Town Board Workshop

Town Board workshop meeting Oct 6, 2022

• Grant news

The Town Board unanimously approved an application for a grant from the NYS Empire State Development Corporation to rehabilitate a vacant building located within the former Columbia Box Board mill site on Rte. 295. The former mill site dominates the sole industrial zoning district in the town of Chatham and has fallen into disrepair.

Town Supervisor Donal Collins said that an earlier plan for a campus-wide project at the former paper mill had been downsized to allow work “one building at a time.” The initial goal would be to renovate and rebuild commercial spaces in one large building and to secure tenants for those spaces.

If the grant is obtained, the NYS Development Corporation, the NYS Department of Conservation, and the Town’s Building Department and Planning Board would share planning and oversight for the project.

• November ballot resolutions

The board heard that the Nov 8 ballot will include a resolution supporting the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, and a resolution approving additional fund-raising by the North Chatham Free Library.

• 2023 budget review

The board reviewed a tentative town budget for 2023. In its current state, the budget reduces town taxes by 1.425%. The proposed budget includes raises for some town employees to address the increased cost of living. The board discussion was wide ranging, and brought some additional needs and proposed expenditures to the attention of the full board. The budget review will continue prior to a board vote on a final proposal.