Unofficial summary. This is a community summary of the town's official minutes, provided so the record is searchable and readable. It condenses the meeting and may omit detail. Some private individuals’ personal details have been left out. The official signed PDF is the complete record of authority.
Office of the Town Board, Town of Schaghticoke — July 8, 2020, via Zoom at 6:30 PM. Present were Supervisor Salisbury and Councilmen Akin, Fogarty, Rustin, and Westhead. Town Attorney Dave Brennan noted that, due to the Governor’s executive order, there would be no in-person meetings until after August 5.
Business
- Minutes of the June 10, 2020 meeting approved (Westhead · Fogarty — Ayes: all; Nays: none).
- Bills from the Town Clerk approved from the Scheduled Payment Report dated July 8, 2020, total $422,680.89 (Akin · Westhead — Ayes: all; Nays: none).
Reports
- Town Historian Chris Kelly continued her research on Schaghticoke people in the Civil War and shared local history about an early Melrose resident.
- Highway Superintendent Shawn Hayes gave his highway and water/sewer report.
Water district consolidation
- Resolution to prepare a joint water consolidation agreement combining Melrose and Speigletown water (Rustin · Fogarty — Ayes: all; Nays: none).
The attached Proposed Joint Consolidation Agreement covers Water Districts #1, #4, #4B, and #6, to be consolidated into a new “Town of Schaghticoke Consolidated Water District #1” under Article 17-A of the NYS General Municipal Law. The existing infrastructure, users, and boundaries would be combined with no new improvements proposed; none of the districts has long-term debt. The Town Board would continue as commissioners without a special election, with future improvements financed via joint indebtedness on an ad valorem basis. A public hearing on the agreement was anticipated for the October 14, 2020 Town Board meeting (7:05 PM at the Town Hall). The agreement was proposed by the Town Board, acting as Commissioners of the districts, and signed by Supervisor Timothy Salisbury on August 12, 2020.
Local Law #3 — rezoning (Tax Map 71.-2-4.13)
Town Attorney David Brennan read the Negative Declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act regarding the lands at NY Route 40 east and Fogarty Road, and read the proposed Local Law #3 amending the zoning map.
- Resolution to adopt Local Law #3 amending the Zoning Map for Tax Map parcel 71.-2-4.13, at NYS Route 40 (east side) near its intersection with Fogarty Road, from Hamlet District to Highway Commercial (Rustin · Fogarty — Ayes: all; Nays: none).
Public comment
A group of residents from the Eastover Road area read a statement about their concerns regarding the Route 40 parcel being rezoned to Highway Commercial in Speigletown, including declining property value, area vegetation, and line of sight pulling out onto Route 40. Another resident asked whether rezoning Route 40 and Speigletown Road had been discussed, and the Supervisor said it had. A resident on Eastover Road raised concerns about noise and truck traffic. Andy Brick, attorney for the applicant Mr. Ragone, thanked the Board for its deliberation and said the property would fit in and that the owner would be a responsible neighbor. A resident offered clarification about the February Zoning Board meeting voting process, and another commented on difficulty accessing the Zoom meeting link. Town Attorney Brennan confirmed no further online comments.
Adjourned at 7:43 PM (Fogarty · Westhead — Ayes: all; Nays: none). Submitted by Jennifer Molesky, Town Clerk.
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