Board establishes “working group” on speeding

After months of complaints and requests by residents about speeding in town, the Town Board agreed to establish a “working group” to address recent complaints and requests from citizens that the board address the problem.

The board seemed to be responding to repeated requests by Old Chatham resident Tim Briney that the board establish a committee or working group of interested citizens and a board member to research the extent of the problem and to identify and recommend potential solutions that could address this problem town wide.

The board agreed, with board members Abi Mesick and Destiny Hallenbeck taking on leadership roles to establish the group. Wendy Conway, of East Chatham, and Dottie Cummings, of North Chatham, also spoke to advise that citizens in their hamlets share concerns about speeding with the Old Chatham residents.

In the interim, Board members recommended that concerned residents call the County Sheriff’s office to report speeding episodes and note any pattern of speeding that they observe. The board also resolved to contact the NYS Department of Transportation to request a reduction in the posted speed limit on newly-paved Hartigan Road 30 mph.

In other board actions:

The board voted to send the most recent draft of a local law on regulating short-term rentals to the Columbia County Planning Board for review and feedback. Once the County Planning Board responds, the board will schedule a public hearing on the law to allow public comment and will then hold a vote on adopting the law.

The board passed a resolution asking the Housing Committee to explore the feasibility of siting housing on town land behind Town Hall. The request was made to address a lack of adequate housing options for “multiple age and income groups.” Board member Hallenbeck said she is exploring initial steps.

The board agreed to pursue two grants:

• The Partners of Climate Action Hudson Valley Building Decarbonization Grant, which could replace taxpayer dollars to help to fund a solar array to supply electricity to town facilities.

• The Hudson River Greenway Community Planning Grant, which could provide money to pay in whole or in part for services that would align the town’s current zoning law with the revised Comprehensive Plan. The revised Comprehensive Plan is anticipated to come up for a vote by the board in the near future.

The board authorized spending on town facility improvements:

• Capital improvements at the town highway garage.

• A public interfacing drive-up window in the foyer of the Town Hall. 

The Housing Committee will distribute a housing survey to town residents to determine housing demands in Chatham. Board member Hallenbeck emphasized the need for input from residents of the town, and described how the committee intends to secure resident responses. Additional information and access to the survey will be posted on the town website by Monday, October 9, 2023.