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.
The Town Board of the Town of Schaghticoke met in regular session on October 8, 2025 at the Town Hall, 290 Northline Drive, Melrose, at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Supervisor Salisbury; Councilmen Akin, Fogarty, Rustin, and Ward.
Approval of prior minutes
To accept the minutes of the September 10, 2025 meeting. Resolution: Ward · Second: Akin · Ayes: All · Nays: None.
Reports from department heads
Chris Kelly, Town Historian, noted that 250 years ago Schaghticoke was a province, as there were no states yet, and that troops from what is now Connecticut came through Schaghticoke on their way to invade Canada. She added that wheat was the primary crop from 1730 to 1800 — the Knickerbocker Mansion would pay its rent in wheat.
Financial
Bills from the Town Clerk — $319,953.42. To approve the bills from the Town Clerk’s Scheduled Payment Report dated October 8, 2025. Resolution: Rustin · Second: Fogarty · Ayes: All · Nays: None.
Preliminary budget hearing set
To set a public hearing for November 6, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. on the preliminary budget for the Town of Schaghticoke. Resolution: Fogarty · Second: Rustin · Ayes: All · Nays: None.
Water meter cost
To increase the cost of a water meter to $510.00. Resolution: Akin · Second: Ward · Ayes: All · Nays: None.
(Water rate and meter fee increases are covered in our news feature: what’s behind the rising water bills.)
Public comment
- A resident asked what the previous water-meter charge had been; it was $308.
- A resident reported ongoing speeding on Meadowview Drive, saying they had seen only one police car and that the Sheriff’s office had not yet put up a speed-display sign. Councilman Ward said he would contact Sheriff Bourgault, and would also like “No thru traffic / truck” signs.
- Supervisor Salisbury noted that Liberty Ridge Farm (the Gifford family) is buying a house at the end of Bevis Road and has asked the Town to abandon the road. The Town would still plow the section closest to Stillwater Bridge Road for the one other resident there.
Adjournment
There being no other public comment, Supervisor Salisbury called for adjournment at 6:46 p.m. Resolution: Fogarty · Second: Rustin · Ayes: All · Nays: None.
Respectfully submitted by Jennifer Molesky.
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