Town Board 3-16-23

This week's town board meeting was largely taken up with committee reports and plans for upcoming events and initiatives.

The Climate Smart Action Task Force Committee is sponsoring an hour-long presentation on Monday, March 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. The featured speaker is biologist Elizabeth Marks, who will talk about "How the climate is changing in the Hudson Valley: Effects on municipalities and agriculture." Admission to the online presentation is available through the calendar on the town's website.

The Conservation Advisory Council is working with the town board to put a referendum on the ballot in November to establish a Community Preservation Fund. Such a fund would allow the town to purchase farmland and open space, in order to protect and maintain the character of the town. The details of this plan are currently being worked out, and there will be more information forthcoming, followed by a public hearing on the proposal in April.

Supervisor Collins announced several conservation efforts that are being provided through county efforts. These include:

— a pilot program to provide public buses that run between Hudson and Chatham, with stops in Ghent. 

— facilities for organic composting of produce at the Chatham transfer station, as well as the Greenport station.

— solar panels being installed on the county highway garage.

Collins also promised details are forthcoming for a Community Clean Up Day and a Town-wide Clean Up Week (4/15 - 4/22/23) to coincide with Earth Day and spring cleanup efforts.

A discussion among board members centered on the as yet incomplete investigation of the feasibility of expanding or replacing the town hall, and potentially establishing a community center for residents. At this juncture, the board is investigating options and costs of such facility improvements. Regarding a community center, the discussion raised the option of integrating it into a town hall facility, or alternatively, of developing such a facility as a regional resource, with several towns contributing and benefitting from the project.

In recreation news, the board agreed to increase fees slightly for the summer camp program, and to contract with the Chatham Over-30 Soccer Club and the Crane Soccer Club for the use of facilities at Crellin Park. Planning for Crellin Park Day is in the works, as well.

The Board approved measures to issue bonds for the purchase of highway equipment.