The Chatham Town Board meeting of February 5th, 2026, was well attended, both online and in person at Town Hall.

In formal business:

• The board adopted the long awaited Town of Chatham Park and Recreation Master Plan Update. The master plan has been a project of the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee for several years. The plan gives a history of the origin and development of the Town’s recreation facilities, along with information on population trends, programming, and existing / future needs and plans for these facilities. The plan is intended as a strategic approach to planning, programming and funding improvements to Crellin Community Park and the New Town Park. 

• The master plan update was presented by Jim Marks, a member of the Parks and Recreation Citizen Advisory Committee. Marks was credited with “extraordinary effort in the development and completion of this master plan.” In turn, Marks emphasized the contributions of the entire committee to the completion of the final plan. The Town board dedicated the master plan to the memory of Anita Fiorillo, who served as a member of the committee for years prior to her death in 2025: “Anita’s tireless commitment to our community exemplified the volunteer spirit that makes a town a community.” 

• The board scheduled a public hearing on a local law that will extend the temporary town-wide six-month moratorium on solar energy arrays. The moratorium on newly proposed potential solar energy arrays in the town was first passed on March 7, 2024. It has been extended several times since. Now, with the anticipation of a proposed solar law being finalized in coming months, the Board expects this is the final moratorium extension. Once the proposed Solar Law is presented to the Board, there will be a Public Hearing prior to Board action to accept or reject the proposed law. The Public Hearing on an extension of the solar moratorium will take place just prior to the next board meeting, on February 19th 2026 at 6:30 PM At the Town Hall. Public comment can be made in writing, in person, or via online attendance.

• The Board resolved to add Marc Goldberg and Ted Miner to the Housing Citizen Advisory Committee for 2026 effective immediately, upon the recommendation of Committee Chair Lisa Simonetti.

Just out! Whet your appetite for County-wide news for Dems

Selected news from the Columbia County Democratic Committee:
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Columbia County Board of Elections Job Vacancy

Democratic Elections Specialist

There is a job opening at the Board of Elections for a Democratic Elections Specialist. 

Please click here to read the job description. At a minimum, applicants must be a registered voter in Columbia County and enrolled in the Democratic Party. 

Please submit letter of interest and resume to Mara Estribou, Democratic Commissioner, by email at mara.estribou@columbiacountyny.gov.

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Assembly Candidates Forum

AD 106 & AD 107

Tuesday, February 17

7:00 PM via Zoom

Register to attend at bit.ly/ccdcassemblyforum2026

For more information on County Democratic Committee news, including upcoming political action and candidate campaigning events, go to this link.

Standing Up for Democracy

Reminder: Every Saturday from 12-1pm you can come to the Gazebo in Chatham and join with others as we raise our signs in support of democracy.  Come for the entire hour, or as much time as you can. Our presence matters.  

If you don’t have a sign, there will probably be one you can borrow!

Can Spring be far behind the annual tree and shrub sale?

CCSWCD's annual Bare Root Tree & Shrub sale has begun. Deadline to order is: March 31, 2026. Orders will be ready for pick-up on April 24 & 25. 

Order early before your favorite is gone using this form.

For more information, go to the CCSWCD website.