to be included.

The Town Attorney was directed to rewrite the resolution authorizing the Ratification and Perfecting of the Appeal in the Matter of the Application of Mid-Hudson Development Corp.

The Town Board, because there is currently no comptroller, authoized the payment of several vouchers.

So most of the town board meeting time was spent in Executive Session where we are assured that no decisions were made or actions taken... and the good news is the town has a Comptroller for 2024.