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 Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Schaghticoke — October 7, 2021. The Board met via Zoom videoconference under amendments to the New York State Public Officers Law. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt explained the Zoom procedure, noted the meeting notice was posted in the newspapers, that the meeting was being recorded (to be posted to the town website and transcribed later), and that minutes were being taken.
Public hearing
There were no public hearings scheduled.
Regular meeting
Chairman Ed McDonough opened the meeting at 7:30 PM with roll call. Present: Ed McDonough (Chairman), Rich Geddis, Kristin Griswold, Lettie Saheim, and Jason Shover. Absent: none. Deputy Town Attorney Kristin Pratt and Clerk Elizabeth Hale were also present. A member of the public attended to observe and stated he had no comments.
- September 2, 2021 minutes approved as submitted (Saheim · Shover — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim, Shover; Nays: none).
Chairman McDonough reported two inquiries received prior to the meeting.
Barking-dog nuisance complaint — Haughney Road
A resident on Haughney Road complained that a neighbor’s dog barks incessantly at night and that other neighbors hear it as well. The dog is licensed and kept by its owner as protection for sheep sheltered in open sheds. Attorney Pratt advised that, as a nuisance complaint, the complainant could contact the sheriff, and the complaint had been presented to Town Code Enforcement Officer Brian Davidson. Mr. Davidson contacted the dog owner, who cited NYS Agriculture and Markets regulations she believes protect her right to keep the dog to protect the sheep.
804 Master Street — proposed razing and residence addition
An inquiry (received September 28) concerned property at 804 Master Street that includes a residence and a partially burned secondary structure, purchased by the inquirer’s parents in 1990. The inquirer, who is caring for his parents at the address, would like to raze the secondary buildings (currently used for storage) and construct an addition to the existing residence. Chairman McDonough advised that the Zoning Code would require a variance because the density regulations would not be met. After Attorney Pratt discussed the matter with Planning Board Chairman Frank Alessandrini, it was determined the Code allows two residences on a single property through a special use permit; the Chairman advised the inquirer to contact the Planning Board Chairman and apply for a special use permit to allow two residential structures on one tax-map parcel.
Chairman McDonough asked Attorney Pratt for an update on the Open Meetings Law in view of COVID-19; she noted the statute had been amended to allow in-person or virtual meetings until the end of 2021. The Board agreed the agenda should dictate the decision and, with no business, a virtual meeting might be more appropriate.
Adjourned at 7:52 PM (McDonough · Shover — Ayes: McDonough, Geddis, Griswold, Saheim, Shover; Nays: none). Submitted by Elizabeth Hale, ZBA Clerk (dated November 7, 2021).
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