Podcasts about town board

The Sullivan County DA is thanking some local cops for a successful investigation that he says helped protect a minor from sexual abuse by an adult.Sull Co Deputy was awarded Deputy of the Year by the NYS Sheriffs Association. After discussing the possibility of a Right to Farm Law in Fallsburg, the Town Board is considering it.

Residents seek update to town policy in response to ICE Some residents have asked the Town Board to update a 2017 policy that limits Philipstown's cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The board approved the policy by a 3-2 vote during President Donald Trump's first administration. Two current members of the board, Supervisor John Van Tassel and Robert Flaherty, accounted for the "no" votes. The resolution ensures "equal protection" for all residents, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and/or immigration status, and forbids town employees, unless required by state or federal law, from assisting in investigations of immigration or citizenship status or participating in arrests or detentions by federal immigration officers. Employees are also prohibited from requesting, maintaining or disclosing details of immigration status. At a Town Board meeting on Feb. 5, Board Member Judy Farrell proposed amending the policy to specify that employees cannot "voluntarily disclose" identifying information about a resident without a judicial warrant or court order, and that Philipstown would notify anyone whose information is disclosed. Another amendment would prohibit immigration officers from entering "non-public court spaces" or obtaining court calendars and records without a judicial warrant or court order. Farrell said the new language was designed to protect personal data, not immigration status, which the town does not collect. "It's about requiring judicial process, which residents are entitled to under the Constitution, and to make sure our town staff aren't sharing residents' information," she said. In January 2025, the state attorney general, Letitia James, issued guidance that noted federal law does not require a local government to communicate with immigration authorities, but that a federal statute says municipalities cannot prevent employees "from sending to, or receiving from" them information regarding someone's citizenship or immigration status. Nothing prevents governments from withholding other information, said James. Van Tassel said he opposed the suggested changes. Without a police department and without jurisdiction over Philipstown's court, the measure "is not the town's responsibility" and "jeopardizes the stability and rights" of the town and its employees, he said. "We have to follow the law; we can't follow sentiment or symbolism," said Van Tassel. He noted the 2017 policy has never had to be enforced. One resident who spoke at the meeting, Dan Nobel, said: "What you're saying is, 'I can't foresee an issue where it's going to come up.' Great. You never have to deal with it," he said. "My point is, you don't know what's going to come up. These guys are nuts." Water district levy Philipstown is facing criticism from residents of the Garrison Landing Water District after it imposed a $2,500 levy on each of 20 parcels. At the Town Board's Feb. 5 meeting, property owners questioned whether they had received proper notice about the levy and if it was applied fairly. The town is collecting the annual tax to repay $500,000 it borrowed to cover district-related expenses. Those expenses included buying water when the district's well failed, fixing leaks and drilling and connecting a new well. The town plans to install water meters, which were last used there in the early 2000s, said Van Tassel. Of the six parcels owned by Garrison Station Plaza, three do not have water service, and one is "mostly submerged" in the Hudson River, said Del Karlen, the organization's president. "It's time to go back to the drawing board — do it right, do it fairly," he said. A state audit released in May 2025 calculated that Philipstown spent $2.4 million between 2018 and 2023 on the water district, shrinking the town's general-fund balance from $1 million to $53,137. Annual expenses for the district rose from $85,000 to $975,000 during the same period. Philipstown also discovered that it had mist...

Carmel residents say they fear crime, drugs A proposal to open a 24-hour drop-in crisis program in an office building off Route 6 drew both love and hate from Town of Carmel residents in public hearings. Everyone seemed to love the idea behind People USA's Stabilization Center, an urgent care for behavioral health where children, teens or adults suffering a mental-health or substance-abuse emergency could be treated and linked with services. But some people hated its location near their businesses and residences. "I have no doubt that it will help those in crisis," said one woman, identifying herself as the person attacked in October by a homeless man on a trail in Carmel. "But adding another facility that serves people in crisis so close to homes, local businesses, senior communities and the rail trail is not appropriate." The Planning Board agreed. On Jan. 28, Carmel became the second Putnam County town after Brewster to reject the Stabilization Center, delivering what may be a fatal blow to an idea championed by County Executive Kevin Byrne. In a statement, Byrne said he would reappropriate $2.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds allocated to the project. "We will continue working with providers, community partners and municipal leaders to increase public safety and expand access to care through evidence-based approaches, including but not limited to mobile crisis response and other prevention efforts," he said. Some of the people attending the Carmel Planning Board meeting applauded as Craig Paeprer, the board's chair, announced the 6-to-0 vote by its members to deny an application by People USA, which operates crisis centers in Dutchess and Ulster counties, to open one in an office building near the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center. People USA said the center would have been staffed with certified counselors, social workers and peer specialists, assisting up to eight people at a time, and would have had security trained in de-escalation techniques on-site from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. A public hearing in November began with a video shot at People USA's Stabilization Center in Poughkeepsie, which opened in 2017 as a collaboration with Dutchess County. The video showed a "hope room" where people are assessed, areas where those waiting to go home or be taken to another program can rest, read books or play games and a room for children and their families. A procession of speakers who followed the video presented different images — homeless people loitering in the nearby 24-hour McDonald's on Route 6, deputies dropping off inmates released from the Putnam County jail, discarded syringes and home invasions. The board's resolution rejecting the project cited multiple reasons, including the center's incompatibility with the area's other businesses and Carmel's "long experience with Arms Acres," a nearby residential substance-abuse treatment facility. Arms Acres and "similar programs" potentially "require a disproportionate commitment of community services, particularly police and emergency services," according to the Planning Board. Residents in Brewster invoked similar concerns as those in Carmel when they rallied in 2023 against People USA's plan to lease space above the Over the Rainbow Learning Center at a shopping center in the village, which is part of the Town of Southeast. The Town Board responded by approving in October 2023 a six-month moratorium on permits for medical and mental-health clinics, including a "mental health crisis or stabilization center." Twelve days later, residents attending a public forum on the center conjured images of intoxicated clients loitering outside, endangering children and littering the ground with drug paraphernalia. Byrne said in a letter to residents the following month that he directed People USA to abandon the Brewster location, setting off the search that led to Carmel. The organization, in its proposal to the Carmel Planning Board, said Southeast had "prejudged the application b...

Erin Tomasik, from Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and the Dairy Business Association, highlights the critical need for farmers to engage with local government boards to counter the rising misinformation about agriculture. She tells Stephanie Hoff that urban sprawl and activist-driven frameworks have led to a surge in local ordinances and restrictive regulations across western and central Wisconsin. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes that showing up to town and county meetings is just as vital for a farm's survival as participating in state or federal advocacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorneys for the Dolores Library District Board and the Town of Dolores have been working to iron out language in an intergovernmental agreement between the two entities.

Emotions were high at Tuesday night's Cheektowaga Town Board meeting as residents voiced their concerns over alleged cooperation between Cheektowaga Police and ICE. Town Supervisor Brian Nowak tells us more.

Upfront costs pose a challenge Philipstown and Cold Spring are pursuing state funding to build sidewalks on the east and west sides of Route 9D between the village, the Gateway Trail at Little Stony Point and the Washburn parking lot. But they must first find the money required by the state's Transportation Alternatives Program, which has a pre-application deadline of Thursday (Jan. 15), with finalized applications due by March 15, said Supervisor John Van Tassel during the Town Board meeting this past Thursday (Jan. 8). Philipstown would apply jointly with Cold Spring for the stretch between Mayor's Park in the village and the Gateway Trail at Little Stony Point, a project that will cost an estimated $1.5 million to $2 million, said Van Tassel. The town is also seeking a grant for a sidewalk along the east side of Route 9D from the village border to Washburn, a $3 million project. The Transportation Alternatives Program reimburses 80 percent of the costs, but the state refuses to waive a requirement that municipalities first spend their own money, said Van Tassel. "Somewhere between Jan. 15 and March 15, we need to have the money secured, or another route to finance the two sidewalks," he said. Van Tassel said he asked Putnam County if it was willing to guarantee the 80 percent outlay, but the county could not because it would need approval from the full Legislature, which is not scheduled to meet again until Feb. 3, after the pre-application deadline. The county did offer to help with engineering and the application process, said Van Tassel. The town also approached Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc. for help, he said. "So far, the answer is not 'No,' " said Van Tassel. "They need to explore more, and I understand that. They're really willing to work with us." While funding is uncertain, the Town Board approved a resolution requesting that Putnam relinquish a 0.17-acre strip on Fair Street that is part of the area where the westside sidewalk would go. Depot Theater The board approved a 99-year lease for land at the Recreation Department property where The Depot Theater wants to build a "backstage" building for props, rehearsals and classes for students interested in lighting, set construction and sound. The Depot is seeking a state grant to construct the building, which will be given to the town and leased by the theater. Philipstown has already approved a lease for the building but needed a ground lease because of the state's concern "that there wasn't an immediate possessory right to the land," said Stephen Gaba, the town attorney. "It's one of the considerations that the state has in deciding whether or not to award the funds," he said. Gas station restrictions The Town Board approved laws restricting businesses that store petroleum products from opening north of Route 301. The laws confine new gas stations and "hybrid petroleum storage facilities" — such as home heating oil companies and truck depots — that store up to 25,000 gallons of fuel between Route 301 and Philipstown's southern border on Route 9, as well as a stretch of Route 301 between Route 9 and the Nelsonville border. The changes were spurred by fears that an oil spill could contaminate the aquifer that homeowners and businesses rely on for drinking water. Philipstown also approved a townwide ban on businesses that store large amounts of petroleum products. Conservation subdivisions Philipstown set a public hearing for March 5 to hear feedback on proposed amendments to its conservation subdivision zoning, which allows developers to build at a higher density in exchange for preserving as open space portions of their properties with features such as forests, scenic views and wetlands. Under the zoning code, developers proposing four or more housing units must submit a conservation analysis to the Planning Board. If the Planning Board determines that the project may adversely affect Philipstown's rural character, it has the option of requiring that the devel...

Beacon council to stop weekly schedule For the first time in more than 30 years, the Beacon City Council in 2026 will meet twice a month instead of weekly, beginning this month. For decades, the council held two workshops and two voting meetings each month. It will now meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall on the first and third Mondays of the month. The meetings are broadcast via Zoom and YouTube. Holidays force shifts from time to time. The second meeting this month will be held Jan. 20 because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the second meeting in February will be on Feb. 17 because of Presidents Day. The council has met most Mondays (except the fourth week in months with five Mondays) since 1992, the year before Mayor Lee Kyriacou began his first of nine terms as a council member. In 2024, it began meeting twice monthly in July and August, and last year added June. "In a way, [the summer schedule] was a pilot to see if it adversely affected our ability to progress needed council business," said City Administrator Chris White, who crafts the agendas with the city attorneys, Kyriacou and Deputy City Administrator Ben Swanson. There were no significant negative impacts, White said, but perhaps some positives. The council will begin each meeting with a workshop, at which votes are not taken. He said that the change will allow city staff to eliminate some repetition when briefing the council on agenda items. The flow from the introduction of an issue to discussion to voting also might be easier for the public to track, he said. And the shift allows community and/or council members flexibility to attend meetings of the Beacon school board, held on the second and fourth Mondays, or the Dutchess County Legislature, on the second Monday. "This could actually help with public engagement in some ways," Council Member Amber Grant said on Monday (Jan. 5). "Not having to keep track of four meetings a month could be helpful. It would be really great if people were tuning in to more of the workshop discussion," and not just when votes are taken. Kyriacou noted that council members would likely work the same number of hours. "I don't know why we do it the way we do it, since we're the only community that does that," he said. In Philipstown, the Town Board meets monthly. The Cold Spring Village Board meets four times per month, with three of them considered workshops. The Putnam County Legislature meets monthly. The Beacon council agreed on Monday to make one change for its combined meetings: Public comment will be held at 7 p.m., after the call to order, roll call and Pledge of Allegiance. If a community segment (such as a presentation) or a public hearing is on the agenda, it would come next. The workshop would follow, then the voting meeting, which always concludes with a second opportunity for public comment. There is a benefit to a predictable schedule of public comment every first and third Monday at 7 p.m., Council Member Paloma Wake said. Rather than "happening after a workshop that will go on for an indeterminate amount of time," it's important, she said, to "make sure that the public has clear access to make their opinions known." The council will schedule additional meetings as needed. In most cases, state law requires 72 hours' notice before a public meeting. In an emergency, notice is required "to the extent reasonably practicable," said City Attorney Christian Gates. However, Sergei Krasikov, the newly elected Ward 3 representative, wondered Monday whether combined meetings would compel the council to make hasty decisions. "Are we trying to find efficiencies? Are we embracing four-hour meetings? Are we embracing speeding through certain items?" he asked. "I would hazard a guess that probably by about April we'll have a discussion on 'How are we doing?' " Kyriacou said. In other business on Monday, the council reappointed Kevin Byrne, John Gunn David Jensen and James Vermeulen to the Planning Board. Gunn, who has been on the board ...

Orchard Park's Town Board will hold a public feedback session, and possibly a vote, on rezoning near the new Bills stadium. Supervisor-elect Joe Liberti has the details.

Town Board also approves theater plans The Philipstown Town Board last week banned the storage of large amounts of petroleum products and approved plans for a facility that The Depot Theater wants to build at the Recreation Department off Route 9D. During its Dec. 4 meeting, the board unanimously approved an amendment to the zoning code prohibiting "petroleum storage facilities" whose products "are used for resale or other commercial redistribution purposes." Gas stations and "hybrid petroleum storage facilities" are exempt, but other proposed laws would limit those businesses to the Route 9 corridor between Route 301 and the town's southern border. The change was spurred by fears that an oil spill could contaminate the aquifer that homeowners and businesses rely on for drinking water. Under the former code, Philipstown only restricted petroleum tanks and facilities in environmentally sensitive areas if they held more than 400,000 gallons. In 2023, Krasniqi Plaza, a heating oil business that owns 3626 Route 9, proposed a project with three 29,000-gallon tanks. Its plan spurred Philipstown to pass, in December 2023, a six-month moratorium on large petroleum storage containers. When the town extended the moratorium, Krasniqi removed the storage tanks from its proposal. Another business, Misti's Properties 3070, introduced to the Planning Board in September 2024 a project with a gas station, Dunkin' and convenience store at the former Automar property. Its proposal, which came during the moratorium, is in an area where gas stations would not be allowed under the new zoning. Misti's has not returned to the Planning Board. Dennis O'Brien, speaking on behalf of residents of Glassbury Court on Route 9, said their reliance on wells supplied by the Clove Creek Aquifer, which straddles Route 9 from just south of East Mountain Road South to the Fishkill border, makes it a vital resource. "The Clove Creek Aquifer is much more important than having another gas station on Route 9," he said. Philipstown is expected to pass two draft laws confining new gas stations and "hybrid petroleum storage facilities" - such as home heating oil companies and truck depots - that store up to 25,000 gallons of fuel to Route 9 between Route 301 and Philipstown's southern border and the stretch of 301 between Route 9 and the Nelsonville border. Public hearings were held Dec. 4 but the town delayed a vote until January to correct language defining the southern boundary as "Route 202." Depot Theater The board approved a plan by The Depot Theater, which is located on Garrison's Landing, to construct a multipurpose building at the Recreation Department on Route 9D to consolidate its backstage operations and host programs in set design and construction, costume design and tech and lighting design for middle and high school students. The theater will now apply to the New York State Council on the Arts for construction funding. Once completed, the building would be given to the town. "It will be a wonderful addition to the community," said Supervisor John Van Tassel. In other business… No one responded to the initial request for proposals to succeed the retiring Stephen Gaba as town attorney. A second request will be issued with a Dec. 31 deadline. Van Tassel said he had reached out to law firms. "They said most of the younger attorneys who are coming on board don't want to do meetings at night," he said. It was the final meeting for board members Jason Angell and Megan Cotter, who did not seek re-election to second, 4-year terms and will be succeeded on Jan. 1 by Nat Prentice and Ned Rauch, who ran unopposed. Cotter said that "serving the community that I was born and raised in" has been "an honor." Angell said that there have been mornings when he's read the news and "been worried about the direction of our country. But I think one thing that always helps that worry is working with the local community."

Supports local review of Fjord Trail project New York State has rejected a claim that it should review a proposed renovation of a Route 9D events space tied to the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail, rather than the Town of Fishkill. HHFT wants to convert Dutchess Manor into a visitor's center, offices and parking for the proposed trail. The Fishkill Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on Thursday (Dec. 11) that will continue in January to hear feedback. At its Nov. 13 meeting, the Planning Board spent an hour discussing recent revisions to HHFT's plan for the site, especially concerns about traffic and parking. It also addressed arguments that HHFT should not be allowed to "segment," or separate, Dutchess Manor's restoration from the larger, 7.5-mile Fjord Trail, which is undergoing a state environmental review. Under New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act, segmenting projects to avoid a comprehensive review of its impacts "may result in legal action." In an Oct. 28 letter addressed to the Planning Board, the state parks department said that because the Dutchess Manor property is located within Fishkill, "it is appropriate for the town to analyze the potential impacts arising from its specific land use actions." The agency also said that Dutchess Manor, which is projected for completion in 2027, will have "independent utility" from the trail, which is scheduled for completion in 2031, and support the existing recreational trail system. It added that its review of the overall project will incorporate the visitor center's impact on traffic, parking and community character. Dominic Cordisco, the Planning Board attorney, called the letter "a very clear statement from state parks" and advised the board to focus "on the particulars of the Dutchess Manor proposal - this particular site - rather than the trail." Protect the Highlands, a group that opposes the trail as proposed, has been trying to convince the Planning Board that HHFT improperly segmented the project. Its president, former Cold Spring Mayor Dave Merandy, wrote in a Nov. 12 letter to the board that because state parks is leading the review of the Fjord Trail and is HHFT's "partner" in the project, its position on segmentation "isn't surprising." "That claim is flawed, as argued in the many letters and comments you have received from PTH [Protect the Highlands], PTH members, concerned neighbors and residents of the Hudson Highlands," he said. "We ask that you revisit and carefully consider those letters and comments during your deliberation." Extended discussions about segmentation and the trail's impact on traffic and residents have subsumed deliberations about HHFT's plans for the actual building, which call for demolishing three additions to the original 1868 residence and restoring the structure, which is on the national and state registers of historic places. In addition to a first-floor visitors' center with exhibit space and 181 parking spaces (including 29 for staff), HHFT's proposal calls for a store where hikers can buy snacks, water and other items, said Amy Kacala, HHFT's executive director. Food trucks would be available, along with shuttles to ferry hikers from the parking lot to trailheads. There would also be public restrooms, a lawn for picnicking and events, and new landscaping and lighting. HHFT is asking the Planning Board to approve its site plan and a special-use permit. It will also seek Town Board approval to rezone 14 Coris Lane, an adjacent residence that HHFT bought to use for its offices. HHFT said it expects Dutchess Manor to draw 36,000 visitors annually. In response to questions from Planning Board members about traffic, a representative of AKRF, a consulting firm hired by HHFT, said it projected that 85 vehicles would enter the property each weekday, rising to 154 on Saturdays and Sundays. That would constitute "an acceptable service level," even after the trail is completed, the representative said. At the board's requ...

Win supervisor, town board seats With mail-in votes counted, Democrats appear to have won the supervisor's seat and an open council member spot in Putnam Valley, giving their party control of the Town Board. An unofficial tally posted by the Putnam County Board of Elections shows Alison Jolicoeur defeating the incumbent Republican supervisor, Jacqueline Annabi, by 23 votes (1,477 to 1,454) for a two-year term. Another Democrat, C.J. Brooks, was leading a Republican incumbent, Stacey Tompkins, by 31 votes (1,536 to 1,505) for a two-year term on the Town Board. Christian Russo, an incumbent who ran as a Republican and Conservative, was re-elected to the other open seat with 1,550 votes. Jolicoeur and Brooks join Sherry Howard to give Democrats a 3-2 majority on the five-member board, which has four Republicans, when they take office in January. In another close race in Putnam County, Tommy Regan, the Republican candidate for the seat on the Legislature that represents Southeast, defeated Thomas Sprague, the Democratic candidate, by 31 votes of 2,388 cast. Regan will succeed Paul Jonke, a Republican who did not seek a fourth, 3-year term. The Board of Elections will certify the results on Nov. 29.

Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Brian Nowak on Friday's special Town Board meeting and the latest on where a budget vote stands full 222 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000 jm52uxjykMjyLqXyxmt7h4oYOtnoPYx9 news,wben,cheektowaga,brian nowak WBEN Extras news,wben,cheektowaga,brian nowak Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Brian Nowak on Friday's special Town Board meeting and the latest on where a budget vote stands Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False

TOWN BOARD The five-member Town Board, which includes the supervisor, will have three seats on the ballot on Nov. 4. John Van Tassel is running unopposed for his third term as supervisor on the Democratic and independent Philipstown Focus lines. The other two seats are held by Jason Angell and Megan Cotter, both Democrats, who were elected in 2021 but did not seek second terms. They will be succeeded by Nat Prentice and Ned Rauch, who won a four-way Democratic primary in June. Prentice will appear on the Democratic line, and Rauch on the Democratic and Philipstown Focus lines. The Philipstown Democratic Committee endorsed Rauch and Ben Cheah before the primary and subsequently endorsed Prentice. Cheah would have appeared on the Philipstown Focus line on the November ballot but withdrew. To read responses to questions posed by The Current to Prentice and Rauch before the primary, see highlandscurrent.org/town-board-2025. Because of a new state law that pushes most town and village elections to even-numbered years, Prentice and Rauch will serve three years, rather than four, with their seats on the ballot in 2028. At the same time, the supervisor position, usually a two-year term, will be on the ballot again next year. New York's highest court on Oct. 16 unanimously turned away a challenge to the law, which is designed to put town and village elections on the same ballot as national ones. TOWN JUSTICE The ballot will also include a town justice seat with one candidate, Fred Clarke, whom the Philipstown Democratic Committee nominated. A lawyer in private practice, he has lived in Cold Spring for 25 years and previously worked with the Putnam County Legal Aid Society and in marketing and communications. The seat is open because of the resignation in June of Camille Linson, who was elected to a third, 4-year term last year but moved out of the area. Luke Hilpert was appointed to succeed her until the election and has announced a write-in campaign to keep the position. The other town justice is Angela Thompson-Tinsley, a Democrat elected in 2023. COLD SPRING BOARD Mayor Kathleen Foley is running unopposed for her third, 2-year term. There are also two open trustee seats on the Village Board, which will be filled by John "Tony" Bardes and Anthony Hall, who are running unopposed. They will succeed Eliza Starbuck, who resigned earlier this year, and Aaron Freimark, did not run for a second term. Hall was appointed in July to complete Starbuck's term. COLD SPRING JUSTICE The judge's seat at the Cold Spring Justice Court is up for grabs - the ballot will not list any candidates, meaning the position will be awarded based on write-in votes. Justice Thomas Costello, who has served for 24 years, decided not to seek re-election to a seventh, 4-year term. However, he did so after an April deadline for candidates to file paperwork with the Putnam County Board of Elections to appear on the ballot. There are other ways for candidates to get on the ballot after the April deadline, such as an independent nominating petition or a being nominated following a party caucus, but no candidate took those routes. Under state law, only village residents are eligible to serve, unless the Village Board adopts a local law that expands the residency requirements. The Cold Spring Justice Court has two judges. The second, the associate judge, is appointed by the Village Board. Until June, Linson held the position, but she was replaced by Hilpert, who is campaigning as a write-in candidate for Costello's seat. This week, he received the endorsement of the Cold Spring mayor, Kathleen Foley. PUTNAM LEGISLATURE The Putnam County Legislature has nine members, including Nancy Montgomery, its sole Democrat, who represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley. She was elected in 2024 to her third, 3-year term; her seat will be on the ballot again in 2027. Each member is limited by county law to four terms. Three seats will be on this year's ballot for voters elsewhe...

Beth Farrell Lorentz currently serves on Hamburg's Town Board. She tells us her plans for the town if elected Supervisor.

Would require permits, ban parties Philipstown's Town Board received draft regulations on Thursday (Oct. 2) for short-term rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo that require annual permits, along with a ban on parties, limits on stays and requirements for off-site parking. Judy Farrell, a member of the Town Board and of the Short-Term Rental Committee it created to come up with a code governing STRs, said during the board's meeting that the group reviewed guidelines from Cold Spring and other towns but crafted regulations "specific to Philipstown." Their goals, according to the draft of a local law amending the town code, included ensuring that STRs meet fire and safety standards and avoid harming neighbors with nuisances such as noise and trash, while allowing property owners to earn income from their rentals. "It does ensure that there are safe places for people, for tourists, to stay," said Farrell who, along with the rest of the board, scheduled a workshop for Oct. 29. As drafted, the rules establish five categories of STRs, whose owners must apply annually for permits: (1) rentals in which the owner remains on the property, (2) unhosted rentals, (3) one-time rentals for up to 14 consecutive nights once a year, (4) second homes and (5) tourist homes owned by corporations. Those STRs would be confined to three zoning districts: R-1 and I-1, where owners must provide on-site parking or a designated parking area, and the B-1 district. Except for one-time lodgings, stays would be set at between two and 29 consecutive nights. Unhosted lodgings would be limited to 90 nights a year and prohibit parties and "other gatherings or events." Owners with buildings having more than one residence could only rent one as an STR but would be allowed to rent accessory buildings. They would also have to carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance and pass an annual code-enforcement inspection. Fines for violating the regulations would be $1,000 for the first offense; $2,000 for the second, with forfeiture of the permit for the remainder of the year; and $3,000 for the third, with a four-year ban on an STR permit. In other business… The board voted to extend for another six months a moratorium on the approval of oil tanks holding more than 10,000 gallons. Town attorney Stephen Gaba said newly drafted regulations governing tanks should be ready for review next month. With Gaba retiring at the end of the year, the board approved a resolution to solicit bids for the town and the Planning Board, which he also advises. The town hoped to find a replacement from Gaba's firm, Drake Loeb, "but that is not working out," said Van Tassel. Retaining the firm for the Planning Board means "moving their meeting to a different night," he said. "I have spoken with [Planning Board Chair] Neil Zuckerman about it. He's polling his board to make sure that they're OK with it." The board approved an agreement to provide ice and snow removal to Nelsonville for the upcoming winter. Van Tassel said the village received bids for road maintenance whose prices "they could not cover." The board approved a permit for a film company called Doc in a Box Corp. to shoot at the Manitou School on Route 9D. Filming will take place on Oct. 10 for a project titled Best Medicine. According to IMDB, there is an upcoming Netflix series by that name in which "a brilliant surgeon leaves Boston to become a small-town doctor where he spent childhood summers. Despite his medical skills, his rude manner alienates locals as he battles hidden phobias and struggles with personal connections."

No candidates on ballot for Cold Spring justice The judge's seat at the Cold Spring Justice Court is up for grabs in the Nov. 4 election - but the ballot will not list any candidates. The unusual circumstance arose after Justice Thomas Costello, who has served for 24 years, decided not to seek reelection to a seventh, 4-year term. However, he did so only after an April deadline for candidates to file paperwork with the Putnam County Board of Elections to appear on the ballot, and no candidate filed an independent nominating petition by a May 27 deadline or was nominated after a party caucus by a July 24 deadline. As a result, the new justice will be elected by write-in votes. (Costello's wife, Cathy, who has been the court clerk for 15 years, announced recently she will retire on Dec. 1.) Under state law, only village residents are eligible to serve, unless the Village Board adopts a local law that expands the residency requirements. The Cold Spring Justice Court has two judges. The second, the associate judge, is appointed by the Village Board. Until June, it was Camille Linson, but she moved out of the area and was replaced by Luke Hilpert, who has said he is considering a write-in campaign to succeed Costello. Philipstown also has two justices; both are elected. One was Linson, who had been elected in November to her third, 4-year term. When she resigned, the Town Board appointed Hilpert to succeed her until the election. Hilpert said he plans to run as a write-in candidate to keep the seat against Fred Clarke, a Cold Spring resident whose name will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot after he was nominated by the Philipstown Democratic Committee. (The other Philipstown justice is Angela Thompson-Tinsley, a Democrat elected in 2023.) Unlike judges at the state, county and city level in New York, town and village justices are not required to be lawyers, although they must undergo training. There are nearly 1,200 town and village courts in New York, which handle nearly 1 million cases annually, including vehicle and traffic violations, small claims, evictions and minor criminal offenses.

Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa and members of the Amherst Town Board react to the lawsuit filed over the sale of the former Westwood Country Club to Erie County full 645 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:45:00 +0000 fkD6G53m68igaZpztheZPPUK83fYq7ae news,amherst,wben,brian kulpa,amherst town board,westwood country club,shawn lavin WBEN Extras news,amherst,wben,brian kulpa,amherst town board,westwood country club,shawn lavin Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa and members of the Amherst Town Board react to the lawsuit filed over the sale of the former Westwood Country Club to Erie County Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Ne

09-02 Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa before the Town Board Public Hearing bonus 448 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:15:00 +0000 TAqKNTBxlE2YVLTuB1eDtptYjQkm7um1 news WBEN Extras news 09-02 Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa before the Town Board Public Hearing Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player

09-02 Amherst Town Board Meeting full 4310 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:15:00 +0000 YsqYsgP0sz0pJAhMPGhZvcahDDRgdElU news WBEN Extras news 09-02 Amherst Town Board Meeting Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F

Amherst Town Supervisor hopeful Dan Gagliardo joined Joe Beamer to discuss the future of the Westwood Country Club, and the Town Board meeting tonight on that very same topic, his thoughts on potential metro rail expansion in Amherst, and more.

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of August 13, 2025.We focus on two questions:ok, what just happened? What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?Discussion items: PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONSa. Proclamation: John “Jay Bird” Simonsb. Proclamation: Saumy Jani & Andrew BairosAPPOINTMENTSa. Appointments and Reappointments of Town Board and Committee MembersLICENSE TRANSACTIONSa. Pledge of License of a Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License: Santa Fe Burrito GrillLegislation for actionFY26 Budget Update - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator Model B recommended by FinCom; passed 9-0Resolution 25-53: Acceptance of Gift to the Town of Franklin to Restore Part-Time Health and Wellness Nurse Position (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-53 - Majority Vote) failed by 7-2 vote; action to find a way to fund via another method; also to develop a policy for the Town on donations and how to be usedResolution 25-54: Approval of the Installation of a Sign on Public Property in Recognition of Nello P. Bassignani; passed 9-0Bylaw Amendment 25-942: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 25-942 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote) moved to second by 9-0 voteResolution 25-55: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($1,571), Library ($970), Historical Museum ($90) (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-55 - Majority Vote); passed 9-0TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORTa. Franklin Ridge Senior Housing Complex Updateb. National Grid Smart Meter Announcementclosed with Executive Session on multiple itemsThe conversation runs about 38 minutes--------------Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E1pOkLizKc Agenda doc can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852 My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UPwTkHaZv3OVhfIpt5HqxFs-k7-sfa5S/view?usp=drive_link --------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.How can you help?If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowAnd if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We'll share and show you what and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or

08-13 Clarence Town Board meeting - Public hearing regarding e-bike safety and regulation changes full 746 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:15:00 +0000 wKw1BMXWKXFA5zUhELvszvQWtuZzAuDh news,wben,e-bikes,clarence,pat casilio WBEN Extras news,wben,e-bikes,clarence,pat casilio 08-13 Clarence Town Board meeting - Public hearing regarding e-bike safety and regulation changes Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False

Clarence Town Supervisor Pat Casilio following Wednesday's Town Board meeting over e-bike safety in the town full 426 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:15:00 +0000 UDHVEssShBuFGqE5UtgvlveQlgXuazQJ news,wben,e-bikes,clarence,pat casilio WBEN Extras news,wben,e-bikes,clarence,pat casilio Clarence Town Supervisor Pat Casilio following Wednesday's Town Board meeting over e-bike safety in the town Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News False

Town Board also approves Glassbury sales price The Philipstown Town Board on Thursday (Aug. 7) agreed to poll residents about implementing a tax on property sales in which the proceeds would be used to protect open spaces, wildlife habitats and other natural resources through land purchases and conservation easements. Ted Warren, the public policy manager for the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, informed the board that revenue for the Community Preservation Fund would be generated through a transfer tax of up to 2 percent, paid by buyers on the portion of a property purchase exceeding the median price for home sales in Putnam County. That is, if the median price is $500,000, a house that sold for $700,000 house would be taxed on $200,000. People buying homes for less than the median price would be exempt. Philipstown took the initial step toward the fund by in August 2023 by adopting a Community Conservation Plan. But Supervisor John Van Tassel said then that the idea of a new tax during the pandemic "did not settle well" with the board. In addition, said Warren, a survey of Philipstown residents conducted by the Trust for Public Land showed "a lot of ambivalence" about a fund. On Thursday, Van Tassel said the "time is right" to revisit the idea, with the goal of having a referendum ready for the 2026 general election. "There have been several parcels that this fund could have really secured for conservation protection," he said. Under the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act, a state law that gives municipalities in Putnam and Westchester counties the authority to create conservation funds, the money would be administered by a five- or seven-member advisory board of volunteer residents. Proposals to create funds in other towns have faced opposition, usually from the New York State Association of Realtors, said Warren. He said the tax could be considered an "investment" for people buying property in Philipstown. "It's a very small amount, compared to what they're probably paying for that home," said Warren. "It is a way of saying, 'You know, we're moving to this community and this is our little investment in allowing the town to have this flexibility.' " Glassbury Court At its Aug. 7 meeting, the Town Board approved a maximum sales price of $547,558 for one of the 10 Glassbury Court units set aside as affordable housing. It also agreed to waive a requirement that the buyer be approved by an "affordability consultant." Under Philipstown's approval of the Quarry Pond Planned Development District for the construction of Glassbury Court, the maximum price at which the affordable units can only be sold is capped by a formula, and buyers must be approved by the consultant. Because the town does not have an affordability consultant, it agreed to allow the owners of 11 Revolutionary Road to sell to any buyer. State parks letter A letter approved by the board will be sent to state parks and the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail raising concerns about the safety of hikers who use Fair Street and Route 9D to walk from the Cold Spring Metro-North station to the trails in the Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve. A draft written by Van Tassel originally accused HHFT of "directing the general public to walk along the shoulder of Route 9D." He agreed to change the wording after a board member, Jason Angell, noted that advisories to visitors about construction-related closures do not use those words, and that there are alternative routes. According to the letter, titled "Dangerous Condition on Route 9D Caused by HHFT," the closure of the Breakneck train station and parking north of the tunnel, and limited parking at the Washburn trailhead lot, means more visitors catch Metro-North to Cold Spring and walk through the village to the trails. Van Tassel reiterated his proposal that the state and HHFT install sidewalks on Route 9D. Nat Prentice, one of two candidates running unopposed for seats on the Town Board, said he and other volunteers at the ...

Grand Island Town Board Member Dan Kilmer on whether to shift fire dispatch out of town full 436 Tue, 05 Aug 2025 07:53:00 +0000 wUWTA73ZrlO6UXsBobgs51othr7xVDZI news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news Grand Island Town Board Member Dan Kilmer on whether to shift fire dispatch out of town Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False https

Help sought for Cortlandt Lake bacteria Philipstown Supervisor John Van Tassel agreed on July 10 to help arrange a meeting with Cortlandt and Putnam Valley officials over the fecal coliform levels that have forced the closure of the beach at Cortlandt Lake in Continental Village. Putnam County announced last month the closure of beaches at Cortlandt Lake and 13 other water bodies due to the presence of bacteria and harmful algal blooms. Most of Cortlandt Lake is located in Philipstown and Cortlandt, with a small section in Putnam Valley. Jesse Lubbers, a member of the Continental Village Park District board, told the Town Board that the Putnam Department of Health, during testing before Memorial Day, found fecal coliform levels at 30 times the limit considered safe for recreational use. Water discharging into Cortlandt Lake from Canopus Creek and Spy Pond also tested high for fecal coliform, at 10 times the limit, but the contamination "was concentrated at the beach where people go," said Lubbers. Health officials believe that Cortlandt Lake's bacteria levels are caused by failing septic systems at homes around the lake, said Lubbers. Many of those homes were built as summer cottages but are now used year-round, he said. "I have been soliciting advice from the Hudson Highlands Land Trust and others to see if we can get in a room" to discuss the source of the contamination and how it can be fixed, he said. Hudson Highlands Reserve The Town Board held off on giving its consent to the Hudson Highlands Reserve Sewage Works Corp., a private entity created to operate the sewer system serving 23 residences and a community space at the development off Route 9. Philipstown's consent is required under state law. Van Tassel said he wanted the town engineer, Ron Gainer, to review the plans. The town attorney, Steve Gaba, noted that private systems are often "set up to fail and the town winds up having to go in and take over a water system or a sewer system. That's an expensive and difficult proposition." Horton Road LLC, the developer, received Planning Board approval in March to construct homes on a 210-acre property located between Horton Road and East Mountain Road North, with 79 percent of the land set aside as open space. The homes will be clustered on 31 acres, along with two existing residences, and will be accessed from a new road. Route 9D sidewalks Van Tassel said he met with state and local officials about adding sidewalks to Route 9D between the Village of Cold Spring line and Little Stony Point Park. He noted the blacktop that begins north of Haldane's tennis courts is in "rough shape." One of the agencies represented at the meeting, the state Department of Transportation, said it lacks funding, and Van Tassel said the response from a state parks representative "disappointed" him. The Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail was invited but no one attended, he said. "We did get some ideas for grants, but solutions are a long way off," he said.

Maasik out; Cheah withdraws as independent candidate Nat Prentice and Ned Rauch won the two Democratic lines on Tuesday (June 24) for the Philipstown Town Board. Rauch, who was endorsed by the Philipstown Democratic Committee, will appear on the Democratic and independent Philipstown Focus lines. He edged John Maasik by 24 votes for the Democratic line. Ben Cheah, the other candidate endorsed by the Democratic Committee, would have appeared on the November ballot on the Philipstown Focus line but on Friday filed with the Putnam County Board of Elections to have his name removed. In a statement on Facebook, Cheah wrote that, before the primary vote, "there was a lot of speculation that Ned and I would continue on to the November election on an independent line, regardless of the primary outcome. For me, that was never the plan." He said he withdrew because "this is the healthiest choice for both the Philipstown Democratic Party and my own career" and endorsed Rauch and Prentice. Voters had to be among the 3,597 residents in Philipstown registered with the Putnam County Board of Elections as Democrats. Turnout was 31 percent. The Board of Elections said some votes remain to be counted, such as affidavit ballots filed at the two polling sites and absentee ballots postmarked by June 24 that arrive by Tuesday (July 1). The results below are unofficial until certified. Democratic Nat Prentice 631 (29%) Ned Rauch 543 (25%) John Maasik 519 (24%) Ben Cheah 467 (22%) In a statement on Wednesday, the Philipstown Democratic Committee congratulated Prentice and Rauch, thanked all four candidates and said it looked forward "to supporting our candidates in doing the good work." It added that, "as a committee, we are disappointed that our candidate Ben Cheah was not selected yesterday; we thank him for the passion, hard work and thoughtfulness for service to the town he put into this campaign." It will vote at its July meeting whether to endorse Prentice. In a statement on Wednesday, Maasik said, "I'm proud that the non-endorsed candidates combined for the majority of the votes and gave the town a choice in this election." He added: "The community deserved to have an opportunity to see all four candidates at one forum to better understand our similarities and differences, and I wish we could have made that happen." Two Cold Spring residents invited all four candidates to a June 18 forum at their home, but Rauch declined the invitation on behalf of himself and Cheah, telling Marianne Sutton and David Watson that "Ben and I are unavailable on the 18th. With just two weeks remaining until the primary, our schedule is already packed." Watson said about 25 people attended to hear Prentice and Maasik. Jason Angell and Megan Cotter, Democrats elected to the Town Board in 2021, did not seek second terms. John Van Tassel, who is running unopposed for his third term as supervisor, will appear in November on the Democratic and Philipstown Focus lines. Because of a new state law that pushes most town and village elections to even-numbered years, the winners of the two open seats will serve until 2028, or three years, rather than four. At the same time, the supervisor position, usually a two-year term, will be on the ballot again next year. Putnam Valley Jacqueline Annabi, the Putnam Valley supervisor, fought off a challenge for the Republican line from Stephanie Waters. Annabi will face Alison Jolicoeur, the Democratic candidate, in November. Republican Jacqueline Annabi 301 (54%) Stephanie Waters 258 (46%) Putnam County There will be three open seats on the nine-member Legislature, which has eight Republicans and one Democrat (Nancy Montgomery, who represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley). Each member serves a three-year term. In District 5, which includes the hamlet of Carmel and eastern Lake Carmel, Jake D'Angelo, 23, defeated incumbent Greg Ellner for the Republican line. Brett Yarris will appear on the Democratic and For the People lines...

Philipstown also approves zoning for solar Philipstown is planning to bill the Garrison Landing Water District's nine users for the first time in over a decade and require them to reimburse the town for some of the $2 million it has spent buying water and digging a new well. The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for June 24 on a proposal to borrow $500,000 for the Garrison Landing Water District, whose residents and businesses are receiving water from the new well drilled and connected at town expense when the existing wells failed. Philipstown also purchased water for the district and repaired leaks in its system to the extent that it has "basically repaired every single water line in Garrison Landing at this point," Supervisor John Van Tassel said when the board met on June 5. Now it is looking to recoup some of those expenses through the bonding, which will be repaid by water district users. "We will stretch the bond payments out for as long as we can to make it easier for them, but they will ultimately be responsible for paying back a good portion of this," Van Tassel added on Wednesday (June 11). Part of the proposed borrowing will fund meters. The existing meters have not worked in 15 years, said Van Tassel. The town did not have money for the meters, he said, and had been mistakenly told that state law prohibited billing users more than the $20,000 annually they've been paying collectively since the town acquired the system in 1998. "We will come up with a flat rate for residential use, we're going to come up with a flat rate for commercial use, and then there will be a rate per gallon for the water usage," said Van Tassel at the June 5 meeting. "Everybody will pay their fair share for water." A state audit released in May calculated that Philipstown spent $2.4 million between 2018 and 2023 to fill Garrison Landing's water needs, shrinking its general-fund balance from $1 million to $53,137. Annual expenses for the district rose during the same period from about $85,000 to $975,000, "the most significant factor of the town's financial decline," the audit said. Solar guidelines The Town Board on June 5 approved zoning for private and commercial solar systems. Under the guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for personal use can do so if they follow the regulatory process required for accessory structures, such as garages. The zoning limits the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets, and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems cannot be larger than 5,000 square feet and must be shielded from neighbors. Commercial solar farms are allowed everywhere except the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The guidelines specify that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. In addition, companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, must target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances can be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt need a plan for decommissioning, removal and site restoration.

There are four Democratic candidates for two open seats on the Philipstown Town Board - Ben Cheah, John Maasik, Nat Prentice and Ned Rauch. They will compete in a primary on June 24 for the two Democratic lines on the general-election ballot in November. Cheah and Rauch, who were endorsed by the Philipstown Democratic Committee, also filed independent nominating petitions and will appear on the November ballot on the Philipstown Focus party line regardless of the primary outcome. There are no candidates from other parties. We asked each candidate to answer four questions in a total of 500 words or less. The responses are below, presented in alphabetical order by last name. For information on voting and a link to reader endorsements, see below. What in your background makes you the best candidate? Ben Cheah: I believe that a great board member brings passion, dedication, teamwork and expertise - and I'll bring all of that to the Philipstown board. Ten years ago, my wife Megan and I chose to raise our two sons in Philipstown. We love this community and feel lucky to call it home. Both of us have always been active volunteers. I've served on the Philipstown Recreation Commission, Cold Spring Planning Board (current), as Cub Scouts Pack 137 treasurer and on the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency board. Running for Town Board feels like a natural next step - one I'm genuinely passionate about. I'm especially focused on the challenges of rising costs and tightening budgets. I plan to be hands-on with budgeting and long-term planning to help keep costs and taxes under control. I bring to the table an MBA in finance from New York University's Stern School of Business; 25 years of project management and executive experience in the film and TV industry; and a strong creative background in sound design for film, with credits on Men in Black, The Big Lebowski, The Birdcage and The Wire. John Maasik: I've lived in Philipstown for over 20 years: 10 in Cold Spring and 10 in Garrison, where my wife and I raised our two sons. I've spent thousands upon thousands of hours volunteering with community-based organizations, including the Philipstown Recreation Commission, Philipstown Soccer Club, Friends of Philipstown Recreation and Scouting America, in addition to participating in the Haldane turf field effort and the Garrison School Safety Committee. I also helped launch events such as the Castle-to-River Run and Winter Carnival, raising thousands in non-taxpayer dollars and donations for town programs. These efforts have helped me build strong relationships across Cold Spring, Continental Village, Garrison and Nelsonville. Professionally, I've led large teams and managed multimillion-dollar budgets in the private sector, experiences that have shaped my ability to listen carefully, act with integrity and lead without ego. The values that guide me most deeply come from my family's story. My parents were Estonian refugees who fled Soviet occupation after my grandfather was killed by the Russians. My grandmother brought her three children to the U.S. in search of safety, freedom and a new beginning. I was raised with a deep respect for civic responsibility, community and the promise of American democracy. Nat Prentice: Experience, experience, experience. I have had a career in finance and investments. I grew up in Garrison and moved back here 25 years ago. Since moving back, I have attended most of the Town Board's monthly meetings, so I know the commitment that is required to address Philipstown's challenges and opportunities. I helped create the Town's 2007 Comprehensive Plan, and in 2018 I was appointed chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee that published an update adopted in 2021. Working on the plan meant partnering with a multitude of people from the North Highlands to Continental Village. I know the town's goals and priorities really well. In addition, I work with emergency services (commissioner, Garrison Fire District; me...

Guidelines cover residential, commercial panels The Philipstown Town Board will hold a public hearing June 5 on a proposed law that would establish zoning guidelines for the installation of solar panels and commercial solar farms. A Climate Smart Task Force committee crafted the rules with five goals: (1) to establish a siting process; (2) lessen the cost of electricity; (3) mitigate the impact of solar systems on the environment and wildlife; (4) support the town goal of carbon neutrality; and (5) regulate the decommissioning of commercial solar projects. The conservation and planning boards, the building department and the town engineer and attorney each reviewed the proposal, said Jason Angell, a member of the Town Board and the task force, during a May 1 meeting. "All of that process is probably what took some time but made it a lot stronger." Under the draft guidelines, property owners who want to install roof- or ground-mounted systems for residential use would be allowed to do so in any zoning district. They would follow the same regulatory process required for adding accessory structures, such as garages. Philipstown would limit the height of panels on pitched roofs to 8 inches, flat roofs to 2 feet or the height of parapets and ground-mounted solar systems to 12 feet. Panels must have anti-reflective coating and ground-mounted systems can not be larger than 5,000 square feet and shielded from neighbors. The law would allow solar farms in all zoning districts except for the Ridgeline Protection District and only in the Scenic Overlay District with a special permit. The draft specifies that solar farms, "to the greatest extent possible," be installed on industrial properties; Superfund sites that have undergone environmental cleanup; mining sites; abandoned parcels; landfills; parking lots; and the roofs of commercial buildings. Removing trees larger than 6 inches in diameter "should be minimized," according to the draft law. If more than 10 trees need to be removed for a ground-mounted system, applicants would need to propose mitigation measures such as planting an equal number of trees or replacing invasive plants with native ones. In addition, solar farms capable of generating up to 5 megawatts of electricity would need 7-foot-high fencing with a self-locking gate to secure the mechanical equipment. Systems over 1 megawatt would need a decommissioning plan. Applicants would have to deposit cash or post a bond or security equal to 115 percent of the cost of removal and site restoration. Companies building community solar projects, which allow residents to buy shares of the electricity they generate, would have to target Philipstown residents for subscriptions, particularly low- and moderate-income households. Requests for variances could be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Tonawanda GOP Chairman Scott Marciszewski joins the show to discuss the Tonawanda Police Club meeting and the way the Town Board has addressed Police, and upcoming elections.

Also, council member protests Trump policies The Philipstown Town Board agreed on April 3 to form a committee to draft a permitting system and operating standards for short-term rentals such as those booked through Airbnb and Vrbo. The regulations would apply outside of Cold Spring, which approved its own code in 2021 that has yet to be enforced. The Village Board is revising the rules, saying they would have been too cumbersome. Philipstown discussed restrictions as recently as 2022, when residents complained at a Town Hall workshop about a long-running rental in Garrison. On April 3, Van Tassel also referenced a recent fire at an Airbnb in Dutchess County that killed a Cape Cod woman and her infant daughter. According to prosecutors, the rental in Salt Point did not have smoke detectors, although the listing said it did, and the hosts did not have a town permit for short-term rentals. Pledge protest Council Member Jason Angell remained seated during the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting. He said he was protesting actions by the administration of President Donald Trump that he considers unconstitutional. Reading a 2½-minute statement after the pledge, Angell said he "didn't recognize my country" when masked immigration agents arrested Rumeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University student from Turkey, on March 25. Öztürk is accused of violating her student visa. The administration has not provided a reason for the detention, but she co-authored an opinion piece in the student newspaper demanding that Tufts "acknowledge the Palestinian genocide" and divest from companies with ties to Israel. Angell also cited the Trump administration's decisions to cut funding and programs approved by Congress. Those decisions are being challenged in lawsuits. "When an elected official takes office, they take an oath to uphold the Constitution," said Angell. "What happens if a person believes their federal government is violating the Constitution? Should they pledge allegiance to their government or to upholding the Constitution?" Van Tassel said he agreed with much of what Angell said, but not with sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance. "But I appreciate your courage," he said. Angell, whose term ends Dec. 31, is not running for re-election. Town justice to resign The town approved a letter of intent to appoint Cold Spring attorney Luke Hilpert to replace Camille Linson, who plans to resign from her town justice seat in June, according to Van Tassel. Linson ran unopposed on the Democratic and Conservative lines in winning a third, 4-year term in November. She joined the court after defeating Hilpert in a Democratic primary in 2016 and Republican Faye Thorpe in the general election. She ran unopposed in 2020. Both Linson and Philipstown's other justice, Angela Thompson-Tinsley, recommended Hilpert to fill the vacancy until the November election. Under state law, the winner will serve for a full term, rather than the 3½ years remaining in Linson's term, according to town attorney Steve Gaba. Oil moratorium The board scheduled a May 1 public hearing on a law that would extend for another six months a moratorium on projects with oil tanks exceeding 10,000 gallons. Philipstown enacted the moratorium in December 2023 to give an advisory committee time to revise zoning regulations that allow tanks with a capacity of up to 399,999 gallons. Allowing tanks that large puts drinking-water sources like the Clove Creek Aquifer at risk from leaks, spills and damage from natural disasters or extreme weather, according to the town. While the draft law allows for two more six-month extensions, the committee is expected to finalize its recommendations soon, said Gaba. Depot Theatre A site near the water tower at the Recreation Department's property off Route 9D is still the optimal location for a facility the Philipstown Depot Theatre initially proposed for a town-owned parcel off Route 403, said Council Member Judy Farrell. The Depot wants to consolida...

Aurora's Town Board has passed a measure declaring deer a nuisance. Town Board member Joe McCann tells us more.

This week on Behind the Headlines, the panel discusses restrictions on public comment at Riverhead Town Board meeting; congressional town hall meetings; the reaction to racist comments posted on the Butterfly Effect's social media pages; and the Southampton School superintendent's reaction of federal DEI challenges.Joseph P. Shaw, Executive Editor, The Express News GroupBill Sutton, Managing Editor, The Express News GroupDenise Civiletti, Editor/Publisher, Riverhead LocalAlek Lewis, staff writer, RiverheadLocal.comMichael Mackey, Local Host for Long Island Morning Edition, WLIW-FM

Orchard Park Town Board member Joe LiBerti discusses the new commercial zones around the upcoming Highmark Stadium set to open in 2026 full 401 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:50:14 +0000 KI1oqCtcsFZnYStv09u1b3eaxXI1WAUn buffalo bills,news,weather,wben,highmark stadium,orchard park,a new morning A New Morning buffalo bills,news,weather,wben,highmark stadium,orchard park,a new morning Orchard Park Town Board member Joe LiBerti discusses the new commercial zones around the upcoming Highmark Stadium set to open in 2026 Collection of LIVE interviews from Buffalo's Early News on WBEN 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News

Tonawanda's Town Board voted to pursue charges against the Tonawanda Police Club, alleging some officers participated in an illegal strike by refusing to issue traffic tickets during a three week period earlier this year. Supervisor Joe Emminger explains the town's perspective.

Want more MTM Vegas? Check out our Patreon for access to our exclusive weekly aftershow! patreon.com/mtmvegas Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories This week Wynn was in the news for everything outside Vegas as they made a huge purchase in a new for them market. They also were dealt a big setback in their pursuit of a NYC casino when the Town Board voted against their proposal. Is Wynn's Hudson Yard project dead in the water and will they ever build Wynn West in Vegas? In other news Venetian and Hyatt have now started their parnetship but it isn't as good as we had hoped. We also discuss Rio's 34th birthday, the old hotel room "ick", a new Olympic Village project, Peter Luger's lunch deal, Downtown Grand raising prices, transparency in the gambler influencer space and Venetian's wicked social media dance. 0:00 Binion's Gen Z video bloopers 0:42 Kenny Chesney Vegas Sphere residency 1:50 Psychedelic Sphere looks 2:52 Las Vegas is dry! 3:39 Golden Gate turns 119 - Oldest hotel in Vegas 4:42 Golden Gate's limited edition hoodie 5:26 Voodoo Lounge reopening at Rio 6:51 Cartzilla - Giant shopping cart Vegas tour 8:25 Luxor electrocution lawsuit 10:00 Senor Frogs has exited Treasure Island 11:24 A look at Barcode Burger 12:20 Genting Palace Buffet - Best buffet value in Vegas? 13:47 Taking food out of a buffet - Do you do it? 15:30 Bellagio's Lunar New Year Display has arrived 16:56 Fontainebleau changes parking policy - Less grace period 18:31 Did Fontainebleau make a mistake with this new parking policy? Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

Want more MTM Vegas? Check out our Patreon for access to our exclusive weekly aftershow! patreon.com/mtmvegas Episode Description: As a reminder you can watch this show as well at: http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories This week Wynn was in the news for everything outside Vegas as they made a huge purchase in a new for them market. They also were dealt a big setback in their pursuit of a NYC casino when the Town Board voted against their proposal. Is Wynn's Hudson Yard project dead in the water and will they ever build Wynn West in Vegas? In other news Venetian and Hyatt have now started their parnetship but it isn't as good as we had hoped. We also discuss Rio's 34th birthday, the old hotel room "ick", a new Olympic Village project, Peter Luger's lunch deal, Downtown Grand raising prices, transparency in the gambler influencer space and Venetian's wicked social media dance. 0:00 Venetian's “wicked” social media dance 0:42 Rio turns 34 - First all suite Vegas hotel 1:33 The old hotel bed cover “ick” 2:33 Wynn purchases high-end Crown London casino 3:44 Wynn's NYC casino project hits a big roadblock 5:36 Huge shakeups at the Raiders 6:38 Hylo Park begins construction - Replacement for Texas Station & Fiesta Rancho 9:07 The myth of Circus Circus flying elephants 10:42 Bellagio's Conservatory boneyard 12:12 Peter Luger's prix fixe lunch menu 12:59 Taste of Hakassan menu - A deal? 14:02 Downtown Grand raises price of hot dog deal & cuts good video poker 15:55 Transparency from slot influencers - Tracking losses? 17:57 Troubling issues with the gambler influencer space 19:00 Venetian and Hyatt begin partnership - Good or bad? 20:44 Both Vegas Hyatt hotels are all-suite and renovated Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

Hillsborough Mayor Mark Bell spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, December 3. He discussed small businesses around Hillsborough, non-profits in the community, and more. He also talked about the agenda for next week's Town Board of Commissioners meeting, and more. The post Hillsborough: Giving Tuesday, Small Business Saturday, Upcoming Town Board Meeting appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Send us a textThis episodes dives into Sustainable Westchester and the Westchester Power Program. Sustainable Westchester is a municipally-led shared service provider that delivers climate solutions to the governments, businesses, organizations, and people of Westchester County. We are joined today by Noam Bramson, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester, Vivek Agastya, a member of the SAB, and a now regular on our podcast- who has been been advising the Town Board with regard to our Town's participation in the Westchester Power program. 

Amherst resident Andrea Morgante files complaint with the state over Town Board audio

In this episode, U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro investigates the sudden closure of the Sullivan County Head Start Program. The Town Board of Mamakating discusses clean energy initiatives and LED street lamp conversions. Former Highland Town Supervisor Donald Jeff Haas and current Town Board member Tom Migliorino are involved in a physical altercation, resulting in charges being filed. Forestburgh residents object to a newly imposed fee for short-term rentals, sparking tensions at a town meeting. Forestburgh implements a property tax incentive to attract and retain volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers.

The Ignacio Community Library invites you to join the second annual fundraising gala, Denim and Diamonds, featuring local art, artists, and food. With winter in full swing, the Repair Cafe has moved to the first Saturday of the month to keep library staff, volunteers, and participants safe. With the recent snowfalls, Ignacio School District 11-JT is asking parents and guardians to make sure contact information is up to date in the event of a snow day, and packets for Town Board seats are available for pick-up at Town Hall for the April municipal election. By Hannah Robertson. Watch this story at www.durangolocal.news/newsstories/ignacio-monthly-roundup  This story is sponsored by Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers and 2180 Lighting and Design Studio. Support the show

A proposed senior center for the Town of East Hampton comes with a $31.6 million price tag, and the Town Board is considering exercising its right to exempt itself from zoning and move the senior center forward without regulatory review. Some skeptics have spoken up recently to urge the town to take a more measured approach, legally and financially, and make sure everything they are proposing is justifiable and done smartly. Reporter Michael Wright joins the editors on the podcast this week to discuss the project and where it stands.

It's the first show of 2024 and it's Joe Beamer opening up this year's slate of programming by talking about tonight's Amherst Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. and hearing from some Amherst residents about what's going on with that, as well as other topics such as the 11.4% property tax hike in Amherst, the new rates for tolls on the thruway, and what were people talking about at your holiday gatherings?

In this episode, Tourism Triumphs: Join us as we celebrate the success of Sullivan County's tourism industry, with revenues soaring to over $894 million! Discover the individuals and organizations honored for their outstanding contributions. ⚖️ Legal Saga: Explore the courtroom drama surrounding Sullivan County businessman Daniel "Butch" Resnick, sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in a money-laundering scheme. A cautionary tale of how legal troubles can touch even community pillars.

In this episode, School Safety Alert: Uncover the gripping details of a bomb threat at Monticello Central School District, its swift resolution, and the crucial reflections on emergency procedures. Holiday Magic in Hurleyville: Experience the joyous atmosphere as Hurleyville transforms into a winter wonderland during its annual celebration, bringing the community together in festive spirit. Remembering Rosalynn Carter: Take a moment to reflect on the legacy of former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter, known for her warmth and shared moments with the community. Musical Triumph: Celebrate the musical achievements of local students, including Eldred High School's talented flute player, recognized in the New York Zone 9 Area All-State Symphonic Band. Community Pillar Farewell: Bid farewell to Frank Hahn, a 60-year member of the Callicoon Fire Department, as the community gathers to celebrate his contributions and service. Local Political Decision: Explore the complexities of a Town Board decision regarding a planned development project and the discussions around information sufficiency. Legal Update on Howard Braunstein: Get the latest on Liberty car dealer Howard Braunstein's sentencing for PPP loan fraud, a case with significant community impact. County Budget Concerns: Dive into the intricacies of the 2024 Tentative County Budget, where health insurance rate increases pose challenges, and community involvement is paramount.