Town Board Business
Solar Moratorium Variance Granted on Hardship Application
The Town Board held a public hearing and conducted a state environmental quality review (SEQR) on a proposed roof mount solar array application by Kinderhook Farm. The board resolved to approve the application, which has been before the board in previous meetings, under a hardship condition and area variance in the context of the current solar moratorium. The full application for the hardship exemption can be found in the Public Hearing section of the agenda for the 7/18/24 town board meeting.
In other business:
The board authorized the town supervisor to sign a one year renewal of the lease for the second floor of the Tracy Memorial Building in the village of Chatham for Town Court use. Supervisor Collins said that the Village had kept the monthly rent of $1650.00 for the space unchanged from the current lease.
Appointed resident Jen Trolenberg to the Grants Appropriations Committee, effective immediately.Heard from Chair of the Climate Smart Committee Angus Eaton on a number of initiatives, including:
The committee will participate in a Repair Café at the September Climate Carnival; they are still looking for “fixers” who will provide repair services to attendees.
Surveys will go out to residents in the North Chatham and Kinderhook Lake lighting residents in the near future regarding potential changes in lighting in those areas.
Eaton will contact interested residents in East Chatham who volunteered to work on a different survey regarding concerns in that lighting district.
Discussed funding and plans for photovoltaics for the town garage. Eaton said that expected savings from that investment would likely mean an annual savings of $9,000 - $11,000 in electrical costs.
The committee is reviewing a proposed website design for the Climate Smart Committee.
Reported on progress in receiving monies from NYSERDA under the Chatham’s designation as a Climate Smart Community
Communications Chair John Wapner said he expects a proposed policy and procedures on communications re: correspondence to the Town Board to be ready for Board review in August. The committee has several applicants interested in committee membership, and will be interviewing them in coming weeks.
The Zoning Update Committee (ZUC) Chair said that public involvement in joint Housing and ZUC meetings has been enthusiastic and helpful to the joint committee. He said the committee has not yet made decisions about what they will recommend to the board, but that the balance between “unfettered development” and increasing housing options in the town continues to be a focus of the committee.
Parks and Recreation Committee Chair John Wapner said:
o The committee is finalizing a proposed policy that will set out standard procedures to schedule activities at Crellin Park, and working to update the overall Park Plan.
o The committee is finalizing plans for Crellin Park Day, scheduled for Saturday, August 17.
o Feedback on the quality of the Crellin Park pond for swimming activities has been positive this summer.
Conservation Advisory Committee Chair Rick Werwaiss announced that he was resigning “effective immediately” from the committee, referencing an ongoing and unresolved conflict that has resulted in months of inactivity by the committee.
Invasive Species Awareness Committee Chair Abi Mesick announced that committee members completed a two hour training on the safe removal of invasive plants by PRISM. The board approved a similar training for community volunteers on August 3 (rain date of August 4).
Heard a 30 minute detailed account of Supervisor Collins’ activities on the Board of Supervisors and updates from county government.
Heard board member Angus Eaton say that the Town of Chatham’s law on manufactured homes is not compliant with NYS law. He said Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea offered a remedy to make the town law consistent with state law. The board agreed with Eaton’s suggestion that the board hear from Mr. Rappleyea and discuss potential action on the matter.