Report on June 20 Town Board meeting

Board members (from left) Hallenbeck, Eaton, Wapner, and Werwaiss, and Supervisor Collins.

The Town Board had a full agenda for their monthly meeting. In resolutions, the following business was completed:

• Following up on a discussion from an earlier meeting, the board established an appeals / variance process for the Unified Solar Application that establishes the Town Board as the authority that will hear and decide on any appeals related to solar development.

  After establishing this process, the board formally ruled on a hardship variance filed due to the solar moratorium in the town. The hardship in question related to an upcoming deadline for Kinderhook Farm to file a grant application specifically tailored to rural and agricultural uses of solar power from REAP (Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants).

  The application for this solar rooftop project will also be the subject of a public hearing on July 18 at 6:35 pm prior to the regular monthly board meeting. The public hearing is necessitated for this variance due to the size of the installation, which exceeds the threshold of the 25 kilowatt Unified Solar permit that currently guides solar development in the Town.
  

• The board approved a contractual agreement with Alpine Environmental Services to complete a standard “Phase 1” environmental assessment of some of town-owned acreage that is located behind the Town Hall on Rte. 295. The assessment is necessary in order to determine if the property could serve as a potential location for ”distinct and diverse opportunities for inclusive housing,” and will be funded through the town’s Economic Development Reserve fund.
  

• The board granted approval for the Highway Superintendent to advertise in accordance with competitive bidding laws for bids on a shipping container storage building. The building will be designated for highway department equipment acquired in the past year that currently has no shelter from the elements.
  

• The board approved the Grants Committee to pursue two grants through the NYS SWIMS (Statewide Investment in More Swimming Initiative) program to improve the Crellin Park swimming program and public swim programs. Announced by Governor Hochul, one grant opportunity will award a total of $5 million in new funding to expand swimming opportunities for the public. The town will pursue this grant in concert with Columbia County Youth Development.
  Any funds received will bolster lifeguard recruitment and retention through increased salaries, wages, and support for credentialing.

  The town will apply for a second grant under the SWIMS program that totals $150 million in funding; these funds would pay for the installation of infrastructure that relates to swimming at Crellin Park, including shade structures on the beach and outdoor showers.
  

• The board approved the purchase of a water pump to improve the water system at the main pavilion at Crellin Park. The rationale for this purchase was the robust enrollment of campers for the Crellin Park summer camp, and the anticipation that current utilities would not be sufficient to support use of the water system during camp hours.
  

• The board approved financial support for a mailing / survey of users of the North Chatham and Kinderhook Lake Special Lighting Districts by the Climate Smart Committee to assess the desirability of converting to LED lighting in those areas.

  During the discussion, two residents of the East Chatham Lighting District noted that while their lighting has been converted to LED, there are other issues that have come up in that district, and they had never been surveyed as to their opinions on the lighting options. The two residents agreed to work with the Climate Smart Committee to devise a different survey for their district to assess and potentially address current concerns.
  

  In other business:

• Housing Chair Hallenbeck and ZUC Chair Eaton reported that responses from the public following the June 8 presentation by the Housing and Zoning Update Committees has been robust. Both expressed appreciation for the interest and commentary at and following the presentation. The committees are reviewing that feedback and are working with the planner to determine next directions for their work.

  The public is invited to attend the next joint meeting of the committees on July 8 at 6:30 pm.
  

• Board member Wapner raised a suggestion that the board establish a formal committee to address the issues with town roads and traffic safety in the town. He cited a 2017 summary as an important starting point to look at recommendations re: town roads, which he asserted are a factor in current planning for housing and zoning changes. Discussion highlighted that the Comprehensive Plan also identified town roads as an important feature of the town that warrants attention and planning.

  The board offered a mixed response, and agreed to discuss Wapner’s suggestion at a future meeting.