August 20th Town Board meeting (cont’ed)
Discussion of Highway Superintendent’s request for a Deputy Superintendent position.
Supervisor Collins’ stated concerns about how this new position might be redundant to supervisory responsibility of other existing positions, affect future hiring and staffing of the department, and potentially create other problems. In response, Board members Eaton and Werwaiss were consistently supportive of the request, and noted the added expense is minimal. Superintendent Fetzer clarified that the Deputy Superintendent would continue to function in his current role, in addition to performing some supervisory duties that he is assigned.
In a related discussion, Supervisor Collins noted that the Board will be voting on a resolution to provide financial support for an administrative assistant at the Highway Department for the remainder of 2026, and will be looking to find funds to continue this position for 2027 during the budget process. He clarified that the person who currently is assigned these duties will be responsible to train the new employee over the next few months.
PUBLIC COMMENT (time mark 1:17:18 to 1:45:00)
Topics included:
Objection to the placement of Flock cameras in the Town of Chatham due to concerns about surveillance, invasion of privacy, and storage of personal information. The speaker cited recent news/disclosures that there are these cameras placed around Columbia County and asked to meet with the Supervisor to forestall use of these cameras in the Town.
Reminder: Farm Tour will take place on September 19. Organizer Tim Mackerer listed current farms on the list of venues and encouraged attendance.
More commentary on the current lag in availability of correspondence on the website, and requests that they be available on the website when listed in the agenda and that they be processed and posted in a more timely manner.
Notation by Supervisor that Confidential Secretary Tammy Shaw had followed up on a previous public comment requesting that materials posted on the website be scannable. They will be made so going forward.
A speaker noted that some committees listed on the website do not include minutes of their meetings on the website and requested that this be remedied.
A resident who resides on a “private road” in the Town advised that a short term rental is located on his road, and questioned if this is allowable according to the STR licensing in the Town of Chatham. He said there are regularly unfamiliar vehicles and people in that location as a result of having a licensed STR in that location, including cleaning people, garbage trucks, and other intrusions. Supervisor Collins suggested he contact the Building Department about the matter.
An opinion that the planning process in the Town is “siloed” and does not typically include consideration of resource protection (e.g., water resources) and a request that the housing committee provide more definitions/specifics for terms such as "affordable housing” and specified demographics that are targeted by the committee’s efforts. The speaker requested more of a focus on providing housing for people who earn the minimum wage, who are more vulnerable economically.
A comment that the new deputy superintendent position in the Highway Department will likely have an impact on the Town’s budget and potentially lead to an increase in taxes. Supervisor Collins said the job descriptions will be available to the public prior to a public hearing on the matter, and can be discussed / reviewed at that time.
RESOLUTIONS
In formal business, the Board resolved to:
Schedule a PUBLIC HEARING for September 3, 2026 on the proposed Town of Chatham Solar Energy Law, designed to regulate solar energy development and construction in the town.
The law has been in development with the Solar Law Committee since June 2024, and has undergone several revisions since that time. In March 2024, the Town declared a temporary moratorium on the review and/or approval of any new or existing site plan approval applications for a solar energy array; that moratorium has been extended several times, and the current extension will expire soon. In consideration of a possible need to update the draft law prior to a public hearing on the solar law to accommodate Columbia County Planning Board recommendations and other edits, the Board agreed to schedule a public hearing on a three month extension of the moratorium, should that be necessary.
Agreed to advertise for a part time (16 hours per week) administrative support position for the Town Highway Department
Authorized the submission of a grant to the Justice Court Assistance Program for the 20216-2027 grant cycle that would fund the replacement / updating of windows in the courtroom.
Approved annual agreements with outside agencies/organizations to allow the use of Crellin Park facilities:
Chatham Central School District to use Crellin Park soccer fields
Morris Memorial to use Crellin Park soccer fields
Hudson Valley Hornets Youth Softball Program to use the Crellin Park baseball field
In standard business, the board:
Approved town board minutes from July meetings
Accepted the town accountant’s Financial Supervisor’s Report and the financial abstract as presented to pay town bills
NEXT MEETING The next Town Board workshop meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 6:30 pm. Attendance is available in-person, online or by phone. Go to the Town calendar for 9/3/2026 and find information there on how to join online, along with the agenda for the meeting.
Videos of the August 20, 2026 Town Board meeting are found in two segments
(due to a technical problem) here: segment #1 and segment #2.