Collaboration in park planning
In another development, in the time since that meeting, a group of regular and new volunteers braved the weather last weekend to successfully plant 17 trees at Crellin Park (donated by NYS Soil and Water Department) and in so doing made a major improvement to the park.
Some conclusions of Carroll’s report were summarized by Park & Recreation Chair Wapner in his committee report: Carroll completed her report after meeting with several of those who are frequently involved in Crellin Park improvements, consulting relevant maps, reviewing current trails in the park, discussing and providing professional opinions on near-future proposed changes for the park, visiting other local playgrounds for reference, and making efforts to access other planning that has taken place to date on park development.
Carroll recommended that the maintenance and enhancement of unique aspects of Crellin Park be a focus for future planning. Relatedly, she recommended that protecting and maintaining existing trees at the park is a priority, that the town have a yearly budget for tree work, and that the board consider liability and maintenance issues for all park elements.
Further, she recommended that the future Park Master Plan include resident goals and recommendations from the community-wide survey that was completed during the Comprehensive Plan Update approved in 2023; that more younger residents be more involved with the Parks & Recreation Committee; and that all financial resources and actual costs (including donated time and equipment costs) of improvements to the park be identified and available for planning.
Carroll concluded that “Communication / Respect / Working together” will “go a long way” in efforts to improve and maintain Crellin Park.
Supervisor Collins began the meeting with announcements of coming events:
Town wide clean up week – April 21 -27, 2025 – refuse bags and instructions to participate are available at Town Hall during open hours
Open house for fire fighter recruitment at East Chatham Firehouse on April 27, from 11 am - 2 pm
Trivillage Blood Drive – Saturday, May 3 from 9 am to 1 pm
Town of Chatham Clean Up Day–May 17, 2025 – an opportunity to dispose of e-waste, tires, rubbish–stay tuned for details
In other news regarding new services to residents of the town:
Climate Smart/Action Task Force Committee Chair Eaton noted that a “composting bin” at the Town Hall will be provided by the local Greenagers group, which engages teens and young adults in meaningful work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building.
Supervisor Collins said that he is in receipt of an offer from the Columbia County Recovery Kitchen to provide a refrigerator / freezer that would make perishable foods available to those in need. The board expressed interest in supporting this resource, and additional details of this proposal will be forthcoming.
In addition to standard business (approving minutes, acceptance of the town accountant’s financial supervisor’s report for March, and approval to pay documented town bills) the board resolved the following:
To accept the resignation of Deputy Town Clerk Janie Miller and appoint Annnemarie Burk to fill that position effective 4/21/2025 on the recommendation of Town Clerk Beth Anne Rippel; and to appoint Ms. Burke as Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics.
To accept a bid for construction of two unit ADA (Americans with Disability) pickleball court in the amount of $157,710.00. A majority of the funding for this facility ($100,000.00) will be paid for by a grant obtained through the New York State Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) Program, and the remainder is currently within the Town’s budget allocations. The courts will be located near the skateboard park at Crellin Park.
To approve a contract with the Village of Chatham Police Department to continue to provide police patrols in the Town of Chatham during the period from May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. These patrols have been effective in reducing speeding and reckless driving in the town.
Village of Chatham Chief of Police Alessi attended the meeting and said that he is open to any feedback from town officials about the placement of patrols and that the Department will modify current areas of patrol to address citizens’ concerns about unsafe driving.
Approved a survey developed by the newly formed Financial Planning and Economic Development Citizens’ Advisory Committee that is intended to determine the needs and challenges facing businesses in the Chatham area. Results will be used to develop and modify planning for economic development in the town.
Approved a 25% employee discount in the registration fees for Town of Chatham employees who enroll their children in the Crellin Park Summer Camp programs.
Approved reimbursement of vehicle rental fees paid by town employee / Town Justice Michael Rosen related to a vehicular accident with another town employee, after town insurance benefits ended and left a balance due on a vehicle rental.
Accepted the 2024 Columbia County Median Home Sale price of $430,000 as set annually by New York State. The County median home sale price is used to calculate the amount of a real estate transfer tax that was approved via a local law related to community preservation in 2023. This transfer tax is assigned to buyers of property within Chatham at the rate of 1.5% on the amount of any real estate sale that exceeds the established County median sale price. In turn, that tax is allocated to the Community Preservation Fund, and is used to fund preservation mechanisms to protect farmland and other natural resources in the town.
Resolved to urge the New York State legislature to pass and Governor Hochul to sign into law the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act as drafted in the NYS Assembly and Senate.
This act recognizes that packaging makes up approximately 40% of solid waste in NYS; that more than 18 million tons of municipal solid waste is generated yearly in the state; that greenhouse gas emission from the waste represents about 12% of statewide emissions; that managing this waste costs taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually; that some packaging is not recyclable and reusable and refillable packaging systems are not readily available; that plastic causes serious pollution including litter and use of toxic chemicals; and that companies that produce packaging should help bear the costs of packaging waste.
A video of the town board meeting is available here.
The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2025. Attendees can participate in person at the town hall or online by going to the calendar and clicking the link for Google Meet on this date.The public is invited to comment on board meeting activities or other town matters at every meeting.