Town Board report Nov 2, 2023
In a sparsely attended workshop meeting, the Town Board made short work of the agenda, which included two public hearings. There was no public comment at either public hearing, other than a question as to where the notice of the meetings had been publicized.
The first public hearing was a combined hearing on the 2024 preliminary town budget; renewal of the town’s Fire Company contracts with Niverville FD, Tri-Village Fire Company, and Red Rock Fire Department; and a request that the county tax collection includes sufficient money from Town of Chatham property-tax payers to fund the allocated cost for the town’s use of the Chatham Rescue Squad and the Valatie Rescue Squad.
On resolution, the board adopted the preliminary budget as the 2024 budget for the town, the renewal of fire company contracts, and the county tax collection to fund rescue squad services.
The second public hearing was on a proposed local law to regulate short-term rentals in the town.
This law had been the subject of intensive public comment and suggested changes in previous board meetings, but has remained largely unchanged from the original proposal. A board member said that “the silence is deafening” relative to the lack of public comment on this occasion, prior to the board approving the law.
In other business, the board approved allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds not to exceed $25,000 to purchase new software for the Building Department. The stated rationale for this expenditure was that the increase in building permit applications during the Covid-19 era has created congestion and lack of social distancing in the office and markedly increased the building department’s workload. The new software will allow digital submission of some necessary materials for building permits, and will streamline inspections, licensing, and permitting management.
Announcements included:
The town has taken possession of a new road grader. A second road grader is on order.
The proposed Comprehensive Plan Update will be the subject of a public hearing on November 16, 2023. In the interim, written comments can be submitted to the board via email or letter.
The next town board meeting is scheduled on November 16, 2023, at 6:30.