August 17 Town Board Meeting
An overflow crowd of about 70 people in person and about 25-30 online and a full agenda pushed the Town Board meeting to a 4-hour run time. Three hours in, there were about 15 people still in attendance in person and about the same number online.
The board heard from NY State Police representatives regarding the upcoming construction of a barracks on land next to the Town Hall that is expected to open in 2025. Discussion centered on traffic, parking, and other potential disruptions to Town Hall functioning that might arise secondary to the construction process. The Town Board agreed that the Planning Board will review a site plan and address potential issues for the project.
North Chatham Fire Chief Al Gawron addressed the board on recurrent difficulties in staffing and funding. He said that the hamlet is home to many second-home owners and part-time residents who are not available to volunteer for the department. He added that the extensive time needed for training of recruits for combined exterior and interior firefighting contribute to the staffing issue. Gawron said other opportunities are available that require little time and training available.
In addition to committee reports, the board discussed traffic safety issues in the hamlet of Old Chatham, the proposed paving of Hartigan Road, and a proposed Short Term Rental (STR) law.
The board’s discussion of the proposed STR law highlighted disagreement among board members on many of the specifics or lack thereof in what is currently proposed. Questions on what regulations can be made were referred to the town attorney. The proposed law will continue to be revised and will eventually come to a Public Hearing prior to a vote by the board on adopting this new town law.
Several public comment sessions followed board discussion and extended to accommodate these concerns:
Residents of Old Chatham spoke forcefully about the speeding and reckless driving that have become more frequent in the hamlet and along Albany Turnpike from East Chatham to Malden Bridge. Joanne Nard, who spoke for the group, asked the town to consider lowering the speed limit in the area, adding speed bumps to the turnpike, and using signage and various other traffic calming strategies to address the problem.
While some of these solutions require action by NYS, Nard asked the board to pursue any and all solutions for the sake of safety of residents and drivers in the area. Board members responded that they will follow up and will report back on a plan at the next board meeting.
Much public comment was offered regarding the proposed paving of Hartigan Road, which has become more trafficked in recent years and reportedly needs regular repair and maintenance. Over the course of commentary, the discussion bounced from the specific concerns about Hartigan Road to a request that the town take a better approach to all of the roads in Chatham.
To the immediate concern, several residents of Hartigan Road spoke of personal concerns related to safety, poor road construction, slippery surface and mud, and dust. They said that the road needs attention because of evolving traffic patterns and other changes in the town, increased development and traffic, unsafe driving, road dust, and chronic maintenance issues.
Eric Ooms, farmer and resident of Hartigan Road, spoke in favor of paving that road because of the condition of the road and the changes in traffic over the years. He thought the town’s Road Department had knowledgeable, experienced people whose judgment should be heeded. A few other people also spoke up in favor of paving Hartigan, albeit regretfully and as a last resort since the traffic has changed such that it’s not a lightly traveled old country road any more.
A representative of the Chatham Dirt Road Coalition said that while the recent comprehensive plan survey highlighted the value of unpaved roads for the town, the Town Board has been reactive rather than proactive in preserving the unpaved roads of Chatham. She asked that the board adopt a better road strategy to upgrade unpaved roads and to prevent paving as much as possible. She suggested that the board look at a 2017 Road Committee report as a starting point.
Other public speakers asked that an overall strategy address all of the roads in the town so that both emerging safety concerns and town character can be addressed, especially in the context of increased traffic and development in the town.
Several speakers asked that the board consider other options beyond paving or not paving dirt roads, prior to arriving at a decision about whether to pave or not.
The discussion highlighted concerns about traffic safety, speeding, and the need to explore a variety of options to address residents’ concerns.
The board tabled a resolution that included approval of funds to pave Hartigan Road following the numerous public comments on the matter, pending the resignation of Town Highway Supervisor Jeff Antalek and the expected appointment of an interim Highway Superintendent.