Town Board
In new business:
Supervisor Collins presented a concern about a fence that runs along the walkway from Rte. 66, behind the Crellin employee parking lot, and leads to Crellin Park. The fence was constructed by the town, is currently in poor repair and needs to be replaced. The board agreed to get bids on replacement of the fence, and to address this issue at a future meeting.
Collins also provided information on a requested bid to complete recommended changes to the entry doors to Town Hall. Changes would include an automatic door that could be activated by push plates to facilitate entry and exit to the building due to physical limitations. Collins said the project could be funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies.
He clarified that any ARPA monies awarded to the town in 2020 have to be allocated by December 31, 2024, and spent by December 31, 2026.
In old business, the board:
Discussed potential changes in the zoning code to make Town zoning consistent with NYS law with regard to the regulation of manufactured homes and to concurrently expand housing options within the town. “Manufactured homes” include mobile homes, modular homes, and tiny homes. One of the recommended changes would include a designation of manufactured homes as “single family dwellings” in the town’s zoning code.
Based on discussion, town zoning already allows for new mobile home parks in the town, and this could be one avenue to increase affordable housing. Further board discussion highlighted the historical affordability of these types of homes, but board member Hallenbeck noted that a recent trend of acquisitions of mobile home parks by large real estate companies often results in capital improvements and related increased costs to residents. Any continuation of this trend would clearly affect the affordability of such housing.
The board agreed to hold a public hearing on the recommended changes to the local law at 6:30 pm on August 15, prior to the regular board meeting on that date. The proposed law will be available on the town website prior to that time.
Heard from members of the Finance and Planning Committee on their work to help the board prioritize identified Capital Projects by considering the importance and costs of various identified projects. The committee requested and board members agreed to review their previous priorities and submit them to the committee prior to the next workshop meeting. The committee members agreed to provide a list of identified projects that could utilize ARPA funding, as these monies need to be allocated within the next five months or they will not be accessible in the town’s budget.
Resolved to authorize the Highway Superintendent to investigate the cost of a Biomass Boiler for the town highway garage. Rationale: An upgraded boiler would increase the efficient use of right of way and storm damage tree processing for fuel, and supplant some use of fossil fuels by the town.
Heard an update on the grant obtained from NYS for pickleball courts in Crellin Park. Recreation Director Mike West has secured updated bids from an asphalt company for the courts, as well as other park asphalt upgrades, should the board agree to fund those. At present, the courts are slated to be located between the skateboard park and the Children’s Garden, and construction of the courts in this area will result in the loss of some parking spaces.
The pickleball court discussion raised other issues related to Crellin Park. Parks and Recreation Committee Chair John Wapner said the committee hopes to finalize the first part of the Park Plan by September, and then will take on the more practical planning regarding how to prioritize and plan for specific new facilities and upgrades. He noted that there are suggested projects that will require prioritization in order to deal with these competing proposals. The board discussed possibly hiring a landscape architect or other specialist to aid in this part of the planning process, but took no action to do so at the meeting.
Interested in more details? A recording of the Town Board meeting is here.