Town Board -
The Board heard and discussed numerous committee reports at the meeting, including:
Broadband / Cellular Service Committee Chair Werwaiss announced that he has begun to explore the legal and practical feasibility of siting one or more cell towers in areas of the town that have poor cell reception.
Communications Committee Chair Wapner announced that the committee has submitted a proposed policy and procedure to the board to address concerns about how correspondence to the board is shared with the public. He asked that the board members review the proposal prior to the next workshop meeting and said the public can review it on the website. He requested that the proposal be on the workshop agenda for discussion and action.
Finance & Planning Committee Chair Levow said he expects the committee to meet after the first part of the 2025 budget presentation / discussion by the board is completed. He noted that the priority matrix for capital projects can be finalized after he receives requested input from one of the board members.
Housing Committee Chair Hallenbeck advised that the joint meetings of the Housing and Zoning Update Committees are preparing for a public presentation to the community on October 19. The town’s planner and committee members are finalizing some of the proposals the committee has identified relative to improving the availability of additional and affordable housing options within the town. Details on time and location of that community meeting will be publicized soon.
Parks & Recreation Committee Chair Wapner said that the committee has received a good number of completed surveys from residents related to perceptions and suggestions regarding how the community is served by Crellin Park. There is still time to complete the survey HERE.
Wapner said a number of people who completed the survey have offered to serve on focus groups to address planning for the park. He expects these groups to occur during the winter months.
The committee continues to write / revise the Park Plan, and to clarify procedures for the public to access / reserve / use park facilities for events.
Supervisor Collins said the Grants Appropriation Committee is working on an application to support improved pond swimming facilities at Crellin Park under the NYS SWIMS grant offerings.
Conservation Advisory Council acting Chair Abi Mesick said that the CAC needs new citizen volunteers to join the group.This will be advertised on the town website.
Invasive Species Awareness Committee Chair Mesick said that the committee is planning to post additional information on local invasive species to the committee’s page on the Town website, along with news of the committee’s work. This will give the public more information on the committee’s efforts to address identified invasive species found in the Town of Chatham. She said the committee would like to collaborate with other local towns to join forces in these efforts.
Acting Chair Collins of the Traffic Safety Working Group said that the hamlets of Old Chatham and North Chatham have requested that the speed limits within their hamlets be lowered. He said that the traffic patrols by the Chatham Village Police Department report giving out verbal and written warnings to speeders, as well as some traffic tickets in areas of patrol. Work to complete crosswalks in North Chatham and to install speed alert mechanisms in certain areas of the town are continuing.
Zoning Update Committee Chair Eaton said that the upcoming public presentation (currently planned for October 19 with details forthcoming) on housing and zoning within the town would focus on two proposed local laws. Those laws will relate to how the town might regulate the building of Accessory Dwelling Units and Single Lot Exemptions in certain areas of the town. Both of these laws are seen as likely to allow opportunities for an increased supply of affordable housing within the town.
Solar Law Committee Chair Eaton said the committee is in active discussion about potential options for solar installations in the town of Chatham.
Supervisor Collins gave a shortened Town and County report after board member Werwaiss moved to table it. Werwais said the board had not received the report until earlier that day and had not had sufficient time to read it or to prepare questions. Collins said that he would post his report on the town website.
In addition to standard business, the board resolved:
To appoint the accounting firm of Robert H. Patterson, CPA to provide accounting and auditing services to the Town for the 2025 fiscal year.
To approve the Town’s Invasive Species Awareness Committee request to apply for a grant from the Partners for Climate Action Hudson Valley, which is offering an Ecological Restoration grant “to support the creation of wildflower meadows, native habitat plantings, forest restoration, deer impact mitigation” and more.
To accept the resignations of Robin Jenkins and Lisa Simonetti from the Town’s Conservation Advisory Council. Per acting chair Abi Mesick, Jenkins and Simonetti were instrumental in raising funds to ensure passage of the town’s Community Preservation Fund last year.
To accept 3 bids for a shipping container storage building for highway equipment.
The next workshop meeting of the board is scheduled for Thursday, October 3 at 6:30 PM. The agenda for that meeting and a link for remote attendance will be available on the town calendar earlier that week.