One Town Law Approved, One Defeated
Photo by Sora Shimazaki
Despite controversy, the town board approved a new local law that allows board members to attend virtual meetings from out of town, including out of state, with 5 days notice to the public. The law has no time frame for expiration, and no limit on the number of times a board member may attend from out of town.
Billed as an efficient, effective way to ensure business gets done while making town board meetings more accessible to the public, the majority of the town board was not convinced by public comment to the contrary.
Those comments highlighted the breadth of the law as potentially allowing board members to spend significant time away from the community, resulting in less accessibility to voters; a potential detriment to dialogue among board members and a damper on community/board communication; and a hold-over on Covid precautions that are unlikely to be necessary in the future.
Board members Hallenbeck and Werwaiss voted against the law, while Pitkin, Mesick, and Supervisor Collins voted for it.
A second proposed law, which revised the role and responsibilities of the Conservation Advisory Council was defeated. Board members Pitkin, Hallenbeck, and Werwaiss said that the revisions left the committee with minimal power or purpose. This leaves the existing law governing the CAC in place, with uncertainty about what happens next.
Also in last night's meeting:
The anticipated purchase of new equipment to allow for high quality “hybrid” meetings (in person with virtual attendance possible) was presented to the board for consideration.
The board approved the posting of a request for proposal for Grant Seeking / Writing Services for the town; the RFP will be available on the town website, with an application deadline of April 29, 2022.
The board agreed to submit soon a grant proposal for funds to improve broadband in the town through the office of Congressman Antonio Delgado. Discussion indicated that additional funds for improved broadband services are likely to be available from NYS in the budget that is currently under consideration.
Town Assessor Kim Smith gave an update on her recent processing of informal queries and complaints regarding property assessments in the town. She’s had approximately 200 contacts from property owners questioning their assessments. She has reviewed them, and will be sending notice of the original assessment and any revision (or not) of that value to those who went through the process. Property owners can accept the final assessment or file a formal grievance using Form RP-524. Those grievances will be heard by the Board of Assessment Review on Grievance Day, 5/31/2022.
Ms. Smith recommended that the Board schedule the next assessment within the next 4 to 5 years so that the cumulative changes in property values as they affect taxes would change less over a shorter period of time between assessments.
A Register-Star article can be found here.