9/7/23 TOWN BOARD MEETING NOTES
James Fetzer, newly named Highway Superintendent for Chatham
Town Board appointed James Fetzer as Highway Superintendent for the Town of Chatham, replacing Jeffrey Antalek, who resigned.
Fetzer’s term will run through 2024. A resident of Chatham, he previously worked for the highway department of the Town of LaGrange, NY.
Most of the meeting was taken up with public comment, especially on short-term rental (STR) issues and regulation. The board has proposed a local law to introduce regulations for property owners who currently operate a short-term rental in Chatham or who want to do so in the future.
A group from North Chatham spoke against a residence that was purchased recently and is functioning as a full-time short-term rental as “an investment STR”. This group favors small STRs run by local residents, which they consider not as disruptive to the social fabric of the hamlet.
Remarks by other audience members presented the positive and negative financial impacts from STRs, changes in property values, and effects on the quality of life and on the historical character of the town. Some said that STRs are essential for tourism in the area. Some said that currently unregulated STRs have not presented a significant number of problems.
Several speakers, along with board members Destiny Hallenbeck and Rick Werwaiss, suggested holding a workshop dedicated to the controversy. The board didn’t vote to hold additional hearings or discussions on the matter.
A resident of Old Chatham spoke against speeding in the hamlet as a safety concern for young children and pets; she asked the board to address the issue.
In other news:
Supervisor Collins announced that the Town Hall and the highway department garage are now equipped with backup generators. Happily, the town hall generator proved to be working during a violent thunderstorm that cut power to the building temporarily just after the meeting ended.
The board approved contracts with the Chatham Central School District for use of the soccer fields at Crellin Park and with the Reds Youth Baseball Program for use of the baseball field at the park.
In response to recent complaints about speeding on town roads, the board approved resolutions to work with the Columbia County Superintendent of Highways to request the NYS Department of Transportation change the speed limits on two local roads. The specific requests are for a 30 MPH speed limit on Hanley Road, between County Route 32 and the town line; and for a 30 MPH speed limit on High Bridge Road, between White Mills Road and NYS Route 66. Currently there are no posted speed limits on those roads, making the state speed limit of 55 MPH the default limit.