Town Board March 19th (cont’d)
John Wapner, Chair of the Parks & Recreation Committee, reported that the committee is gearing up for summer activities, including the annual Summer Camp program. Staffing for the waterfront, camp supervision, and the Children’s Garden are being addressed by Recreation Director Mike West and the Committee. Wapner said the committee is planning some new summer events, including a series of “Sundays in the Park” events that will offer entertainment to residents and families, and a fly-fishing demonstration offered by Columbia Land Conservancy Director Troy Weldy.
Board member Werwaiss reported for Chair Kate Butler on the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC). Werwaiss said the committee is continuing to map local habitats with the assistance of volunteer and committee member Conrad Vispo. The CAC is expanding its goals to identify and determine how to preserve important natural resources (e.g., aquifers, water resources, recreation trails and historic properties) outlined in the Community Preservation Plan.
Kelly Mackerer reported for the Invasive Species Committee, which is working on developing educational materials on local invasive species for the public.
Chair of the Solar Law Committee, Angus Eaton, said that he had edited the draft Solar Law with suggestions from the Board’s workshop meeting and forwarded it to the law firm for review for the Board prior to a public hearing.
Co-chair of the Zoning Update Committee Eaton said that the Committee has developed annual goals. They intend to finalize the code for Planned Residential Developments, along with other definitions related to housing. The Zoning Update Committee will be coordinating with the Zoning Code Review subcommittee to complete other necessary work on zoning.
Co-chair Wapner reported for the Zoning Code Review Subcommittee. He and co-chair Werwaiss have recruited people to serve on the committee, and have scheduled their monthly meetings for the second Tuesday of each month.
John Breault, Chair of the Financial Planning and Economic Development Committee, reported that the committee continues to work with members of Chatham Area Business Alliance (CABA) to coordinate work on the committee’s recommendations, including recommendations on signage related to local businesses and not-for-profit organizations. Breault said he and the committee welcome the Board’s comments on the recommendations that the committee submitted previously to support future economic development in the town.
By formal resolutions, the Board agreed to the following:
To approve the contract between the Town of Chatham and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Enhanced Enforcement Patrol Program (EEPP) for the next year. The Town has worked with the EEPP since 2016 to address speeding and traffic violations in the town.
To allow the Town Supervisor to formally approve a written agreement that allows the use of Crellin Park facilities by the Chatham Over 30 Soccer League.
To accept competitive bids for miscellaneous materials and services requested by the Highway Department (a full list is found in the attached agenda) for the period from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
To accept a one-year extension on a bid from Town & County Bridge and Rail for materials and installation of guardrails as needed on town roads.
To rescind and amend a resolution that was adopted at the last Town Board meeting to substitute the language “paid release time” for the original language (“compensatory paid relief time”) in the resolution. The resolution authorizes the Highway Superintendent to use his professional judgment to compensate workers when he judges it warranted, by granting and recording “paid release time” in circumstances where extended work hours, missed breaks, operational demands before or after holidays, or similar circumstances occur. The majority of the board supported the resolution, with Supervisor Collins objecting on the grounds that this matter should be part of a bargaining agreement.
To contract with Cornell Cooperative Extension to operate the 2026 Children’s Garden program during the Crellin Park summer camp program and to foster other uses that will promote the garden and its efforts.
To table the approval of minutes for the February Town Board meetings to allow the Town Clerk to respond to suggested changes and correct some clerical mistakes in the documents noted by Board Members Werwaiss, Simonetti and Wapner.
To accept the Town Accountant’s Financial Supervisor’s Report for February 2026, and to accept the financial abstract as presented to pay Town bills.
Public comment included an announcement that Habitat for Humanities hosted an open house for a newly-constructed 1,000 square-foot home in Valatie; the size and pricing of the home may be a good match for a buyer with limited resources and/or is a first-time homeowner.
A member of the public asked about the outcome of the Executive Session that took place on March 2. Supervisor Collins said the outcome of the Executive Session will be made available to the public at a future Town Board meeting.
Another member of the public said she has not yet received a response to a Freedom of Information request she made to the Town weeks ago. Board member Simonetti and Town Attorney Rappleyea said that there were legal issues that needed clarification, that this has been accomplished, and that the Town Clerk/Town FOIL Officer and Town Attorney are currently redacting some of the information in the material. Once this process is completed, the materials will be released as requested.
Two members of the public asked how much taxpayer money has been expended to secure a legal opinion from the Town Attorney on this outstanding Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. The case in question involves a citizen advisory committee’s work and questions as to whether personal information of survey respondents should be released along with their actual responses to the survey. Simonetti said that the Board needed a legal opinion on the matter prior to acting on the FOIL request, and said that the Town Attorney had provided that opinion. No response as to the cost of these legal services was available as the bill has not yet been generated.
The next regularly scheduled Town Board meetings are:
Town Board Workshop meeting – April 2, 2026, at 6:30 pm
Regular Town Board meeting – April 16, 2026
The agendas for these meetings will be posted on the date of the April page of the Town calendar, available here. The agenda for the meeting summarized in this article is here.
For more details, a video of the meeting summarized in this article is available here.