Tuxedo Park FYI | Town Board

The Town Board met on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Councilmember Murphy was absent.

Public Hearing: Short Term Rental Local Law-
Supervisor English opened the hearing, commenting that the Town Board has been “wrestling” with the issue of short-term housing. “We don’t have any set ideas completely yet. We have a proposed local law but we are here to listen to the public and try to come up with a remedy that moves Tuxedo forward but also addresses the realities of what’s happening in this market with short-term rentals. Communities from New York City all across the nation are trying to deal with this. We’re going to do our best. We’re all homeowners and property owners here too…so believe me….I want to try to get this right. We’re not going to rush through this process just to check a box.”
Sharon Radulov of Susan Court was the first speaker. She began by saying that she and her husband are whole heartedly against issuing short- term rental permits in the Town of Tuxedo. While she understands that the Board may believe that regulating these rentals would be better than doing nothing, she feels there is another option, which is to follow in the footsteps of the Village of Tuxedo Park by passing a law to prevent short term rentals entirely. She questioned why those Board members who live in the Park would want anything less than this for residents of the Town. She referenced several stipulations as spelled out in the Village law and suggested that the Town should copy it. She further suggested that the draft law as proposed was unenforceable. She wondered who was going to police the houses to ensure that the proposed 180-day time limit was being enforced.    She feels that the Town should be protecting their residents, not regulating them. There is a large home in her neighborhood that has not been permanently occupied for more than two years. The owners have moved out of State and seem to be unable to sell the property. As a result, they have been leasing and renting it to various tenants including, for a short time, a nursing home. She is confident that whatever time limit the Board decides on, her neighbor will rent the property accordingly. “If the Town Board allows short-term rentals of two days per visit, that is exactly what we can expect our neighbor to have. If the Town Board allows 180 days of renting, then we can expect 180 days of transient occupants as our new neighbors.” Ms. Radulov went on to caution that, in her view, the proposed law was in direct conflict with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, which envisions a tranquil and peaceful existence in these areas. She questioned why certain zones had been chosen while others were spared. She suggested that the Special Recreation Zone would be a more a more appropriate place for this type of thing than the Conservation Zone. She also feels that the Tuxedo Town Center might be a more appropriate area as it is along the Route 17 corridor and would be less effected by noise and traffic. “The chosen zone seems misguided at best,” she stated. Next, she wondered if the Town was prepared to hire more personnel to regulate the rentals or increase the salaries of those already on staff, concluding that if passed, the law would ultimately create a tax burden for residents. After voicing a plethora of additional concerns, she concluded by suggesting that if the Town Board felt the need to go forward with the law, rather than to vote on it as a Board, they should add it as a referendum to the next election ballot so that the residents could be the ones to decide.
Mary Hanson of Bramertown Road and a former long term Planning Board member, said she agreed with Ms. Radulov’s comments and cautioned that what was being proposed would change the zoning of R1, R2 and C zoned properties from residential to commercial. “Think about it! People will be able to run a commercial establishment. You are opening up a can of worms.” She went to express concern over the types of people who might occupy the rentals, wondering how they would even know if an occupant were on the sexual predator list. She further wondered if the Town would receive any sort of fiscal benefit. “Are we gonna get anything? Probably not!” She noted that she had been watching the Red Apple Rest fall apart for years while the Town has done nothing about it. “Last week, a whole side of it fell over! I’ve been watching that for two years! Does the Town do anything about that? That terrible eyesore. No, that’s on the northern side of Town. You people who live down here, you don’t care! Be careful what you’re doing! Why are you doing this and why are we just finding out about it?” She ended by stating that she felt what was being proposed was very scary and she wondered why other sections of Town had not been selected.
Barbara Vozza of Alma Court said she’d run an Insurance Agency in Park Ridge, NJ for many years as well as working in real estate and to her knowledge, this kind of property (short-term rental) is very difficult if not impossible to insure. These types of rentals have been prohibited in many communities. “The damage that these people do to your home. is unbelievable,” she stated, further suggesting that property’s value would decrease if the law were passed.
Lauren Miranda of Benjamin Meadow Road wanted to know where the idea for this legislation had come from.
Anthony Maletti and Kristin McInerny of Woods Road who live across the street from an active Air Bnb, stated that they are completely against the proposed legislation. He suggested that there would be nothing to regulate if they simply prohibited the practice of short-term rentals. A number of communities have prohibited them already and he urged the Town to do the same,    They added that they have seen as many as 9 cars parked on their road in association with the house across the street and that people come and go from there with regularity. There has been garbage and there have been issues resulting in visits from both the police and the ambulance. “I have children. I moved to Tuxedo for that environment. Not to have people coming in and out that I don’t know. It’s wrong and you’re not thinking of the safety of the people in our neighborhood.”
Claudia Bakhtiary of Fawn Hill Rd said she was confused because Air Bnbs already exist in her area of Town. She was hoping the law would be some sort of tool to help control them. I wasn’t aware that it was an option to do away with the short-term rentals altogether. She would like to hear more from the Town Board about this.
William Lynch of Clinton Road read a statement into the record. He strongly opposes the proposed law and disagrees with the premise that it protects and ensures the safety and quality of life for current residents. He and his family were attracted to Tuxedo for its tranquility and community and never imaged the possibility of living next to a short-term rental. He expressed concern over trash, traffic, parking and noise, further suggesting that the residents of Clinton Woods have already been dealing with these issues.   “Calls to the police mostly just go to voice mail and when they arrive it’s virtually too late to be actionable.” Safety is also a serious issue as thorough background checks are not completed on the individuals renting the properties. Additionally, there are not regulations covering pets. He urged the Board to be transparent with the community, furthering wondering why this had suddenly become an issue now. “The Town attorney has recused himself to avoid conflict of interest. Can all Board members attest that they have no direct interest, rental ownership or investment in an associated company or indirect benefit, potential revenue or business services based on passing of this law?” He wondered why it was being implemented in an area that should be protected rather than those areas where many of the Board members who would be voting reside. Has a cost benefit analysis been completed? Will first responders be available late at night, early in the morning or on weekends to respond to disturbances? Will they need to hire more officers or extens what are the current Town minimum liability insurance thresholds? Noting that he appreciated the opportunity to voice his views, he commented that he did not think the proposed law was in the best interest of the Town and that ultimately it would make the community less desirable.
Jo Ann Tuttle of High Hill Rd stated she agreed with what everyone else was saying. She reiterated that there are safety and noise issues. “It goes against everything that most of us have moved here for, which is the peace and quiet.” There are currently 2 of these houses in Laurel Ridge. “There’s no way to effectively monitor who, what, when and where these people come from and we don’t know if they are using drugs or traffic drugs! That’s another consideration.”
Bronwyn Roantree of West Lake Road expressed her concern that taking away housing from potential full-time residents with kids could further doom the already small Tuxedo School District.
Daria Bekersky of Clinton Rd remarked that she concurred with everything that had already been said, further reiterating that this should not be voted upon by the Board, but rather by the residents who had moved here seeking a quality of life that they don’t want to see ruined by short-term rentals.
Barbara Vozza wondered what would happen if people from their neighborhood petitioned to form an HOA, and then chose to outlaw short term rentals.
It was pointed out to her that one already exists and further suggested that a meeting be called.
Mary Hanson commented that 2 months ago there had been an FBI raid on a house in Benjamin Meadow Road that resulted in a huge drug bust. The house was a rental. “This is shocking for our neighborhood,” she added reiterating that the law should not even be considered.
Marie Warniaha of East Place agreed with everything that had previously said. She wondered whether the Town Board had considered Tuxedo’s limited police force.

Some people are asking “why now?” Supervisor English noted. “Why now? A lot of it has been triggered by complaints that have been received by the Town Board and we’re just trying to figure it out!” He reiterated that the proposed law is their attempt to deal with the problem and that no decisions have been made. This hearing was one of the first steps in the process The Board wants to hear from residents.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott further explained that the Board has received complaints and that they have been looking for a way to rein in or control the existing short-term rentals. The Town code currently doesn’t speak to them at all. There is a weak line of defense which identifies the fact that the use is not covered by zoning and therefore should not be allowed. This has been brought up by the Town’s council and it has been an issue in other communities. “Short-term rentals are so ubiquitous that they are starting to fall under the catch all other common uses to this principal use. Also, there is some suggestion that short term rental is residential by its very nature and without some sort of regulation on it, it can’t be regulated.” He suggested that the proposed legislation was their attempt to regulate these kinds of rentals without banning them altogether because some people have said they might be a good idea.

Following some additional comments, Supervisor English thanked all of those who had spoken before adjourning the hearing to September 25 at 7 pm.

Discussion Items:
Update regarding Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Corps Property Tax Exemption Proposal – New York State has proposed a new law for exemptions for first responder volunteers. In order for the law to take effect, all of the taxing authorities must first pass it. Tuxedo has seven different taxing authorities: Orange County, the Fire District, The Village of Tuxedo Park, Tuxedo Union Free School District, Monroe Woodbury School District, the Tuxedo Park Library and the Town of Tuxedo. Orange County and the Tuxedo School District have already passed the law. The Board passed a resolution introducing a local law to cover the exemptions with a public hearing set for Wednesday October 11 at 7:30.
United Solar Permit Application – a local law entitled “New York State Unified Solar Permit Implementation” was formally introduced and a public hearing set for October 11 at 7 pm.
Schedule Hamlet Revitalization and Beautification Workshop – The workshop was scheduled for October 2 at 7:00 pm.
Duck Cedar Plaza Letter of Support for MTA Sewer Proposal – The Board agreed unanimously to sign the letter as the sewer system for the Plaza needs to be increased and in order to do that they will need to run it underneath the railroad tracks.
Parks and Recreation Local Law – This is an ongoing discussion. Fees for new construction (subdivisions) need to be discussed. The fee is currently $1500, but it hasn’t been revised since 1996. The Board must continue to discuss in order to determine what the next steps will be.

Agenda Items:
Resolution to approve RFP for Ford F250 truck for Highway Department – This will include a spreader, plow and salter. It was approved unanimously.

Department Updates:
Monthly Reports
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his crew had finished blacktopping and cleaning up some berms. Next they will be busy with drain clearing and then leaf pickup. The dirt pile screening has been completed for the year. Now, they need to deal with the rocks.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced the mobile DMV would be at the Eagle Valley Firehouse on Tuesday, September 12 from 10am-12pm and 1:00-3:00 pm.

Town Board Updates
Councilperson May announced that Congressman Pat Ryan would be at the Library on Tuesday September 12 from 2:30 – 3:30 pm.
Councilperson Lindsay reported that she would be participating in a conference call for a Community Choice Aggregation Update on Thursday, September 14. She will also begin doing a deep dive into the Town’s monthly utility Bills.

Minutes:
The minutes of the regular Town Board meeting held on August 23 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola reported that the Building Inspector had come to his house with a folder detailing all the work that has been done on his house. There was only one thing mentioned, which was Jerry’s sunroom. Since there weren’t any other permits or applications, Jerry wondered if he could have an as built permit issued.
Deputy Supevisor Reichgott responded that he would like to take closer look in order to make sure there wasn’t anything else but that he thought something could be worked out.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 28, 2023 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

The meeting began with a report from Police Chief John Trazino who noted that the opening weekend of the Renaissance Faire had gone very smoothly with the new traffic guards working well.
Next, he announced that he is proposing the creation of a new multi-municipality Search and Rescue Team to be made up of members of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department, the Tuxedo Park Police Department and the Greenwood Lake Police Department. The Town already works with these departments in emergencies but forming the committee would give them the ability to train together so that they could in turn better respond to emergencies and coordinate their participation. The Chief is looking to schedule the first training with the Forest Rangers in the end of September.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the Orange County Clerk will be bringing the mobile DMV unit to the Tuxedo Town Hall on September 1. They will be available to residents from 10am to 12noon and from 1pm to 3:30pm. Next, she reported that school tax bills will be coming out soon. These will come from the school district and can be paid there, but not at the Town Hall. Finally, she noted that Town Hall will be closed on Monday September 4 in celebration of Labor Day. Garbage will be picked up on September 5 and garbage and recycling will be collected onSeptember 8 that week.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott reminded everyone that the Town Board had passed an “as built permit law,” earlier this year. When the law was passed, it came with a moratorium until January 1, 2024 meaning that there would be no violations charged to anyone caught doing work on their house without a permit until that date. As of January 1, the moratorium will be over and after that if anyone is caught, they will be charged whatever the normal fee would be PLUS a $2000 fine for having done work without a permit! He then reminded everyone that the days were getting shorter and he hopes that people who are out walking will wear appropriate clothing that makes it easier for motorists to see them.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that the Climate Smart Community Task Force has taken the summer off, but they will be starting up again in September. Anyone who wants to join the group would be welcome. The group is planning for a table at the Farmers Market to focus on recycling and provide information about what can and cannot be recycled. Next, she reported that she had recently attended a webinar on the New York Forward program at which it had been suggested that when working on Town revitalization projects and the like, the Town should not just ask people what they wanted to see in Town but WHY they want to see it. The thought was that this line of questioning would yield better information. She and Councilmember Murphy have been working on the Greenway Study grant and as such are putting together an updated list of current and vacant businesses in Town. They also had a follow up meeting with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and will be producing a report for the Board detailing what the Town can and cannot do along Route 17 with respect to sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
Councilmember May has been working on the upcoming Fall Festival which will take place on October 22. She also noted that she is waiting for one final bill to arrive for this year’s summer camp and then will have a report on the financials for the next Town Board meeting.
Councilmember Murphy reported that aside from the forementioned work with Councilmember Lindsay she has been working with Town Clerk Dollbaum to produce a segmented email list which will allow them to target emails to people for different subject matters. They will be utilizing Constant Comment for this and as they cannot use the current email list with that system, they will be sending out an email asking people to please respond and let them know which things they would be interested in hearing about.

Minutes of the regular Town Board meeting held on August 14 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola expressed his concern that the men working on the train station were going to take down electrical cords. He was assured that they would not be doing this.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 14, 2023 at 7:00 pm. All members were present, with Councilperson May attending remotely.

Next, the Board went into Executive Session to seek advice from Town Attorney Howard Protter regarding two lawsuits. When they returned to the meeting 25 minutes later, they introduced a Resolution Settling of Tax Certiorari Claim. In summation, Tuxedo Farms commenced a tax certiorari proceeding against the Town in an effort to lower the taxes on their currently vacant land. The Board felt this action was triggered by the additional number of units they are now allowed to build and also because they now have special permit approval. After meeting with the Town Attorney, the Board agreed to lower the assessed value of the land, which is currently vacant, by $958,751. Once units have been built, taxes can and will go back up.

New Business:
Porta-potty rental for Train Station/Farmers’ Market- The Train Station renovations are set to begin on August 15 and will last for approximately 2 months. The building will be closed to the public for the duration of the renovations. During that time, the Farmers’ Market will be open and those businesses have been using the bathrooms in the Train Station. The Board agreed to rent 2 porta-potties (one should be handicapped accessible) for 2 months at a cost not to exceed $1000.

Department Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that she has been issuing lots of parking permits along with the usual marriage licenses and dog licenses. She also announced that Orange County will be holding a Hazardous Waste Collection Event on September 30 from 9 am to 1 pm at 401 Washington Street in Newburgh. Among other things, they will accept paint, fluorescent bulbs and pharmaceutical waste. She will put the flyer on the Town website.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department has been busy putting salt in the salt barn as well as working on the dirt pile, screening material every day and patching roads and fixing curbs around Town. They have also just finished a drainage job in Clinton Woods. There is no more compost available for residents, but mulch can still be found in the parking lot of Quarry Field.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor Ken English reported that the renovations to the Tuxedo Train Station would start on August 15 and continue for approximately 2 months. During that time, there will be no public access to the Train Station. Progress continues for all three LDC grant recipients, Augusta Properties, Karlyn Realty and the Tuxedo Historical Society. The Town has also submitted a proposal for the Train Station project. They are seeking $140,000. Finally, he announced that Town auditor, Cooper Arias, has received the final information necessary to complete the 2022 audit. A draft is expected soon. Additionally, they are preparing a summary of the 2023 year to date activity for the Board to review.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott noted that he had spent most of his time working on the Short-Term Rentals law. There is still more work to be done. He also reported having spoken to the Department Of Transportation regarding a request from Jerry Mottola to close off lanes on Route 17 on weekends when the Renaissance Faire is open so that residents can get in and out of their properties with relative ease.
The DOT informed him that this would not be possible.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that she, along with Councilmember
Murphy and Highway Superintendent Dollbaum had met with the DOT in Poughkeepsie. She has requested a workshop meeting to go over what they learned and how this can relate to plans for the future of the Hamlet district. Additionally, the same group met with representatives of the MTA who outlined their plans for installing a signal at the intersection of Route 17 and East Village Road. Finally, she suggested that she would like to explore the idea of appointing a Conservation Advisory Committee, which is already established as a part of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. Deputy Supervisor Reichgott commented that he would want to see reports with all the details of why the Town should appoint this committee as well as the proposed scope of work before he considered voting on it. Councilmember Murphy spoke about having the Town establish an account with Constant Contact, which is a service that manages emails. This would be a way to improve communications with residents. The cost of the service would be $900/year.
Councilmember May thanked all of the people who had helped with this year’s Summer Camp program including Recreation Director Kathleen Metcalf and her staff, Assistant Camp Leader Craig Jacoby and all the counselors, lifeguards and CITs. Next up for Town Recreation will be the Fall Festival on October 21. This event will take the place of Family Fun Day. The idea is to have an event that will hopefully attract all residents and not just families with small children.

Minutes of the regular Town Board meeting of July 24 were approved with Supervisor English abstaining because he didn’t attend.

Public Comments:
Dale Mottola commented that she had been in the Library recently where she heard that they were being impacted by commuters and people from the Farmers Market using their restrooms.

Discussion:
Parks and Recreation Law
Councilmember May requested that they defer this discussion as she is the Board member who has been handling recreation and she is currently on vacation until the middle of the week. The Board agreed to do that but had a preliminary discussion anyway. Town Attorney Protter suggested that the Board needs to decide whether they want to establish more rules and regulations for the parks and recreation program that is currently in place or if they want to create a new department. They need to decide on what direction the discussion and the subsequent action will take. Supervisor English commented that he was not ready to add any staff at this point. Councilmember May stated that she thought the Board needed to be thinking of the future because with Tuxedo Farms coming, there will be lots of new people and with them come new needs for recreation. Deputy Supervisor Reichgott said he thought the Town Board should work to establish the framework for how the department will grow. Supervisor English commented that to date a lot has been accomplished with volunteers and seasonal employees and he felt that these same people might be able to help any advisory board that would be appointed.
The discussion will be continued at the next Town Board meeting.

The Town Board met on Monday, July 24, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Supervisor English was absent and Councilperson Lindsay attended via Zoom.

At this point Councilperson May interjected to thank Library Director Diane Loomis for loaning an internet hot spot to the Summer Camp staff for 2 weeks so they could communicate with each other during drop off and pick up.

Other Business:
Councilmember Lindsay asked for clarification on what is needed from the Town Board regarding the wetlands permit for the Skyview Skylights project, which is currently before the Planning Board. She said she wanted to make sure that the applicant paid an application fee for a
Wetlands Permit if they were going to apply for one.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that she had had a visit from a Sloatsburg Food Pantry Volunteer, who mentioned that they are in desperate need of reusable grocery bags. For anyone wishing to donate, these can be left at Village Hall in Tuxedo, St. Mary’s Church, Tuxedo Town Hall or Sloatsburg Town Hall. Additionally, she reported that Orange and Rockland has a program which allows them to monitor customers during power outtages. To register call 877-434-4100. They will also provide a number for a dedicated line to report power problems.

Town Board Reports:
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott noted that he had been busy working “behind the scenes” and thus had no formal report.
Councilmember May reported that the Recreation Department will be holding Tuxedo Fall Festival in place of Family Fun Day this year. The reason for the change is that they want to attract everyone in the community to attend and they feel that primarily those families with young kids were attending the Family Fun Day event. She further reported that the Town’s Summer Camp program has been going very well “The kids are having fun and really loving it!” she added.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she, along with Councilmember with Lindsay and Highway Superintendent Dollbaum had attended a meeting with the DOT to discuss future plans. The Town’s request to redesignate a School Safety Zone has been denied. However, they were told the Town could put up signs and lights if they wish to do so. When inquiring about getting permits for sidewalks, they were told that the Town would need to meet state standards and unfortunately Tuxedo does not have enough property in several places to qualify. Also, the request for a crosswalk across Route 17 at Hospital Road “doesn’t look good,” because there is not enough pedestrian traffic.” If the Town were to put these things into their Comprehensive Plan, then the State would have to go along with them. As it is however, the state doesn’t want to put in a Complete Streets program because Tuxedo’s streets are not wide enough. Finally, they were told that the DOT has no plans for a “Road Diet,” but if the Town were to do all the groundwork and then apply, they might give them permission to do it themselves. When asked why Sloatsburg was able to do all these things, but not Tuxedo, the answer was that because Sloatsburg is a Village (and not a Town) things are different there.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that the Town has completed the investment of Town Funds in Chase Bank Certificates of Deposit (CDs) as follows:
$5 million for 30 days @ 4.69%
$2 million for 90 days @ 4.73%

Interest earnings for the initial 30 days will be $27,050.
The Town intends to renew the CDs upon maturity. The amounts and maturities will depend on cash flow analysis.

Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting on July 10 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola asked if it would be possible for the police to put up traffic cones on weekends so that residents who live on roads off of Route 17 would have extra space to turn on and off of their streets. This has been hard due to the additional traffic resulting from the Sloatsburg “road diet.” He was told that the Board would look into it. Next, Mr. Mottola wondered if the Town would ever consider revisiting the “Town/Village” configuration. He was told that the Town had been told pretty convincingly by the Comptroller that this could not happen.

Discussion Item:
Proposed Short-term Rental Local Law- The Board continued this discussion. The plan is to develop a draft proposal for a local law, which would then be considered and the subject of a public hearing. Among the topics for discussed were the creation of a house policy to be displayed on the property, quiet hours (9pm-8am on weekdays and 10pm-9am on weekends), number of vehicles allowed per renter, the location of parking for renters, number of guests allowed for renters, maximum occupancy, digital monitoring of property and requirements for sufficient lighting in all recreational areas. It was decided that the Building Inspector would be responsible for doing a compliance inspection.

The Town Board met on Monday, July 10, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Councilmember Murphy was absent.

The meeting began with Commendation Awards given to Tuxedo’s Daisy Troop #40264. The girls donated their profits from cookie sales to the St. Mary’s fundraiser for Summer Camp, which helped fund the program for those families who could not otherwise afford to send their children.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Nick Balistreri inquired as to the details of the Highway Department floor project. He was informed that the work essentially entails spot patching to the floor.

Other Business:
The Board accepted a bid for a Ford F-550 truck with dump/salter/plow at a cost of $91,082.50. This bid, from Healy Brothers was the only one received. The truck is ready for delivery.

Department Updates:
Recreation Coordinator Kathleen Metcalf reported that Summer Camp had been operating for 4 days and is going well. There are 88 campers. The only “glitch” has been with the Bclutch app which she and the staff had intended to use to track camper drop-offs and pickups. The app has not been working properly as the wifi service in the GGM building is unreliable. For the moment, they have counselors with clipboards and walkie talkies handling the coming and going of campers, but they are hoping to borrow a “hotspot” so they can use the app as intended. She also reported that they had their first field trip last Friday, taking 55 campers bowling. This coming Friday, they will visit The Castle Fun Center.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department has been busy cleaning up from the storm. Thankfully, there was no significant damage here in Tuxedo. Aside from that, they are still patching roads in Laurel Ridge and have completed a dirt relocation project at the Highway Garage. Elyse Fuller of 40 Circle Drive inquired as to when and how the Town would be dealing with the the flooding issues that have been existing in her neighborhood for almost two years. Highway Superintendent Dollbaum responded that he believed the flooding had come from a private residence and that this is what had caused the damage. The department was on the site 3 or 4 times and the offending property owner was told what he would need to do to clean it up. “If he hasn’t cleaned it up,” he continued, “the Town is not going to clean up his property or stop that. As far the berm that you wrote that we never put up….we did put up berms by your house. You know we did.”

Superintendent English asked Supervisor Dollbaum to briefly detail some work his department had done uphill from the property in question several years back, which he did. That system is working. He suggested that the water Ms. Fuller is talking about is runoff coming from from the mountain behind her house. The neighbor in question removed pipes from his property and rerouted this water.

Board member Jay Reichgott asked Ms, Fuller whether or not she had done any work to her property to relieve the fact that the grade slopes directly to her house. “Have you create a swale along your property to divert the water before it reaches your house?” He inquired. “As a property owner you also have a responsibility to maintain your own property to divert water,” he cautioned.

There followed some further back-and-forth with Ms. Fuller indicating that she believed her family had been at risk as a result of the situation and that the responses she had received from the attorney to date incited that she needed to take the issue up with her neighbor but she feels that the Town is partially responsible. “You are a public servant and it is a courtesy to reply to an email,” she admonished. “I am not filing a lawsuit here. I realize that you are concerned about litigation and what not. I would like help.”

Discussions:
Proposed Short-term Rental Local Law:
Using a law from another municipality as a guide, the Board began discussing what they would like to see in a short-term rental law. At this point, they are thinking that short-term rentals will only be available for properties with single family detached dwellings and no more than one rental per lot. A resident will have to apply for a permit which will be renewable annually. Only 2 short term rentals per person will be permitted. Further discussion is needed. Some things to think about moving forward: should rental be restricted to a limited number of days per year? 180 days has been suggested but other numbers will be discussed. The full discussion can be viewed on the Town’s You Tube Channel (below from 55.22-.51.28) and the discussion will be continued at future meetings.

Investment Options for Town:
The current Town Investment Policy dates back to 1994 and needs to be updated. Among other things, the Comptroller’s list of permitted investments now includes commercial paper and the Town policy needs to include that. Councilmember Lindsay was asked to look into NY Class, a cooperative purchasing group for investments, which the Village of Tuxedo Park has recently enrolled in. Town Attorney Protter has also suggested that she explore Treasury Direct, which deals with Treasury bills and commercial paper. Councilmember Lindsay also spoke with Betsy Davis at Chase Bank about certain investments (mostly certificates of deposit) which might be available and has reached out to Andrew Girard who deals in treasury bills and commercial paper at Chase.
Supervisor English noted that upon looking at the current Investment Policy, he had discovered that the Town Supervisor is given authority to make investments for the Town without any further discussion with the Board.
After a lengthy discussion, it was determined that the Board would take a deep dive into the current Investment Policy. Supervisor English and Councilmember Lindsay will also meet with Town Finance Director Carey Alley to discuss what changes should be made. They are hopeful that they will be able to continue the discussion and possibly even bring it to a conclusion at the next meeting.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that there are two Police Officer in the final hiring process. The Board also voted unanimously to hire the six seasonal traffic agents. These agents will be used for traffic generated by the Renaissance Faire and will be under the control of the Tuxedo Police Department (although they will be paid for by the Faire.) The contract for work on the Tuxedo Train Station has been awarded to Tam Enterprises of Goshen. A pre-construction meeting with Town Engineer Sean Hoffman and the Supervisor has been scheduled for July 13. Site Visits to Augusta Properties, the Tuxedo Historical Society and Karlyn Realty were conducted and all three met the criteria for the second grant disbursement. Moving on, the Supervisor reported that the Town of Tuxedo’s checking accounts are in the process of being converted to interest bearing accounts yielding 2.3% interest. This will be effective August 1, 2023. The Supervisor further noted that he had toured several neighborhoods to inspect the aftermath of the recent torrential storm and found the Highway Department diligently cleaning storm drains. The Board is still looking for a contractor who specializes in the relining of sewer lines and manholes that feed the sewer plant. Three companies are currently being considered.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that she had met with the MTA to discuss their plans for a streetlight crossing at Route 17 and East Village Road, which would then connect to one of the entrances to the Village of Tuxedo Park. She and Councilmember Murphy gave their thoughts to the MTA, who will go back and try to revise their plan to incorporate some of their ideas. They will then return with a revised plan, which Councilmembers Lindsay and Murphy will present at a future Town Board meeting. The Councilwomen have also been talking with Senator Skoufis, who is very interested in the construction and funding of pocket parks. They are proposing that he consider a pocket park for Tuxedo on the property just beyond the Town Commuter lot where the Town’s Christmas tree is located. They will meet with landscape architects who specialize in this kind of park and subsequently present those ideas to the MTA, who would be the ones constructing the park. On July 20, the Councilwomen also will meet with the DOT (Department of Transportation) to discuss a road diet for Tuxedo, complete streets and sidewalks and a crossroad at Hospital Road.

Minutes – Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on June 24 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David would like to see a stream gauge installed in the Ramapo River so residents and others would have data when a big event like the recent flooding occurs. Supervisor English told her that he would look into it and follow up with her.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7 pm. All members were present with Councilmember Lindsay participating remotely.

The originally scheduled Commendation to the Daisy Troop was postponed to the next Town Board meeting due to the weather.

Police Detective Stefan Christian appeared to announce his retirement as of July 6, 2023. The Board thanked Detective Christian for his years of service to the Town and wished him well in the future.

Public Hearing
Proposed Amendments to the 2022 Special Use Permit for the Tuxedo Farms Planned Integrated Development:
The hearing began with a lengthy presentation from representatives of Related. This can be seen viewed in its entirety on the Town’s You Tube Channel or by clicking here.
Brad Schwartz, attorney for Related led the presentation. The developer is seeking two changes to the approved Special Permit. The first one is the sequencing of the approvals by the ARB and the Planning Board. As it stands now, the applicant must get approval first from the Architectural Review Board (ARB) followed by approval by the Planning Board. Currently, they are undergoing Site Plan Review for the section of the development known as The Commons as well as Quail Road. The applicant would like to reverse the timing of the approvals with the Planning Board to come first, followed by the ARB. The reason for this is that they are not quite ready for the ARB review yet. Both the Planning Board and the ARB have reviewed this proposal and both have agreed to it.
The presentation next went into details for Road Hierarchy and Parking. The applicant has moved parking to both sides of two roads located around the Commons area (Lower Mountain Road and Courtland Place) which will create more parking space for the central part of the Commons. In addition, the proposed site plan gives the details of the ways in which balconies and bay windows can and will be used on the buildings in this section of the development. Finally, the Special Permit currently lists various plantings that have been approved for the Commons and some of them had been inadvertently left out of the final document so now they are
proposing to add them back in. They are also proposing to add additional pavement types to the Performance Standards.
There were no comments from the public and the Board voted to approve the proposed amendments.

The Board will soon be hiring another full-time police officer (to replace Detective Christian. They have a good prospect and will be making an offer to someone who was trained by Chief Trazzino in another community. They will be continuing interviews as the Board wants to hire one more officer in order to restore the A Line.

Department Updates:
Town Supervisor/Town Board – Supervisor English stated that he had no update. Deputy Supervisor Reichgott reported that he had been working on shifting Town bank accounts from accounts garnering no interest to ones that would collect interest. This could result in approximately $150,000 per year in income for the Town. Councilmember May reported that 78 campers have registered for the summer recreation program. Of these 59 are Town residents and 19 are from outside of the Town. Councilmember Murphy stated that she had no update. Councilmember Lindsay said she is working on changes to the Town’s investment policy and hopes to have some suggestions for the next meeting.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum congratulated all the recent graduates living in Tuxedo. She also wished resident Freda Sloat a happy 100th birthday! Next she reminded everyone that Town Hall will be closed on July 4. And finally, she announced that the annual Fishing Derby will take place at Watchtower Pond on Long Meadow Rd. on July 8 from 9 am –12 pm.

Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting on June 12 were approved unanimously.

Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that marriage licenses, parking permits, hunting and fishing licenses and dog licenses all expired last month! Next, she noted that although there aren’t any primary elections in Tuxedo this June, the deadlines for the next fall election have been posted to the Town website. Lastly, she announced that Town Hall will be closed on Monday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that a water pump at Tichy Field is not working. The department will be replacing the pump this week. Additionally, he is in receipt of a bid from Young Paving to seal and put new lines on the basketball court in the Eagle Valley mini park. The proposal is for $3260. The Board voted unanimously to accept the bid. Next, the Superintendent reported that paving in Laurel Ridge is mostly completed. They will be starting work on the dirt pile on June 13. Finally, he remarked that there is plenty of mulch at Quarry Field for residents to go and get.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Reports:
Supervisor Ken English reported that he and Police Chief Trazino had interviewed 4 candidates from the Civil Service list for full-time police officers. Offers are expected to be made soon.
On Monday, June 12, The Related Company delivered the funds to cover the first three grants announced by the Tuxedo LDC.
The Supervisor has bee working with Chief Trazino and Ren Faire General Manager Buffy Marie Favata to establish a security contract to improve traffic and security for the 2023 Faire. Proposed improvements include the addition of six Traffic Agents who would work under the supervision at and direction of the Tuxedo Police. The hope is that they can improve traffic flow on Rt. 17A, as well as reduce bottlenecks near Long Meadow Rd. and to ensure that Bramertown Road is not used for Faire access. These agents would respond as needed to traffic problems at the discretion of the Tuxedo police. All costs for this security will be paid by the Ren Faire. Ren Faire will also be contracting with Orange County Sheriff’s Office and NYS Troopers for additional police details.
The Supervisor has also been working with Chief Trazino and Renaissance Faire General Manager Buffy Marie Favata to establish a security contract with the aim of improving traffic and security at the 2023 Faire. Proposed improvements include the addition of six Traffic Agents, who would work under the supervision and at the direction of the Tuxedo Police. The hope is that they can improve traffic flow on Rt. 17A, as well as reduce bottlenecks near Long Meadow Rd. as well as to ensure that Bramertown Road is not used for Faire access. All costs for this security will be paid by the Renaissance Faire. The Renaissance Faire will also be contracting with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and NYS Troopers for additional police details.
Finally, the Supervisor along with Town Attorney Howard Protter and his colleague Amy Lavine is working to update the agreement with Altice for franchise renewal. They have already managed to get high-speed internet connection to businesses on Contractor’s Road, an improvement that had been on hold for 10 years!.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that she has been looking at investing Town Funds and, as such, has been looking into New York Class which is sort of a mutual fund for municipalities. Since investing with them might mean the Town would have to make minor adjustments to their investment policy, she has also been looking into other ways to invest the money. She also reported that the Climate Smart Task Force had met on Monday, June 12. The Village of Tuxedo Park is now ahead of the Town in garnering points toward certification, but the hope is that the Town will have enough points for certification next year!
Councilmember May noted that she had met with the Seniors Committee. They are looking for ways to more easily use the Town website. They wonder if all the information that pertains to them could be put in one place. Town Clerk Dollbaum responded that there is already a Seniors tab on the website which would be the logical place for that. She will check to make sure updates are being made regularly.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott commented that he has been looking at the Town’s procurement policy because there is some confusion with it. This is a work in progress. He has also been working with Superintendent Dollbaum and Town Engineer Hoffman on repairs to the floor of the Highway Garage. Finally, he reported that there was excitement with the police last week involving “bad guys”, speeding cars and maybe some gunfire. As a result, three “bad guys” were arrested and while that was going on, one person was rescued when their car went into the river. So…a busy week for the Police!
Councilmember Murphy reported that she has been working on the revitalization of downtown. As such she has put together a document stating which agency or entity would need to be consulted for any of the projects that have been talked about. She further noted that engineering plans would be required for quite a lot of these projects.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting of May 22 were approved unanimously.

Discussion:
Short-term Rental Agreements – It was established in the beginning of this discussion that as the Town’s zoning law currently exists, short-term rentals are not permitted. The issue becomes unclear because residential use is not defined by a time limit. Town Attorney Protter stated that in his opinion, the Town should have regulations with renewal permits issued. Then, they could be regulated. The Board agreed that they would all do research and think about it before having another discussion at the next Town Board Meeting with the hope that they can work toward passing a local law regulating these situations. Several Clinton Woods residents were in attendance and stated that there was a current situation going on in that neighborhood that is “intolerable.” These residents have called the police and tried to do what they can, but they are getting nowhere. They did seem grateful to see the Board getting ready to enact regulations even though it seems likely that it will be a rather long process.

The Town Board met on Monday, May 22, 2023 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum began by thanking Tom O’Reilly and the staff at Tuxedo Union Free School District for sponsoring the recent Volunteers fair. Additionally, she announced the following upcoming events:
May 29 - Annual Memorial Day Parade and Library picnic. Garbage pick-up in the Town will be Garbage on May 30 and Garbage and recycling on June 2.
July 8 – Annual Fishing Derby – 9am – 12 noon at Jehovah’s Witnesses building on Longmeadow Road
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department had been busy with patching on roads, sewer work, cutting grass, hanging flowers and flags in the Hamlet. Also,Tichy Field has been sprayed for insects.
Councilmember Lindsay said she has been working on cost estimates for the Survey of Hamlet revitalization. She further explained that the Town will need a survey for the connectivity and safety plan as outlined in the Burgis Study. She is also working on getting the Climate Smart Action group representation at the Farmers’ Market.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott reported that the new Building Inspector had done an annual visit to the Police Station, Train Station and Highway Department. Unfortunately, all 3 buildings failed to pass the inspection.
Councilmember Murphy said that she has been in touch with the DOT and started the process of bringing a road diet to the Hamlet.
Supervisor English stated that he was going to pass on his Supervisor’s report.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on May 8 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Dale Mottola announced of upcoming events: on May 26, St. Mary’s will be holding a movie night on their lawn to raise funds to send children from Town to Summer Camp and on June 10- The Sloatsburg Food Pantry will be holding a fundraiser at the Tuxedo Club.

The Board then adjourned to an Executive Session to discuss real estate, pending litigation and the negotiations in the Altice Cablevision franchise agreement. Before doing so the Supervisor noted when they returned to the regular session, the Board would be discussing adding items to their meeting agendas going forward.

When they returned, Supervisor English stated that he felt the Board needed to discuss how to set meeting agendas so that they could effectively move projects forward. He believes that agenda items should be those things that require Board actions and wondered how they prioritize these things. He further suggested that items on the agenda requiring any kind of involvement from an outside agency or expenditure of some kind should also include an analysis as where the money to pay for it would come from. Also, to be considered when prioritizing projects should be whether or not the proposed project would cost the Town more money down the line if the Board decided not to act .

Councilmember Murphy commented that she has heard ideas and suggestions for projects that would help to keep the Town moving and stable, but she has not heard any ideas for projects that would physically and aesthetically improve the Town, which she believes is just as important. Deputy Supervisor Reichgott agreed. There followed a somewhat lengthy discussion, some of which got a bit heated, regarding the process as it relates to the Burgis Study/Hamlet revitalization efforts as well as other current projects. Ultimately, the Board agreed to work together on prioritizing their requests for agenda items and Board actions going forward.

The meeting began with the swearing in of 3 police officers: Tia Frunzi, Antonio Jennings and Margaret Carey. This was followed by the swearing in of Councilmember Jay Reichgott as Deputy Supervisor. Next, Chief Trazino presented Commendations to Detective Stefan Christian and Police Officer Gerard Shiloh for their part in administering lifesaving skills to a Tuxedo resident who was having a cardiac arrest in November of 2020.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he, Highway Superintendent Dollbaum, Deputy Supervisor Reichgott, Town Engineer Hoffman and Environmental Consultant Bill Canavan had met with DEC Site Monitor, Wesley Salis. In regard to the remediation of the mulch piles, they are trying to avoid further costly testing as the process continues. Mr. Salis agreed that he would take the findings to his supervisor and report back about options for testing and disposal of the material. As President of the Tuxedo LDC, the Supervisor has been managing the coordination of the startup of the new sewage plant as well as the emergency actions needed to remediate the excessive infiltration of stormwater into the system. This has involved signing an agreement with InLiner Solutions to begin the scoping/camera work necessary to analyze the storm and groundwater infiltration into the Hamlet Sewer District’s Collection sew er system is currently feeding a much larger than anticipated amount of water into the new sewer plant. A new vendor, Insituform, has been identified to begin lining the degraded sewer collection pipes. The Supervisor is working with Engineer Sean Hoffman and expects a scope of work and quote within a week. Meanwhile, the Highway Department has replaced lengths of pipe on both Mountain Road and areas within Tuxedo Park.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott announced that the Memorial Day parade will start a half hour early this year with lineup at 11:00 am and push off at 11:30 am.
Councilmember Lindsay reported that she would be meeting with Senator Skoufis later in the week. Topics for discussion include State funding for Climate Smart projects, a Route 17 Road Diet and solar possibilities in Tuxedo. She is also working on the upcoming community presentation of the Burgis Plan, which will take place on May 18 and plans to take a table at the High School Community Fair on May 22 which will feature opportunities to help the Climate Smart Task Force.
Councilmember May is working on a grant to help pay for the sewer system repairs. Additionally, she reported on progress with the 2023 Summer Camp (interviews for lifeguards and other personnel. They also had a successful interview for a Camp Leader) as well as the Senior Committee meeting. The Committee met with Chief Trazino, who came to listen to their concerns.
Councilmember Murphy has been working on the publicity for the May18 meeting on the Burgis Plan. Additionally, she and Superintendent Dollbaum studied all the sidewalks in the downtown Hamlet area and measured them. The State says the sidewalks must be 5 feet wide in certain areas in order to accommodate two wheelchairs passing each other. She also called the DOT to inquire about a Road Diet. One of the suggestions she received was that the Town should paint in a Road Diet first to see how it works and whether or not they like it before going through with all the additional work involved with widening the sidewalks and putting in the 5 ft. wide spaces.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that New York State now offers a one-day Officiant License. If an individual wants to be able to marry someone, they can apply for the license at the Town Clerk’s office. The fee is $25.
Additionally, she brought everyone up to date on upcoming events at St Elizabeth Chapel – the annual flower sale will take place May 11 through the 13 and a Spring Lawn Sale on June 10. Also, upcoming, the Pollinator Meadow Volunteers are holding a meeting at the Library at 6.:30 on May 24. They have recently been gifted with 128 Milkweed plants (these attract Monarch butterflies) and need help planting them.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum noted that his department has finished sweeping the Town streets and that they are now officially clean. He and the Department have been working on the sewer lines. They have discovered several sump pumps that are pumping water directly into the sewer lines. Lastly. he and 3 seasonal workers spent a day cleaning up the cemetery in Arden. This had not been done in several years and people have been calling to thank them!

Minutes:
The minutes of the Regular Town Meeting of April 24,2023 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David wondered if it would be possible to have an official Tuxedo Rain Gauge with the findings posted to the website so that people who weren’t in Town could somehow check on this remotely. She was told that weather.gov (not weather.com) is very thorough and frequently has Tuxedo information.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 7:00 pm. All members were present with Councilperson Lindsay attending remotely via Zoom.

The meeting began with a moment of silence for Town Residents Stu Turner and Andy Rogers, both of whom died recently.

Continuation of Public Hearing on Sewer Use Regulations:
There were no speakers so the hearing was closed.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department had been busy fixing berms, cleaning sidewalks and sweeping streets. They have also replaced pipes in 2 of the sewer lines in Town (one in the Park and one on Mountain Road.) Additionally, he said he had been asked to move the speed limit sign with radar into Town from the north over to the grass, but the Town doesn’t own the property in question so he doesn’t want to do it. Supervisor English said the signs were legal in their current locations. Moving on, the Superintendent commented that he has budgeted for 2 new trucks, which will arrive soon. Lastly, he reminded everyone that there is mulch and compost available for residents in the Quarry Field parking lot.

Town Board Reports:
Councilmember May reported that the Town did not get the grant she had just applied for with Senator Ryan’s office to help pay for the necessary repairs to the hamlet sewer system, however she has discovered several other grants she can apply for with the same purpose and all the necessary application work has already been done.
Councilmember Lindsay commented that she is still working on the energy audit and that she had had a meeting with Bill Lemansky, who is helping her with this.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she has started having meetings with the County Planner focused on how the Town should proceed with plans for Route 17. She has also been talking with the Village of Sloatsburg about this.

Deputy Supervisor Reighgott announced that long time town Building Inspector, Dave Maikisch has resigned. Fortunately, Al Fusco Engineering was hired by the Town to support the Building Department at the last meeting. This firm has been doing work for the Town for years so is familiar with what is needed here. Chris Watkins from their firm has been assigned to be our new code enforcement officer.
Councilmember May added that she wanted to thank the High School for the wonderful Earth Day clean up on Saturday and also reported that in spite of the fact that it had been pouring rain, the annual Earth Day Fun Run and 5K event had been a success on Sunday morning.
Supervisor English announced that the LDC had recently approved the first three grants that are available to existing Hamlet businesses: : first to the Historical Society who are putting in a new entrance and patio at their new location (former Chase Bank). Second, Karlyn Industries will be refacing their building as well as putting on a new roof and adding new doors and windows and finally Augusta Properties will be making parking lot and landscape renovations (the old Orange Top lot) as well as adding outdoor seating for a restaurant. He also reported that he and Town Attorney Howard Protter have been working on the franchise agreement for Cablevision/Altice which is up at the end of the year. The big thing they are pushing for is internet connectivity for the businesses on Contractor’s Road.

Minutes: The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting of April 10 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola inquired as to what if anything was being done with the existing sidewalks in Town which, in his opinion, are in bad shape. He was told that that the Highway Department would be working on them, repaving and patching where necessary. Additionally, Mr. Mottola expressed concern about speeders through Town, specifically traffic coming north on Route 17. The Supervisor thanked him for his comments.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Public Hearing – Sewer Use Regulations:
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott led the public hearing and he began by explaining that the Town has never had a law covering sewer use before while most other municipalities do. Also, the Town has been under a consent order from the DEC and passing this law is a condition of getting out of the order. There is an addition to the law which states that non sewage water (or inflow) is not permitted. If inflow is found coming from a residence, the owner will be responsible for paying to remedy this. A copy of the law can be found here.
Evelyn David wanted to know if Tuxedo Farms would be using this system. She was told that while they will be, there is a different collection system just for them. There were no other comments from the public so the Board voted to adjourn the hearing until the next Town Board meeting at on April 24.

Presentation – Hamlet Revitalization Update:
Councilperson Murphy provided an overview of the project to date, detailing all of the things she and Councilperson Lindsay have been hard at work on. The last of these was the Burgis Plan, which is a proposed plan for the immediate hamlet business district. The plan focuses on connectivity and covers the area from the lower commuter lot up to the Entrance of Tuxedo Park, then down the west side of Route 17 along Park Avenue and Store Road to Hospital Road. Also included in the plan’s scope is the area down to the Railroad tracks on the East side of Route 17. Click here to view.

Presentation – Assemblyman Karl Brabenec:
The Assemblyman provided a quick update on what’s going on in Albany with the budget process and then spoke on constituent outreach available from his office. (They can help with grants.)

Minutes:
The minutes of the regular Town Board Meeting on March 14 were approved with Deputy Supervisor Reichgott abstaining due to his absence from the meeting.
The minutes of the March 27 meeting were approved with Councilpersons May and Lindsay abstaining due to their absence from the meeting.

Town Board Updates:
Councilperson May reported that Senator Pat Ryan’s office will be announcing grant recipients on either Monday or Tuesday of next week. (The Town has applied for one of these grants) She also gave the details of Earth Day events in Tuxedo, which can also be found on the Town website.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott stated that the water department in Tuxedo Park will be flushing hydrants over the next two weeks.
Councilperson Lindsay commented that she was working on an update of the Town Energy Audit. She also noted that the outreach in the education portion of the Community Choice Aggregation effort will continue through mid-July, with the opt out period in September and program launch in December.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola asked about the Town’s desire to obtain the parking lot adjacent to the Post Office. He was told that they are not interested at the moment as the Town Commuter lots are only about 40% filled on an average weekday.

Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss personnel issues at 8:34 pm.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 7:00 pm. Councilmembers May and Murphy were absent.

Public Hearing – Police Mutual Aid – A brief explanation was provided. Essentially, the proposed law changes the chain of command for what happens if and when mutual aid is needed by the police. Currently, if an officer wants to call for aid from other departments, approval from the Town Supervisor is required. Under the new law, permission could be granted by the Chief of Police or the officer in charge of the situation. Click here to view a copy of the law.

Town Board Discussion:
Councilmember Lindsay presented the Board with additional information pertaining to the Burgis Study. The study, which is on-going, is aimed at revitalizing the Hamlet section of Town. At the March 13 meeting of the Board, Councilmember Murphy provided a detailed update complete with conceptual drawings. (Click here to view the drawings) . Councilmember Lindsay suggested that they would be looking to apply to the LDC for matching funds to help pay for some of the projects. In Summation, they have moved away from their initial recommendation of opening Store Road to two-way traffic and are instead suggesting a walkway along the East side of the road. They are also suggesting pedestrian walkways along the North-Bound side of Route 1, mostly along the West side of the train station parking lot. Click here to see a copy of the updated presentation. The presentation was followed by a discussion during which both Supervisor English and Deputy Supervisor Reichgott provided feedback. Generally speaking, they suggested that the project needed to be more clearly defined and if it was something that would fit into a larger plan for the Town, this needed to be clearly stated. They were both looking for more detail. Following a lengthy discussion, The Supervisor determined that the conversation would be continued at the next Town Board meeting on April 10, which would allow .Coucilmembers Lindsay and Murphy time to put together some more detailed information about what was being proposed.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced several Earth Day Events: on Saturday, April 22, the Tuxedo School District is organizing a Town wide clean up. This will begin at 9 am in the upper parking lot of the school. On Sunday, April 23, the Town is hosting a Fun Run followed by a 5K. The events begin at 8:30 and 9am respectively. The Meeting place for both is Quarry Field. Next, she announced that the Town Garbage collector, IWS will pick up Bulk items every Thursday by appointment only. To make an appointment, residents should call them at 866-DIAL IWS.
Highway Superintedent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department would be done with tree cutting by Friday, March 31. Next they will be patching potholes and taking care of anything else that needs to be brought back up to speed after the winter. This work will begin on Monday, April 3. They are also looking to replace a Toro lawnmower. A new one will cost roughly $13,000. Lastly, he announced that since Spring is here, mulch, compost and stones will be coming to the bins at the Quarry Field parking lot.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English commented that he would forego his report because the meeting was running so late.
Deputy Supervisor Reichgott stated that he wanted to pay homage to absent Councilmember May, who had done a great job by responding to Congressman Ryan’s call for proposals for grants for municipal projects. She put her proposal together quickly. In a couple of weeks they will know whether or not the Town will receive a considerable sum. Additionally, he noted that spring is the time of year when Bears wake up and come out of their dens and they will be hungry. He cautioned residents to take down bird feeders and shore up their garbage cans!
Councilmember Lindsay reported that she and Recreation Director Kathleen Metcalf were planning to visit the WeeWah Beach so the new Director can get a better idea of what type of camp activities she might want to plan there. They also plan to meet with the Village’s Wee Wah Committee so that they can discuss what the price will be for using the facility. Lastly, she announced that she would be participating in another Climate Choice Aggregation presentation. This one will be for The Woodlands homeowners.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on March 13 could not be addressed because Deputy Supervisor Reichgott recused himself due to not have attended the meeting and without him, they didn’t have a quorum. It was agreed that they would further review and vote on them at the next Town Board meeting.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 7pm. Supervisor English and Councilmembers May and Murphy were present in person at Town Hall. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay attended remotely via Zoom and Councilmember Reichgott was absent.

Department Updates:
Superintendent of Highways Dollbaum reported that his department was prepared for the snow storm expected later that night. He added that they are currently down 2 men and 1 truck which might slow them down a bit, but they will get to everybody in a timely manner. The department has also been busy with their continued work on the rock/mulch pile. For the last 3 years, they have rented a mini excavator to do this work, but Supervisor Dolbaum is recommending that they enter into a lease/purchase agreement with a different company for a John Deere mini excavator, which will be cheaper. The payment would be $1000 less per month. He would also like to rent a crusher which will allow him to make gravel out of the rocks. The Board was agreeable to this recommendation and suggested that he pull together a bid with agreement so they could vote on it at their next meeting.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum noted that she had “nothing earthshattering” to report and thus was going to defer to the Town Board so that all could get home before the expected snow storm.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English gave the following report:
Regarding the Tuxedo LDC he noted that three applications for Hamlet Revitalization funds had been submitted. The projects are subject to Planning and ARB approvals. Applicants are responding to Board feedback and the LDC expects to receive completed submissions at their next meeting on Thursday, March 23 (5:00-6:30).
As President of the Tuxedo Farms LDC (the agency that owns the new sewer plant). The Supervisor has been managing the coordination of the startup of the new plant and the emergency actions needed to remediate the excessive inflow of stormwater into the system, which is feeding a much larger than anticipated amount of water into the new sewer plant. InLiner Solutions has been hired for $62,400 to help with remediation. Scoping work necessary to analyze the infiltration of storm and groundwater into the Hamlet Collection system is expected to begin next week. Highway Supervisor Dollbaum’s team has provided a detailed analysis of where the suspected trouble spots are which will hopefully help to save money and time needed to identify the areas of concern. The annual meeting for the Tuxedo Farms LDC is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 at 10 am. The meeting will be both in-person at Tuxedo Town Hall and live streamed on the Town’s Zoom account.
The Tuxedo Club Tax Certiorari claim has been settled. The total amount of the refunds to the Tuxedo Club for the 2023 Town and County taxes is $65,851,06. Approximately $41,200.09 is for Town taxes and $24,651.03 is for County taxes. This is approximately a 47% reduction from the prior assessed values.
Lastly, he reported that the final payment had been made on a $250,000 settlement regarding the property at 60 Woods Road, owned by Mr. Howard Shaub. This ends an obligation that was paid over 5 years. The 2024 Town budget can eliminate this expense line.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she has been working along with Councilmember Murphy on the Burgis Study which offers plans to implement infrastructure projects in the Hamlet Business district that will help with connectivity of the east and west sides of Route 17, pedestrian safety and Increased public parking.
She has also been working with the state agency DASNY to revive the $75,000 grant for a Highway Department truck and truck accessories. Estimates supplied by Superintendent Dollbaum have been submitted and she is working on the next steps.
Finally, she said she would consult the Town’s bond counsel with regard to issuing Revenue Anticipation notes if the Town should be awarded federal grants for the Hamlet Sewer infrastructure. She will also discuss Bond Anticipation notes in case the Town needs additional funding for the Hamlet Sewer District.
Councilmember May reported that she had been working to obtain funding for the sewer project from Community Funding Project. This requires getting letters of support from the community. She has already received letters from Anthony Davidson of the Tuxedo Park Library, Mayor David McFadden of the Village of Tuxedo Park and Noreen Fennell of the Chamber of Commerce. She has also written to State Senator Skoufis and Assemblyman Brabenec requesting their help. Additionally, she announcd that Kathleen Metcalf, the new Recreation Director, had started work on March 6. Her hours are 9:30-3:00 on Monday and 9:00- 3:00 on Tuesday and Thursday.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she had been working on various grants. The tourism grant (for $4950 to fund an outdoor event this summer) is ready to be signed. The Greenway grant needs an RFP and Town Attorney Protter is working on that and should have it done by the close of business on Tuesday.

Minutes: The minutes for the regular Town Board Meeting held on February 27 were accepted unanimously.

Other Business:
Supervisor English announced that Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has decided to resign her position as Deputy Supervisor although she will continue to work on economic development as well as climate smart and other energy issues along with energy expenses and financing. The Board has also decided to expand the Building Department so that it can oversee the Buildout of Tuxedo Farms. The Supervisor then appointed Councilmember Reichgott as both Deputy Supervisor and head of the Building Department.
Councilmember Murphy provided an update on the Burgis Study, which is on-going. To see the latest drawings detailing what has been proposed, click here. The Board will have a public discussion on this topic at a later meeting.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola commented that it had been his understanding that the Town wouldnhold a public hearing on the Burgis Study before moving forward with anything that had been proposed. The Board members responded that they were nowhere near ready to implement any plans and that there would be plenty of time for the public to make their opinions known. Next, Mr. Mottola observed that in trying to ramp up recreation in the Town, they keep scheduling different “runs” (Earth Day run, Turkey trot, etc.) but they haven’t been doing any advertising so they aren’t attracting many participants. As a result, they are burning up municipal resources for small events. The Board thanked him for his input.

The Board then adjourned into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues as requested by Councilmember Lindsay. They noted that they would not be taking any action following the session.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 7 pm. All members attended with Deputy Supervisor Lindsay and Councilmember Murphy participating remotely via Zoom.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that she had been looking into upgrading the phone system in Town Hall. Currently, they can only receive 2 incoming calls at a time. If there are more calls, they are directed to whichever line is open at that moment, resulting in calls often getting directed to the wrong department. She suggests switching to a cloud based system with the same company for a modest price increase, which would allow the Town to receive more calls at the same time. It was agreed that Mrs. Dollbaum would submit the specifics of the new plan as outlined to the Board for their review and that Town Attorney Howard Protter would be asked to review any resulting contract.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department is still working on trimming trees. They are also getting ready for the snow that was predicted for Monday night into Tuesday as well as another storm due on Thursday and Friday!

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English reported that he has been working with a group that includes Town Engineer Sean Hoffman, Sewer Plant Operators H2O Innovations, Highway Supervisor Dollbaum and Town Councilmember Reichgott to inspect the collection system for the new sewer plant. This system is very outdated and has not had sufficient maintenance over many years. The group recently had a 2.5 hour meeting at the sewer plant. Among other things, they are working on an updated I&I map. Howard Protter has been working with the company who will come in to do necessary remediation (using ARPA funds). They hope to have a proposed plan with estimate by next week. The Board has capped the contract at $100,000 and if the estimate exceeds that, it will come back to them for deliberation. Councilmember Reichgott added that this would be a multi-year project. He has also been working on the new sewer law. He hopes to have something for the 2nd meeting in March so they can hold a public hearing and get the law on the books.
Councilmember May reported that she had been working on getting the Recreation Department going again!
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that she has been working on funding for the sewer system. She had a chance to chat with the Town’s Bond Counsel at the recent Association of Towns meeting. She feels Tuxedo might look into short term revenue anticipation notes to pay for everything the Town will need. The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act has a provision for Towns to get a direct payment (instead of a tax credit) for things such as solar projects. Finally, she reminded everyone of the presentation on the CCA which will be held at the Tuxedo Library (and via Zoom) on Saturday March 4 at 3pm. Registration for the event (necessary to get the Zoom link) is through the Library’s website. Also, the Climate Smart Task Force will meet on Monday, March 6 at 5:30 via the Town’s Zoom. (Details will be published on the Town website.)
Councilmember Murphy reported having received the Tourism grant and further noted that she was working to put together a project list. She has also submitted a request to remove the speed limit signs on Long Meadow Road to the DOT. Additionally, she received a proposal from Nelson Pope for the Greenway Study and is putting together a project list so they can get additional proposals for the work.

Minutes from the regular Town Board meeting of February 13 were unanimously approved.

Other Business:
Governor Hochul signed legislation granting a 10% reduction from property taxes for volunteer firemen and volunteer ambulance workers. Since there was no way to effectively get things in place for this year (the taxes have already been billed and collected in January) it will be done and ready for next year. The Town supports this reduction for their volunteers.
Abigail Klein was hired as a seasonal intern on a part-time basis. She will be assisting with clerical work for 8 weeks.

Public Comments:
Sue Scher commended the Town Board for getting the Recreation Department rebuilt in a timely fashion. She wondered if this would be a good time to reinstate the Recreation Advisory Committee? She was told that the Board supported this idea.
Councilmember May stated that she would like to be appointed as the Board Liaison to the Silver Dollars and it was unanimously agreed that this would be done.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 7pm. All members were present.

The meeting began with a presentation from the Tuxedo Senior Survey Committee which is a subcommittee of the Silver Dollars Club. The committee put a tremendous amount of work into developing, distributing and analyzing the results of a senior survey and they have subsequently written a report detailing 27 recommendations for follow up actions that could be taken. Supervisor English thanked the committee for their hard work but acknowledged that executing many of the recommendations would be somewhat difficult as they are expensive, have not been built into the budget and taxpayers might not be willing to pay for all of them. He further suggested that a good starting point might be to work with the Orange County Office of Aging to see what help the Town could get from them. Councilmember May also suggested asking both the Tuxedo and Monroe Woodbury Schools if there would be any students who might be interested and willing to help. Councilmember Murphy felt it would be good to prioritize the recommendations.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that she has received a letter from Woodlands HOA President Fran Liza in support of moving the speed limit sign on Long Meadow Rd. The request will now be forwarded to the County. Next, she reported that the Town’s Escrow policy had been officially filed with New York State and subsequently added to the Town Code. Moving on, she thanked Tom Reilly and the TUFSD Interact Club who assisted the DEC in refurbishing and installing a sign by the Ramapo River in the East Village which states it is a public fishing area. She further noted commented Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew has published a brochure from the Return a Favor program which contains a list of businesses that will give discounts to veterans. The information can be found on the Town website under the Veterans tab. Finally, she announced that Town Hall will be closed on Monday, February 20 in observance of Presidents Day. Garbage pickup will not be affected and will proceed as usual.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department has been working on tree trimming and the rock pile. They are also working on mapping out the entire sewer system and have discovered several leaks in the pipes that lead to the new sewage

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported he has been working with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum on the aforementioned sewer problem. The problems with the collection system are a consequence of many years of deferred maintenance but they must now be addressed in order to service Tuxedo Farms. The Town will need to identify a contractor who is able to address the problem and is available to do the work as soon as possible.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that she had nominated Sue Heywood for the Orange County Citizen of the Month award which she recently received. Sue gives many hours to St. Mary’s outreach and the Sloatsburg Food Pantry among many other things she does for the community. Next, she reported on the Community Choice Aggregation presentation that was given at the Tuxedo Park Library and reminded everyone that future presentations will take place on February 15 at the Village of Tuxedo Park Trustee meeting, by Zoom on February 16 at Town Hall in a program given by the Climate Smart Task Force and again at the Library (in person and by Zoom) on March 4 at 3 pm. She has also been working with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum to revive a SAM grant from a few years back. They need to revive the purpose of the grant which will now be for a snow plow and a sander. They are working with Senator Skoufis on this. Lastly, she announced that she would be attending the Association of Towns meetings on February 20 and 21.
Councilmember May announced that Recreation Coordinator Claire Dougher has resigned as she will be going back to school. The Board is interviewing candidates for the job. She has also been working on the Town’s ARPA funds and looking to use that money for fixing the sewage collection system.
Councilmember Murphy remarked that she has been following up with the Greenway grant awarded to the Town to finance a study on the Route 17 corridor to see what kind of businesses might work here. She has requested a proposal from Town Planners Nelson Pope for this project and then will be opening it up to other entities for bid. She has also submitted another proposal to Orange County for a $5000 tourism grant to host an event as a follow up to the Tuxedo Art and Music programs. She would also like to use the funds to put together a catalog of all the special places in Tuxedo that might be appropriate for film projects or commercials so that they can in turn be added to the Orange County registry that exists for potential filmmakers to find locations. She has also been in touch with the Burgis group about their proposal and lastly, she has been working on an outline and budget for the Town’s camp program.
Councilmember Reichgott commented that in working with Sean Hoffman on the sewer problem, he has discovered that the Town is required to have a sewer law but they don’t currently have one. He has been working on this and hopes to have a draft ready for consideration at the second meeting in March.

Minutes – for the regular Town Board meeting on 1/23/23 were approved with Supervisor English abstaining as he was not there.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola suggested that the Town should consider reviving the Ned Northrop award which was established by the 10K Committee and awarded to a member of the community for outstanding community service. Councilmember Reichgott volunteered to work with Mr. Mottola to put together the criteria for awarding this honor.

Other Business:
The Board unanimously passed a resolution that would allow for the retention of professional services to investigate the sewage pipes in the hamlet and to develop a mitigation plan for these pipes. The work is not to exceed $100,000. The plan is to use ARPA funds to pay for this project.

The Board then adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss leases at the Highway Garage site and personnel.

The Town Board met on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 7 pm. Supervisor Ken English was absent. All other Town Board members were present.

The meeting began with a joint session with the Tuxedo Park Board of Trustees for the purpose of holding a Public Hearing on the Annexation of territory in the Town of Tuxedo to the Village of Tuxedo Park. As part of the 2005 Special Permit for Tuxedo Farms, it was agreed that this property known as Rattlesnake Mountain Preserve would be annexed into the Village, but it has never actually been done. There were no public comments either in person or submitted in writing so the hearing was closed, but the records were left open to receive written comments until January 30. Both entities voted unanimously in favor of authorizing their attorneys to prepare orders, resolutions and agreements to approve the annexation. After this the joint session was adjourned and the Village Board members left the meeting.

Escrow-Private Residential Projects-$5000 (Planning Board)
Escrow-Commercial Projects/Major Subdivisions -$10,000 (Planning Bd)
Escrow-Techinical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting-$550 (Planning Bd)
Escrow-Private Residential Projects-$1000 (ZBA)
Escrow-Commerci al Projects-$5000 (ZBA)
These fees were agreed upon and the resolution passed unanimously.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department is plowing and salting the roads as necessary. They are in the middle of tree pruning and trimming and are currently working in the Laurel Ridge area. Finally, work on the rock pile at the Highway garage is ongoing.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay gave an account of the Hamlet Revitalization LDC Information meeting that was held on January 17. The meeting was well attended and the Committee expects to see several applications for the available grants. On January 23, the Silver Dollars met and heard a presentation from Jeff Demansky on the Community Choice Aggregation project. Future meeting dates are as follows:
   February 9, 7 pm at Tuxedo Park Library (in person and via the Library’s Zoom)
   February 16 - 7pm, the Climate Smart Task Force, a joint committee from both the Town and Village, will hold a meeting via the Town’s Zoom
   March 4, 3 pm at Tuxedo Park Library (in person and via the Library’s Zoom)
Councilperson May reported that she had attended the Town Bonfire on January 21 and it was both fun and well attended.
Councilperson Murphy reported that she is working on the “grant portal” for the Town and is trying to put together an economic study of the Corridor. She has applied for a $4999 grant and wants to put together a digital list of all properties available in the Town that could be used for films. She is also working with the Orange County Arts Council to put together a program for Tuxedo Art and Music at Powerhouse Park.

Minutes: The minutes for regular Town Board meeting held on January 9 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Dale Mottola said that she attended the Bonfire held at Powerhouse Park on Saturday night and the walk between the parking lot and the field was very dark. She was told that the lights had not been working properly.

Other Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported receiving a proposal for electricity from New York Power Authority but its only good for a week. She was thinking about trying for an extension on the proposal. She was told that they Power Authority puts out a new proposal every week so they decided to wait until the next proposal.

The meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss personnel at 8:40 pm. When they came out of the session, no action was taken and the meeting was adjourned at 9:54 pm.

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The Town Board met on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 7 pm. All members were present with Councilmembers May and Murphy attending via Zoom.

Agenda Items:
Resolution approving Supervisor to sign Rockland Paramedics, Inc. contract – The total contract price is $750,358.50 with $654,306 being the cost of the paramedic. It was explained that this sizeable increase is due to wages and insurance. The Corps has been covering some of these expenses with their surplus fund, but that has run out. The $654,306 charge is payable in monthly payments of $54,525. It is a 2 year contract. This was approved unanimously.
Town Reorganization – Following some discussion and a few minor changes, the Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the Reorganization document . Details are as follows:

Department Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum stated that the dumpsters located at Quarry Field and Murphy Field are overflowing. She will look into the possibility of getting additional or larger dumpsters and report back. Additionally, she announced that the Town will hold a bonfire (of old Christmas trees) on January 21 at 6pm at Powerhouse Park. The last pickup of trees will be on January 20. Weather permitting, ice skating will be available and there will be a food truck from The Hungarian Hotspot!
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that the Department will be picking up old Christmas trees through January 20. They have also been doing tree work on Warwick Brook Road and will move next to Laurel Ridge. Lastly, he announced that the new Sewer Plant will be hooked up on January 11!!!

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reiterated that the Sewer Plant will be operational on Wednesday, January 11. Next, he announced that the Hamlet LDC would be holding a meeting on January 17 at 7 pm. Town Businesses interested in applying for grants should attend to get details.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that at a recent Village of Tuxedo Park Climate Smart meeting, she learned that the Village has obtained electricity from the NY Power Authority for their municipal buildings. They are also looking into using heat pumps for there. Next, she noted that the Community Choice Aggregation program has moved into the public outreach phase. There will be meetings for interested residents on February 9 and March 4 at the Tuxedo Park Library. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 pm. There will also be a meeting at Town Hall on March16 which will be available via the Town’s Zoom.
Councilmember May reported that Gardiner Hempel is looking into the recently passed law allowing for tax reductions for resident volunteers of the Fire Department. She asked about the NYS cannabis laws and wondered if the Board should be taking any additional action? Town Attorney Protter responded that cannabis can now be legally sold at a dispensary. The Town does not have to do anything else at this time. Any dispensaries will be subject to New York State regulations. Finally, Councilmember May reported that she and Councilmember Murphy have been working with Recreation Coordinator Claire Doughey on creating a Town Calendar of events.
Councilmember Reichgott spoke about the Tuxedo Bag Project, started by some TPS students for the purpose of collecting reusable grocery bags to be donated to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. These can be left in boxes available at the Tuxedo Town Hall, the Tuxedo Park Village Office, the Sloatsburg Town Hall and the Clubhouse at the Woodlands.
Councilmember Murphy has written a public relations article about Tuxedo Farms and submitted it to Related for approval. She will be sending it out for publication in various places in the near future.

Minutes for the regular meeting held on December 28 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola inquired as to when the Cablevision contract would be up. He was told at the end of 2023. It doesn’t look like there are any viable alternatives available for the Town. Highway Superintendent Dollbaum added that Cablevision has never supplied service to any of the businesses on Contractor’s Road and all of them would like to have that option! Mr. Dollbaum suggested that the Town consider putting pressure on Cablevision to hook up those businesses when the contract renewal is being discussed.
Dale Mottola commented that it seems to her as though the garbage company is “double dipping.” as the Town already pays for glass recycling in the contract and now they are charging us for dumpsters to collect it in. This will be discussed with IWS.

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The Town Board met on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at 7 pm. All members were present with Deputy Supervisor Lindsay and Councilmember Murphy attending via Zoom.

Public Hearing – Establishing an Escrow Policy and Its Administration- Town Attorney Howard Protter gave a brief explanation of the law. There were no comments so the public hearing was closed.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum announced that his Department is collecting Christmas trees for their annual bonfire. Next, he inquired as to what someone should do if they have a stray dog or cat to be picked up? He was told that they should call the police who would take it from there.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum advised that the IWS pickup service for the week of January 2 will be Tuesday pickup for garbage and Friday pickup for both garbage and recycling.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he had been busy with recruitment and hiring having just hired a new, full-time police officer and also interviewing a prospective planning board member earlier in the evening to fill the sear recently vacated by Kristy Apostolides, who has resigned her position on the Board. He also announced that the next Town Board meeting will take place on January 9. On January 17 at 6:30 pm, there will be an information session for local businesses (in the Hamlet district) given by the LDC for Hamlet revitalization.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay remarked that the Town is now in the public outreach portion of the Community Choice Aggregation process. Meetings are being scheduled at the Tuxedo Park Library, as well as in the Woodlands and one for Silver Dollars members. She hopes to have these meeting dates finalized by the end of the week. Once finalized, they will be posted on the Town website.
Councilmember May reported that she met with the town bookkeeper and discovered that the Town has $237,987 leftover in ARPA funds. She stated that she had recently taken a look at the sidewalks in Town which she believes are not in good shape and need to be repaired. She suggests that the funds be utilized for this project which was estimated to be $394,000 the last time a quote was received. It was pointed out that the Town has also discussed using these funds to replace the HVAC system in Town Hall. A meeting with the Burgis group to discuss their ideas for the Hamlet district will be scheduled and it is anticipated that this will take place at the second meeting in January.
Councilmember Reichgott noted that he had nothing pressing to report and wished everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Councilmember Murphy commented that the Town’s Holiday Concert at St. Mary’s on December 17 was a big success. Roughly 75 people attended and $700 was raised for the Sloatsburg Food Pantry.

Miniutes:
The minutes for the December 12 Town Board meeting were accepted and approved unanimously.

Other Business:
The Board adjourned into an executive session to discuss the Planning Board candidate. They returned 5 minutes later and appointed Susan Reif to a new 5-year term beginning on 1/1/23 and running through 12/31/27.

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The Town Board met on Monday, December 12, 2022 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the Town Menorrah Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 22 at 6 pm with a reception to follow. She also reported that the Electronic Recycling event at the Highway Department is ongoing. They will accept all electronics except tvs. There are several places that will accept tvs in Orange County but all involve a fee. Finally, she said that the Town & County tax bills are being printed. They will go in the mail as soon as she receives them from the County. The Town can begin receiving taxes on December 28. Payment can be made in person at Town Hall, by mail or online via the Town website.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department had been out plowing snow. He further reminded everyone that they will continue picking up leaves up until December 15.
Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English reported that on Wednesday, December 13 he and Police Chief Trazino would be interviewing two candidates for the position of full time police officer. The Supervisor also met with Superintendent Dollbaum and Town Engineer Sean Hoffman at the train station to discuss repairs that are needed to be made to that building. They are working on an RFP for that project. Finally, he noted that the Town LDC grant orientation for businesses interested in grants would be held on January 17 in Town Hall.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that the Climate Smart Aggregation is now in the rollout stage with meetings to be held in Town in January and February. She also reported participating in a County wide Climate Smart meeting on November 30.
Councilmember May said that she was still working on the ARPA funds. Councilmember Murphy reported that everything was still on track for the Town’s Holiday Concert scheduled for December 17 but the time has been switched from 4 to 4:30pm. The concert and a reception to follow will be held at St. Mary’s Church. Moving on, she further reported that she had received a letter from the State DOT denying her request to lower the speed limit on Longmeadow Rd. She also noted that she had received the requested letter from the TUFSD Board of Education regarding establishment of a School Zone so she will forward it to the State DOT. She and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay met with representatives from the Orange County Partnership. They showed them Town owned properties around Town which are available to be developed. Orange County Partnership will try to come up with ideas for the various properties and recommend people who might be interested in doing some of these things. Lastly, she reported that she had finished writing a press release on Tuxedo Farms and sent it to Related for their approval prior to releasing it to local press.
Councilmember Reichgott had nothing to report.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on November 28 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Speaking for the Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Mottola thanked Highway Superintendent Dollbaum and his crew for their help in decorating the Train Station.

The Board then adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss compensation for employees. This has to do with the Reorganization which will happen next month.

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The Town Board met on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:00 pm. All members were present with Supervisor English and Councilmember May attending via Zoom.

Chief Trazino answered a question from Jerry Mottola who would like to see the damaged radar sign replaced and also regular patrols out enforcing the speed limits. The Chief replied that patrols have been increased and the officers are out and about enforcing the law. Additionally, the Chief reported that the department had received active shooter response tactics training.
Councilmember May commented that she had recently attended Stop the Bleed training and found it to be very good. She wondered if it could be offered to residents. The Chief replied that there are plans in the works to do so. Jerry Mottola commented that he thought all Post Office employees should also get the training.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was still picking up leaves and will continue to do so until December 15 after which leaves must be bagged. They will be borrowing a bucket truck from the Town of Monroe to start setting up the Town’s Christmas lights. Finally, he noted that the radar sign will soon be coming down for the winter season.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reminded everyone about the Town Tree Lighting starting at 5:00 pm on Friday, December 2. She also announced the Toy Drive being run by the School District with donation boxes at Town Hall and various businesses throughout Town. A “Senior Survey” for residents 60 and older is underway and it is not too late for eligible seniors to complete it. Hard copies are available at the Town Clerk’s office and there is a link on the website as well. Finally, she reported that she had filed the Tuxedo Farms resolution which was passed on November Town Hall and various businesses throughout Town. A “Senior Survey” for residents 60 and older is underway and it is not too late for eligible seniors to compelte it. Hard copies are available at the Town Clerk’s office and there is a link on the website as well. Finally, she reported that she had filed the Tuxedo Farms resolution which was passed on November Town Hall and various businesses throughout Town. A “Senior Survey” for residents 60 and older is underway and it is not too late for eligible seniors to compelte it. Hard copies are available at the Town Clerk’s office and there is a link on the website as well. Finally, she reported that she had filed the Tuxedo Farms resolution which was passed on November 22 and sent all the Tuxedo Farms paperwork to the Orange County Planning Board.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he was continuing with recruitment of police officers. Additionally, he noted that there had been a New York Power Authority Training for Town Hall employees on November 17. This was done so they would all be up to date on the Community Choice Aggregation process. After much hard work, the Tuxedo Farms project was approved on November 22 and The Supervisor expects to have a full update on the new wastewater treatment plant by the next Town Board meeting. He has been assured by Greg Gushee that this will be up and running by the end of the year.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay gave an account of the Hamlet Revitalization LDC meeting held earlier that day. The application and guidelines for applying have been finalized. They hope to have a meeting with eligible applicants on January 17 at 7 pm. The Town of Tuxedo, as well as non-profits will be eligible to apply. Lastly, she announced that she and Councilmember Murphy will be presenting the Burgis Associates findings for Hamlet revitalization at the Town Board meeting on January 9.
Councilmembers Reichgott and May both said they had nothing new to report.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she had been working with the Burgis group on their presentation. Additionally, she noted that the Town is still waiting for a letter from the School Board pertaining to the establishment of a school zone so that they can in turn submit everything needed to the DOT. She will also be meeting with the NYSDOT in December to go over some things that can be done to slow down traffic through Town. These things will need to be acceptable to the businesses in Town. Lastly, she anounced that on December 17 at 4pm, the Hudson Valley Chamber Music Association will be presenting an hour-long concert, sponsored by the Town at St. Mary’s with a small reception to follow in the Church.

Minutes:
The minutes of the regular Town Board meeting held on November 14 were passed with Supervisor English abstaining as he was not present.

Public Comments:
John Sandak asked for the dates for leaf pick up. He was told that it would continue until December 15 after which time, only bagged leaves will be picked up.
Dale Mottola wondered how the Town was collecting potential applicants for the Hamlet Revitalization grants. She was told that Councilmember Murphy had a list that she had put together while running the Plein Air event. The informational meeting on January 17 will be held virtually as well as in person. It will also be recorded with the recording posted on the Town website so people should be able to get the information. The grants will be for exterior improvements to buildings in the hamlet area. The LDC is looking to give out around 5 matching grants of $200,000-$250,000. The first approval will have to come from the LDC but the grants will be conditional on approvals from the Planning Board and the Architectural Review Board.

Other Business:
Residents Maureen Coen and Janet Galuska have approached the Town with the “Peabody Project,” to help get feral cats in Town under control. There followed a lengthy discussion on this subject with no solutions found. It will be discussed further at a later date.
Supervisor English commented that at the next Town Board meeting, there will be a discussion on the Town Reorganization. The Board is proposing to add several things to the process such as PILOT programs and contract dates. The purpose will be to make the Reorganization Document something more useful to the Town Board and all Boards in Town.

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The Town Board held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm. All members were present. The purpose of the meeting was to consider the 2022 Special Use Permit for the Tuxedo Farms development. They Board began by reading the 10-page resolution out loud, taking turns with the reading.
A copy of the resolution can be viewed here.
Next, Supervisor English gave some remarks, listing some of his reasons for supporting the project. He really appreciates the “missing middle” concept of the design which, he feels makes the project meet a market that Tuxedo and Orange County do not provide for prospective residents. Also, he likes the fact that the project will be tax positive for the Town and the School and that it will, among other things, give the Town a much needed new wastewater treatment plant.
Next, Deputy Supervisor Lindsay gave her thoughts on the Special Permit. She believes that this is a truly exciting time for the Town and that residents can look forward to a project that will be net positive for both the Town and the School District while providing an “interesting and vibrant” new commercial space and meeting market trends. She briefly outlined the process that had brought them to this juncture, thanking everyone for all of their hard work. To read her thoughts in full, click here.
Councilmember Reichgott commented that the only thing he has routinely hears from residents, besides “when is Tuxedo Farms going to happen?” was “what about economic development in this Town?” He feels that this project will address both of those things. Following these statements, the Board voted unanimously in favor of adopting the resolution. This was met with a round of applause from those in the audience.

Supervisor English next invited comments from the public who were present in Town Hall. Related Vice President Greg Gushee expressed his satisfaction with how the project has turned out, referring to the negotiation process as a “public/private partnership which resulted in an amazing plan.” Mitch Newman from Lennar (project builder) noted that it was rare to see the kind of commitment from a Town Board and he felt it would make for a better outcome. There were also positive comments from Planning Board Chair John Banyo, Code Enforcement Officer Dave Maikisch and Highway Supervisor Rob Dollbaum. Members of the public adding their support and thanks were Irene Denaro, former Town Board member Dave McMillan and Nick Ballistreri.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, Supervisor English adjourned the meeting at 8:08 pm.

The Town Board will hold a Special Meeting on Tuesday, 11/22 at 7:00pm to consider a resolution to approve an amended Special Use Permit for the Tuxedo Farms Planned Integrated Development. The meeting will be in person at Town Hall and also on Zoom.

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The Town Board met on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 7 pm. Supervisor English was absent.

The meeting began with a presentation by Jeff Domansky of Hudson Valley Energy, who is the Town’s Local Program Manager for the Community Choice Aggregation Program. The Town is currently in the exploration phase of the project. They have entered into agreements with Joule Assets and Hudson Valley Energy. Joule is a NYS approved CCA program administrator and Hudson Valley Energy is a Local Program Manager, appointed by Joule. Joule will work with the Town Board to obtain renewable energy supply contracts while Hudson Valley Energy will be in charge of community outreach/awareness and “customer support.” They will be running informational meetings for residents and will cover the following topics:

Departmental Updates:
Superintendent of Highways Dollbaum commented that snow is expected on Tuesday night and his department had spent the day getting their trucks ready. There are currently 3 trucks down but they feel they will be able to handle Tuesday night’s weather. Additionally, he reminded people that leaf pick up will continue until December 15 after which leaves will need to be bagged.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the November 24 garbage pick up will not happen due to the Thanksgiving Holiday but trash and recycling will be collected on November 25. Also, the following events will be happening around Town:

Also, Mrs. Dollbaum announced that she has produced a “Zoom Room Manual” which is available for anyone who wants to know how it works. Contact her if you want a copy!

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she will be meeting with the New York Power Authority on Thursday, November 17 to discuss pursuing an energy audit so they can go ahead with the HVAC update in Town Hall.
Councilmember May noted that a “Senior Survey” is being conducted to discover what kind of services the Senior residents would like. If anyone is interested in taking part in this anonymous questionnaire, contact her or Sue Scher.
Councilmember Reichgott observed that we are now on Standard Time and thus it is dark at night. He asks everyone to dress accordingly if they are out at night. Also, it is deer mating season so they are jumping out on the road.
On behalf of the Hamlet Revitalization Group Councilmember Murphy reported that the Greenway Grant has been submitted. The Burgis Study is under review. The Town should hear by November 18 which things they believe the Town can support. There will be a LDC meeting to review Hamlet Revitalization applications at 2 pm on November 28.

Minutes:
The minutes for the Town Board meeting on 10/24 were approved unanimously.

Other Business:
The Board scheduled a workshop discussion about Town Reorganization at 6 pm on December 12.

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The Town Board met on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 7 pm. The main purpose of the meeting was for a Preliminary Budget hearing. All members were present.

Supervisor English opened the meeting by providing a quick overview of the proposed budget. He further noted that the Town’s tax cap has been reduced by 0.63%. This was accomplished by allocating some steady funding from mortgage taxes and court fines.
A copy of the budget can be found here

Public hearing:
John McNamara expressed concern over the proposed increase in the Supervisor’s salary. Noting that his comments were not meant for any one person in particular and that he would be making them regardless of who was in office, he pointed out that the rate for the Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. and the rate for the NYS minimum wage is $14.20/hr. The increase to the Supervisor’s salary works out to be $21.63/hr. which he considers outrageous. He added that everyone serving on the Board knew what their salaries would be when they agreed to take the job and that the positions were meant to be part time. Mr. McNamara’s feels that any Supervisor or Board member who cannot do the job for the salary there were hired at, should immediately resign. The United States is currently experiencing the worst inflation it has seen in 40 years and increase in salaries are only contributing to that.
As there were no other comments from the Public, the hearing was closed. The floor was then turned over to the Town Board members.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay said that the Board had been discussing which projects they would like to work on/accomplish in the coming year and that instead of putting these into the budget and taxing the residents, they have decided to create a master plan with timeline and then allocate funds as they go along. The kinds of projects they have been talking about include arts and culture, projects for the aging, the climate smart community plan, and the engagement of consultants to help the Town in pursuing grants and tourism funds. The Deputy Supervisor believes that the Town needs to add more personnel to Town Hall in order to make its government run more efficiently, especially in light of the Tuxedo Farms project coming to fruition. None of these things are currently in the budget. The list of projects to be included in the Towns’ Capital Plan is large although the plan has not yet been put in place. She would like to see them move forward with solidifying that plan. Additionally, she reported that she had spoken to Town Auditor Andrew Arias who suggested that the Town prioritize these projects by putting them into a contingency line and appropriating the funds as needed.
Councilmember Reichgott commented that he felt the proposed increase in pay for the Supervisor was appropriate and the he believes the position is currently underpaid. He added that the Board might be considering the addition of a Town Manager as well and that in his view, this person would need to make somewhere between $150,000-$200,000 dollars.
Councilmember Murphy added that the job description for the Supervisor and Board members has changed and that additional duties had been added since the Board looked at those positions during the last reorganization process. She believes that the job descriptions should be accurately posted on the Town website.
Town Attorney Howard Protter pointed out that all the duties for Supervisor and Board members were detailed under Town law, which was made by the State.
Supervisor English noted that the part of the Supervisor’s job that he had not been aware of when he accepted the position was the two LDCs that the Supervisor is required to run (the Hamlet revitalization and the Sewer District). Both of these entities have taken up a lot of his time and will continue to do so in the future.
With that, he called for a vote on the budget and it was passed unanimously.

Councilmember Murphy added that the job description for the Supervisor and Board members has changed and that additional duties had been added since the Board looked at those positions during the last reorganization process. She believes that the job descriptions should be accurately posted on the Town website.
Town Attorney Howard Protter pointed out that all the duties for Supervisor and Board members were detailed under Town law, which was made by the State.
Supervisor English noted that the part of the Supervisor’s job that he had not been aware of when he accepted the position was the two LDCs that the Supervisor is required to run (the Hamlet revitalization and the Sewer District). Both of these entities have taken up a lot of his time and will continue to do so in the future.
With that, he called for a vote on the budget and it was passed unanimously.

Resolution to approve Sewer Services Agreement and authorize Town Supervisor to sign agreement: The Town wants to maintain control of day to day operation, maintenance and repair of the sewer district and this agreement makes that possible. It was passed unanimously.

Resolution to set fees for Food Truck permit: The fees were set as follows:
Daily Food Truck Permit Fee - $50.00
Annual Food Truck Permit Fee - $400.00
This was passed unanimously.

With the Sewer Agreement passed, Related has asked the Board if they would move up the date set for voting on the final approval of the Special Permit for Tuxedo Farms, which had been set for November 28. The Board agreed and set a Special Meeting for the vote to be held on Tuesday, November 22 at 7 pm.

Public Hearing for Town of Tuxedo Preliminary 2023 Budget to Take Place November 9 @ 7pm

The public hearing for the 2023 Preliminary Budget is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00pm. The meeting will be in person at Town Hall and on Zoom.

Click here to view a copy of the Preliminary budget for 2023

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The Town Board met on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 7pm. Supervisor English attended via Zoom. All other Board members were present.

The meeting began with a public hearing on Food Trucks. Councilmember Reichgott noted that he had received several comments from people in Town (both businesses and residents) asking that the proposed hours of operation be changed from 7am – 9 pm to 7am – 11 pm. He added that he does not have any issues with the change and does not feel it would be problematic for the Town. If, for example, a food truck is generating an undue amount of noise, there are existing laws that would allow the police to shut it down. Click here to see a copy of the law.

Jerry Mottola commented that he doesn’t understand the concept of food trucks. He feels people should just open up businesses in town instead of bringing in food trucks. In fact, he feels that food trucks would kill the town as they wouldn’t be paying anything to the Town. He pointed out that currently vendors come in and sell their wares on a weekly basis at the Farmer’s Market and pay nothing to the Town. He wonders if Tuxedo really wants more of that type of thing!
Evelyn David asked what hours the trucks would be open and wondered if they would interfere with whatever restaurants might open up in Town. She was told the hours would be 7am – 11 pm and that the available location would be restricted in that the trucks must be at least 150 feet away from any restaurant.
As there were no further comments, the public hearing was closed.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that in regard to the amended SEQRA Findings Statement for the Tuxedo Farms Planned Integrated Development, the Town Board had requested comments from the Tuxedo Planning Board, the Orange County Planning Board, NYS Department of Transportation and the Tuxedo Union Free School District and that they had carefully reviewed all comments they received.

Agenda Items:
Consideration of a resolution adopting amended SEQRA findings statement for the Tuxedo Farms Planned Integrated Development: The resolution was read into the record by the Town Board members. Click here to view a copy. After the reading, the Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the resolution.

According to Town Attorney Larry Wolinsky, the next step in the process will be finalizing the Special Permit itself along with all of the appendices.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum inquired about replacing the speed trailer that was damaged recently. He was told that the Board definitely wants to replace that one and Supervisor English added that he would like to buy more of them to put around Town as he feels they have been very effective. Moving on, Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was officially into leaf season. He reminded everyone that they will be collecting leaves only (no stones, no mulch, no sticks) that have been blown and raked to the curb. Aside from that they are busy preparing for winter. They recently repaired the salt barn and paved the bottom of it.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that Early Voting starts on October 29 and runs until November 6. The closest place for Tuxedo residents to vote early is in Warwick. Additionally, she said that Sunday, October 30 is Trunk or Treat Day in both Tuxedo and Sloatsburg. Events will run from 1-3 pm in Sloatsburg and then from 4-6 pm in Tuxedo at Powerhouse Park.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English commended his Board for all the work that they have put in on the Tuxedo Farms project. He also commented on how great the new tennis and pickleball courts at Tichy Field are. He sees them being used a lot.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported the following:

Councilmember Reichgott commented that he had been meeting with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum and Town Engineer Hoffman and they are working to come up with a plan for the floor at the Highway Garage which, as previously reported, is in need of repair. He also reminded the Board that it is time to start thinking about decorating the Town for Christmas.
Councilmember May noted that she is still working on the money from the American Reinvention program.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she has been working on a Holiday concert. She has been working with St. Mary’s Church and they have found a chamber music quintet to come and give a concert the week before Christmas for an hour in the afternoon. Details will be given at the next Town Board meeting. Additionally, she is still working on the Greenway grant and that is moving along nicely. Finally, she reported that she and Highway Superintendent Dollbaum continue to work on Eagle Lake. They met with PIPC and are making plans for future work there.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on October 12 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Motolla made a plea for a “more permanent speed sign” and also for a more active police presence in Town.
Mary Graetzer commented that the section of Route 17 coming into Town from the South always used to be a School Zone complete with a sign and a 30 mph speed zone. At some point, the sign got knocked down and no one has been able to successfully get it put back up. Mrs. Graetzer hopes the Board will take this on and work on bringing the school zone back to Tuxedo. Town Attorney Howard Protter said he would look into it.

Other Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announced that there were positions available on the Zoning Board, Planning Board and Board of Assessment Review. The Board will issue notices of the positions and then interviews can begin.

After a brief discussion, the Board decided to change the hours for food trucks from 7am-11pm to 7am-10pm and then they voted unanimously in favor of approving the Food Truck law.

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The Town Board met together with representatives from the Related Co. and their consultants and the Tuxedo Union Free School District and their consultants on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm.

Supervisor English opened the meeting and explained that the purpose of coming together was to provide the representatives of Tuxedo Farms and the Tuxedo Union Free School District an opportunity to publicly discuss their differences on the project, which is currently undergoing SEQRA review by the Town.

Town Attorney Larry Wolinsky began by summarizing the current status of the application and where the Board is in the process. Before the project can move forward, the Town must complete their SEQRA review, which is almost done. The last remaining pieces relate the issues raised by the School District. Once these have been settled, the Board can complete the process and the project will advance to the next stage.

Next, the applicant summarized what they perceive to be the School District’s main concerns. There are four of them as follows:

Using a PowerPoint presentation, they proceeded to analyze and refute each of these concerns, concluding that the project as proposed, according to their research, would be tax positive for both the District and the Town.
The School District was then given the opportunity to respond.Superintendent of Schools Jeff White began his remarks by noting that while the District supports the project and wants to see it happen, they disagree with a number of what they consider to be assumptions and statements made by the applicant. He proceeded to elaborate on this in some detail with the assistance of his consultants, the District’s attorney and Board of Education President, Joe Rickard. In closing he reiterated that the School District wants to work with the applicant and that what they are asking for at this point is for the Town to hold off voting on the project until a solution that works for everyone can be negotiated. “When that happens,” he noted “I think we can move together as a complete team.”
After the School’s presentation, the applicant asked for time to discuss amongst themselves what they’d heard so that they could respond to the District’s points. The applicant and their consultants then left the room to have a conference. When they returned Greg Gushee, representing the Applicant, stated that nothing he had heard from the school had changed his mind that the project would be tax positive. Additionally, he noted that the District kept asking for the Town Board to hold off until an agreement could be reached, but an agreement had been reached and signed off on by both the School and the Town back in 2015. A copy an agreement signed by both Andrew Dance of Related Companies and Board of Education Vice President, Diane Petrosky, was presented. The agreement specified that the 40-acre parcel would be offered to the District in the form of a gift and further that two cash contributions totaling 2.5 Million would be made to the District at various stages of development. Based on this, Mr. Gushee concluded, there is nothing else to negotiate.

Superintendent White suggested that the applicant had used an incorrect equalization rate, calling upon the School’s Business Consultant, Anthony Cashara, to elaborate. Mr. Cashara pointed out that if the agreement presented by the applicant is realized, it will leave the School needing to raise taxes to the fullest extent allowed by the tax cap every year in order for them to realize any of the revenue.

Next, Town Planning Bonnie Franson, who has been working on the project since 1990, was called upon to offer her thoughts. She provided her recollection of the project timeline, noting that in 2015, for a variety of reasons, there was a shift and that the school had agreed to accept a cash donation in lieu of grading the property as originally proposed. This can be found within the finding statements. Having reviewed all of the current information as well as the concerns expressed by the TUFSD, there has been some confusion with regard to the numbers provided and she elaborated on where the confusion lay and how this had impacted their comparisons of the two sets of numbers that had been provided by the applicant and the school.

After some further discussion and a brief outline of next steps from Board Attorney Larry Wollinsky, Supervisor English stated after 3 hours he felt enough had been said on both sides. A motion to adjourn was passed unanimously at 9:55 pm.

The Town Board will hold an advice of counsel meeting at 5:00pm on October 20th. This meeting is for Town Board members and legal counsel only.

Additionally, the scheduled public meeting starting at 7pm is being held to facilitate discussions between the Town Board, Tuxedo Union Free School District, and Related (the applicant for Tuxedo Farms). There will be limited seating for the public at Town Hall, but the meeting will be live-streamed through Zoom and recorded. There will be no public participation. No action will be taken during this meeting.

The Town Board met on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 7 pm. Supervisor English attended the meeting via Zoom as he is under quarantine due to a family member who is afflicted with covid . Deputy Supervisor Lindsay ran the meeting from Town Hall.

The meeting began with the swearing in of new Police Chief John Trazino. Several of his family members were present to witness the swearing in as well as several members of the Tuxedo Police force.

Public Hearings:
The first hearing was for a tax levy limit override for fiscal year 2023. It was explained that this measure was being taken as a precaution, but it will only be used if necessary.
The only speaker was Mike Santoianni of Tuxedo Park. He wanted to make the point that the School Board, of which he was a member for many years, did not have the luxury of this same procedure. Instead, they are required to put any overrides before the voting public. .
As there were no other comments, the public hearing was closed.

The second public hearing was on Local Law #5 of 2022. This law increases the number of single-family houses in the Tuxedo Farms development by 30 to 269 and makes the minimum number of duplex units 174. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that this change had been requested by the Town Board, not the developer. She further cautioned that the hearing at this meeting was set to address only this change, and not any other issues relating to Tuxedo Farms. She added that the Town had received a response from the School District just the day prior and that this had been immediately posted to the Town website. The Town Board’s consultant is currently reviewing this response and their comments are expected by the end of the week. Once they have been received, they will also be posted to the Town website. It is the Board’s understanding that further talks between the school and the applicant are ongoing and they anxiously await the results of said discussions. Finally, the Deputy Supervisor noted that there would be no action taken at this meeting on SEQR or the Special Permit.

Gary Heavner, resident and current School Board member, noted that his comments were based on a Facebook post from TPfyi in which a recent article from the Times Herald Record was shared. He had 3 questions/comments based on the THR article. First, he wanted to know where the 30 houses will be built. Next, he voiced some concern over statements in the article made by Mr. Gushee of Related Companies, which he considers to be improper. In the article, Mr. Gushee referred to both the 40-acre parcel and the $2.5 million offered by the developer to the District as “gifts,” however, as per the original project negotiations,   these are obligations and not gifts!   He further expressed concern that the developer is proposing to increase the number of single family homes at this at this stage of the process, cautioning that the new homes are supposed to have a net positive impact on the school district. Lastly, he wanted to know how many houses could be built on the land without the need for any zoning changes?
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay responded that the increase under discussion had not been requested by the developer. Rather it was requested by the Town Board and it would not increase the total number of overall units or the bedroom count in the development.
Town Attorney Larry Wolinsky added that the proposed houses have not been “located” as of yet. If approved, they will be “absorbed” into the development and the developer will have one year in which to figure out how to do that and modify their preliminary plan accordingly.
Diana Petrosky wanted to know whether some other part of the development would be eliminated or “taken away” to accommodate for the proposed 30 single-family homes being added. She was told yes. The developer will also have one year to decide on this but most likely the number of town homes will be reduced.
Turning back to the proposed Tax Cap Override Legislation, John McNamara noted that technical difficulties had prevented him from commenting earlier. He noted that the Board was heading into the period where they would be negotiating a budget with the various departments and vendors and that passing this law would only alert those entities to the fact that the Town could spend more money if they wanted to. He was told that the Board not necessarily looking to spend more money, they just want the flexibility to do so if they deem it necessary.
Mike Santoianni wanted to know if there would be additional meetings at which to make public comments on the special permit before it is voted on. He was told that the public hearing on the special permit had been conducted in June and was subsequently closed. Attorney Wolinsky added that the current hearing was unrelated to SEQRA and that there would be a special meeting on Thursday October 20 at which this would be discussed but there will be no more comments from the public. It is possible that the vote on the special permit could occur on the 20th. The Town Board’s consultant, Bonnie Franson is working on a response to the School Board’s latest submission and that is expected by the end of the week. When received, it will be posted to the Town website and it will also be discussed at the October 20 meeting. (click here to visit the Town website, where the reports can be viewed.) Attorney Howard Protter stated further that after the Permit has been granted, the applicant will appear before the Planning Board for site plan approvals for the various neighborhoods within the development. Those site plan approvals will require public hearings and so there will be additional opportunities for the public to comment in the future. Councilmember Reichgott added that he believes that it is every citizen’s right or responsibility to make their opinions heard by the Board. While it may not be possible to do that as part of a public hearing, citizens can use other means, such as telephone calls and/or emails to the Board members to make their opinions known.
Mike Santoianni then provided a brief history of the development from his perspective as a former member of the school board. Related has made changes to the proposed 40-acre site. Lot lines have been changed and the Developer is no longer willing to grade the property, which is more mountainous than that which was originally offered. Sadly, the Town Board never consulted the school board and asked for their opinion on these changes when they were made.   Now it seems as though Related won’t change their offer because they think they don’t have to. He suggested that unless the Town Board tells the developers that they have to change back to what was originally offered, he does not believe they will do it.   As Mr. Santoianni had more than exceeded the 3-minute time-limit for public comments, he was then cut short and told that this subject would be discussed at the October 20 Special meeting.
Diana Petrosky stated that she had been on the School Board for 18 years and during that time, there were numerous negotiations with Related. She wondered why the Town re-negotiating with the developer about the property offered for a new school? She was told that the current negotiations are dictated by the SEQRA process, which requires them to review all the past negotiations. Mrs. Petrosky then wondered whether part of the review would include the changes made by Related when they put the emergency access to their development on someone else’s property without permission? Mr. Wolinksy told her that yes, it would.
Superintendent of Schools, Jeff White commented that he came to his position in July of 2021 but hadn’t learned about any of the controversy with the proposed donation of property until a month or so later. When he learned about it, he met with the Town Supervisor who assured him that the project would not move forward until the school was satisfied with what was being proposed. But “the conversation changed” on June 2 when he was notified that the project would be moving forward whether the school was satisfied or not. As a result, the school spent the next 3 months putting together a comprehensive response to what had been proposed. They found that there was inaccurate information in the Tech memo such as the inclusion of $750,000 of State revenue which would come to the district. There were several other inaccuracies and misinterpretations as well. He feels it is most important that these things be sorted out. As such, he is currently working directly with Greg Gushee of Related trying to come to a mutual agreement. In the meantime, he doesn’t think the Town should be in a hurry to grant total approval to the project.
Aoife Geoghegan stated that, to her knowledge, no one sitting on the current Town Board had any children who were currently attending Tuxedo Schools or who had attended them in the past.   She asked for confirmation of this. In response, many of the Board members stated that this was irrelevant. Board member Maria May stated that by the time she moved to Tuxedo her children were mostly grown, but that she had worked as an educator and a Board member in the Suffern District for years. She was offended by the insinuation that not having children in the Tuxedo District made her any less qualified to thoroughly fulfill l her duties as a Board Member as it pertains to this project.   Ms. Geoghegan suggested that because none of the current Board members have or have had children in the District, they have a whole different perspective on what might happen than those residents who are more directly affected by what goes on at the school. She implored the Town Board to sit down with the School Board and begin an open dialogue and discussion about what is happening with Related.
Diana Petrosky asked the Board not to close the Public Hearing because, she said, things have changed with the addition on 30 single family homes and the removal of other components of the development to make up for that. Attorney Wolinsky responded by noting that these changes had been analyzed and that this was a part of the current tech memo available on the Town web site.
The Board then voted unanimously to close the public hearing. It was noted that there would be public comments at the October 20 meeting in relation to the revised tech memo as well as the response of the Town’s consultant to the School Board’s letter. Councilmember Reichgott reiterated that members of the public could always express their opinions by sending an email to Board members.
Superintendent White suggested that the two Boards needed to meet and come to a mutual agreement about these matters before the Town Board votes on the application.

Discussion Item:
Rockland Paramedics Contract – Tim Egan, Executive Director of Rockland Paramedics gave a presentation on his company and their relationship with the Town of Tuxedo. To see a copy of this presentation, click here.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum gave her report which consisted of listing events happening soon in Town. Details on all events are on the Town website (and also on TPfyi).
Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor Ken English commented that he and all Town Board members have been working very hard to move the Tuxedo Farms development forward. He also said that the recent town Family Fun Day was “amazing,” – a real team effort!
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she continues to work on the Community Aggregationn project. On October 19, Jewel (the administrator) will be present to meet with all Town Hall employees. On October 24, they will make a presentation at the Town Board meeting.
Councilmember Murphy said that the recent Plein Air Event was a great success with over 200 people turning out for the cocktail reception. The vendors were also very pleased!
Councilmembers May and Reichgott both said they did not have reports.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on September 26 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola reported that the speed sign at the southern end of Town had been crashed into and destroyed during the night recently. Supervisor English commented that the Town will replace this sign as he thinks these signs are very valuable and have made a difference in all the places they have been placed. Mary Graetzer asked if anyone would be able to retrieve the information off of these signs as has been promised several times in the past. She was told that the information now goes directly to the Highway Department and they are working on getting the information off the signs.

The Town Board met on Monday. September 26, 2022 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Supervisor Ken English began the meeting by stating that he was aware that many people in the audience were there because of the School District. He continued that there was no agenda item about the school and that the Board was awaiting a report from their consultants, Nelson Pope Voorhis who are reviewing the information submitted by the Tuxedo Union Free School District. They expect the report by the end of the week, at which time it will be made public. Until the report has been received, the Board will not have anything to say on the subject.

The next item on the agenda was a report from consultant Valerie Monastra of Nelson Pope Voorhis on the subject of a proposed Greenway Grant application. If received, the grant would help fund a study to help the Town attract businesses to the Route 17 corridor. One of the main objectives would be to identify the types of businesses that would be good for the Town. During this process, a detailed description of the market area would be developed, current economic trends would be identified, the potential of tourism would be discussed and possible sites for locating business would be determined. The study would cost approximately $18,000 with the Town paying $9000 and the remaining $9000 to come from the grant. The grant and subsequent study would be in addition to the Burgis study which is underway and which covers design improvements for development in the area between Hospital Road and the entrance to Tuxedo Park. According to Ms. Monastra, the Greenway Grant is much more comprehensive, and she feels confident that the Town will qualify. At the end of the discussion, the Board voted unanimously to apply for the grant. To see a copy of the presentation, click here.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his crew is getting ready for Leaf Season which will run from October 16 to December 15. Any leaves either before or after those dates will need to be bagged.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the first Board meeting in October will be held on October 12 due to Columbus Day. Upcoming events in Town are the ribbon cutting for the new Historical Society building (former JP Morgan Bank) on September 29 at 10:30 am and the Back to School Carnival on September 30 from 3-6 pm. Also, the General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8. The polls will be open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm. Early voting begins on October 29.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English announced that he would be passing on a Supervisor’s Update.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that the Community Choice Aggregation program has hired an administrator. Now there is a rollout period. It has been mentioned that the best time to roll out the actual bulk buying program will probably be April of 2023. She has also been working with Debra Villanueva from the Town Building Department to set up escrow agreements for developers and people coming before the Planning Board so that if consultants are needed for projects, the Town will not have to pay for them.
Councilmember May announced that the second payment for the American Reinvention Act has come in and she is working on what it should be used for.
Councilmember Reichgott, along with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum and Town Engineer Sean Hoffman met to inspect and assess the floor in the Highway garage. They are working on a plan to repair and shore up the floor as it has deteriorated over the years. Next, he commented that he had attended the last Tuxedo Park Board of Trustees meeting and noted that the water main which feeds the East Village and other areas of the Hamlet has had problems for quite a while and the Board has come up with a solution which will be implemented before long. Lastly, he mentioned the Tuxedo Bag Project, started by two students from TPS which collects reusable grocery bags that people do not need and donates them to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. Collection boxes are located in the Village Office, Town Hall, Sloatsburg Town Hall and the Woodlands Clubhouse.

Councilmember Murphy reported that the Plein Air Event would begin on September 27. There are 30 artists out and about the in both the Town and the Village painting. The event will culminate in the Artists Reception on Friday, September 30 from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm. Wine and “small bites” will be served and the paintings will be for sale. Additionally, this year each artist has created a small 5” x 7” painting and these will also be for sale. The pictures will remain on display and for sale throughout the Farmer’s Market and on Sunday as well.

Minutes The minutes from the regular meeting on September 12 were unanimously approved.

Public Comments:
With regard to the impending report from the consultants concerning the proposed property donation from Tuxedo Farms to the School District, School Superintendent Jeff White asked how many similar engagements the Town’s consultant had had? He also wanted to know if the consultant would make a public presentation of their findings and in so doing disclose their process to the public? Next, he wondered if the same firm who was looking at the proposed property donation would also be reviewing the school district data? He wondered specifically what expertise this particular firm might have with school districts and with state aid to school districts? He also asked if there would be an open dialog between the school and the consultant reviewing the data regarding the impacts of Tuxedo Farms on the school district. Further he wanted to know whether the consultant would review the estimated market valuations in the Technical Memorandum and if the Town Assessor has reviewed the market valuations.
Lastly, he wanted to know whether Local Law #4 would give a final special permit modification after the public hearing if the Town Board approves the resolution and law. He added that he thinks that increasing single family homes is a good thing but suggested that if they were renegotiating increased population with the developers and the builder, they must also address the increase in school age children generated by any increase in units.
Dan Castricone commented that when Tuxedo Farms was first proposed, the process had been that in order to contradict any impact on the Town taxpayers and school district, the Developer agreed to give certain things to the Town and/or school to mitigate the impacts. This was the reason that Related initially agreed to donate and clear the vacant land as well as offer a sum of money … so that the school wouldn’t be put in a position of economic loss because of the development. As a member of the School Board, he looks forward to working with the Town Board to ensure that that the school district will be able to afford to educate the additional children who would be generated by the project.
George Grant Mason Principal Dolores Trelecky urged the Board to keep in mind that the school is the heart beat of the community and that they should do whatever was necessary to make sure that they were able to children in the Town.
Mike Arone inquired as to whether or not Related was really going to go through with the project? He said he was asking because he knows for a fact that over the past several months, the owners have been actively showing the property to prospective buyers. He even saw people up there just that very afternoon. He was told that as far as the Board knew, that was not true. The Board is in the process of negotiating an amended agreement with Related. The people on the property that afternoon were Councilmember Murphy and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay.
Board of Education President Joe Rickard said that he had hoped to be more a part of the process. “This is becoming a big, big issue for the school. As you know, not using our numbers but using Relateds’ projections of the number of students who will come in in the next five years assuming everything gets signed….it will be in excess of 350-400 students. This will more than double the size of our school and we don’t have the capacity to handle those kids. The idea was that we would be working with the Town and with Related to ensure that we had usable property in order to accommodate what's essential. You can call it a negotiation but it’s really not a negotiation. It’s what’s needed to support the new size of the school.”
He went on to say that they had held a meeting a few weeks back at which a lot of information and date was shared and analyzed and that since that time, Related had been in touch with the District on a daily basis. There has however been no communication from the Town Board and in fact, this evening was the first time they learned that the Town was having their data reviewed by consultants. “There was no conversation. No questions about the data or the information we presented,” he stated. “There’s not even any comments from the person who is doing the audit, which is very unusual. When somebody does an audit of information the first people they call is those who provided the data so they can review it!”
He further expressed concern over the proposed timeline, noting that the Supervisor had indicated that a report would be forthcoming in the next week. “I am assuming that you will conversations with us and the consultant will be talking to us vs. publishing the report because I don’t think you really want to do that. I think you want to make sure that you have the information right. Some of the consultant reports that we received previously were incorrect and had to be fixed after the fact. It would be a good idea if you would work with our administration to make sure that we have a common understanding. Can I get that agreement from the Town?” He implored that Town Board not to make any decisions until this was settled and everyone was on the same page. “We don’t want to hold things up. We never said we wouldn’t give you any data or any information. We want to work with you,” he stated. “The consequences of not doing it right will have significant consequences not just for the kids, but for the Taxpayers afterwards,” he cautioned. “I think you are aware of that.”
John Horneff expressed his concern with the Town Board having the right to exceed the tax cap as per the proposed Local Law# 4 (which will actually become Local Law #5). He was told that it was not the intention of the Board to exceed the cap, but there were indications that things might be difficult because of increases that are beyond the control of the Board (gas prices, garbage company increases, medical costs, retirement costs etc.). If they do ultimately determine that they need to exceed the cap, they need to have this law in place in order to do so.
Alyssa Horneff, a School Board member, reiterated that there were a lot of important questions on the table and that in the interest of the Disitrct and the Taxpayers the two Boards should move forward together with Realted to get them answered in a timely fashion.

Other Business:
Resolution introducing local law and providing for public notice and hearing- Some of the businesses in Town have inquired about bringing in food trucks, but this is not covered in the current zoning law. Councilmember Reichgott and Town Attorney Protter have put together a draft law and the request is to set a public hearing for the law. Supervisor English said he didn’t feel ready for a vote. Councilmembers May and Murphy indicated there had been a request for a permit for a food truck and that they would like to vote on it. Following some discussion, the Board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the proposed legislation on October 24.
Councilmember Reichgott that the State has just announced they are open for marijuana dispensaries. Since Tuxedo is one of the only municipalities in the region who didn’t opt out of having these dispensaries, he feels they need to discuss what rules they will put in place. Personally, he feels that any future marijuana dispensaries should be reviewed much the same as bars and liquor stores currently are—the police do an investigation of the business and make a recommendation for granting permission. There was a quick discussion on this but no firm decision was made.

The Town Board met on Monday, September 12 at 7pm via WebEx. All members were present.

AGENDA ITEMS:
2022-23 Tax Certiorari Proceedings – The Board voted unanimously in favor of approving a resolution to hire the firm of Jacobowitz and Gubits to defend the Town in a tax certiorari proceeding brought by 5 agents who are contesting their taxes. Those agents are:
The Tuxedo Club, Martin Friedman, Tuxedo NY LLC, Karen and Said Haidar and Genesis Real Estate.
Resolution to Appoint Police Chief – The Board voted unanimously in favor of appointing John Trazino as the new Chief of Police at a starting salary of $35,000 per year. John is a Warwick resident with roots in Tuxedo. He graduated from George F. Baker High School and went on to a career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that spanned more than 20 years. He has extensive experienced training and mentoring officers.
Resolution to Approve Part-Time Police Officers – The Board voted unanimously in favor of appointing Eric Tursi and Kyle Conklin as part-time police officers at the rate of $31.62 per hour.
Resolution to Approve Field Use Application – NY/NJ Trail Conference – The Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the NY/NJ Trail Conference request to use Powerhouse Park for a Trail Race between the hours of 6:30-9am on October 15.

Supervisor English reported that the Town Board was continuing to move forward the Special Permit for Tuxedo Farms and he believes they are getting closer and closer every day. Hopefully there will be something to announce by the end of the month.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported having met with Town Engineer Sean Hoffman and Elinor Peck, the new contact from the Hudson Valley Regional Council. Elinor provided them with a fair amount of information and this will be discussed during the “Other Business” section of the meeting. Additionally, there was a Climate Smart Committee meeting earlier that day and they are moving forward with a number of action plans. They are getting close to certification as a Clean Energy Committee and there are also some items to address during “other business” on this topic.
Councilwoman Maria May noted that she did not have anything new to report. They are waiting to learn when ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds will become available.
Councilman Jay Reichgott explained that the Covid-related State of Emergency orders would expire that night and further they will not be renewed. What this means is that public meetings can no longer be entirely remote and that at least three Town Board members will need to present in Town Hall for their bi-monthly meetings. Secondly, he reminded everyone that Family Fun Day would be taking place on October 8 and that this year there would be an Apple Pie baking contest. Next, he noted that they were in receipt of some correspondence pertaining to the floor at the Highway Garage which is starting to show its’ age. After having taken a look at it, he feels that the Town will need to consider doing something there in the “relatively near future” although he does not believe it is an emergency. Town Engineer Sean Hoffman will also be looking at it in the coming week and generating a report for their review. Lastly, he noted that a few meetings back the Board had been discussing food trucks and that subsequently their attorney, Howard Protter, has put together and circulated a draft local law for comment. He is hoping that the Board members will all weigh in with comments so that they can finalize the draft and present it at the next meeting and then schedule a public hearing as it appears to be an issue that has some urgency for some people.
Councilwoman Diedre Murphy reported that she had been working on the Plein Air Art Festival, which is moving along nicely. This year’s event will feature a silent auction, for which each artist has been asked to donate a 5x7 piece of artwork. The bidding starts at $35 and the monies will go towards funding of the event. She also consulted with the County Highway Department about the previously discussed speed limit issue and they are consulting with the County. Additionally, she is working with the Deputy Supervisor on a strategy for grants moving forward and how they might be able to incorporate a lot of their plans for marketing etc. into future applications for grants based on new issues that are coming up in the Town. She hopes to have an outline of steps forward prepared for the next meeting.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that Local Law #4 of 2022 for Video Conferencing was filed with the Department of State on September 2 and is now officially on the books. School taxes are due by September 30 without penalty. Everyone should have their statements by now. Payments are due to the individual school districts and not at Town Hall. Both Districts accept online payments and there are links to the respective webpages on the Town website. She has also been working with Councilwoman Murphey to try and build better emails lists or subscriber e-alerts through the website so that residents can sign up for content that they want to receive vs. mass emails from the Clerk. The website does have that capability, they just have to get more people interested and then begin utilizing it.
Click here to view a copy of the Police Report.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum was not present and therefore there was no report from the Highway Department.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David inquired about the new Zoom Room, wondering whether there would be call-in directions for attending posted to the website and if people would still be able to unmute and ask questions. The answer to both questions was yes.
Irene Denaro thanked the Supervisor and the Board for updating Tichy Field commenting that the work was beautiful and long overdue. The Supervisor agreed that things looked great and suggested that perhaps they should have a ribbon cutting ceremony in the near future.

Other Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that Mr. Protter had circulated the final contract with Jewel Assets to become the Town’s Community Choice Aggregation Administrator for electricity supply and community solar. April is the target date for commencing the program. They are targeting next year as a good time to move forward with a program for Natural Gas for which they will use a different administrator. Following some further discussion, the Board voted in favor of authorizing the Supervisor to sign the agreement.
Moving on, The Deputy Supervisor turned to the Clean Energy program. The Town needs to complete 4 of 10 action items in order to be certified as a Clean Energy Community. The Town has completed two of these to date. They have talked about pursuing a unified solar permit and energy audit in order to fulfill the requirement. In order to move forward with the unified solar permit, there will need to be a law drafted amending the building code to create an exception. Both of these action items were discussed at some length and the Board voted in favor of authorizing Mr. Protter to draft the necessary law for the Unified Solar Permit. It was agreed that the Deputy Supervisor would reach out to the various vendors that had been provided for the energy audit to determine what would be involved and report back. Additionally, Town Engineer Sean Hoffman will take a look at it in order to determine if the Town might be eligible for any associated municipal grants. Once the Town has completed the 4 action items and becomes certified, they will receive a $5,000 reward and this can be towards anything that might not be fundable through grants.
With regard to the Climate Smart Community certification, the State now has a program to help municipalities calculate their greenhouse gas emission inventory. There are a couple of volunteers who are willing to work on this. In order to take advantage of the program and all the tools that the State has in place, the Supervisor will need to sign a letter of commitment. The associated costs will be minimal. The Board voted unanimously in favor of authorizing the Supervisor to sign the letter of commitment subject to approval by Mr. Protter.
Councilwoman May reiterated that Family Fun Day would take place on October 8 and that there would be “many fun things happening.” She encouraged everyone to spread the word and attend the event.
Councilman Reichgott circled back to the topic of food trucks and the draft local law that had been circulated and it was discussed at some length. The draft proposes two types of permits, one being long-term and the other being a daily permit for an event. Discussion focused primarily on the potential locations of the trucks, the possibility of “non-compete” clauses as well as possibly making the trucks seasonal. Ultimately, Councilman Reichgott will continue to collect thoughts from the Town Board and work together with Mr. Protter to produce an updated draft for the next meeting.
Changing topic, the Deputy Mayor suggested that the Department Heads come together to work on a Capital Plan in an effort to help them off-set costs associated with major work/repairs through appropriate planning over time. The Supervisor agreed, further noting that in his view the plan should prioritize items that could be reasonably be completed in the next 3 or 4 years.

The Town Boared met on Monday, August 22, 2022 at 7:00 pm via Web Ex. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay was absent.

Public Hearing - Video Conferencing Local Law:
Councilmember Reichgott gave a brief explanation on the proposed law. Since the State is still operating under a state of emergency due to Covid, the Town Board meetings have been taking place virtually via Web Ex. It is expected that this situation could change soon. Since the Town has recently installed a Zoom Room giving it the capability to broadcast their meetings via Zoom, a new law governing those meetings was proposed. Essentailly, the law only applies to Town Board members as it gives the rules for attendance and voting in meetings. The public will still be able to attend the meetings virtually although the format will change from Web Ex to Zoom. To read a copy of the proposed law, click here.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David, wanted to know if she would still be able to dial in and attend meetings virtually. The answer was yes.
Kimberly Breiland noted that she really liked being able to attend the Town Board meetings virtually and also observed that when she was on the Board of Education, quite a lot of people would attend meetings once they became available virtually.

Following this discussion, the public hearing was closed and the local law was adopted by unanimous vote. The Board then unanimously adopted their policy for video conferencing, which states that Board members are expected to show up at Town Hall for meetings but there are certain circumstances when they can attend virtually. The policy will be posted on the Town website.

Agenda Item:
Resolution to approve facilities use application – Powerhouse Park:
Representing the Tuxedo Community Activity Council, Kimberly Breiland has applied for permission to use Powerhouse Park on September 24 from 10 am to 2 pm for a community garage sale. The rain date is proposed for October 15. Residents from all over Town will be able to bring their own table and set up to sell items for a fee of $5 per table. Currently, residents of Tuxedo Park are not allowed to hold garage sales. Also, since the Town of Tuxedo is so spread out, it can be hard to attend several sales on the same day. Bringing everything together on one day and in one location would be a way for that to happen. Also, the council has been approached by someone who would like to hold a Classic Car Show and after some discussion, they have decided that they would like to combine the two events. Ms. Breiland inquired as to whether the Town could supply a “port-o-potty” for the event and the Supervisor responded that they could. She further inquired about signage, noting that she wanted to make sure there was visible, clear signage all over Town for Powerhouse Park as well as directions from Route 17. She was told that signage for all the town’s parks is needed and the Board is hoping to work on this soon. Finally, she asked if the Town would be willing to co-sponsor the event. Following some discussion, the Board unanimously approved the event as well as the “port-o-potty”. They also agreed to be co-sponsors.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reminded everyone of the primary election to be held on August 23 from 6am to 9pm. The election is for Democratic Candidates in the 18th District only. Town Hall is the only polling location.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English reported that the Town camp had ended on August 12. It was a very successful year for the program with 70 kids participating. He thanked part time Recreation Director Claire Dougher for all her hard work and then read a letter from camp parent Victoria Love who thanked everyone involved for such a wonderful experience for her children. Additionally, he reported that the Tuxedo LDC had filed their first required PARIS report (Public Assistance Reporting Information System) with the New York Comptrollers Office. Finally, he announced that the Tuxedo Police Department had recently received two grants, one for a Child Passenger Safety program and the other for participation in the Police Traffic Services program, which has a goal of increasing seat belt usage and reducing dangerous driving behaviors.

Town Board Updates:
Councilmember May thanked the police department for their recent successful and fun event to support the dog park. She also thanked everyone responsible for the event held at the Pollinator Meadow on July 29th commemorating the person who founded a station for the study of insects.
Councilmember Reichgott noted that despite the recent rain, things are still really dry and he cautioned everyone to be careful.
Councilmember Murphy stated that she will have an update on all of her projects for the next meeting.

Minutes:
The minutes for the August 8 Town Board meeting were approved unanimously.

Other Business:
Maskers Orchards was given permission for their usual 7 seasonal signs advertising apple picking. The permit will cover the period of late August” to November 15.
Councilmember May commented that she has observed signs from Republican Candidate Colin Schmidt being put up in Town and further noted that these are illegal as Town law states that no campaign signs can go up until 45 days before the election . The Board asked Town Attorney Howard Protter to look into this.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 8, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. Supervisor English was absent.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Rob Dollbaum asked for an explanation of the Greenway grant. He was told that this is a grant that provides money to municipalities to assist them in planning for revitalization.

Agenda Items:
Resolution to engage town planners Bonnie Franson & Valerie Monastra and Town Engineer Sean Hoffman for Greenway grant writing assistance – If received, the money from this grant would fund studies necessary for economic development. In particular, it would allow for a study that would outline all the commercial properties in Town in order to determine what is “missing” and what is “not missing.” This information would then allow the Town to apply for another grant, which would assist with moving the commercial development in Town forward. There was a lengthy discussion about exactly what the proposed cost of each grant might be. Councilmember Reichgott asked several probing questions focused on what the Town would be getting for their money. The resolution was initially introduced with a cost “not to exceed $5000,” but was reduced to “a cost of up to $2000.” Councilmember Reichgott wondered whether this was an accurate figure and if they would be able to successfully do the work for $2000. The answer was “if they can’t, we won’t do it.”
The resolution was passed by a vote of 3-1 with Councilmember Reichgott voting no.

Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the Zoom Room installation had been completed the previous week and would be ready for the next meeting! She also reported that she had been working with General Codes and that the Town codes had been updated through December, 2021. She has one, physical copy in her office and urged anyone else wanting a copy to use the ecodes available on the Town website as printed copies are costly. Finally, she stated that the Optimum franchise agreement is up in 2023 and the company will be contacting the Town to negotiate a further contract. Also coming up for renewal is the lease agreement on the phone system in Town Hall.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that road patching is mostly complete in the Town. The department has fiber matted and chip sealed Benjamin Meadow and Brammertown roads and chip sealed Warwick Brook Rd. He is hopeful that there may be enough money left to chip seal in Eagle Valley. Work continues on the dirt pile. They also installed the new Town billboard near Warwick Brook Rd.
Town Board Reports:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that the Board had met with both Counsel and the Town Planner to review the design guidelines for Tuxedo Farms.
Councilmember May added that she had attended the cleanup and repainting of Lucky Skate Park.
Councilmember Reichgott noted that everything is very dry due to drought conditions and he cautioned residents to be vigilant about potential fire hazards.
Councilmember Murphy announced that 28 artists have already signed up for the Plein Air Event and the campaign to sign up sponsors will start soon. Also, Heather Bullard has agreed to do catering for the event again this year. Additionally, the Orange County Arts Council has proposed putting on a production of A Christmas Carol performed by the Greenwood Lake Players on a Sunday evening in December at the George F. Baker Auditorium. The cost for this production would be $7,000. Following a brief discussion, the Board decided that the proposed expense was too much and therefore, it was not approved.

Minutes – The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting on July 25 were unanimously approved.

The Town Board met on Monday, July 25, 2022 at 7:00 pm via Web Ex. All members were present.

Supervisor English stated that the Board would not be voting on this issue at the present meeting, but if anyone would like to make a short statement, the Board would be happy to have them do so. John McNamera wanted to know how the Town would know whether the proposed solution would solve the problem? He was informed that this question could not be answered yet as the Board doesn’t have enough information about what is being proposed.
Mr. McNamera then wondered whether the Town could revert to being just a town, as they were before. The Board believes that this will be possible, but will have to wait and see.
Mr. McNamera also wanted to know what would happen if Tuxedo Farms decided, down the road, that they wanted to become their own Village? The Board did not have an answer to this question.
Bonny Takeuchi noted that she had the same questions as Mr. McNamera and that she was happy that the Board would not be voting on this particular item just yet.

Department Updates:
The Police Department is still planning to hold their BBQ Fundrasier on August 13 from 12 noon to 6 pm. All proceeds will benefit the Tuxedo Dog Park.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that there will be a Democratic Party Primary Election on Tuesday, August 3 from 6am – 9pm. The election will determine who will run for the Congressional seats on the Democratic line in Orange County. Town Hall will be the only polling place in Tuxedo. Additionally, she reported that the Town’s Zoom Room is in progress!!! They anticipate that it will be completed in 1-2 weeks.
Town Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department was currently working on chip sealing Warwick Brook Road Thus he recommended that people avoid using this road for the next couple of days. In the coming weeks, they will be completing some drainage work on August and Nursery Roads. Lastly, work continues on the “dirt pile” at the Highway garage.
Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that the new sewer plant is moving forward and will be ready for hook ups on schedule. He and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay are working with the Tuxedo Farms LDC to schedule the hook ups. The Town Board had had a special meeting with Attorney Larry Wolinsky to go over the latest proposed special permit for Tuxedo Farms. Another special meeting will be held on July 26th to go over design standards and the smart code. After this, they will report back to residents and show them the next iteration of the agreement.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she had been busy checking the references provided by the two applicants for the Commmunity Choice Aggregation Administrator.
Councilmember May attended a meeting of the Silver Dollars. They are working on a survey for all senior residents to find out what services they want and/or need. She thanked Sue Heywood as well as Kimberly Breiland & Adam Patrick, who hosted a fundraising event for people to aid in sending local kids to the Town Camp. The event was very successful and they reached their goal with a little left over to be saved for the same cause next year.

Councilmember Reichgott announced that the Lucky Park repainting party has been rescheduled for August 6. Additionally, he congratulated the Eagle Valley Fire Company on their 50th Anniversary which they celebrated over the last weekend.
Councilmember Murphy, along with Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has been working on finding ways to get money to fund the Hamlet Revitalization. She spoke with the Orange County Arts Council and told them that the Board has decided to move their contract until next year, but would be interested in a Holiday Event. The Council in turn suggested a play to be put on by the Greenwood Lake Players, who have a great interest in performing in the High School auditorium. The High School is very interested as they have just finished some renovations to that space and would like to use this as a way to introduce the “new” auditorium to the public. The performance would take place on a Sunday and Councilmember Murphy has asked them to make it a matinee. She will continue to keep the Board updated as the details are ironed out.

Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on July 11 as well as the special meeting on July 14 were unanimously approved.

New Business
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announced that the contract for CCA Administrator for electricity will go to Jewel. The contract for natural gas will go to Good Energy.

The purpose of a Town/Village was to avoid a town-wide concern that the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline would be sited in undeveloped residential lands and residential neighborhoods that were occupied within the Town. The power to prevent pipelines from travelling through the Town was and is within the purview of a Village not a Town. And, as such, it was determined in the best interest of the community to create a Town/Village which would give Tuxedo the power to stop the Pipeline from running through the Town.

It is the opinion of the Board that the Community did not want two over lapping governments and to litigate the matter would be expensive. And, since the primary reason for the action is no longer a viable concern, Tuxedo should simply return to its original structure as the Town of Tuxedo, which exists as it always has, as a Town with one existing village (Tuxedo Park).

The Town Board met on Monday, July 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting began with a presentation from John Berg, a Community Choice Aggregation Administrator from Good Energy. This company is one of two who answered the Town’s RFP. They handle the procurement and management of both electricity and natural gas. He spoke about his company’s education and community outreach programs.

Discussion:
Hamlet Revitalization Plan – Burgis proposal: The discussion focused on the financing of the studies proposed by Burgis for a plan that was included in the 2003 Comprehensive Plan for the Town. The plan has two phases. Phase 1 would study the area west of Route 17 and Phase 2 would study the area east of Route 17. This would produce some concept drawings which the Town could then use in focus groups. The proposed cost for this work is $5600 for both phases. Congressmember Murphy outlined some potential sources for grants to cover the funding. Eventually, the Board unanimously approved funding for up to $6000 to cover both phases. Councilmember Reichgott asked why the Town wouldn’t use funds from the Tuxedo LDC (non sewer district one) to fund this. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay replied that when she had applied for funds previously, she was told that she needed to show evidence that the Town was committed to the plans being discussed.
Airbnb/Short Term Rentals – The Town already has code in place for Bed and Breakfasts but it doesn’t really address the short term rentals that are typical for Airbnb and other similar companies. There has been quite a lot of discussion on this subject over the years. At the moment, Supervisor English stated that he personally was against allowing AirBnb type rentals as he would be unhappy if that were to happen close to his own property. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay said she would be open to Bed and Breakfasts in “mixed use zoned” areas. Both Councilmembers May and Murphy said they used Airbnbs frequently and would be happy to see them in Town. Councilmember Reichgott pointed out that our code covers Bed and Breakfasts and not short term rental agreements which cover Airbnb and similar companies. He added that he felt these properties were inevitable whether the Town allowed them or not. Also, he pointed out that whether or not the Town allowed them, the presence of these properties would add work for the Building Inspector in particular and the Building Department in general and he feels the Town needs to address that.

Department Updates:
Town Board Updates – Supervisor English reported that on July 8 the Town has bee informed by the NYS Division of Budget that the remaining 50% of the American Rescue Plan Act funding will be $152,307. Projects reported so far were the water treatment system installed at the Highway Department ($32,000) and the purchase of the Zoom Room equipment for Town Hall ($52,127). Additional eligible projects are being considered by the Town Board. On Monday, July 11, it was reported that the final work for activating the new wastewater treatment plant has been authorized by Related. An updated timeline and completion plan is expected. Also, the Tichy Field tennis court/basketball court renovation project is moving forward. Demolition has been completed, new draining has been installed and paving has been completed. Court surfacing, line painting, fence installation, nets, backboard, etc. will be completed soon.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay said she has been working on checking references of the candidates for Community Choice Aggregation Administrator. She has applied for an extension of allotted time for picking an Administrator until the next Board meeting. (7/25).
Councilmember May has been working on collaboration with the Orange County Department of Aging. She is putting together a list of proposed projects for the remaining ARPA funds.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that the Lucky Park repainting project had been postponed due to several people being diagnosed with Covid. It will be rescheduled.
Councilmember Murphy stated that the Department of Transportation has conducted a survey on the speed limit on Long Meadow Rd and will be issuing a report by the end of the month. She would like to make the Recreation Council an active board which works on various activities throughout the community.

Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum said a flyer with details about the BBQ on August 13 manned by the Police Department will be forthcoming on a flyer soon. She also reported that there will be another primary election on Tuesday August 23. This one is for Congress and State Senate seats and is due to the change in district lines.
Highway Department Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department has been working on patching roads. There has been a dilemma with patching in Laurel Ridge because of a new gasline scheduled to be installed by Orange and Rockland. Thus, Sylvan Way, Fawn Hill and Spice Bush will not be done this year and instead work will be done on Benjamin Meadow and Brammertown roads as well as Warwick Brook Rd. In addition, the Highway Department has been working on moving their dirt pile to the rear of their property and will continue with grass cutting.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David remarked that Warwick has lots of Airbnb properties which seem to be working well. She recommends that the Board look into what regulations they have there as it all seems to be well under control.

Supervisor English announced that there will be a short special meeting on Thursday, July 14 at 5 pm for the purpose of approving vouchers and minutes. The Board then adjourned the meeting into an Executive Session with Town Attorney Howard Protter for the purpose of discussing litigation.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 27, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting began with a presentation from the Sarah McKay, Executive Director of the Orange County Arts Council. This organization is an independent entity and a not-for-profit 501C3. Among other things, they work as contracted project managers. For their fee of $20,000 per year, the Town can choose 3 events that they will manage. They will survey Town residents to discover what kind of performances they want to see. Then they will book and maintain contracts with performers, develop marketing content, manage the set up and break down of the event, directly pay for contracted vendors (such as sound technicians) coordinate volunteers, and obtain and provide certificates of insurance as needed. They have an “extensive” list of musicians and performers that they work with, most of whom are local.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that all the zoom room equipment has been delivered and now she just needs to coordinate with an electrician and their IT consultant before the zoom team from California will come to install the system. She anticipates this will happen by the end of July! Next, she announced that the Primary Election would take place t on June 28 from 6 am – 9 pm at all polling places. Lastly, she announced that next weeks’ garbage pickup for the Town will be pushed back one day because of the July 4th holiday. Thus, garbage will be picked up on Tuesday July 5 and both garbage and recycling will be picked up on Friday, July 8.
The Police Department has two upcoming community days. The first is the Lucky Park Spruce Up on July 9 from 10 – 1 pm. The skate ramps will be repainted and refreshments will be served. The second event will be a Community BBQ at Powerhouse Park on August 13 from Noon to 6pm. There will be music with karaoke requests from DJ LT. Officers will be flipping burgers and dogs as well as serving time in a dunk tank!!! All proceeds will go to sprucing up Powerhouse Park and the Dog Park.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he had attended the Orange County Planning Board meeting on the Tuxedo Farms development on June 22. There were lots of positive comments about the project. On June 27 he took part in a security walk-through for the upcoming Renaissance Faire with Detective Christian and security staff from the Faire.
Deputy Supervisor Michele Lindsay noted that she had attended the Tuxedo Planning Board meeting on June 22 where they discussed Tuxedo Farms as well as the proposed amendments to Local Law #4. She has also been reviewing the RFPs for a Community Choice Aggregation Administrator.
Councilmember May reported that she has been working to set up a meeting with the Council on Aging in Orange County to discuss what they might have to offer the Town.
Councilmember Reichgott commented that he had nothing to report although he had been working hard “behind the scene.”
Councilmember Murphy announced that the artwork for the upcoming Billboard was finished and would cost about $900. A vote was taken to allocate funds not to exceed $1200 for this project. It was passed unanimously.

The Board then adjourned into a private attorney/client meeting with Town Attorney Howard Protter. They returned from the meeting at approximately 10 pm but no further action was taken.

The Town Board met on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm. The meeting was held in the multipurpose room of George Grant Mason Elementary School. All members were present.

The main purpose of the meeting was a continuation of the public hearing on the application for the Tuxedo Farms project. As such, Supervisor English and the Board members made the same statements that they gave the week prior at the first hearing. This was followed by Town Attorney Larry Wolinsky, also repeating his remarks. Next, the team from Related and Lennar gave their presentation on the project. To see a copy of this presentation, click here.
The following public comments were then made:
Joe Rickard, member of the TUFSD Board of Education began his remarks by noting that the School considers this great timing for the development. The District now has “a great Superintendent and great Principals with many years of experience” and the administrators and staff know how to run a great small school. However, he feels the project presents a challenge for the district as their current financial model and instructional program are built on a district of 220 students. Over time, the development will expand the district to over 600 students. The School Board is working on assessing building capacity, staffing and faculty needs. The new residents and the current taxpayers will expect the District to be flawless in their planning. They don’t feel that they can place hardships on them by waiting for assessments. Additionally, even in the best of times, fields and property for the district and town have been inadequate. Parents and students will expect recreation fields not only for the High School, but for the Middle School as well. The School District will need financial assistance and property in order to adequately transition the district to the larger student population. He then posed the following questions for the applicant:

Kimberly Breiland asked if Related would be involved in keeping up the property once the building and the selling was done? She was told there would be an HOA in place to take care of that.
Kelly Spranger said she was thrilled to hear that the Board of Education and the Town Board would be working together! She commented that there is a lot of history in Tuxedo and she hoped Related could be trusted to keep that history in mind as well as bringing new people to the Town and School.

Supervisor English then read 2 letters received by the Board into the record. One was from State Senator James Skoufis and the other from Michael Bruno. Both were very supportive of the project. Click here and here to read copies of these letters.

As there were no further comments, the public hearing was then closed. The Board will accept written comments from the public for the next 2 weeks (up until July 7.)

Next on the agenda was a Public Hearing on Introductory Local Law #4 of 2022: This is a law which already exists having originally been passed in 1998 but now the Board is updating it with new figures for the current project. Specifically, the law states that the maximum number of homes to be built in Tuxedo Farms is 1,609. Of those homes, no more than 500 units can be multi-family units and a minimum of 239 single family detached units shall be built. In addition, no less than 174 units shall be duplex.

There were no public comments on the proposed law. This public hearing shall remain open until Monday, June 27 at the regular Town Board meeting.

The Town Board held a Public Hearing on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 6pm. The hearing was in person only and was held in the Multipurpose Room of the George Grant Mason Elementary School. All members of the Board were present.

Supervisor Ken English opened the meeting with the following statement :
“Good evening and welcome. Tonight’s Public Hearing is an important step in the renewal of the Tuxedo Farms’ proposal. This project will construct housing and commercial space needed to fulfill the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. This Town Board has been diligently working with a team of consultants, Larry Wolinsky of Jacobowitz and Gubits, our lead attorney, has extensive experience in large development projects. Bonnie Franson, our Town Planner from Nelson Pope, Voorhis, is a leading expert in the Hudson Valley with expertise in all facets of municipal planning. Both have been on this project for decades. And Sean Hoffman, our Town Engineer who has served the Town for several years, working for H2M Engineering and now has formed his own firm.

This team provides the continuity of experience and knowledge of this project that the Town Board needs.

The Town Board team, of Michele Lindsay, Deputy Supervisor, Maria May, Jay Reichgott, and Deirdre Murphy, councilpersons, and myself, have dedicated hundreds of hours over the last year, negotiating a plan that will bring forward the promise of our Master Plan. Supporting us throughout, Town Clerk, Marisa Dollbaum, has kept us moving forward, scheduling our meetings and organizing the many documents required. Thanks Marisa!

We’ve held more than 12 public meetings, eight of which were special workshops devoted only to this topic. Most were delivered by WebEx. We share each draft of our work on the Town’s website to keep the public informed. All of our meetings have been recorded and are accessible on our website. In tonight’s meeting, it would be impossible to reiterate all of the steps that have brought us to this point. Our goal is to update the Special Permit, holding on to as much of what was agreed to as possible. We will minimize the impacts on the environment and design a community that will invigorate our Town with the new residents needed to promote prosperity for our businesses and the TUFSD school.

Key to this project is the new state of the art WasteWater Treatment Plant that was constructed and completed about four years ago. This plant is essential to the Tuxedo Hamlet and will serve about 260 homes and businesses that urgently need its final connection.

We have worked hard to deliver a project that will meet the Town’s needs that includes opportunities for amenities like public meeting spaces, hospitality such as a restaurant, options for recreation, connections to our existing Hamlet, and an increased tax base to support our emergency services and schools. The project will add a housing mix that welcomes new families and young professionals looking to establish roots here in Tuxedo.

The fiscal analysis shows ample projected tax revenues, both to the Town and the School district. Traffic studies have been updated to include data that considered changes to the Rt. 17 corridor. Although the unit count has increased to 1,609 residences, about 60 acres of undisturbed land have been added to the project. The town received more than 700 acres of open space in the Northern tract off Warwick Brook Road, preserving more land adjacent to Sterling Forest. A proposed entrance from Southgate Road has been designated as an emergency vehicle only access. The agreement with the school, reached back in 2015, has been restored. As of today, I know there are still talks between the TUFSD and Related. I look forward to a final understanding.

County and local Planning Board reviews are underway. Extensive public comment has been submitted and incorporated into the various drafts that have been part of this process. All were given to Related and are being addressed.

So tonight, the process continues. We need to hear from you, the residents. We will listen carefully. A stenographer will capture all comments. We will then categorize them and consider all that we learn. We won’t be responding directly until we conclude the hearings.”

Following this statement, the individual Town Board members each made a brief statement. All of them are looking forward to this development seeing it as a positive step forward for the Town. Next to speak was Attorney Larry Wolinsky who outlined the process taken so far and set forth what will happen next saying that the Town Board and the Planning Board will review the application including the Technical Memorandum as well as comments received from the public and the County Planning Board.

Next on the agenda was a presentation from the team from Related (property owner) and Lennar (builder). To view this presentation, click here.

Following the presentation, the public was invited to speak and/or ask questions. Their comments were:
Jerry Mottola commented that he has been a resident of the Town for almost 70 years. “I am tired of hearing about windows and finishes! Let’s get on with it…let them build!” he stated, adding…”welcome!”
Catherine Zuckoff who lives in the Woodlands said expressed concern about traffic on Eagle Valley Road. She wondered what the “connection” to the Woodlands was that had been mentioned by one of the Town Board members during their opening remarks.
Dan Castricone introduced himself as the President of the Board of Education. He called upon those members of the BOE and Administration who were also present to rise, noting that almost all of them were present. “This project is crucially important to the School District,” he stated, adding that although the District has the right demographics and the right teachers, need a “few more students!” The Board aims to make the District a Top 100 District and with Tuxedo Farms in place, he feels they can do it. He went on to note that the project is also crucially important to the Town. He believes the development will give the Town more political clout, more tax dollars more and more opportunity. He also feels things will improve socially and that there will be opportunities for the school to expand recreation for the Town. “I know it will be great for Lennar!” he stated, referring to the builders. Over the years the Board of Education has seen many different permutations of what the District might get from the developers, including several different plots of land. He recalled having worked on the project several years prior, when he had served on the Town Board , and noted that at that time 4 of the 5 Board members had children enrolled in the school. He further suggested that because of that, the Board had been more in tune with the schools’ needs when it came to conversations with the Developer. This is no longer the case. In the plan that is currently filed with the County, it appears as though the Development’s water tower has been located on the same piece of property they had previously proposed to give to the school and there may also be a road there! “The better you make it for the school, the better you’ll make it for the Town,” he suggested. He went on to say, “Please don’t see us adversely…we want to work with you to make the project work for Related, for the Town and for the School District. If you need a variance or an easement for a water tower or a road, we can work that out. What we don’t want is a piece of property that is only a liability for the school!” We will need facilities and we need a piece of property we can work with and we want so much to work with you guys.”
Laura Denberg said she was really excited about the project. From a real estate perspective, she loved the concept of “the missing middle” as presented earlier by the builders. She also especially likes the 760 acres that will be kept development free.
Kimberly Breiland had just one question……..will there be there a community pool?
Gary Heavner expressed some concern over the clarity and accessibility of the maps for the project. He suggested that there should be a place on the Town website just for the maps. He also thinks the maps need to be expanded. For the uninitiated, its hard to tell where the 700 acres are, where the power lines are, where the Town boundaries are as well as what the topography of the property is (i.e. where are the hills? the lakes? the streams?)
John McNamara had several questions. First, he noticed a tax revenue figure in the developer’s presentation and wondered how did they had come to that number. Secondly, he wanted to know if there would be an HOA involved with the community. Next he inquired about the price range for the homes and whether the developer anticipates a slowdown in the project due to interest rates hitting new highs? Lastly he inquired as to who will own and maintain the roads in the community.
Kelly Spranger , president of the PTO President commented that she also wanted to know about a pool. She also inquired as to how many wells had been drilled, further wondering how the project will affect properties to the south of it. She is thrilled to see that pollination and environmental paths have been built into the plan and she would like to know more about them. Lastly, she wondered who had come up with the names of the neighborhoods?
Maureen Portnoy noted that she had heard the developer say there would be retail stores. She would like to know what kind of retail? And secondly, she would be very interested in a community center which is something she feels is lacking in the Town.
Dan Castricone interjected that there is a wall in George F. Baker High School with the names of people who have served the country and didn’t come back. He suggested that moving forward when they are considering names for things, they should come and look at the wall.
John Sandak commented that he used to be President of the Little League and now that doesn’t exist anymore because there are not enough children. Kids have been leaving the school District and going to private schools to get more opportunities. He hopes that when they are making plans for their community, they will give a thought to building a community pool, a Town Rec Center or some such place where people can gather and recreate in order to sustain the children as a community.

There were no further speakers so Supervisor English made a motion to continue the meeting on Thursday, June 23 at 6 pm in the same venue.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Discussion Items:
Public Hearings – In preparation for the upcoming public hearings on the Tuxedo Farms applications, the Board discussed the procedures that will be used with Attorney Larry Wolinsky. The following guidelines were agreed upon:
While there is no set time limit for speakers, people will be asked to keep their comments to 5 minutes so that everyone can be heard. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Board would be able to reduce the time limit if there were a large number of people who wished to speak.
School/Camp Agreement – The Board voted unanimously in favor of authorizing Supervisor English to sign the proposed agreement which was submitted by School Superintendent Jeff White.
Police Cars – The Board is in receipt of a proposal from Lt. Norton for possible additions to the Town’s fleet of police vehicles. Subsequently, Supervisor English and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay spent some time talking to various officers who were present at the Discover Tuxedo Event about which vehicles they preferred. After a lengthy discussion, the Board decided that they would authorize the purchase of 2 vehicles. The Police will be asked to come back to the next meeting with a recommendation of which vehicles would be best for the Department. The vehicles under consideration are a Chevy Tahoe and a Ford SUV. There was also some discussion about possibly adding a pickup truck to the fleet at a later date.
Police Station Roof – Emergency repairs to remediate a leak as well as a small amount of mold on the roof at the Police Station have been completed. The price was $7,750 and the work was done by Precision Roofing.
Town/Village Consolidation – Supervisor English read aloud an email that had been sent to the Board late that afternoon from Town Attorney Howard Protter. The Comptroller’s Office has expressed concern that the consolidation is not legal. Mr. Protter has suggested that the Board pass a resolution indicating that the Consolidation had failed (and therefore the Town is still a Town) and further that it will seek special legislation to accommodate the it’s “unique problem with any gas pipeline.”
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that the Consolidation had been a voter-initiated action. It was laid out by the Town’s attorneys and then the public voted and approved it. Thus, she feels that the public should be involved in dissolving it. As Mr. Protter was not present to consult with the Board, they ultimately decided to table the issue until the next Town Board meeting on June 27 at which he will be present.
Lucky Skate Park CleanUp – Councilmember Reichgott reported that he had been contacted by Police Officer Gundermann about the state of this park, which is riddled with graffiti. Officer Gunderman has suggested an event with both police officers and kids who use the park to repaint. Everyone agreed that this was a good idea. Councilmember Murphy said that she, too, had been contacted and was working on a promotional flyer for the event. The hope is to schedule this for late June or early July.
Hamlet Revitalization – Councilmember Murphy reported that she and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay had met with the Burgess Group, who made plans for the Hamlet 20 years ago. They have submitted a proposal which essentially consists of putting together some conceptual plans. The plans would take 6-8 weeks to draft and would be ready for initial presentation to the Board by the end of the summer. After receiving feedback, Burgess would refine the plans based on the input and put together a final conceptual plan, to be completed by early October. This would be followed by a formal presentation to the Town Board as well as submission to the Planning Board. The crux of the plan revolves around turning Store Rd. into the Main Street of the Hamlet.
Supervisor English feels that the Town should first complete the traffic changes they have discussed, which involve making Library Road a one-way street. Councilmember Murphy is collecting some quotes, which she hopes to have before the next Town Board meeting. Supervisor English suggested that before moving forward they should reach out to the property owners who live on Store Road. Councilmember Murphy feels that they should develop a concept plan first.
Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the last piece of equipment for the Zoom Room has been shipped! She is currently working with Zoom on the final organizational details needed before installation. She estimates that installation will happen sometime in the next month. Next, she announced that June 28 is Primary Election Day (statewide contests for Governor, Lt. Governor and Sheriff in both parties). Polls will be open from 6 am – 9 pm. Early voting begins Saturday June 18. Finally, she reminded everyone that Town Hall will be closed on Monday, June 20 in observance of Juneteenth.
Town Supervisor English reported that on June 1, he, along with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum and Building Inspector Maikisch had toured the Police Department to examine a leaking roof that had caused a small amount of mold. As reported earlier, the initial repairs have been made by Precision Roofing but additional repairs will be needed. The Board has authorized the Supervisor to move forward with up to $4800 of additional repairs. On June 2, the Supervisor met with Lt. Norton and Buffy Marie Favada of the Renaissance Faire to review plans for traffic and security for the upcoming season. On that same day from 5-8 pm, the Board held a Special Workshop Meeting on the Design Guidelines for Tuxedo Farms. On June 9, the Board held a Special Meeting to schedule a Public Hearing on a proposed Local Law that would amend the Tuxedo Farms Unit Mix by setting a minimum number of units for single family dwellings and capping the number of multifamily units. The Discover Tuxedo Event held on June 11 was a great success with more than 20 groups participating. Lastly, he reminded everyone about the Public Hearings for Tuxedo Farms to be held on June 16 from 6 – 9 pm and June 23 from 6 -9. Both hearings will be held at George Grant Mason Elementary School Multipurpose Room and both will be in person only.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay – reported that both the Town and the Climate Smart Committee had tables at the Discover Tuxedo event and she felt the day had been very helpful for both entities. The Climate Smart group handed out surveys and sign ups and have been gauging people’s interests. The committee has been working on compiling a report detailing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, with the help of a company that handles those. The Town’s contract with this company is up and the Deputy Supervisor would like to renegotiate it for another year. The Board unanimously agreed that she had permission to do so. Jim Hays is finishing up a similar report for the Village and was present to give a short explanation of how it is done. Essentially, the amount of fuel (gas, natural gas, etc) used is tallied up and then converted to get determined the tons of CO2 emitted. Compiling the report will set a benchmark for the Town. Finally, the Deputy Supervisor spoke about the need to educate residents with regard to not recycling glass. When glass is comingled with recycling, it winds up in a landfill!
Councilmember May formally thanked the people responsible for putting together the Discover Tuxedo Day, namely The newly formed Tuxedo Activities Council which is made up of Kimberly Breiland, Meg Vaught, Claudia Bahktiary, Amy Bush, Noreen Fennell and Sue Scher.
Councilmember Murphy reported that design work on the Town’s billboard has been completed. It should take about a week to produce and then the Highway Department can install it. She anticipates that the project will be completed by the end of the month. She also reported having met with PIPC regarding Eagle Lake and is waiting to hear back from them with their thoughts and possible solutions to what is becoming “a big mud pile.” Lastly, she is still waiting to hear back from Orange County with regard to the audit they are doing on Long Meadow Road, the purpose of which is to determine whether or not the speed limit can be effectively lowered there.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum expressed his concern that graffiti in Town could spread from the Skate Park to the Thruway bridge and the back of Town Hall. The Department is still working on the dirt pile. They’ve had a set-back in that the County has indicated that they can only take dirt for site specific work and cannot stockpile it. All the same, work is moving forward and they will begin screening the next pile. Finally, the Superintendent noted that someone has been dumping their garbage near the mulch available for residents at Quarry Field. He requested that anyone who is doing this please stop!

Minutes: The minutes for the May 23 Town Board meeting were unanimously approved.

The Town Board met on Thursday, May 9, 2022 at 5 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The purpose of the meeting was to set a public hearing date for a Local Law amending Local Law#3 of 2011. The intent of the law is to make a “clear stipulation” that reflects Table 3 in the Tech Memo. This table sets numbers for the different kinds of housing (single family detached, single family attached and duplexes) within Tuxedo Farms.

The hearing was set for 6:00 pm on June 23, 2022. It will take place in the multipurpose room of George Grant Mason Elementary School. Op

The Town Board met on Monday, May 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The minutes for the Town Board meeting held on May 9 were unanimously accepted and approved.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor Ken English reminded everyone about the upcoming Memorial Day events on Monday, May 30. The day begins with a ceremony at the Southfields Memorial at 10 am. Next, the parade kicks off from the High School at 11:30. This is followed by a ceremony at St. Mary’s church and finally the Library picnic which is back after a 2 year hiatus due to Covid.
The Tuxedo Farms Consultant meetings are continuing. They are currently working through the Tech Memo and Design Standards.
Finally, the Supervisor commented on the annual Fishing Derby which was held on May 21 at Watchtower Pond and which was a great success.
Deputy Supervisor Michele Lindsay stated she had no update .
Councilmember Murphy reported that she and Highway Superintendent Dollbaum have a meeting scheduled with Joshua Laird for the first week in June to discuss what can be done with Eagle Lake. Site evaluation continues on Long Meadow Road to decide if the speed limit will be lowered.
Councilmember May has been researching organic tick control products for use in the dog park.
Councilmember Reichgott amended his statement pertaining to pedestrian safety from the last meeting to say that people should ride bikes in the same direction as cars and walk in the opposite direction facing the cars.

Department Updates
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum began by providing a quick update from the Highway Superintendent who was not able to attend the meeting. Over the weekend, it was discovered that someone had dumped construction debris at Quarry Field near the containers for mulch and compost. This is not allowed. The Highway Department cleaned it up but it would be appreciated if people did not dump construction debris here in the future. Presently, mulch mulch and compost are available for residents at this location.
Moving on, Town Clerk Dollbaum reported that the Town Hall had undergone a safety inspection from the NYS Workers Comp. and they passed with flying colors. Next, she announced that next week’s garbage pickups will be changed due to Memorial Day with garbage collected on Tuesday and Friday and recycling collected on Friday. Finally, she noted that there will be a Hazardous Waste Collection on June 11 in Port Jervis. Chemicals and paint etc. will be accepted there. The details will be posted on the Town website. She added that residents frequently inquire about how to dispose of old tvs and that there are 3 county sites that will accept them—old sets as well as flat screen.
Police Chief Dryer gave her final report as her resignation is effective beginning Friday, May 27. Prior to her departure she has been working on the department’s accreditation and she estimates this will be between 90 and 95% complete before she leaves. The department is set for the Memorial Day parade and picnic. She further noted that she had sent an estimate for remediation for black mold on the Police station which “really needs to be fixed.”
Discussion Items:

The Town Board met on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Train Station bid opening – the RFP was for removing rotting and damaged wood and repainting on the inside of the station. The Town received only one bid for $207,000 which seemed excessive to the Board. Since they legally have 45 days to accept or reject the bid, the Supervisor will be asking the contractor to meet him on site and explain how they got the proposed price.

Presentation:
Developing a marketing strategy for Tuxedo by Councilmember Deirdre Murphy:
Councilmember Murphy has been working on putting together a program that would reach Tuxedo residents, businesses and visitors who come to Tuxedo to sell the Town as a place to live work and play. The first thing recommended was to add all community events to the Town Webpage making it a go to place for information about what is going on in Tuxedo. She also suggests that work be done on the Town’s email list to turn it into a comprehensive list that could then be segmented so that they could reach certain areas of the Town as needed. This work could be outsourced. She feels the Town must encourage more cultural events. There are currently 160,000 people attending the Renaissance Faire and another 50,000 signing into the Sterling Forest State Park Visitor Center on an annual basis. These people should be encouraged to stick around and patronize businesses and events in Tuxedo. Joining Councilmember Murphy in the presentation was Brenda Zuck, a Town resident and advertising executive. She had lots of suggestions including an interactive map with QR codes (Town residents Sue Scher has already been working on this.) Brenda and Councilmember Murphy have been working with the Chamber of Commerce. One idea here is to move the entrances to business along Route 17 South to the back of those buildings and have the fronts on Store Road. This could make Store Road into the new Main Street of Tuxedo. They have also been working with the Orange County Arts Council who proposes providing 3 programs a year. The Council would do all the administration for an annual fee of $20,000. Tuxedo has no place for people to sleep and very few places to eat. A “business round table” to get ideas has been suggested. Also suggested is marketing Tuxedo as the Gateway to the Hudson Valley. The main conclusion was that the Town of Tuxedo must be branded. It was recommended that they put the program together and then outsource the execution!

Town Attorney Howard Protter commented briefly on his talks with the Comptroller’s Office regarding the Town/Village Consolidation, which the Comptroller is now suggesting is not legal because once the Town consolidated the Village disappeared. Mr. Protter is continuing to look into this. He feels that the Town does not really need a consolidated entity…they just need consolidated powers. One of these powers is to exclude pipelines. Councilmember Reichgott added that one of the Village powers that is important to people is that a Village cannot be subdivided…in other words, no one can make a Village inside a Village and he wondered if there was any way to get that done without consolidation. It was agreed that Mr. Protter would have another conversation with the Comptroller’s Office to find out if there was a way to get that done.

Minutes:
The minutes for the April 25 regular meeting were approved unanimously.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English began his report by announcing that Police Chief Tamara Dreyer has resigned effective May 28, 2022. She advised that she has accepted a full-time position with another police department. The recruitment process for a replacement is expected to begin again soon.
The Orange County Clerk’s Office has notified Tuxedo that April Mortgage Tax receipts were $39,103.50. The Town’s reported receipts for 2022 to date were $133,385.50.
The ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) report, which documents how the Town is using the $303,614 federal award was filed on time. Projects reported on were the completed water treatment system that has been installed at the Highway Department making the water potable and usable; the purchase of the Zoom Room equipment for Town Hall, which will allow the Town to hold meetings that are virtually fully interactive two way communication with the public remotely. Supply chain issues continue to delay the installation by the vendor expects delivery next week.
The Town held the bid opening for the Train Station renovation on Monday and only one bid was submitted. The Supervisor will be speaking with the vendor as his bid seems awfully big.
Finally, Special Town Board Workshops regarding Tuxedo Farms have been scheduled for Thursday May 19 and Thursday June 2. The workshops will take place from 5:00-8:00 pm and will be held through the Town’s WebEx portal.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported she has been working with the Building Department to convert all their microfiche files to digital files. She also noted that Building Inspector Dave Maikisch had attended a webinar on battery storage for first responders and would be attending one on solar permitting process the next day. He will update the Board on both subjects.
The Deputy Supervisor will be meeting with Orange and Rockland to finalize the LED Streetlight conversion, which is almost done. (The project has been held up by Covid). Lastly, work on the Town Hall roof has begun.
Councilmember Reichgott reminded everyone that the Memorial Day Parade and Library picnic are happening this year and urged everyone to buy tickets for the raffle, which are available at the Library. He also reminded residents that in those areas where there are no sidewalks present, pedestrians should walk facing traffic so that they can be seen by oncoming cars. Finally, he cautioned that bears are awake and out & about so residents should take in their birdfeeders and make sure garbage cans are secured.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she is waiting for feedback from the DOT on the speed limit reduction for Long Meadow Road. She has also been talking to various residents about Eagle Lake. It has filled up again but there are still problems, one of which involves a drainage system that goes under Town Roads. She will report back when she learns more.
Councilmember May reported that she had been working on the ARPA report, which has been turned in. She wanted to remind everyone that the School Budget vote and Board of Education elections will be taking place on May 17. Both Tuxedo and Monroe Woodbury will be holding votes on that day.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reached out to IWS because residents were reporting that their cans of the smaller size had gone missing. It turned out that IWA’s trucks arms cannot properly pick up the smaller cans and they were falling into the trucks! Many of the residents who have the smaller cans have limited space to store them so the Clerk is working with IWS to come up with a solution. Also, she had reports that the dumpsters for glass recycling are full and it turned out that IWS was not picking up from these dumpsters. She is trying to confirm what the schedule for emptying them will be going forward as they should be serviced every other week. Finally, she reminded all that the Youth Fishing Derby will take place on May 21.

Discussions:
Councilmember Reichgott commented that he is worried about the future of the Town Board once Tuxedo Farms has been built out. Since they will potentially have a much larger population that the rest of the Town taken together, he proposed that the Town consider switching to a Ward System. The 6 wards that he thinks would work are:

Councilmember Murphy remarked that she likes the idea of wards although the Town of Ramapo attempted the system and it failed.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay commented that she thinks this is a good idea but wonders if it would need to be balanced by population.
Supervisor English added that he also worries about balance and wondered what would happen if a ward was unable to find a candidate to stand for election.
Councilmember May stated that she likes the idea of wards.

The group then agreed to put together a list of topics for discussion at future meetings.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 7 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting began with a presentation by The Related Company on their updated vision of “The Commons” for Tuxedo Farms. Paul Milana, Lisa Higgins and Greg Gushee gave the report for the Related group. The presentation was accompanied by slides depicting plans for the Commons and, to some extent, the surrounding communities.
Following the presentation, each Board member was given the opportunity to provide feedback. Generally speaking, they were largely supportive of with the plan as proposed. They feel that the team from Related/Lennar has been listening to their feedback and making changes that reflect what has been requested.

Department Updates:
Building Department – There were 14 Building permits issued and 52 fire inspections completed during the month of April.
Police Department – Chief Dryer reported that things are going well in the department. “The police force is great,” she commented. A stolen vehicle was recovered in NJ and there were several traffic accidents on Route 17. There was an investigation into kids banging on doors and making threats. All of the parents were notified and no arrests were made. All Officers have completed their ADCPR training.
Town Clerk – Marisa Dollbaum reported that the annual Youth Fishing Derby will take place on Saturday May 21 at Watchtower Fire Pond on Long Meadow Rd. Also, Summer Camp registration will be opening soon. Camp will take place from July 6 to August 12. It will be located back at the GGM Elementary School and the kids will be also able to swim in the WeeWah Lake. Finally, she announced that the bid opening for the Train Station Restoration Project will be on Monday, May 9 at 1 pm.
Highway Department – Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department had begun patching. They started in Southfields and will be working their way around the Town. Anyone who sees a big pothole should feel free to call and report it. All of the Town playgrounds have been mulched. The department helped with the community clean-up over the weekend and will do so again in Brammertown for their scheduled clean up next weekend.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported on a meeting of the Tuxedo Farms LDC (sewer plant) with representatives of Related and Lennar as well as the contracted operators of the plant and Sean Hoffman of H2M Engineering at which the final plan for activating the plant was discussed. An updated timeline and completion plan is expected from Related.
The Tichy Field Tennis Court/Basketball Court renovation plan began on Friday, April 22. The project is being done by R. Young and Sons Paving. Demolition has been completed and new drainage is now being installed.

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she has been working on the Comprehensive Plan with the Building Department. She and Councilmember Murphy visited more Lennar properties in New Jersey. Finally, she has been working on hamlet revitalization and looking into setting up meetings with business owners and property owners.
Councilmember Reichgott did an inspection of all of the Town’s parks and playgrounds and is working on a list of short-term improvements that can be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan.
Councilmember Murphy remarked that she would deliver her marketing report at the next Town Board meeting.
Councilmember May reported that the Earth Day Cleanup held Saturday with the GFB Environmental Club was a great success. She and the kids walked from Quarry Field to the Duck Cedar Plaza and picked up 15 bags of garbage along the way. Many thanks to Marley Vaught, who organized the event, as well as Police Officers Gunderman & Christian and the DPW crew who retrieved the bags. Councilmember May also gave a shout out to Irene DeNaro who cleaned up Quarry Field all by herself

Other Business:
Town Attorney Howard Protter noted that he had received some questions from the State Comptroller’s Office regarding the recent Town/Village Consolidation. He has been going back and forth with the Comptroller’s office and has another call scheduled for this week. He will report back to the Board afterward. Next, he reported that Rick Golden is leaving his firm to become the Orange County Attorney. Subsequently, his former partners Kelly Naughton and Ashley Torre will be starting a new firm and they are proposing to take over the Planning Board and Zoning Board assignments currently being handled by Burke, Miele, Golden & Naughton. The Board unanimously passed a resolution supporting this change.
The Town has received an updated contract from Hydro Environmental who does the testing on the material from the Highway Garage. A resolution was passed unanimously for the Supervisor to sign the new contract. The DEC has approved Hydro and their plan.

Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting were approved with Deputy Supervisor Lindsay abstaining because she was absent.

Public Comments:
Mary Graetzer commented that there had been 3 serious accidents on Route 17 in recent weeks which concerns her. She wondered what, if anything, could be done to proactively address the problem. She was told that most of these incidents were due to distracted driving and there really isn’t anything in particular that can be done about that. They do see people slowing down as they enter Town because of electronic signs which have been placed there.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay was absent.

Presentation:
Developing a marketing strategy for Tuxedo by Councilmember Deirdre Murphy was tabled as Ms. Murphy feels it is something that should be presented at a live meeting.

Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that her donation drive for the Ukrainean people is going well. The Ambulance Corps recently donated several pairs of crutches. She also reminded people to sign up for the Earth Day 5K walk/run being held on Saturday April 23. The Town will be collecting items needed by the Warwick Humane Society (a list can be found on Town website). Additionally, she reported that the Town’s Memorial Day parade and the Library picnic are back on this year and will take place on Monday May 30. The Library is looking for volunteers to help with the event. Lastly, she thanked the Board for approving her training remarking that she was excited to be able to attend her first “in person” training.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department had been busy cleaning in the East Village. Additionally, the sewer surveyor has been in Town. The Railroad crossing work in the East Village has 2 more days to go and should be finished by Wednesday, April 13. In the coming weeks, his department will working to clean up the landscaping around the train station and will also recommence working on the dirt pile at the Highway garage again soon. They anticipate bringing in somebody to screen the pile in June.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he continues to conduct interviews for an Account Clerk reporting to the Supervisor. He is considering replacing this position with a Bookkeeper title. He and Secretary Lori Cosgrove are working with Orange County Civil Service on this. On Wednesday March 30, the Supervisor met with Police Chief Dryer and Labor Relations Consultant Richardson to review the Tuxedo Police Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Policy related to drug testing and a required annual physical was discussed. A subsequent meeting with the union to identify how the contract policy will be implemented has been scheduled. This meeting will not be open to the public. On Monday April 4, the Supervisor and Chief Dryer met with Michael Cardone, retired NYC Police Officer and current Tuxedo Animal Control Officer to interview him for a part-time position with the Tuxedo Police. He has been offered the position and the onboarding has begun. Expectation is for him to transfer from Animal Control to the police department in May. Finally, he reported that a memorial service for long-time Tuxedo Park resident Pamela Cromey had been held on the morning of April 9 at the Tuxedo Historical Society. Mrs. Cromey was a founding member of this group and actively supported it for many years.
Councilmember May reported that the Tuxedo High School Environmental Club is planning a clean-up event for Earth Day (April 23) Marley Vaught is the contact for the school. Details will be forthcoming.
Councilmember Reichgott reminded everyone that it is now spring and as such the bears will be coming out of hibernation. Residents should make sure their garbage is secured and also consider taking down bird feeders.
Councilmember Murphy reported that the Town Clerk has filed an application for the lowering of speed on Long Meadow Rd. She is still concerned about Eagle Lake and commented that the beavers are back and have re-dammed the lake. She has also been working on organizing the Town’s capital expenditures and as such needs department heads to give her estimates for the next couple of years. Additionally, she would like lists of unfunded projects/things not previously anticipated. These lists should be handed in within a month. She will start working with an inventory of vehicles owned by the Town.
Minutes of the March 28 Town Board meeting were approved.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David requested that the Town stick with WebEx meetings rather than go back to in person. She was told that the Governor has extended the virtual meetings permission through June 8.

The meeting was then adjourned into an Executive Session so the Board could receive advice from Counsel.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 7:00 pm. Councilmember Reichgott was absent.

The meeting took place in-person at Town Hall. The Governor’s Executive Order to hold meetings remotely was rumored to be expiring. Therefore, the Board scheduled the meeting for in-person and two public hearings were noticed as such. At the last minute, the Executive Order allowing remote meetings was extended another month. Thus, the next monthly meeting (April 11) will take place via WebEx and then it will depend upon whether the Governor extends these remote meetings or not. The meeting began with two public Hearings.

Public Hearing – Creating Community Choice Aggregation Program:
The Board has held multiple education sessions on this topic and the individual Board members all voiced their support of the program.
Francine Liza was the only speaker. She said that she saw no downside to the program and consequently supports it as she hopes it will drive energy costs down.

Public Hearing – Amending Chapter 98 of the Code of the Town of Tuxedo to Revise Special Use Permit Regulations for Existing: The sentence that limited the expansion of fuel stored on site has been amended. The Board wants existing gas stations to have the ability to replace existing tanks and make improvements as technology advances.
There were no public comments.

Department Updates:
Chief Dreyer was present and reported that she was making arrangements to have the speed control signs returned to “duty” on the Town roads now that plowing season is over. She has pledged to educate herself on how to download the data that these signs amass. As part of the on-going community engagement effort, she is in the process of organizing “Coffee with the Cops,” sessions to be held during evening hours in June. Lt. Norton cautioned that there are frequently people around who are “up to no good” and he urged all residents to lock their cars and houses so as to protect themselves.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the MTA will be changing the grade crossing to the East Village April 8-10. Train service will be suspended and they will provide an alternative route for getting in and out of the East Village. Additionally, she reported that Monday April 4 at 10 am will be the bid opening for the work on the tennis court and basketball court at Tichy Field. Lastly, she noted that the Town Code is being updated and codified to reflect all the recent changes that have been made. The updated version will be posted on the Town website. She is having one copy printed which will be available in her office.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that a site inspection for the renovation project involving the Tennis Court and Basketball Court at Tichy Field took place on March 18. Bids are due on April 4 at 1 pm.
Next, he stated that the Tuxedo LDC (Sewer Plant) held their annual meeting the week prior at which all required reviews and reporting were completed. On Tuesday March 22, the Supervisor met with TUFSD Superintendent Jeff White to discuss communications with Related regarding Tuxedo Farms as well as pending tax certiorari proceedings. He also interviewed a candidate for the Account Clerk/Bookkeeper position, which is being vacated by Brian Sullivan. He has another interview scheduled next week for this position. On Thursday, March 24, the Supervisor met with Police Chief Tarmara Dreyer and they discussed setting goals for hiring part-time officers, the rollout of body cameras and setting a date for a meeting with the Police Reinvention Committee. Finally, the Supervisor reported on the special meeting held on March 24 with participants from Related and builder Lennar at which the Town Board shared their comments in response to the March 9 Tech Memo submitted by Related.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that the refinancing of the Bonds had gone forward on March 17. The paperwork is now being prepared. She also stated that she is working on completing the conversion of the Town’s streetlights to LED this year. Finally, she reported that the LDC for Hamlet revitalization is putting out an RFP for repairs to the train station.
Councilmember May reported that she had met with Sue Scher and Linda Pallack to discuss how to increase Town services for Seniors. This might include a “Friendly Visitor program,” where residents are trained to provide social visits as well as rides to doctor offices or for shopping, congregate meals, chore services, transportation services, caregiver support and education, nutrition and medication education, Senior games, assistance with funding for the building of a bocce court and reshaping tennis courts for Pickle Ball, and education for police department staff regarding responding to people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Councilmember Murphy reported that she is still working on getting the speed limit reduced on Long Meadow Rd. Additionally, she is working on designing a new billboard for the town. She is also working on getting a capital expenditures program in place and as such has created a spreadsheet that can be used as a guide for this project. Finally, she spoke about the condition of Eagle Lake, which is not good. The Lake is constantly being drained and it is no longer attractive or pleasant for residents to walk around.

Minutes for the regular Town Board meeting on March 14 were unanimously approved.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 14, 2022 at 6:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting began with a presentation given by the Related/Tuxedo Farms team on the portion of their development known as “The Commons.” To see a copy of the presentation, click here.

Department Updates:
Animal Control Officer Michael Cardone introduced himself. He is an East Village resident and a former canine officer with the NYPD. He reported that a beagle who was recently found running free in Sterling Forest had been captured and is currently at the Warwick Humane Society. The dog is a part of the activity which has seen many beagles abandoned throughout Orange County and the surrounding areas in recent months. Mr. Cardone feels this is being done by a breeder who, when he is “done” with litters, simply abandons them!!
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the RFP for the Tichy Field Tennis and Basketball Court repair & renovation has been issued. A walkthrough will be conducted at 9 am on Friday, March 18. Bidding will be opened on Monday, April 4 at 1 pm.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor Ken English reported that the Town Board had held another “marathon special meeting” on March 3 at which builder Lennar presented its various home design elevations and explained how the various products will be modified to meet design standards that will be approved by the Town Board. Various material configurations and styles were presented.
The new Chief of Police, Tamara Dryer was sworn in and welcomed to her new position on Monday, March 7. A formal swearing-in will be held in Town Hall at a Town Board meeting after she has received her uniform. Lastly, the Supervisor reported that he and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay had welcomed NYS Senator Skoufis and Staff to Town Hall. They met with Mitch Newman of Lennar as well as Greg Gushee and Dillon Norris of Related and the Senator received an overview of the Tuxedo Farms project after which the group toured the site. Following that, the Senator was given a tour of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant and was apprised of the challenging conditions of upgrading the aging Hamlet sewer lines along with the expected activation of the new plant in late spring. Also. Steve Germano of Steve’s Pizza attended the meeting and spoke about his reasons for investing in Tuxedo as well as his expectation that the development will invigorate Tuxedo’s business opportunities.

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she continues to work on the reissuing of the Town’s bonds. Moody’s has been reviewing and rating the bonds. The interest rate has gone up because of turmoil in the market. The Town’s bond counsel is monitoring this and will advise the Town as to whether or not they should put the bonds out for sale on March17 as they had planned to do. Next, the Deputy Supervisor announced that the public hearing on the Community Choice Aggregation law would be held on March 28 at 7 pm. There will be a workshop held for the public on March 21 at 7 pm via WebEx so that residents can inform themselves on this subject. Finally, Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that she had attended a Capital Plan training session and feels strongly that the Town should have such a plan in place. Councilmember Murphy agreed with her and volunteered to put together a memo to be sent to Department Heads in order to gather up all the potential projects for such a plan.

Councilmember Murphy reported that she had been working on the marketing presentation for the Town and as such had spoken to the Orange County Arts Council. In addition, she is working with a committee to petition Orange County to reduce the speed on Long Meadow Road to 35 mph from where it joins Sterling Mine Road for 2 miles to Blue Lake. The Town of Warwick has agreed to also petition for this reduction.

Councilmember May has been working on figuring out how the Town can spend the money they are receiving from the American Recovery Act. Information on this subject has been slow to become available. She is also working to figure out what the process will be to report any expenditures.
Councilmember Reichgott stated that he had nothing new to report.

Adjournment
At 8:06 pm the Board entered into an Executive Session to receive advice from Counsel. They re-entered the public meeting at 9:12 pm at which point they unanimously approved a Resolution to approve an appraiser for a Tax Certiorari proceeding followed by unanimously approving Beckman Associates for the appraisal services.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Department Updates:
Police Department – Lt. Norton reported that everything had been quiet in the Police Department.
Town Clerk – Town Clerk, Marisa Dollbaum, reported that the next step in moving the Town’s Zoom Room forward is to make a payment and that this would happen once the vouchers had been approved later in the meeting. After payment has been made, the team from Zoom will then arrive and install the equipment.
Highway Department – Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department had been busy plowing, salting, fixing trucks and working on Warwick Brook Road.

Town Board/Town Supervisor Updates:
Town Supervisor Ken English reported that he had attended the Cannabis Conversation which was run by New York State. This program is still in the early stages of being rolled out. Information can be found at cannabis.ny.gov and any questions or comments can be sent to cannabisconversation@ocm.ny.gov.
or comments can be sent to cannabisconversation@ocm.ny.gov.
Next, he stated that Police Chief interviews had been held on February 23. The three top civil service candidates were interviewed.
Also on February 23, the Supervisor, Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum, Councilmember Reichgott and Town Engineer Sean Hoffman conducted a site visit to the Sewer plant. The group reviewed maps that show the current location of manholes and pipes that bring sewage from west to east across Route 17 to the pump station. It was established that H2M needs an updated survey in order to determine relocation options along the bank of the Ramapo.
The Supervisor also reported having toured Lennar Development sites across New Jersey during which he saw a variety of town homes and age restricted homes. (Lennar is the builder who has been contracted to work on the Tuxedo Farms Development)
Finally, he commented that an RFP has been drawn up for work on the tennis court at Tichy Field. The proposed action will also encompass the adjacent basketball court and will include accommodation for pickleball lines on the tennis court as well.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she had met with representatives from Orange & Rockland to discuss rebates for installing electric vehicle chargers. She also toured the Lennar development sites and reported that she was very impressed with what she saw. She is feeling much better about the project as Lennar seems to be very willing to work with the Town.
Councilmember May commented that she had checked the bin at Quarry Field which had been put out to collect glass and was delighted to see that it is being used and used properly!
Councilmember Murphy added that she had checked the recycling bin located at Murphy Field and was pleased to report that it was filled with wine bottles. She also toured the Lennar sites and was happy with what she saw. She has been working on marketing the Town and more specifically. what will be done with the Town’s billboard. Additionally, she has been active with the Community Action Committee and will be working on creating a calendar of Town events. Finally, she has been working on the Plein Air Event which has been moved to 9/27-10/2.
Councilmember Reichgott reminded people that the bag project for the Food Pantry is still going on. Drop off places for bags are: Tuxedo Town Hall, Tuxedo Park Library, the Train Station, the Woodlands and the Tuxedo Park Village Offices as well as Sloatsburg Town Hall. He also gave a brief report on the recent water main break on and around Circle Field.

Minutes:
The minutes for the Regular Town Board meeting on February 14 were unanimously approved.

Other Business:
Police Chief – The Board interviewed the top 3 candidates from the civil service list and all agreed that Tamara Dreyer was the one they will hire. She has 23 years of experience working with the Orange County Sheriff’s department most recently as the Lieutenant of the Road Division and Special Units. She will be a full time employee with reduced hours. This is the same status as former Chief Abbott. She will work 17 hours a week in the Police Station.

The meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to receive advice from Counsel at 8:17 pm.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 14, 2022 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting opened with a presentation from Jeff Domanski of Hudson Valley Energy on Community Choice Aggregation. Click here to view a copy of this presentation.

was present to discuss this item with the Board. He explained that the Town issued bonds both in 2003 and 2014. While the 2003 bonds have been eligible to be called for a few years, the 2014 bonds will become “callable” in April of this year. Interest rates for both bonds are now quite a bit lower than they were when issued. Therefore, he is recommending that the Town refinance the bonds now. Ultimately, the Board voted unanimously to pass a resolution for the refunding. This will get the process moving and the Board will have another chance to make a decision before the bonds are eligible to be called in April.

Monthly Reports:
The Supervisor acknowledged receipt of reports from Dog Control, the Justice Court and the Town Clerk.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that there is a problem with the sewer line which goes underneath the railroad tracks and along the river to the pump station. The line is clogged with wipes and masks! As a result, there was a backup into a building along Route 17 over the weekend! The Superintendent asked residents to STOP disposing of those items by flushing them! He also cautioned that the proper way to get rid of grease from cooking is by putting it into the garbage and not down the sink. He recommended that the Town either reline the pipe (along the Ramapo and then crossing Route 17 and into the Gulf Station) or move the pipe over to the West side of the railroad tracks. The last time he remembers seeing a quote for this work it was approximately $100,000 (for relining the pipe). He feels that the Town should start getting updated quotes on this work as soon as possible. It was agreed that Superintendent Dollbaum, Supervisor English, Engineer Sean Hoffman and Councilmember Reichgott would have a meeting to work out the details.
Supervisor’s Update – Supervisor English reported that he has been notified by the Orange County Department of Finance that the total 2021 sales tax revenue has exceeded the budgeted amount. This will result in a fourth quarter supplemental payment of $75,369.91! This payment will be made to the Town before the end of February. Also, the Orange County Clerk’s office notified the Town that they will be getting $23,997 for the Mortgage Tax in January 2022. Next, he announced that the next workshop with Tuxedo Farms will be held via WebEx on Thursday, February 17 at 5:00 pm. For this meeting, they will be focusing on Design Standards. He also reported that Police Chief Interviews will be held on Wednesday, February 23 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. There are 3 candidates scheduled. Finally, he commented that there have been important voting district boundary line changes affecting Tuxedo. James Skoufis will be the new NYS Senator and Mondaire Jones will be the new Congressman. (Tuxedo is now the 17th District). The Supervisor is looking forward to working with both men.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she would soon be meeting with representatives of Orange and Rockland to discuss charging stations for electric vehicles. She will also be looking into adding a battery storage component to this as well as adding battery storage to the roof on the
Highway Department.
Councilmember Reichgott reminded everyone about the Tuxedo Bag Project, which is being run by some kids in Tuxedo Park. They are collecting bags to be given to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. These are always needed so he asked people to donate their bags to Town Hall, the Library, the Train Station and other marked locations around town.
Councilmember Murphy is concerned with the speed limit on Long Meadow Rd. She has discovered that the Board will need to pass a resolution to the County to ask that the limit be lowered. She was tasked with writing a letter to the County and requesting this action. Next, she reported on the work her committee is doing for a Plein Air Event for this year to be held on October 7th. (Columbus Day weekend)
Councilmember May thanked Recreation Coordinator Claire Dougher for all her work on the Bonfire which took place on February 12. She also commented that she would like to see some improvements made to the Dog Park (located at Powerhouse Park) She has found an organization called Bark for your Park which sponsors dog parks and gives grants for upgrades.

Minutes:
The minutes for the regular Town Board meeting held on January 24 were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
There was a question about when the electronic speed limit signs would reappear. It was explained that these have been removed for the winter so as not to interfere with any plowing.

Notice of Town Board / Tuxedo Farms Workshop Meetings February 17 & March 3, 2022

That the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo will hold two Public Workshops to review Tuxedo Farms documents on February 17th and March 3rd at 5:00 pm. These workshops will be held virtually via WebEx.

The Town Board met on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 6:00 pm. All members were present. The meeting began with an Executive Session for the purpose of interviewing candidates for Boards.

The public portion of the meeting began at 7:00 pm via WebEx.
The meeting actually began at 6:00 pm with an Executive Session for the purpose of interviewing candidates for Boards.

Public Hearing -Alternate Planning Board Member:
A public hearing was held to discuss the proposed local law “Alternate Planning Board Member,” which would establish an alternate planning board member for the purpose of substituting a member when a quorum is needed. There were no public comments and the Board subsequently voted unanimously to adopt the measure as Local Law #1 of 2022.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Evelyn David asked for an explanation of Item #1, a resolution to abolish the Building Moratorium. She was told that this was a measure put in place while the Town was considering changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Law. Since those measures have now been passed, the resolution is no longer necessary and thus should be abolished.

Planning Board:
Susan Boyle, term ending 12/31/26
Ned Kugel, term ending 12/31/26
Alternate Member – Justin Jennings, term ending 12/31/22
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Chris Dollbaum, term ending 12/31/26
Alternate Member – Sharon Rothlauf, term ending 12/31/22
Board of Assessment Review:
Howard Zukof, term ending 12/31/26

New Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay introduced the idea of refinancing the Town’s outstanding bonds. The Bonds are due in 2044. On the advice of Town financial Consultant, Capital Market Advisors, the Board will look into the refinancing which could potentially save the Town $18,000 per year. After discussion with Town Attorney Howard Protter, the Board decided to authorize Bond Counsel (Hawkins Delafield to prepare a resolution for the Board to discuss and vote on at the next meeting (Feb.14) at cost of no more than $10.000. This was passed unanimously.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk – Marissa Dollbaum reported receiving an email from O&R informing her that there have been people posing as O&R employees and using that to gain access to private homes. The utility company has provided all employees with photo identification cards so if an O&R employee should show up unannounced, residents are advised to ask to see their identification. Next, she announced that she had put a link on the Town website through which residents can order their free home covid tests.
Work on the upcoming Zoom Room for Town Hall in on-going.
Finally, she reminded everyone of the Town bonfire scheduled for Saturday, January 29. Because there have been predictions of bad weather, she will make sure Recreaction Coordinator Clair Dougher keeps everyone informed if it needs to be postponed. Any information she received will be posted on the Town website.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department is still working on trimming trees around town. They will continue to pick up Christmas trees until Saturday. Lastly, he announced that the ice rink at Powerhouse Park had been flooded and cleared and is all ready to go for skating.

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reminded everyone that Jeff Demansky from Hudson Valley Energy, who recently gave a presentation to the Climate Smart Community Task Force/Community Solar will be giving a short presentation at the February 14 Town Board meeting.
Councilmember May reported that a group of people have formed the Community Activity Committee to help come up with fun events for all residents. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay wondered if these residents would like to join a Recreation Advisory Board which the Town is considering putting together. Councilmember Murphy has also been talking to this group and she reported that consensus there seemed to be that many of the activities in around Town have become fragmented and they want to find a way to bring more of the community together through activities and events.
Minutes:
The minutes for the January 10th Town Board meeting were accepted and approved.

Vouchers were approved.
Public Comments:
There were none.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss a possible future real estate transaction.

In the coming weeks the Town Board will conduct two workshops with representative from both the Related Companies and Lennar Homebuilders concerning the future of the Tuxedo Farms development. A short workshop was held on January 13, during which the applicable introductions were made. Detailed plans were not reviewed during that meeting however, both the Developer and the Builder informed the Board that that the updated conceptual plan, including proposed changes to the design standards as well as the Tech Memo, would be forthcoming and that these would be formally presented in public on the January 27.

The Town Board held a Tuxedo Farms Workshop meeting on Thursday, January 13 at 5:30pm via WebEx. All members were present. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for the the Related Companies to formally introduce the Board members to representatives from Lennar Homebuilders, with whom they have partnered on much of the Tuxedo Farms project. Greg Gushee and Dillon Norris represented Related, while Robert (Bob) Calabro (Vice President and project lead), Mitchell Newman (SVP, Director of Land Acquisitions), Lisa Higgins (Director of Forward Planning), and Stephen Dahl (attorney) were present on behalf of Lennar.

The meeting was relatively short (28 minutes) and broad in focus. The public was not permitted to ask questions directly, however questions submitted via the chat were entertained and answered.

Agenda for Tuxedo Town Board Special Meeting,

Thursday, January 13th, 2022

WebEx 5:30pm, via Town of Tuxedo portal

Introductions of the Lennar Team, the selected builder for the Tuxedo Farms Development, by Greg Gushee, Executive VP Related Companies

Lennar Team: NY/NJ Division

Lisa Higgins - Director of Forward Planning

Mitchell Newman - SVP, Director of Land Acquisitions

Stephen Dahl - attorney

Robert (Bob) Calabro - Vice President, Lead on this project

Powerpoint Presentation by Lennar

Montage of images of homes and projects from the Lennar portfolio

What’s coming:

Revised plan that will show where the different products will be built
Revised Design Guidelines
Various developing details of the project

Next meeting: Thursday, January 27th, 5:00 pm via own of Tuxedo WebEx

The Town Board met on Monday, January 10 at 7pm via Webex.
All members were present.

Oaths of Office:
Supervisor English, Councilmembers Jay Reichgott and Diedre Murphey and Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum were all sworn in.

Agenda Items:
2022 Reorganization - Following a relatively brief over-view, the Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the 2022 Reorganization document.
Click here to view.
Resolution to approve Association of Towns training February 20-23 for Town Board members – Following some discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the training for any interested Town Officials.

Discussion Items:
Review Contract for Town Hall Roof – The RFP was restructured and the project rebid in December. One bid from Precision Roofing was received. A meeting was subsequently held with Precision for the purpose of value-engineering the project in an attempt to bring the cost down and through this process they were able to reduce price from $294,000 to $230,000. This will be paid for utilizing the $100,000 State Aid To Municipality Grant that was awarded to the Town by former State Senator Jenn Metzger and the $125,000 that was budgeted by the Town for the project. Following some discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of awarding the contract to Precision Roofing in the amount of $230,000 base price (this does not include the cost of any deteriorated plywood decking that might need to be replaced. If needed, the decking will cost $10 per square foot.). The work will hopefully be scheduled for early spring.
Discussion – Addition of Alternate to the Planning Board – The Town Board has been considering the idea of adding an Alternate to the Planning Board. The term would be 1-year. The individual serving in this position would not vote unless there were a conflict of interest on the Board or a quorum could not be achieved. Through serving they would gain valuable experience which would help to prepare them to fill upcoming vacancies on the Board. They would be compensated at the same rate as the other, standing Planning Board members. A draft local law prepared by Board Attorney Howard Protter was reviewed and discussed. The Board voted unanimously in favor of setting a public hearing for January their January 24 meeting and also authorizing the attorneys to draft a resolution of adoption.
Woodlands Request to Have Roads Recognized – The Woodlands Home Owner’s Association has made a request under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1660A to have the roadways in their development formally recognized by the Town. Under this section of the law, the Town police would then have the ability to regulate and enforce traffic laws and regulations on the private roads within the Woodlands.
Board member Diedre Murphey wondered what specifically the Home Owners Association was looking for with the request. There is an existing 5mph speed limit on roads within the development. Will the Tuxedo PD be expected to enforce that? Additionally, there is a “no overnight parking” rule. Will the Tuxedo PD be asked to ticket offender? “Do they want people to be ticketed for going 25mph in a 5mph zone? Frankly, Long Meadow Road is a racetrack where people are going 85mph and the idea that we are going to worry about 5mph in the Woodlands….I don’t understand! I don’t want to detract from what is going on in the Town by taking valuable resources and supporting a private community…even though I live in that community!”
Board member Jay Reichgott suggested that they needed to get some advice from their attorney as to exactly what was being requested. Is the Town being asked to enforce private regulations or would this bring those roadways into compliance with the other Town roads for enforcement. Additionally, he suggested they explore it with the Police Department directly in order to determine whether or not they have sufficient resources to make it happen. Lastly, he suggested that they reach out to the Woodlands and ascertain exactly what it is they believe they are asking for.
Following some further discussion, it was agreed that they would work to more clearly establish the parameters of what was being requested before moving forward.
Request from Village Mayor David McFadden – Village of Tuxedo Park Mayor has circulated a preliminary assessment from engineers Westin & Sampson for the relocation of the Village Hall and DPW facilities. He is asking that the Town consider allowing the Village to utilize some of the land near Quarry Field for this purpose. The plan does not specifically estimate which properties the Village would need to acquire from the Town, nor does it account for any land surveying of confirmation of Village/Town boundaries. The Board has a number of questions and concerns with what has been proposed. As the plan is only in the preliminary stages, it was suggested that the main focus should be to determine exactly what property the Village is hoping to acquire and subsequently what the Town would like in exchange for that land. It was agreed that Supervisor English would seek additional information from Mayor McFadden with respect to the property in question.
Schedule Dates for Public Meetings on Community Choice Aggregation and Community Solar Programs – Deputy Supervisor Michele Lindsay reported that the Climate Smart community had met earlier that evening to receive a presentation on Community Choice Aggregation, which amounts to the purchasing of power and use of solar programs. In order to move forward the Town Board must pass a law enabling the action. Said law would not commit the Town to the program, but it will get the ball rolling. A template of the law as enacted by other municipalities has been circulated to the Attorneys as well as each of the Town Board members. The Deputy Mayor is recommending that the Board move forward by asking their attorneys to draft a similar law for their consideration. It was agreed that an informational session for the public should be scheduled as part of their next meeting.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk – Town Clark Marisa Dollbaum reported that Interstate Waste had dropped off two dumpsters for glass recycling. One is located at Quarry Field and the other is in the parking lot across from the Eagle Valley Firehouse. Unfortunately, the one at Quarry Field was left in the wrong spot so as soon as she has confirmed that it has been moved to the correct location, she will be advertising them to the community. Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum suggested that they might not want to leave the dumpster at Quarry Field as planned because there are no cameras there and he is concerned that an unmonitored dumpster will become a dump site. He doesn’t believe there is going to be a ton of traffic associated with the recycling of class and therefore recommended that they install it over by the old highway department. The Supervisor agreed. In other news, property owners now have the ability to pay their Town and County property taxes online via the Town website utilizing an electronic check, credit or debit card. Additionally, a Town Clerk account will be established shortly and this will allow for people to pay for their parking permits, dog licenses etc. online as well.
Highway Department – Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that they had run a new water line for the water filtration system, which will be installed on January 27/28. Additionally, they have acquired a bucket truck until March and will be utilizing it to work on tree trimming around Town. Residents can put out their Christmas trees for collection. There is no set schedule for this, but as they are put out, the trees will be collected and brought to Powerhouse Park for a bonfire. Residents are reminded that parking on the streets is not permitted if inclement weather is expected and they should pull their cars off the roadways so that they can be appropriately cleared. Lastly, with regard to a berm in Laurel Ridge, he reported that its’ purpose is to prevent flooding onto Sylvan Way. They plan on leaving It there until after the spring thaw, after which it will be removed. If they move it now, they will not have enough material to prevent flooding on Tichy Field.
Board Member Maria May commended the Highway Department for their diligent work during the ice storm the week prior, noting that most of the surrounding communities were not nearly as well prepared.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English reported the following:
Tuxedo Farms - Related has selected a builder, Lennar, one of the largest homebuilders in the country. Representatives will participate in a special meeting, this Thursday, January 13, via WebEx at 5:30. They expect this initial meeting to be a brief introduction of the Lennar team. Further meetings are scheduled for Thursday, January 27 and Thursday, February 10. These meetings are scheduled to begin at 5:00 and will be conducted through the Town’s WebEx portal.
Chief Arthur Abbott has submitted his resignation. He has served the Town since June of 2017. He worked closely with the Town Board to implement the Governor’s Police reinvention initiative, to procure body cameras for Tuxedo PD, hire the Towns’ newest Officer, Alexandra Gunderman, and worked towards attaining NYS Accreditation of our Police facility by bringing the Towns’ Juvenile Room in compliance with required code and policy. “Art always brought his open personal demeanor to all of my interactions with him,” the Supervisor commented further wishing him all the best in his future endeavors. Together with his secretary Lori Cosgrove, the Supervisor is working with Orange County Human Resources / Civil Service, to identify eligible candidates to fill the vacancy. Until that is accomplished, Lt. Norton will be the Officer in Charge.
Lastly, the Town Board is continuing interviews to fill vacant positions in the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board of Assessment Review. It is their policy to encourage residents to consider applying for these positions through active outreach. They are committed to an open recruitment process. No more applications are being accepted at this time. The application process has finished and they are almost finished with the interview process. Appointments will hopefully be announced at the next Town Board meeting.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Mayor Michele Lindsay reported that there would be an LDC meeting on Tuesday, January 11 at 4pm for the purpose of meeting with auditors.

Public Comments:
Via the chat, a resident inquired as to whether or not the new sewer plant has been brought online yet. The answer was no.

The Supervisor apologized but noted that they did not have time to entertain any further public comments due to a scheduled attorney/client meeting. The Board then adjourned into an executive session for the purpose of meeting with their attorney. They re-entered the public session at 9:42pm. No action was taken as a result of the session. The minutes and vouchers were unanimously approved and the meeting was adjourned at 9:49pm.

The Town Board met on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Public Hearing on the 2022 Woodlands Sewer Budget:
Supervisor English explained that the Town Board is required to hold this meeting annually, but they have nothing to do with setting the budget or the rate. There were two residents from the Woodlands present and one of them said that the new rates for the district would be $312 twice a year. No one knew what the rate was for this last year. There were no comments from the public and the hearing was closed. The Board voted unanimously to accept the rate.

Elected Official:        Standard Workday: Record of Activities Result:
Councilmember                        6                                  4.0
Highway Superintendent           8                                 20.0
Town Clerk                               6                                 20.0
Town Justice                            6                                 12.0

Monthly Reports:
Reports have been received from the Dog Control officer, Justice Court, Police Department and Town Clerk.

Department Updates:
Highway Department – The Highway Department is now running electronic recycling. Residents can bring their old electronics for recycling to the Highway Garage. Leaf pickup ends on December 15 and, after that, all leaves must be placed in bags.
Town Clerk
Marisa Dollbaum commented that the Toy Drive is still going on and there’s a box available to collect toys in Town Hall.
She also reported that December 28 (the 2nd Monday in December) is a holiday for Town Hall so the next Town Board meeting will be held on December 29.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that legislation covering the protection of birds and bees is expected to go to the legislature soon. It will ban certain pesticides that destroy bees and pollinator habitats.
Councilperson May updated residents on the recycling of glass which is an ongoing conversation with IWS. At the moment residents either need to put glass in their regular trash or deliver it to receptacles that are located both at Quarry Field and Murphy Field.
Councilperson Reichgott gave a plug for the Tuxedo Bag Project which collects reusable bags to be donated to the Sloatsburg Food Pantry. Anyone with bags to donate can bring them to Janet Galuska, the Town Hall or the Library.
Supervisor English reported that there had been both a successful Menorah lighting and Christmas Tree lighting.
Councilperson McMillen reported that after 8 years, his time on the Board would be up as of the end of December. He stated it had been both a challenge and a privilege to serve and he thanked all the members for working with him.

Public Comments:
Dale Mottola commented that she had noticed that the roof on the train station needs some repairs and hopes the Town will schedule these to happen soon.
Jerry Mottola wondered when the Recreation Department stopped having the Chamber decorate the train station. This year, for example, they had candles to be put in the windows which were never used. He hoped someone would let the Chamber know what responsibilities they would have going forward.

Important Town Board / Tuxedo Farms Workshop Meeting November 29, 2021 @ 4pm (Posted November 27, 2021)

The Town Board will hold an important workshop with representatives from Tuxedo Farms on Monday, November 29 at 4pm. During this meeting the Board will review in detail the Tuxedo Farms Tech Memo, which focuses on he breakdown by product type of housing (apartments, town homes, duplexes, single family, age-restricted housing, commercial space, open space, parks, amenities etc.), the expected number of school-aged children, the estimates for water and sewer usage, the estimated impact on tax revenues and expense, traffic concerns and many other important details that one would expect in complex project. The public is invited and encouraged to attend and observe, but they will not be allowed to participate. The workshop will be held via Webex and can be accessed on the Town’s website at https://www.tuxedogov.org/webex-virtual-meetings or dial 408-418-9388 use access code 796 956 205. It is expected to last roughly 2 hours in duration.

The Town Board met on Monday, November 22, 2021 at 7pm in the George F. Baker auditorium. All members were present.

Town Board Update:
Update on Tuxedo Farms Negotiations – Supervisor English kicked off the update by asking Deputy Supervisor Michele Lindsay to provide the public with a brief outline/timeline of the work they had done to date on the proposed changes to the Special Permit for the Tuxedo Farms project. The process began on September at their regular monthly meeting, which was when they initially received the proposed changes. At that time, representative from the Related Companies shared an outline of the general direction of the proposed project. At the October 13 Town Board Meeting, Related was asked to publicly present an updated version of their proposal. Following that presentation, the Town Board asked residents to submit their thoughts and concerns in writing. They subsequently received responses from over 200 residents. All of the responses were shared directly with related and became the driver of future discussions with the Developer. Some of the major concerns included the increase in proposed units (up to 2,000) and questions about the types of homes and commercial spaces that would be built, traffic issues and water and sewer issues. The Board followed up with two attorney/client sessions on November 4 and 17. They spent a total of 7 hours working with Town Planner Bonnie Franson and reviewing the updated proposal point-by-point. Their comments have been submitted to Related via their attorney and they are awaiting a formal response. In between all of the meetings there have been many conversations with the attorneys and between Board Members and they have been quite busy reviewing all of the associated documentation. On Monday, November 29 at 4pm they will hold a workshop meeting to review important supporting documents including the Tech Memo. The public is invited to attend and observe, but they will not be allowed to participate. The meeting will be accessible via WebEx. The Tech Memo provides details of the project such as: the breakdown by product type of housing (apartments, town homes, duplexes, single family, age-restricted housing, commercial space, open space, parks, amenities etc.), the expected number of school-aged children, the estimates for water and sewer usage, the estimated impact on tax revenues and expenses and many other important details that one would expect in complex project.
Supervisor English then stated the following: “As you have just heard, related is continuing to refine its revised development program and as it does that, the Town Board is reviewing and reacting. The review process is just beginning and we are a way’s away from scheduling any public hearing. Before any public hearing is scheduled, the Town Board wants to make sure that Relateds’ submission is complete and suitable for public comment. All documents will be disseminated prior to the public hearing. The Town Board is already working with its’ attorney and the Town Planner to review and respond to information as it receives it. On Thursday, November 18, the Town Board interviewed attorneys who specialize in land-use special law and they discussed possible topics for advice and council. We are looking for additional advice to guide us, but we will also continue to work with our current attorneys and Planner. I want to thank everyone who submitted written comments. You really made launching this much easier. The comments were so well thought out. People put a lot of energy into it. Not only were all the comments entered into the public record by they are also driving our conversations with our partners at related. I say partners because in order to make this successful, we really do need to work together. Additionally, the Town Board review will encompass a deep dive into the following areas: the proposed changes to the design standards, the revised preliminary plan and development program, the tech memo, a review of updated traffic survey hat the developer has completed, proposed amendments to the Special Permit itself and anything else that the Town Board determines is appropriate to complete its review and make a determination on the applicants’ requests. Bu really the Towns principal objective in evaluating this request to modify the special permit will be to ensure that the changes in no way later the quality and character of the development. Personally, I feel like the process is moving forward in a very thoughtful way. Progress is being made between every discussion. We’ve established a solid working relationship. We are responding to updated proposals in a timely fashion without rushing the process. I feel confident that we will work together to build a quality project that fulfills our goals. In conclusion, I want to let everybody know that we are not rushing through this process and we will make sure that we do a deep dive into every concern. I look forward to working together with Related to come up with a quality project that we can move forward in a timely fashion.”
He then asked each of the Board members to weigh in.
Board member Maria Memo thanked Related for their prompt responses to all of their comments, noting that they were beginning to go through the Tech Memo. She looks forward to continuing to work with the development.
Board member Dave McMillan noted that he had been on the Board for 8 years attempting to get this project going. “How much more do we have to go through to get it through?” he asked. He has thoroughly reviewed the plan. He sees nothing in the plan or the current proposal that will be problematic. He is ready to vote.
Board member Jay Reichgott stated that he did not have any particular comments to make at that time however he cautioned his fellow Board members to make sure they had thoroughly read the Tech Memo prior to the November 29 meeting if they hoped to accomplish anything.
Supervisor English then introduced Greg Bouchet, executive Vice President of related, who gave a brief presentation in the form of a slideshow focused on the current state of the project.
(As soon as this presentation has been made public, it will be published here on TPFYI)
Much of the general information covered in the slide show reflected information that was already presented publicly back in November. Notable changes include: a reduction in the number of proposed units from 2,000 to 1,600, no increase in multi-family units, a minimal increase in the number of bedrooms (5%), changes to the housing mix (fewer single family homes and more diverse, smaller unit types which “meet market demand”) and the elimination of an entire neighborhood of development along the Western side of the property. “If you have to do single family homes, guess what? Ou have to build lots of roads and you have to disturb lots of additional land,” noted Mr. Bouchet. The reduction in surface area will create a more concentrated and connected community and much of the housing will now be centered around the Commons area at the center of the development.
A new traffic study was also included. Mr. Bouchet suggested that the reduction in unit count would “eliminate most of the concern” but went to explain that the projections for future traffic that had been made as part of the original study a decade prior had been “way off” and current base-line levels are 40-60% less than had been anticipated. The projected number of car trips based on the new plan relative to the old plan is also reduced. The Town Board and their consultants will review these studies in detail with their consultants.
Following the presentation there was a brief question and answer session. Questions centered around the donated, undeveloped land and the possibility for Related to further develop the property down the line. School Board President Dan Castricone noted that he and representatives of the BOE had been meeting with Related as well and that perhaps it would be helpful at some point for the Town and the School to hold a join workshop meeting to compare notes. Supervisor English was agreeable to this idea.
Before moving on to other agenda items, Supervisor English informed the public that there would be a meeting of the Tuxedo Farms LDC Board of Directors the following morning at 10am via WebEx and that this meeting was of special interest to property owners in the Hamlet sewer District as they would be discussing the plan to activate the new Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Agenda Items:
Resolution to Appoint Fire Commissioner – Gardiner Hempel – The Board voted unanimously in favor of appointing Gardiner Hempel as Fire Commissioner with a term commencing January of 2022 and expiring December 31, 2026.
Resolution to Schedule Public Hearing on Woodlands Sewer Budget – The Board scheduled a public hearing on the Woodlands Sewer Budget for their next regularly scheduled meeting, which is December 13 at 7pm.
Resolution to enter agreement with Cooper Arias – The Board voted unanimously in favor of entering into an agreement with independent auditors Cooper Arias at a fee of $20,500 in year one, $21,250 in year two and $22,000 I year three.

Department Updates:
Police Department – Chief Abbott reported that he had held several meetings with Supervisor English regarding the speed trapping signs. The signs have been positioned strategically at various points throughout town and the data will be collected, shared and used to inform traffic enforcement moving forward. The Supervisor added that they would continue to move the signs around in an effort to develop data profiles for each neighborhood so that they could in turn determine where the infractions are taking place. The signs have been on 17 in the Hamlet, on Long Meadow Road, Laurel Ridge thus far. They will be moved to Eagle Valley and South Gate Road as well. “The idea here is not to bang the residents with tickets,” he added. “First everyone will be given a warning unless it’s so egregious that a ticket was warranted.”
Yianni Maris wondered whether or not the residents could request that the signs be put in certain areas. He further commented that late at night at the intersection of Long Meadow Road and Route 17A there had been loud street racing going almost every night. The Supervisor acknowledged this, noting that he had seen what he thought was a car club of sorts gathering in the Route 17A parking lot and that they had been doing “donuts” under the thruway. Board member Maria May commented that she commuted during peak hours each day and felt the signs had already been effective as she noticed motorists breaking when the signs came into view. The Supervisor suggested that he would like to build an awareness campaign utilizing local news outlets such as the Photo News and News Channel 12 letting everyone know about this effort to make the Town a safer place. He further stated that in the New Year he would like rekindle the efforts that were started with the Governor’s Initiative and have regular community liaison meetings with the Police Department. On another note, the Department has been participating in No Shave November, a program whereby the officers don’t shave for a month and simultaneously raise donations for St. Jude’s children’s hospital. The PBA is currently accepting donations for this cause. Finally, the Chief cautioned residents to be wary scams especially during the holiday months. Two residents were scammed in the month of October. One of these was over-the-phone scam which resulted in the loss of $10,000 and credit card fraud and other was a jewelry swap scam in which an 89-year-old victim had all of his valuable jewelry removed and swapped out for junk jewelry during a short period of time while he was providing directions. Anyone who is concerned or thinks they might be the victim of a scam should call the Station and the department will look into it.
Highway Department – Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that his department had been busy collecting leaves. He cautioned that were collecting in loops so that if a resident put their leaves out just after they had passed by, they shouldn’t worry, they will be picked up on the next go-round. This could take up to 10 days in some cases, but they will be back.
As always, there is mulch and compost available free of charge for residents at Quarry Field.
Town Clerk – Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that trash and recycling pick-up would take place on Friday, November 26 this week due to the Holiday. The Town Hall roof project was put out for rebid. There will be a walk-through on November 29 at 1pm with a bid-opening date of Wednesday, December 15 at 1pm. Three companies have already expressed interest. In other news, Tuxedo’s 2022 Final Budget was approved by Orange County this past week. Conversations have been ongoing with interstate Waste with regard to glass recycling. Ms. Dollbaum is now officially a Notary Public, having recently passed the exam. Lastly, she announced that the Town Turkey Trott would be taking place on Thursday, November 25. Registration begins at 7:30pm. There will be a kiddie race (2 laps around Quarry Field) and 5K along Warwick Brook Road. Participants will receive a T-shirt.
The Town Menorah lighting will take Place on December 1st and the Town Tree Lighting will take place on December 4. The Town decorations will be put out on Monday, November 29 in advance of these festive events.

Town Board Updates:
Board member Maria May reported on her conversations with IWS Waste Management, who have recently informed the Town that they would like to charge $80 per glass recycling bin, with pick-up service once every two weeks. The councilwoman “had It out” with the waste management company, indicating that glass recycling was part of the current contract and she did not feel that the Town should have to pay more for the service. She suggested that perhaps the Supervisor or the Town Attorney might get further. The Supervisor suggested they should try it out and that if residents were utilizing the service, in his view, it was worth it. Collection bins will be installed in two locations one at Quarry Field and the other near the firehouse in Eagle Valley. It was agreed that the Town would move forward with the recycling but that they would also ask their attorney to try and hold IWS to the pricing outlined in the contract.
On another note, the Town is in receipt of a quote for purchase, installation and training on a Zoom Room. The total cost is roughly $50,000 all said and done. The Board agreed that this was the wave of the future in terms of communication and that it would be a valuable investment. After minimal discussion they voted unanimously in favor of moving forward with it.
Board member Jay Reichgott announced that a couple of students from TPS had launched an effort to collect re-usable grocery bags and donate them to the Sloatsburg food pantry. Their aim is to collect 1000 bags by February. Collection boxes can be found in the Train Station and at the Town Hall as well as the Village Office in Tuxedo Park. He also reminded residents of the on-going Toy Drive, with collection running through December 4.

Public Comments:
There was a question with regard to a recent auto theft in Town, whereby a resident had their vehicle stolen out of their driveway. Chief Abbott responded that there had been an incident at roughly 3am that morning whereby a luxury car was targeted by a group of people from Newark, NJ. Three individuals came to Tuxedo, dropping one passenger off, whose job it was to steel the car. The car was reportedly open and the key was inside. The car was stollen. Tuxedo’s midnight shift was in effect and the officer on duty stopped the car who had dropped the thief off. One of those passengers informed the officer that the third passenger was in Town near the Circle. The Officer in turn informed State Police, who went after the thief. A chase ensued with the State Police pursuing the thief in the stolen Range Rover. The thief eventually crashed in Sloatsburg and was detained. Chief Abbott cautioned that this type of thievery is not uncommon in Ramapo and Bergen County, whereby groups come from Newark and target nice cars in wealthy areas. Once stollen, they bring the cars directly to containers where they are shipped overseas. Roughly a year and a half ago two cars were stollen from the Woodlands as part of a similar situation. He reminded residents to remain vigilant and to remove keys from their cars and lock them.

Public Hearing – 2022 Preliminary Budget:
Prior to opening the hearing, Supervisor English and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay gave a presentation summarizing the preliminary budget and highlighting notable items.
The budgeted tax increase for the 2022 preliminary budget is .13%. (the cap as dictated by New York State is 1.1%). All revenue projections made for 2021 were conservative and as a result, fund balances continue to grow. Projections for 2022 follow that pattern and they expect that these balances will continue to grow in the coming year. In a recent Moody’s evaluation, the Town’s credit rating increased by two steps, verifying that Tuxedo is on a sound fiscal path and that management continues to employ prudent financial practices. The Town is in good financial shape. The budget projects all vital emergency services including Fire Districts, Ambulance Corps and Police Services.
Revenue - On the Revenue sides, New York State Parklands were reassessed over the tax years 2019 and 2020 under a comprehensive analysis by the Town’s assessor and a consultant firm, Beckmann Appraisals. This raised the level of taxes paid by the State, the Town’s largest taxpayer for school taxes in both the Monroe Woodbury and Tuxedo Districts as well as on Town property taxes in both the A and B funds. The result is that the State now pays more while the taxpayers pay less, with New York State Parklands taking on $2,260,367 of the burden. The breakdown of the payment increases are as follows: $1,189,347 in the Monroe Woodbury District, $237,365 in the TUFSD, $544.347 in the A fund (Town-wide) and $288,758 in the B Fund (Town outside the Village.)
Tuxedo Place - A 30-year pilot agreement between Tuxedo Place (the Promenade) and the Town was entered into in 1999 and was based on a complicated calculation of revenues rather than property taxes or property value.) The agreement was never enforced. A new, $91,000, 6-year settlement agreement has now been negotiated to include $28,000 of past due payments payable in the first two years. The Town is in receipt of the first payment. Additionally, they will receive $8,000 a year for 6 years after which the facility will be added to the tax rolls.
Long Meadow Road Tenants - Rents have been increased for the tenants on Long Meadow Road, resulting in a budgeted increase from $74,000 to $98,000.
Renaissance Faire – The Town collected $22,154 past due for Police coverage during the 2019 season. An increased hourly rate for Police Security detail (up from$95 to $120) has been negotiated moving forward. For the 2021 season, security billing was increased to $39,587, which covers all police overtime. Additionally, the Faire took over the expenditure of electronic traffic control signs and cones ($12,000).
Mortgage Tax Revenue – Due to favorable home sales, mortgage tax revenues collected through October was $235,767. This is significantly more than the $80,000 that was accounted for in the 2021 budget. $100,000 has been budgeted for 2022.
Sales Tax - $300,000 was anticipated in the 2021 budget however YTD (through August) the Town has collected $418,000! $375,000 is budgeted for 2022.
Street Lighting – The LED program continues to result in lower costs estimated to be an additional $5,000 savings in 2022.
Watchtower – An agreement for work to be performed on the Long meadow Road dirt pile remediation has been negotiated. This has a roughly $30,000 value.
Expenses – Notable expenses include an additional $67,000 to cover the increased operating expenses needed to open the new sewer plant in the Hamlet and adjustments to recently ratified Police and Highway Department contracts to. Include among other things 2% annual raises for workers in both departments and new eligibility requirements for step pay increases and lifetime medical benefits for the Police.
Fund Balance - At the end of 2020, total fund balances were $4,115,756. Now is the time to allocate / appropriate (earmark) funds for known future expenses to protect future town budgets from potential shortfalls. In the November 5th, 2021 monthly update by Town Auditor and financial consultant Andrew Arias, his budget evaluation showed an overall increase of $868,672 in a year to date comparison, October 31, 2020 through October 31, 2021. Uses will include continuing cleanup of Dirt Pile Remediation at the Long Meadow site estimated to cost $184,000 per year until completion (three years). The Town faces potential fines of over $3,000 a day. The property that is affected by this contaminated debris is useless until cleaned up. It makes financial and environmental sense to clean this up ASAP. A reserve will be set up to fund payouts to Police Officers for unused sick and vacation. As of December, 2021 officers would be owed approximately $ 351,000. When an officer leaves employment with Tuxedo, the Town is required to pay the outstanding balance immediately. $ 55,372 used to offset IWS annual increase for Town-wide refuse collection. There is currently a fund balance of $240,918 that is earmarked to offset these increases throughout the life of the five year contract.
The Town is Awaiting final estimated tax levy from Related Tuxedo Farms property $2,035,000. They expect to receive a final number from MuniCap the financial manager for Tuxedo Farms accounting. The final budget must be filed with Orange County and NYS by November 20. The Board’s target date for filing is Monday, November 15.
Following the presentation, the Public Hearing was opened.
Jerry Mottola commented that he liked the figures very much but wondered whether there would be any funding set aside for additional parking at the Post Office. Supervisor English responded by letting him know that the Town Clerk would be making a formal note of all comments.
Irene Denaro congratulated the Board on doing a fantastic job with the budget and remaining fiscally responsible, adding that she was very happy with it. She further inquired about the funding that would be directed to the Monroe Woodbury School District from the NYS Parkland, suggesting that she would like more detail as to how those dollars would be spent. Supervisor English responded that the money would be factored into the school’s budget, reiterating that these were not additional funds that would be going to the school, but rather taxes that would be paid by the Parkland instead of the residents, thus shifting some of the debt onto the State and offsetting the resident tax burden. “They pay more, we pay less!” he chanted.
As there were no further comments, the public hearing was then closed.
Agenda Items:
Resolution to Ratify Highway Contract – Following a brief discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of authorizing Supervisor English to sign the Highway contract.
Petition of Relief from Building Moratorium – 14 Store Road - Brad Ewing was present to formally request a petition of relief from the building moratorium for 14 Store Road where he plans to open a small beer, wine, cider and food establishment called Reggie Bar. The establishment will be a “true artist built space,” run by an artist and featuring art. It will be made in the style of artist Grayson Cox (artist and lead builder of the bar) and will serve as a comfortable public meeting house and possible event space. The 67- square foot space will offer drinks and food and a rotation of the latest in contemporary art and works on paper. The French curve of the bar will offer seats for a close up view and tables and booths will also be custom built in the space. The wine will be curated by a local community member and the food will be provided by local vendors and available any time the bar is open. Mr. Ewing envisions room for 15-20 people indoors with windows wide open and another 6-8people on the concrete patio outside. The bar will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 5-10pm and Saturday from 12-10pm. It can also be made available for private parties, wine tastings and events.
The Board voted unanimously in favor of granting Mr. Ewing relief from the building moratorium. Next, the application will move to the Planning Board as well as the Zoning Board of Appeals (if applicable).
Department Reports:
Town Clerk – Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that in the recent election voters had elected not to allow canibis consumption sites in Town. Moving on, she noted that Town Hall would be closed on Thursday, November 11 in observation of Veterans Day. Recreation Coordinator Claire Dougher has scheduled a Turkey Trot for Thanksgiving morning. There will be a “kiddie race” around the track at Quarry Field and a 5-K along Warwick Brook Road. Participants are encouraged to sign-up by emailing Claire at recreationcoordinator@tuxedogov.org. The annual Toy Drive will begin shortly. Typically, collection boxes are installed in Town Hall as well as at the School and the Library. Mrs. Dollbaum and Ms. Dougher will be meeting with the Chairperson by the end of the week and will update the Board with details accordingly.
Highway Department – Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that he had met with a representative of the County DPW about the dirt at the highway garage. They took all of the appropriate paperwork from the various agencies for review and are hopeful that they will be able to remove all of the dirt and use it for their own purposes. Superintendent Dollbaum does not have high hopes that the DEC will look favorably on any use for the dirt other than underneath an impervious surface (roadway, parking lot etc.). The County engineers will meet with the DEC to discuss the merits of what is there as well as pertinent testing results.
Superintendent Dollbaum also met with both the MTA and the DOT (Department of Transportation) to discuss repairs/replacements to a recently exposed, 100-year-old sewer line that runs along the railroad in Town. There is a DOT owned drainage line that runs from Route 17 in front of the Gulf Station under the parking lot by the Orange Top then under the railroad tracks and out to the river. Two sections of the pipe were recently washed away and a portion of the 100-year old, clay sewer lines subsequently exposed. The DOT came and acknowledged the damage and the need for repair to their pipe, but have not been heard from since. The highway department has worked to repair, support and secure the sewer line. After they have shored things up with rocks and boulders, they will work to install a conduit under the existing pipe that will allow the drain water from Route 17 to go directly out to the river, thus preventing further erosion of the sewer lines. Surveyors have also been in Town exploring various ways of connecting the existing line to the new plant. This work is ongoing. They are exploring the idea of relocating the line to the west side of the railroad tracks, thus eliminating any issues with the river. This would also eliminate some of the inflow & infiltration for the existing pump station, cutting the flow rate into the plant by an estimated 60%.
The Department has been busy picking up leaves. They began in Laurel Ridge and worked their way around Town one time and are now in the process of making a second lap. Residents who put out leaves that have not yet been collected should not worry, they will be collected on the next go-round. Leaf collection ends on December 15. They have also been busy getting the plows ready for the winter season.
Supervisor’s Update:
A Moody’s review was done on Wednesday, October 27 and the Town’s rating went up by two levels and they received a strong review praising them for responsible fiscal policies.
Tuxedo’s Trunk or Treat took place on Halloween at Powerhouse Park. Supervisor English expressed his gratitude to Claire Dougher for organizing the event, which had roughly 100 people in attendance. A great time was had by all.
On Thursday, November 4 the Town Board held a special meeting with their attorneys to discuss the Related Company’s recent proposal. Updated comments were shared that reflect all the input of the Board and residents. An updated proposal will be presented on Monday, November 22 by Related at GFB High School. The Supervisor is expecting “really positive momentum” from Related in response to all of the input they were given.
An emergency drill meeting took place on November 8 for the purpose of reviewing emergency contacts and procedures. The Town Clerk, Police Chief, Town Supervisor and Highway Superintendent all participated.
Tuxedo Gulf Station was family owned by the Sovaks for over 50 years. Greg and Pete officially retired on September 28, Supervisor English thanked them for their service and wished them well in their retirement.
Joe Dunko recently retired as the Town Mechanic on October 29. He had been employed by the Town since 2008. The Supervisor thanked him for his dedication and hard work.
Town Board Updates:
Councilmember Reichgott reported that the Village of Tuxedo Park would be installing a median in the roadway in front of their Gatehouse. Although the Village owns the land, it is technically in the Town and therefore it was necessary for the Town to grant permission, which they did.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she had begun working on a couple of projects which are ongoing. One of these is the solar roof project at the highway building, which they are hoping to put back out for bid. She spoke with one of the companies who had previously expressed interest in the project (although a formal proposal was never submitted due to a merger at the time of the RFP) and took a look at their proposed financing plan. She also looked into municipal financing for the mid-Hudson region, and discovered A rated municipality 5-year loan is currently going for 1.48%. Based on this, she is thinking that it might be more cost-effective for the Town to finance the project themselves. Councilman Reichgott suggested that they might be able to use some of the federal, Covid-relief money they had received to help finance the project. The Deputy Mayor agreed that this might be a possibility and agreed to look into it further. The other project she has been working on is securing a State Aid to Municipality (or SAM) Grant. The Town got this grant a few years ago in the amount of $75,000 to be put towards payment for two dump trucks, however since they had already begun making payments on the trucks before they were awarded the Grant, they could not use the money. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reached out to see if the grant could be revised and revived and the answer was yes! The Town must now submit a revised estimate for the dump trucks, however if they want, they can also make a request within the State Senate to change the focus of the Grant so that they could apply it towards a different type of vehicle.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum wondered whether they might be able to make a request for more money as the original grant is outdated by 6 years and while they might have been able to get two trucks for $75,000 back then, the cost of just one truck today is $68,000. He wondered if perhaps they could just acquire one truck instead of two.
Following some discussion, the Deputy Supervisor commented that she would reach out to Senator Martucci and get his feedback on what the best way to proceed might be.
Finally, the Climate Smart Task force met with the woman who can help them to get certification through points. The Town can earn points by installing recycling bins in Government Buildings. 12 bins cost $100.
Councilmember May reported that the Town was at reached an impasse of sorts with IWS in regards to glass recycling. The waste management company is looking to charge the Town an extra amount of money to collect glass. In looking at the contract, it appears that they are supposed to take glass and therefore, it doesn’t seem right that the Town should have to pay more. Councilmember May suggested that perhaps they should ask IWS to submit a new proposal and then negotiate. Supervisor English suggested that a persuasive letter from the Town Attorney might be in order. This was discussed.   Secondly, Councilmember May commented that the Town would like to pursue setting up a Zoom Room so that community members can attend meetings remotely. Although there was some concern following a hack in the Village of Tuxedo Park’s Zoom Room, it was ultimately determined that what happened there had to do with a lack of training and proper meeting administration on the Villages’ part. Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum will reach out to the appropriate party to obtain an updated quote. Some money has already been set aside to fund this project.
Councilmember McMillan has been working on the lack of broadband access on Contractors Row. They may have found a remedy for this that involves installing 5G wireless hubs on the polls, however the conversation has been somewhat sidelined until February or March.
The franchise agreement with Optimum was discussed. It was revealed that the North Eastern Hub for Comcast is actually located in the building on Park Avenue, across from Chase Bank, although Tuxedo is not able to access Comcast service. Residents in Tuxedo continue to complain about broadband service, which has degraded horribly over the years. Councilmember McMillan attempted to address this with Optimum but they were not receptive to the idea of investing in upgraded infrastructure. He suggested that it might be time for the Town to push back against Optimum and open conversations with Comcast. The 10-year agreement is coming up for renegotiation in the next year or so.
Other Business:
Highway superintendent Dollbaum noted that the Live Work and Play sign north of Town had been damaged when a vehicle crashed into it. Not only has the sign itself been damaged but so have the clamps that hold the sign in place. The idea of replacing the sign vs. fixing it was discussed. The cost of a new sign would be $800. It was agreed that they would determine exactly what was needed and decide how to proceed from there.
Public Comments:
Jerry Mattola wondered whether the recently installed radar signs had produced any solid data that could be used to slow drivers down.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum responded that data was being produced on a daily basis but they needed some help from the provider in terms of how to retrieve it before they could in turn share it with the Board and the Community.

The Town Board met on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 6:30 pm. All members were present.

The meeting began with a Public Hearing on the Preservation of the Fire District:
Town Attorney Howard Protter first explained that since the Town had officially become a Town-Village, it was necessary to legally state that the Fire District would not be affected and that it would remain the same. There were no public comments and the Board subsequently adopted the law unanimously.

Presentation:
Sean Hoffman from Town Engineers H2M, provided an update on the sewer plant. He explained that the DEC had inspected the existing plant, which is over 70 years old and at the end of its useful life, in March and then again in July. In March, the plant had been given a marginal grading but in July it was found to be unsatisfactory. The plant is scheduled for another inspection in December. Related companies has constructed a new plant on the property directly adjacent and it is 95% complete. At this point, all that remains to be done is to the connect the pipes.
Supervisor English elaborated on Mr. Hoffman’s presentation, using the presentation diagrams to point out/highlight various areas of the crumbling plant, pointing to specific areas of deterioration and decay and stressing the importance of bringing the new plant on line as soon as possible. The existing plant serves 260 homes located in the Hamlet, East Village and Tuxedo Park and it should it fail for whatever reason, these properties would likely be in some serious trouble.

Discussion:
Tuxedo Farms – Follow up on comments/questions from the public. There was an opening statement from Supervisor English followed by individual statements from each of the Board members. In response, one of Relateds’ Executive Vice Presidents gave a presentation.
To listen to a recording of this portion of the meeting, click here.
*As soon as it is made available to the Public, TPFYI will share a copy of the Related Presentation.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was finishing up with patching the roads and would begin picking up leaves on Monday, October 18. This will continue until December 15 after which the leaves will have to be bagged. The Department has recently filled the bins at Quarry Field with fresh mulch. The Superintendent recently spoke with a contractor who informed him that they would be milling Route 17 from Hillburn to the Tuxedo line. Once the milling has been completed, they will repave the whole thing! There IS an end in sight to the project!!!
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that beginning on October 24, the National Suicide Hotline would be going to an abbreviated number…988. Early voting will begin in Orange County on October 23. polling information has been posted to Town website. Hunting Season has officially begun and hunters must register for permits. Lastly, Mrs. Dollbaum reported that she had recently passed her notary exam and as such would be available for that service moving forward.

Minutes - the minutes of the September 27 meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments:
Greg Beard cautioned the Board not to rush their negotiations with Related. He suggested that while the fact that Related is a billion dollar developer with some well-known and wonderful projects is a comforting one, the Town should remember that this meant that they were also billion dollar negotiators. He urged the Board to hire advisors, in particular one who could help them through the negotiations. He believes that the review should have a measured pace and not be rushed.

The Town Board met on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Councilperson McMillen was absent.

The meeting began with a swearing in ceremony for the Town’s newest police officer, Tuxedo resident Alexandra Gundermann. She was sworn in by Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum with a welcoming ceremony from Lieutenant John Norton, Sergeant Douglas Russell, Detective Stefan Christian and Police Officer Will Hall.

Next on the agenda was a presentation from the Related Company on their plans for the Tuxedo Farms development. Greg Gushee, Executive Vice President of Related and Paul Molana from Hart Howden (architects and planners for the project) delivered the presentation. To see a copy of what they presented, click here. Additionally, Related (through their attorneys) sent a letter to the Town Board, which they received earlier that day, stating that they would be applying for an amendment to the Special Permit to the property. Among other things, proposed changes would increase the potential unit count from 1,200 to 2,000. To see a copy of the letter, click here.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that this would be the last week for patching the roads in Town. The Department is getting their trucks ready for leaf collection which will take place from October 15 to December 15 weather permitting. After that, any leaves need to be bagged. The Town website has more details about collection (what is allowed, sizes, etc.)
The Department will also be doing their final roadside grass cutting in the coming week. Finally, he reported that 4 loads of material from the former mulch pile had been removed recently.
A resident from Benjamin Meadow Rd. said she’d recently seen a number of round holes in the middle of the road and wondered if anyone knew what they were or what was causing them. The general consensus seemed to be that they may have been caused by the number of trucks and tractor trailers which are now speeding up Benjamin Meadow and Brammertown Roads despite signage indicating that they aren’t allowed on those roads.
Supervisor English responded that traffic enforcement by the police department seems to be lacking and he is very unhappy about this. The regular police report listed 98 traffic citations and 94 of those were filed by one policeman (a part time officer). Bill Lemanski remarked that he thought at least some of the traffic on these roads during the Renaissnce Faire was due to a navigation application for phones called Waze. If it looks like there is traffic on 17A, the app will reroute people via Benjamin Meadow and Brammertown. He suggested putting a policeman a few hundred yards down Benjamin Meadow Rd and pulling over the trucks and speeding cars and issuing them tickets!
Supervisor English suggested that the Town could ask the Renaissance Faire to sell dated tickets and to put a quota put on how many they could sell per day. As of now, one can buy a ticket and use it any day of their choosing.
Speaking for a number of residents, (Pat Barone, Bill Lemanski, John Dunne, Diane Laxman and Pam White) Mary Hanson said that she had tried emailing the Chief of Police about this issue but he never answered her. When she called the Police Station to ask where he was she was told “we don’t know.” Mrs. Hanson emphasized the importance of this safety issue further indicating that she was afraid someone would get hurt or killed by the speeding cars and trucks. She feels the Town Board is to blame because they allow the Renaissance Faire to sell the open ended tickets and they don’t charge the Faire any money to operate. The Faire parking lots are full and closed by 2 or 3 every day and after which people try to park anywhere they can find.
Supervisor English reiterated that police enforcement has become a real
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the 2022 Preliminary Budget for the Fire District had been submitted. A public hearing will take place on October 19 at 7:30 pm. She has also been working with Brian Sullivan to get the Preliminary Town Budget ready. It is due on October 5. Lastly, she announced that early voting would start on October 23. There are 7 locations in Orange County. Warwick is the closest location to Tuxedo.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum added to his report that he had met with the water filtration people who told him that the water would need to be tested. He is moving ahead with this because he can’t get a price on a new filtration system without the test results. problem and he assured everyone that he was doing everything he could to change this.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she had been working on the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) and exploring what the Town could spend this funding on. In researching what other towns are doing she discovered that many of them have been setting up vaccine sites in their fire houses. Subsequently, she spoke to John Kilduff about doing this at the Ambulance Corps. She has also seen money available for electric vehicle charging stations so she is looking into that as well.
Councilmember May noted that there is a cemetery in Southfields (next to the Carlyn Building) for the Revolutionary War. It is in very bad shape and she wondered if there might be money available to clean it up. Rob Dollbaum added that there was also one across from the Arden Road that could use some work.

Minutes – The minutes for the regular meeting on 9/13 were unanimously approved.

The Town Board met on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 7 pm, via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor English opened the meeting by announcing that he had tested positive for Covid the week prior and had been under quarantine. There was at least one other Town Hall employee who also tested positive. This was the reason that the announced public hearing on Fire District Preservation has been rescheduled for the next Town Board meeting. The Supervisor added that he had been taken off of quarantine as of that day, but because he still wasn’t feeling very well, he had asked Deputy Supervisor Lindsay to run the meeting.

Department Updates:
Police Department - Chief Abbott reported that the department is currently testing out various body cameras since these were a topic of interest in the police reinvention committee talks. He then showed some footage of 3 police officers rescuing a dog stuck under a log in a river. Lastly. he reported that he had been meeting with the Supervisor about the budget and setting goals for next year.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum – reporting that the State would be visiting to look at the Town Hall roof on Wednesday Sepember 15. The bid opening for the project will will take place on Tuesday September 28. Next she stated that the zoning code amendments had been sent to the Orange County Planning Department. If they have comments, the Town should hear by the end of September. Finally, she reported having had meetings with 2 different companies that offer credit card, debit card and e check payment services. There would be no cost to the Town as the associated fees would be fully absorbed by the customer. This system could work for tax collection!
Frank Peverly – noted that things were quiet at the Zoning Board. They are waiting on the completed environmental assessment on the Gulf Station and then that will come before the Board.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay commented that her only update pertained to the Town Hall roof, as previously reported by Mrs. Dollbaum.
Councilmember May said she had met with Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum and Jay Reichgott about putting together a list of projects for the Covid recovery money. So far, they are looking at the zoom room and water filtration for the highway department, where the water is extremely hard. They are also looking into solar car chargers.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that the Town was in receipt of the results of the latest DEC inspection of the Hamlet sewer plant. They are back down to rating us as unsatisfactory. The Town will need to pass a sewer law.
Councilmember McMillen commented he had nothing significant to report,
Supervisor English reported that the Town continues to pressure Related for a date to turn on the new sewer plant. They still plan to do this in December. Greg Gushee of Related wants to do a presentation at the next Town Board meeting regarding the revised special permit for the project. Lastly, he announced that Family Fun Day has been postponed indefinitely due to recent increases in Covid cases.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that the DOT and the MTA would be coming out shortly with plans for the East Village grade crossing. Next he noted that the Town had fared very well in the recent flooding. His department is working on road patching and is beginning to prepare for leaf season and snow. GPS has now been installed on all Town owned vehicles. There is much interest in the dirt that the department has been working on from the old mulch pile, but final approval needs to come from the DEC. And finally, there is still mulch and compost available at Quarry Field.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David reported that during the recent storms her basement had flooded and further noted that the river had come up and gone down very fast. She is suggesting that the Town set up some kind of alert system before storms for people who live along the river. She would also like to see 24-hour police protection during that time. She was told that the Town already has the Nixle alert system and she was urged to sign up for that service.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 23, 2021 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

An Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel was held just prior to the meeting.

The first item of business was a continuation of the Public Hearing on the Zoning Code Amendments:
The only comment came in the form of a question from Michael Squillini who wanted to know what was happening with the Board of Architectural Review which he had heard had been dismantled. Town Attorney Howard Protter explained to him that the requirement for a project to undergo architectural review has not been discontinued, but the Planning Board serves in this capacity. There was no further discussion and Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum stated that she had not received any written comments either. The Board thus voted unanimously to close the public hearing.

Presentation:
Shane Smith from the Highway Department was tasked with creating a long term maintenance plan for the Town roads. Using a program called Cornell Local Roads, he developed a 6-year plan. Click here to view.

1995 International dump truck $4000
2000 International dump truck. $8600
2006 Chevy Silverado $1225

Department Updates:
Superintendent of Highway Dollbaum reported that his department is continuing to work on patching the roadways. They are also separating rocks from the mulch pile and will be doing dirt testing shortly. He thanked Shane Smith for his hard work on the road study.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum stated that she has been working on the commuter parking lot. There is a new system of paying for parking spaces, which will be clearly explained with signage. Payment can now be made by phone or text. No sign up or advanced account is necessary. Michael Cardona, the new Dog Control Officer, will also be in charge of parking enforcement. Lastly, Clerk Dollbaum has been in touch with Zoom to investigate setting up the same system that the Village of Tuxedo Park is in the process of installing for remote meetings. The Board can expect a presentation on this in the near future.
Police Department – There was no representative present but their report was submitted. The Board commented that there had been one officer who had written 84 out of the 89 total traffic citations for the entire department. The Board resolved to speak to the Chief about this as this has apparently been the case with some regularity for a while. They also discussed setting up a system for monitoring the police vehicles so that they can plan more effectively for replacements.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Councilmember May has been studying the Town’s Covid expenses. She is actively working on a plan for the funding that has been awarded to the Town for this purpose. Rules and regulations for this have just come out.
Supervisor English reported the following:

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that Engineer Al Fusco has indicated that the RFP for the Town Hall roof project will be ready next week. This project will be partially paid for by a grant that former State Senator Jen Metzger got for the Town.
Councilmember Reichgott congratulated town resident firefighters Chris Kasker and Chris Nunez who recently passed their firefighter lung certification. This represents 130 hours of work before certification.
Councilmember David McMillen reported that he had been working on the internet/phone service for Contractor’s Rd. It looks like this area will be made part of a 5G project which is being scheduled for November.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola commented that once again over the weekend, traffic had been backed up to the Gulf Station because of the Sloatsburg roads project. He requested that the Board ask either Karl Brabenec or Mike Martucci, along with a representative of the State DOT to come to a future Town Board meeting so that they could further discuss the issue with the Board and the people of Tuxedo.
Mike Squillini inquired about a possible thruway exit/entrance at Route 210. He was told that because PIPC now owns and controls that property, this would likely never happen.
Irene Denero expressed her dismay that the police do not seem to be issuing traffic citations. Additionally, she noted that she had been a member of the Police Reinvention Committee and that group had recommended to the Tuxedo Police that they submit their blotter to the Photo News the way they used to, but to date it has not happened.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 9, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Councilmember McMillen was absent.

The hearing began with a presentation by Town Planner, Bonnie Franson. She provided a brief history of the project followed by a recounting of the highlights of the proposed amendments. To see a copy of Ms. Franson’s presentation, click here.

Hank Salzer of Southfields expressed confusion as his property is listed as residential but the map shows it as commercial.
Robert Dollbaum also had some questions as to how his property in Southfields is going to be classified.
Ms. Franson said she would check.
Daniel Kraushaar, attorney for the owner of property at 655 Sterling Mine Rd., suggested that a municipality’s comprehensive plan is the overarching policy statement and the zoning law is just meant to implement that plan. He further noted that he had not heard anything about updating the comprehensive plan.
Town Attorney Howard Protter responded that the proposed changes were being made to implement the existing comprehensive plan, which was adopted in 2018.
Former Town Board member Francine Rauch thanked the Board for their all of the time and effort they had put into this plan, further commenting that she knew from experience how hard this kind of work could be.

Hank Salzer then spoke about the recent change to Sloatsburg’s traffic pattern and renewed conversations about the possibility of a Thruway Exit 15B. He wondered whether Sloatsburg knew something that Tuxedo didn’t.
He was told that these subjects were not a part of the discussion about the zoning amendments.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Mary Graetzer suggested that the Board consider putting signs up during the Renaissance Faire and apple picking season which would reroute traffic from Route 17 going North up Sterling Mine Road to Long Meadow Rd and then over to 210 where they could continue on to the Faire or apple picking sites. She said she feared that otherwise there would be a traffic disaster due to the combination of the contiunted construction going on in Sloatsburg and the new traffic pattern on Route 17.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum commented that rocks, dirt, compost and mulch are still available at Quarry Field for residents. The department and concluding with chip sealing and will begin road patching and this week. They will also be repairing catch basins. The Watchtower has completed their month’s work on the rock pile and they have done a good job. The department will be working toward some kind of approval from the DEC in an attempt to move forward.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that there has been an increase in commuter parking permits as people are starting to go back to work in the city. Also, the current zoning map has been uploaded to the Town website. She is looking into ways for the Town to accept credit cards for payment. Additionally, she is in receipt of the hard copy of the 2020 audit from Arias Cooper (Town accountants). Finally, she reported that she had hand delivered to Goshen the documents pertaining to opting out of cannabis for the ballot referendum along with the information for the vote on the Library budget.

Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that the Watchtower organization has completed their one month service project at the Highway Department site. He reiterated that the Tuxedo Farms LDC held a meeting on July 22 at which Dillon Norris of Related presented a schedule for completed the construction of the wastewater treatment plant. He also stated that the police reform initiative report had been submitted to New York State and the Town Board will continue to review the report and look for ways to implement the recommendations provided. Next he said that the Board ehas hired East Village resident Michael Cardona as Tuxedo Dog Control Officer. His training has been completed. He also reported that the hiring process for a full time Police Officer is in the final stages. They are currently waiting for the final report of the medical exam and then will be completing the hiring and will make an announcement. As far as Recreation and Events in the Town go, he said this is the last week of a very successful Tuxedo Day Camp and thanked Claire Dougher and her staff for jaking thius possible. Finally, he reported that the NY/NJ Trail Conference had held a charity/fund raising event on July 31st where about 150 runners ran a mile course through Harriman State Park. The event was staged in Powerhouse Park.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has finally received word that the $100,000 grant from former State Senator Jen Metzger has been processed and the Town will be receiving the funds. They will be using some of the funding to repair the Town Hall roof and she and Councilmember May will be attending a webinar about other possible allowable expenditures.
Councilmember May has been looking into the glass recycling. She is pursuing the idea of putting dumpsters at Quarry Field as well as in the parking lot across from the Fire Station in Eagle Valley. Residents wanting to recycle glass will then be able to deliver it to either of these sites. IWS will pick the glass up from there.

Public Comments:
Mary Graetzer noted that in the past, paper agendas were always available for attendees at the back of the meeting room and suggested that as in person meetings were resuming, it would be a good idea to start this up again. The Supervisor agreed.

The Town Board met on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Councilmember McMillen was absent.

The Town Board would like for the residents to make the decision
about what degree of cannabis is allowed in Town. The way to do that is to put the question on the ballot as a referendum in November. The public hearing is the first step for doing that.
Rachel Bruess representing the Democrats of Orange County was the first speaker. She is in favor of opting in to both the dispensaries and the consumption establishments because she believes that the Town should be able to share in the economic benefits that will come from legalizing cannabis. If the Town opts out, they will not receive anything from sales, but if they opt in, they can get 3% of the sales. She said she had visited a dispensary in Great Barrington, MA and was impressed with how clean and well run it was. Hank Selzer stated that if a municipality opts out now, they can opt in later, but not vice versa. He doesn’t feel that Tuxedo is a good place for a “night club” or cannabis consumption establishment and he urged the Board to opt out of those and wait to see what happens in other municipalities.
Gonul Kamfoi feels that the Town should definitely opt out of consumption establishments but opt in to a retail outlet.
Gary Heavner spoke in favor of the Town opting out of both the dispensaries and the consumption establishments. He said he had been dealing with the affects of cannabis consumption professionally for years and as such doesn’t want to see it in this Town. He recommends people should research the state of Colorado and see what happened there when they legalized cannabis. Colorado was promised that a lot of good things would come with the legalization but in fact, across the boards it has been a disaster and they have seen an increase in crime and not much economic benefit.
Jerry Mottola feels there is no good benefit for the Town and hopes the Board will decide to opt out of all options.
Irene DeNaro would like to see the Town leave their options open for retail but doesn’t think the consumption sounds like a good deal for the Town.
After some discussion among the members, the Board decided to put forth a resolution to opt out of consumption establishments but not retail establishments. It was passed 3-1 with Supervisor English voting no.
2-Police Reform Reinvention Draft Report-As required by Governor Cuomo, the Town appointed a committee to conduct a study of the Tuxedo Police Department and their policies. The committee has submitted this report to the Town Board and the Board needs to accept the report and then send it back to the Governor.
Gary Heavner was a member of the committee. He stated that he felt it was good for the community to learn what the police do and don’t do.
Police Chief Abbot stated that he had been a part of the committee but was not in charge of it. He added that his department was already implementing many of the suggestions that have come out of the report.
Sue Scher, also a member of the committee, said it was a goal of the entire Town to have better policing.
After the public hearing was closed, the Board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution accepting the report and it will be filed with the State.

Department Updates:
Police Department –
Police Chief Abbott reported that Police Officer Hall had a save when he administered two doses of NARCAN to a resident who had overdosed. The subject was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital and survived. The Chief also reported that the department had recently received the sexual harassment prevention and NYS De-escalation training as well as their annual firearms training.
Supervisor English read into the record a letter he received praising Officer Shiloh for his help in a mental health incident.
Highway Department:
Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department is about to start patching and culvert repairs. He also commented that the Watchtower volunteers are moving along nicely with screening the material from the old mulch pile. Finally, he said, as per usual, mulch, compost and stones are available for residents in the bins in the Quarry Field parking lot.
Town Clerk:
Marisa Dollbaum stated that the repairs have been completed on the ramp in the back of the Town Hall building (leading up to the Community Room). These repairs were all funded by a grant. She also commented that there were volunteer opportunities at the pollinator meadow.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English reported that there had been a Fishing Derby on July 17 which was attended by 20 kids. The Watchtower supplied breakfast as well as a hot dog lunch. Camp is continuing to go well. With regard to the recent LDC meeting on July 22, the Supervisor reported that Dylan Norris of Related had provided an update on the progress at the new sewer plant and said that the projected date for opening would be in early December. Lastly, the Supervisor noted that the Town is working on hiring a full time officer for the police department and that there is a female candidate currently in the final stages of review.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that she has been working on the Climate Smart Community certification process. She will be looking to get points for informational seminars that have been presented as well as for the solar roof on the highway department and compost bins that the Town sold to residents.
Councilmember May has been looking into a solution for residents to recycle glass as IWS will no longer accept it. After a conversation with IWS, it was decided to locate 2 cubic yard bins at the firehouse in Town and also in Eagle Valley. Henceforth, residents can take their glass to either place for disposal.
Councilmember Reichgott noted that he has been preparing for the upcoming Public Hearing on Zoning Changes, which will take place on August 9.

Public Comments:
Sue Scher made a plea for the Board to hold future meetings both in person and via WebEx (or possibly some other platform) giving people the option to attend virtually. The Board stated that they agreed with this and were currently working on it. She also commented that twice recently during storms massive trees went down across wires and, as a result, the residents of her neighborhood, Clinton Woods, had no way of getting out because there is no emergency access. They are surrounded by Sterling Forest State Park and understand that negotiations with the Park would be necessary in order to implement an emergency access/egress. She requested that the Town start those negotiations.
Jerry Mottola wondered where in Town was there a location for a potential cannabis retail shop that wasn’t either within 200 ft of a church or 500 ft. from the school? Additionally, he reported that recently the southbound traffic on Route 17 has been backed up to the Gulf Station because of the construction in Sloatsburg. He requested that the Town get a Department Of Transportation spokesman to appear at an upcoming meeting to answer to the residents about the impacts this project will have on Town of Tuxedo residents.
Gary Heavner stated that the people who run the Tuxedo Park Library are doing a great job and that this institution is one of the reasons why he is glad that he moved to Town.

Below please find notice for two Public Hearings scheduled for Monday, July 26th at 7:00pm. The regular bi-monthly Town Board meeting will follow immediately after.

The Town Board met in person at 6:30 pm on Monday, July 12, 2021. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay attended via WebEx. All other members were present.

The Board began the meeting with an Executive Session regarding employment history pursuant to Public Officers Law 105. Afterward, the first item on the agenda was a zoning presentation given by Councilmember Reichgott outlining the proposed revisions to the Town’s zoning code, which have been in development for years. Tuxedo’s master plan was originally adopted in 1972 and the zoning code was then adopted in 1975. The Master Plan was subsequently revised and adopted in 2018. The draft law currently under consideration will reflect what is in revised Master Plan. Councilmember Reichgott pointed out that in reviewing the proposed legislation, it is important to first study the map at the end of the document in order to understand where the individual zones are before moving on to the use tables, which explain what is and is not permitted in each individual zone. To view a copy of the proposed zoning law, click here. A copy can also be found on the Town website.
The public hearing will start on August 9 at the regular Town Board meeting.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that chip sealing of the roads had been completed and that all catch basins in Town have been cleaned. His department is working on a road survey for the whole Town, compiling a 5-year plan for road work. They will also be cutting and trimming on the sides of roads. Patching and repair of roads will begin in 2 weeks.

Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the ramp leading up to the door outside the community room will be closed for approximately 2 weeks while it is repaired. This work will mark the end of the ADA project at Town Hall.

Town Board Update:
Councilmember May reported that an application for the Opt-In Recovery Act has been submitted. Some things the money could be used for would be sewer, water, infrastructure and mental health initiatives.

Minutes:
The minutes for the Town Board meeting on June 28 were unanimously approved.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola commented that because of the road construction on Route 17, cars are “flying into Town” and speeding through the Hamlet. He wondered if the Town could install one of the signs that register the speeds that people are going. It was pointed out that those signs cost approximately $4000. Many people agreed that the speeding is a problem. Mary Graetzer wondered if there was any legitimate reason why the police were no longer enforcing our speed limits.
Dale Mottola wondered where exactly people would be allowed to smoke cannabis. She was told it would be allowed anywhere one is allowed to smoke cigarettes.
There was a discussion, with no resolution, about what residents could do since the garbage company will no longer recycle glass.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 28, 2021 at 7:00 pm both in person in Town Hall and via WebEx. Councilmember McMillen was absent.

Public Hearing – Moratorium on Development Approvals:
It was explained that the Board is in the process of revising the zoning laws to correspond with the new Master Plan. They are almost done and hope to present the plan at a Town Board meeting in the near future. In the meantime, any proposals for building or development will need to be checked in order to make sure that they conform to both the present and future zoning codes.
The public hearing was closed and the Board unanimously passed a motion extending the moratorium.

Presentation:
Town Attorney Marissa Weiss presented information on the pending Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.

To see a PowerPoint presentation of her talk, click here.
Municipalities can pass a law to opt out of either retail dispensaries or “on premise consumption sites” or both but the legislation to do so must be passed by December 31, 2021. After that date, there will be no opting out. A municipality can, however, always opt in. Municipalities will only share in the tax revenue if they have opted in.

Following the presentation, the Board passed a motion asking Town Attorney Weiss to draft an opt out law for them to consider at their next meeting.

Department Head Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department is almost finished their chip sealing work and has moved on to cleaning catch basins. There is mulch, leaf compost and chipstone available to residents at Quarry Field. He also commented that screening on the dirt pile is about to resume with the help of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Police Chief Abbott began his report by stating that the Police Reinvention Committee will meet on June 29 at the Eagle Valley Firehouse to give a presentation of their report. A video of the meeting will be available via the Town’s You Tube Channel the next day. The Chief also reported that since covid restrictions have been lifted, the police have been doing a lot of training. Thus far, they have completed the annual firearms training, de-escalation training from Orange County and NYS sexual harassment training (provided by Supervisor English).
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that Town Hall will be closed on Monday July 5th in observance of Independence Day. She is in communication with the garbage company to check their schedule for that week and will communicate that via her email list as well as posting on the Town website. Finally she announced that the Tuxedo Silver Dollars will be holding their annual Barbeque at Murphy Field on July 27.

Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English began his report by announcing the death of retired Police Chief Patrick Welsh. He expressed his condolences to Chief Welsh’s family and friends. Next, he gave an account of the recent meeting of the Town’s Sewer LDC at which he spoke about the need to replace the Town’s aging sewer plant with the new plant built by Related which is intended to service Tuxedo Farms as well as the Hamlet area of Town. He introduced Related Executive Vice President Gregory Gushee who is now overseeing the Tuxedo Farms project. He stated that Related will work with the Town to finish the connection to the new sewage treatment plant. He further stated that it is Related’s intention to complete the work and get the plant activated this year. On June 25, the Supervisor toured the new plant with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum, Town Engineer Sean Hoffman and 3 representatives of the NYC Comptroller’s Office as well as Gregory Gushee and Henry Haeffner from Related. Finally, Supervisor English announced that the Town Board was actively looking for a full-time police officer.
Councilmember May reporrted that she and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay have been looking at the Corona Virus Fiscal Recovery Fund to plan for whatever funds the Town may receive.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that he has been working with Town Planner Bonnie Franson and Town Attorney Howard Protter to finalize the draft of a new zoning law. He hopes to introduce the law at the next Town Board meeting and hold a public hearing at the first meeting in August.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay thanked all who supported the recent Plein Air Event and declared the event a huge success. She announced that July 10 will be the next work day at the pollinator meadow. If anyone is interested in joining the group working on this, they should email tuxedobutterflies@gmail.com.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola asked when the sewer plant would be operational. He was told that there remains 8-10 weeks worth of work to be done and that the hope is that the plant will be open by the end of the year.
Someone in the chat (unidentified) asked if there was any news about the summer camp. Supervisor English responded that the camp has over 50 children registered and will begin on July 7. There is still room for a few more so if anyone is interested, they should contact Claire Dougher right away.
Deirdre Murphy stated that on June 3, the State Highway Department posted a speed limit sign of 55 mph on Long Meadow Road. People in the Woodlands are very upset and feel that it is very hazardous for them turning in and out of the Woodlands. She wonders how they can get the speed limit reduced. The Supervisor said he was working on it. Councilmember Reichgott recommended sending the police out to patrol there on weekends.

Other Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay introduced a motion to send out the RFP for the solar roof on the highway department and it was passed unanimously.
Councilmember Reichgott announced that a joint public hearing with the Village of Tuxedo Park on the proposed annexation of Rattlesnake Mountain into Tuxedo Park is needed. The Board discussed possible dates and came up with July 9 or 23. Councilmember Reichgott will now communicate this to the Village Board.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 7:30 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she had gone back to the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) and received approval to improve the ramp to the back door of Town Hall. She reminded everyone that there will be a public hearing on June 17 (7 pm via WebEx) at which the public can submit ideas for future grants. Because of Tuxedo’s median income, the Town will only qualify for senior citizen improvements from these grants. She also reminded everyone that the Plein Air Events are coming up this weekend. Painting starts on Wednesday and the reception for artists and public will be held at the Train Station on Friday with wine & cheese and catering by Heather Bullard.
Councilmember McMillen commented that he is still working on the lack of commercial broadband on Contractor’s Row. As such Optimum will be in town to take a site survey of the area. They have discussed running lines under the railroad tracks but have suggested that this would be difficult because there aren’t enough customers available to make it financially viable for them. Their parent company, Altice, has developed a new modem which works off of one’s cellular provider. Although this isn’t as fast as people might want, it will be a lot faster than the dial up connections which are all those businesses have had.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department will start chipsealing on Wednesday June 17. Work will start in Eagle Valley and progress over to Clinton Woods. All the roads west of Rte. 17 in the Hamlet will be done. After that work has been completed, patching and repair will start on the other roads in Town. Mulch, compost and stone are available and in the bins at Quarry Field. There is a large pile of stone in the middle of the driveway which is for work on the roads so residents should be careful to only take material from the bins. Work on the mulch pile is progressing.

The Town Board met on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Public Hearings:
The meeting began with two public hearings. The Board is proposing to add categories of fees to the Town Code which will cover what happens if a resident has done construction on his property without applying for or receiving a permit. Town Attorney Howard Protter explained that the purpose of the hearings was to receive public comments regarding the establishment of a schedule of fees as well as civil penalties Once the categories have been added to the code, the Board can set fees by resolution.
The Board in receipt of an email from a resident containing, 3 questions. Town Attorney Protter read the questions into the record and answered them as follows:

A: No one is the sponsor. Laws are made by following municipal home rule law and that does not provide for a sponsor.

A: The law will add some new categories for fees to the code as well as additional categories to the existing list of civil penalties in the code.

A: The as-built penalty does not exist yet but once it has been enacted, the Board hopes that it will be sufficient.
John McNamara commented that it seemed to him as though the Town was making it harder for residents to fix up their houses and he doesn’t feel that this is the appropriate time to be adding new fees.
Councilmember McMillen responded that the law had come into existence because the Building Inspector had brought to the Board’s attention the fact that there were many properties in Town where the property owner had neverapplied for any kind of permit before doing work to their residence or place of business. When these parcels change hands due to a sale, the mortgage company looks for permits for work done. Councilmember Reichgott added that he understands that the Building Inspector has been going out to inspect properties and when he gets there, no one is home or the work isn’t finished and he has to return at another time.
Councilmember McMillan added that the Town is not looking to make additional revenue, but this is cost recovery for work done by the Building Inspector. Mr. McNamara responded that he hoped the Town would give the Building Inspector some discretion to forego the fees when and if an honest mistake has been made and it is obvious that the property owner is trying to do the right thing.
There were no further comments and the public hearings were closed. Both laws (schedule of fees and civil penalties) were then voted on and passed unanimously. The laws can be found on the Town website at: https://www.tuxedogov.org/town-board/pages/proposed-local-laws

Agenda Items:
Surplus Police Department and Highway Department Equipment and vehicles – The police have 3 vehicles and the highway department has a truck, 4 generators and a snow thrower, none of which are in good working order. All of these will be put out to bid. This was passed unanimously.
NY/NJ Trail Conference Race Permit Approval – The NY/NJ Trail conference is seeking permission to hold a trail race on Saturday, July 31. The race would start and end in Powerhouse Park. A large majority of the race will take place in Harriman Park. All entrants will be preregistered. The Board approved the application unanimously.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that there is mulch and compost available at Quarry Field and before long, topsoil will also be available. The highway crew is working on crack sealing in the Hamlet and preparation for the Memorial Day parade. Aside from that, they are maintaining town properties. The department is gearing up for the second round of screening of mulch pile materials starting on June 15.
Lastly, Superintendent Dollbaum noted that Former Highway Superintendent and lifelong Tuxedo resident Charlie Jones had passed away on May 22. Supervisor English led Board in a moment of silence.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum stated that for the Primary Election on June 22, all residents from all election districts will vote in Town Hall. Anyone seeking an absentee ballot can get the application from Town Hall (or the Board of Elections) and then mail it in to the Board of Elections in Goshen,
She also announced that the following week garbage would be collected on a holiday schedule on Tuesday and Friday.

Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English reported that as part of the police reinvention movement, he had attended a meeting at the Emergency Department in Goshen to learn about the bola wrap, which is a non -lethal restraining device for use by police departments. He also reported having had meetings with Planning Board Chair John Banyo about the proposed secondary entrance to the new Watchtower project (mostly in Rockland County but a small portion is in Tuxedo). He then introduced Claire Dougher, newly appointed Recreation Coordinator who gave a brief update on Summer Camp. A successful meeting with prospective parents of campers was held virtually on Wednesday, May 19. Claire has hired Jhanya Squires to be the Recreation Leader and Morgan Honor to be the Health Director. Plans are for the campers to go the Highlands Natural Pool in Ringwood 2 days a week and spend the rest of the time at Murphy Field. The program will run Monday through Thursday beginning on July 7 and ending on August 12 and will include STEAM activities. Claire is currently interviewing counselors and CITs. The target attendance for this summer will be 60 children with a maximum of 70 children. Parents are encouraged to register their children. Registration must be complete by June 11.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reminded everyone about the Plein Air Event which will take place June 16-18. She added that they had been getting a great response from artists. Next, she proposed June 28 at 6 pm for the public hearing on the annexation of Rattlesnake Mountain Preserve into the Town from the Village of Tuxedo Park.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that he has been working with Town Planner Bonny Franson on tweaking the language in the upcoming zoning amendments. He also commented that it’s looking like Verizon is considering siting cell towers along the Thruway rather than in the lot across from the Eagle Valley Firehouse or at Lucky Park.
Councilmember McMillen reported that he had a phone conversation with someone from Optimum about getting broadband/internet service for the properties on Contractor’s Road. Optimum said they had not originally planned service for this area because of the restrictions surrounding the overhead wires over the railroad tracks. However, they have now agreed to look into pneumatic “gophering” underneath the railroad tracks. Councilmember McMillen will continue to pursue this issue with Optimum as he feels it is important for an area of Town that is zoned commercial to have this service available. He would also like to see additional options available for all the residents of Town and will look into it as Comcast already has some infrastructure in place in the building across from the former Chase bank and the franchise agreement with Optimum might be coming up soon!

Public Comments:
Evelyn David commented that she had already heard that the tri-State area is expecting some rather severe storms over the summer and noted that there are some big branches blocking the Ramapo River . She asked if something could be done to remove them. Supervisor English said he would look into this.
Irene DeNaro remarked that it was a pleasure to see the Town Board working hard together instead of against each other.

The Town Board met on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Department Head Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reminded everyone that she and the Tuxedo Park Library are collecting used eyeglasses to be donated to the Lion’s Club. The collection will end on May 18. She also reported having received an application from the NY/NJ Trail Conference for a race to be held on July 30 (set up) and 7/31 (actual race). They have requested permission to use Powerhouse Park where preregistered racers will meet and then start the race which will take place on the trails of Harriman State Park. It would be a non-spectator event.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that mulch, compost and gravel are available for residents in Quarry Field. He advised that the mulch is very hot. The Highway Department has started crack sealing in Eagle Valley. This process will be followed by chip sealing. Once work has been completed in Eagle Valley, the Department will begin working in the downtown area (East Village, the Nursery, Library Road, Store Road, the Circle)
The Superintendent stated that dirt pile remediation will recommence on June 15.

Agenda Items:
1-Approval of Tuxedo Farmer’s Market sign permit – This is an annual request and it was approved unanimously. The first day of the market will be June 12.

Discussion Items:
Proposed new category of fees for Building Department – Town Attorney Howard Protter explained the process. The goal is to add to the Town code an approved list of fees for permits and/or actions taken by the Building Department. The first step is to amend the law to add new categories such as re-inspections (if the Building Inspector has to visit more than once) and permits issued after work has been completed. The second step will be to establish fees. There will be a public hearing on the proposed law at the next Town Board meeting (May 24).
The Board is proposing to add to the fees section of the local law a section on re-inspections which will add fees each time the Building Inspector must visit a site more than once. They are also adding a section on “As Built Permits” which covers the situation when the work has already been completed at the time a permit is applied for. The fees for re-inspections or as builts will be set in a resolution entitled Civil Penalties. The civil penalty fee work completed without a permit will be $500 with no criminality. The fee for an actual as built permit (needed after the fact) will be $1000 for residential properties and $2000 for commercial properties. The application fee for an as built certificate of occupancy will be $500. In addition, the fee for storage tank inspection after the fact will be $500 (both commercial and residential) and the fee for septic tank inspection after the fact will also be $500. Fire inspection fees after the fact will be $1000. The fees will be in addition to what the permit would have cost had it been applied for before construction. The fees will be set by resolution of the Town Board as opposed to a law and cannot be set until after the law is passed.

Tentative Police Contract
Supervisor English announced that he had received a ratified police contract earlier in the day. The union has agreed to a 5 year deal rather than the usual 1 year agreement. The goal for the police is to be able to “bring back the A line (midnight shift) sometime in the near future. In order to afford this, the Town will be treating new hires slightly differently in terms of their benefits. Step increases will go from 6 years to 10 years. Henceforth, medical benefits for retirees will begin after 20 years not 12. These changes will make hiring 2 additional officers possible.
The ratification was approved unanimously.
Proposed Exterior Lighting Local Law discussion was tabled because the law needs further work.

Supervisor Update:
Supervisor English introduced his new Secretary, Loraine (Lori) Cosgrove. She comes from Warwick and was most recently office manager and administrative assistant for the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. Lori started on May 3. Recreation Coordinator, Claire Dougher, also started on May 3.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported on the upcoming Plein Air event noting that they have received registrations from 15 artists and are hoping for 25. Details about the event can be found on the Town website. Presale for compost bins is on-going. The bins are to be picked up on June 12 at the Farmer’s Market when a master farmer from the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be present to talk about how to use them properly.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that the bears are out and they’re hungry! They aren’t particularly afraid of humans unfortunately.
Councilperson May introduced Sue Scher who said that all the subcommittees from the Police Reinvention Committee have met and shared progress and recommendations. They are currently writing up their findings and recommendations. A subgroup will consolidate all this information into a draft report and develop a power point presentation which will presented at a citizen’s meeting. (possibly the 3rd week in June.)

Public Comments:
Evelyn David wondered when the next “climate meeting” would take place. She was told the meeting will be held via WebEx on June 7 at 5:30.

Deputy Supervisor Lindsay then called an Executive Session to receive advice from Counsel. Supervisor English abstained on this motion and the rest of the Board and Attorney Protter went into a break out room. When they came out, they said the session was to discuss “the employment of persons” and they had no action to take.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 26, 2012 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English began by reporting that he has been in communication with various people at the Renaissance Faire. At this time, there is no date set for reopening, but they expect to have a season this year and are keeping an eye on what is happening with Covid restrictions and regulations in New York state. Moving on to the Recreation Coordinator search, the Supervisor reported that the Town Board had unanimously decided to nominate Tuxedo resident Claire Dougher for this position. As such, her name and application have been submitted to the Orange County Human Resources Department and Civil Service. The Town has not received a decision from either of these departments yet, but they expect to do so very soon. The Supervisor has also been checking in with consultant HES who is working on an analysis at the Highway Department property but to date, a report has not been issued. Additionally, the Supervisor spoke with Assessor Jim Davies to see whether he had heard anything about the Beckman Associates report on the assessment of parklands which was sent to the State, but nothing has been received as yet. The Supervisor regards this as a good sign.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported on Earth Day activities and in particular the webinar organized by the Climate Smart Community Task Force and given by Marisa Kellerhouse from garbage contractor IWS. The biggest take away from the presentation was that just because something is recyclable doesn’t mean that our service will take it away and recycle it. In particular, residents should NOT put glass in their recycle bins or everything will end up in the landfill at a higher cost to the Town. This coming Wednesday, April 28, at 7pm there will be a second webinar presentation on climate science and solutions. Additionally, on the first day of the Farmer’s Market (June12), the Task Force will be offering preorders of composter bins and water barrels for home gardening usage. A Master Gardener from the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be present to educate people about the correct way to use them. The Climate Smart committee is working toward climate smart certification for the Town. Some of the projects to accomplish this will include benchmarking the Town’s greenhouse gas emissions, LED streetlight conversion, solar roof on the highway department, community choice aggregation, community solar and a natural resource inventory (already completed as part of the Comprehensive Plan). The Deputy Supervisor reminded everyone about the Plein Air Event which will take place at the Train Station from June 18 to June 20. In closing she turned to the issue of the summer camp, commenting “I urge residents to learn the facts about how hard we are working to bring the summer camp and rather than falling for misinformation that’s being spread, I just wish they would come to the Town Board meetings, hear what we have to do, how hard we’re working and it’s not something to sow division in the Town over…a summer camp for our children.”
On the topic of Earth Day, Councilmember McMillen commented that, he has been very distressed about the amount of garbage along the Route 17 corridor. He organized some of his friends and they picked up over 45 bags worth of garbage but there is still a lot remaining including a broken down billboard which still sits on the side of the road! He added that he understands the Town used to organize a community cleanup event, which probably isn’t possible due to Covid but wishes something could be done. He feels that the State DOT should bear some responsibility for this but recognizes that no one has had much luck obtaining help from them. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay commented that personnel at the DOT seemed to change somewhat frequently and perhaps it was time to try to talk to them again. Councilmember May said she had recently spoken to someone there in regard to Route 17 construction who had been very helpful and she offered to give Councilmember McMillen his contact information. Supervisor English interjected that he had a complaint from a resident at the Promenade about garbage being strewn by bears on the steep hill between their property and the Circle. The Supervisor spoke with someone at the Promenade and discovered that the property belongs to residents below but when he went to check it out, he discovered that staff from the Promenade, recognizing that it was probably largely their garbage had already cleaned it up!
Councilmember May reported that the Police Reinvention Committees are coming to a close. Chairperson Sue Scher said she had sent out a Doodle poll to ascertain everyone’s availability for a final meeting. The four subcommittees will meet together with residents and then the Town Board.

Department Reports:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his crew is set to begin crack sealing and roadwork. They have mulched everything in Town and cleaned up in front of the Train Station. He has been receiving complaints about hikers parking in the East Village, utilizing resident’s driveways or blocking them as well as parking all around the Grove. At the Highway Department, the rock separation which is an ongoing activity, is moving along nicely. Mulch and compost are available at Quarry Field for residents and the Department will continue to fill the bins as they are depleted. (There is no soil being offered at the moment.) Superintendent Dollbaum looked into rehabilitation of the tennis court at Tichy Field and discovered it would be quite expensive. He will pass the quote on to the Board. He reported having quite a surplus of salt after the winter and would like to discuss this with the Board as he will have to put in his order for next year’s salt by the end of the week. Councilmember May wondered if some kind of refuse bins could be placed in Powerhouse Park to collect garbage from hikers returning from the woods. There ensued a discussion about whether or not the Town wanted to have bins which would attract bears and might also be used by people driving up and down Route 17. Former Clerk Donna Matthew pointed out that there were 2 cans in the fisherman’s parking lot and the Board considered the idea of putting more cans at Powerhouse and at trailheads.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the recycling seminar from Earth Day will be posted on the Town’s You Tube channel. She has reached out to IWS about providing stickers for recycling cans.
Additionally, she reported that resources for veterans and seniors have been added to the Town website.
With regard to parking issues in the East Village, Police Lieutenant Norton commented that Grove Drive is the only street that has a parking restriction in the Town Code. Since there is nothing in the code for any other streets, he feels this needs to be addressed. He also reported that the department has lost a patrol car due to a blown engine and that they will be purchasing a new one to replace it via state bids.

There were no discussions listed on the agenda, but Deputy Supervisor Lindsay said that a priority for the next meeting would be setting up projects to be funded by federal covid funds. This will involve finding out what types of projects are permitted and the Deputy Supervisor has discovered that there will be an upcoming webinar from the Association of Towns on 5/19 and 5/20 which addresses exactly this subject.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David wondered if the stickers for recycling cans could be made available at the Library and Post Office as well as Town Hall. She was told the Board would reach out to the Library and Post Office to see if they would be agreeable to having stickers there for residents to pick up.
Rob Dollbaum commented that the properties along Contractor’s Road have never been equipped with cable and that all the businesses there want it so that they can upgrade their internet connections from dial up. Apparently, Cablevision is balking at installing it. Councilmember McMillen volunteered to take this on.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 19, 2021 at 5:00 pm. All members were present.

The first part of the meeting was a workshop on the zoning code. After a short break, the Board moved on to Agenda Items.

Other Business:
Tuxedo Art Event:
The budget for the Plein Air Event now scheduled for June 16-June 20 was presented. Briefly, it was explained that the expenses for this event are estimated to be $5,250. The income will be comprised of money from a grant which the Library got ($1,000), Registration fees from artists (estimated at $500) Sponsorships estimated at $1000, commissions from sale of paintings (estimated at $250). The Town also has access to money from a grant received last year for tourism which was never used. They plan to use $2500 of the $5000 grant total to close the gap between expenses and Income.

The meeting adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss employment practices and compliance.

The Town Board met on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The meeting began with Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announcing the following events which will take place around Earth Day:

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Frank Peverly formally acknowledged retiring Zoning Board member George Langberg and thanked him for his years of service.

Discussion Item:
Town Board priorities for the upcoming year. The Supervisor and Board presented their individual priorities.
Supervisor English stated that his priorities include:
Tuxedo Farms – getting it started
The police contract (which expired in December—due for mediation on
May 11)
The police reform initiative
The sewer plant
Cleaning up the dirt pile at the Highway Garage
Powerhouse Park
Approving the Zoning Code
Reorganization of the Recreation Department
The Highway workers contract
Climate Smart initiatives
Cell Tower placements
Train Station renovations
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that some of her priorities are:
A vision for Tuxedo Development/ Realizing the vision of Tuxedo
Revision of the Zoning Code (including floating zones)
To Support revision of the Tuxedo Farms Special Permit
Tax Revitalization
Bringing the Tuxedo Farms LDC into compliance and figuring out what to do with the money there
The Economic Development Committee
The Plein Air Event in June
Asking the County for more money (another $5,000) to put toward encouraging tourism
Councilmember Reichgott stated that in his opinion completing the zoning code amendments and formally adopting them is the most important task
Councilmember McMillan agreed that the zoning is priority number one.. He added that most of the other things that had been mentioned were important but in his view many of them are static issues. For example, he would love to see Tuxedo Farms get started but there are issues there that are beyond the Town’s control.
Councilmember May stated that she felt the most important issues needing immediate attention are:
The Recreation Department and plans
The Police contract and reinvention
Zoning
Everything else mentioned by the other members of the Board needs attention but is, in her opinion, less immediate. She believes that the climate smart stuff is important because the new federal administration seems ready to invest in infrastructure and she feels the Town needs to be ready to take advantage of that windfall.
Supervisor English summed up the discussion saying that zoning is everyone’s priority. Also, Recreation is a priority because of timing as they are trying to get a summer program going. In addition, the clean up of the Long Meadow Road property needs to be a priority. Bringing the sewer plant on line is also an important goal. The Town has determined that there is no legal reason why this can’t be done by July 1. Getting the Tuxedo Reserve project going is very important. Andrew Dance is leaving Related and the Board is waiting to hear who his replacement will be. They want to work with whoever it is to make things happen.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay commented that she would like to see the upcoming zoning workshop (Monday, April 19) be the last of its kind and hopes they can set a date for a public hearing.
Town Attorney Protter interjected that he will need all of the comments and proposed changes forwarded to him so that he can put together a law for the public hearing. He will need some turnaround time to accomplish this. He asked that the Board forward everything they have currently completed so he can get started on putting the law together.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English reiterated several things that he has been working on mentioning the Recreation reorganization, the Superintendent’s Secretary Search, the LDC meeting, the DEC Long Meadow Road cleanup project, the Sewer Plant, police reinvention and reform initiative and a solar project for the highway garage.
Councilmember May thanked everyone who’s been working on the police reinvention and reform initiative. They are working toward a public report in May. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay agreed saying that the committee she’s been working on is doing great work and they hope to have something to present soon.
Councilmember Reichgott stated that there was nothing new to report on the search for possible cell towers near the Thruway, however another consultant, who is also working with Verizon, is now looking into locating a tower in the Eagle Valley area possibly near the Firehouse.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay made a motion that the Town pay the firm Iclei $300 for the software to help with the climate smart initiative. It will be shared with the Village of Tuxedo Park who is also part of the Climate Smart Committee. It was passed unanimously.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that it is now fishing season and if anyone needs a license, they should come into her office. She also has updated Fishing Guides from the DEC. Additionally, she reported that together with the Tuxedo Park Library, she is collecting old eyeglasses both prescription and non-prescription as well as sunglasses. They will be donated to the Lion’s Club.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola asked about the progress with the Post Office parking lot. He was told that they are still interested but all are waiting until they get the Town Center plans.

The Town Board held a special meeting on Monday, April 5, 2021 art 6:30 pm. All members were present.

The purpose of the meeting was to focus on the steps the Town Board is taking to fill the Recreation Coordinator position and review the research that is being done to prepare a plan for a summer camp.

Supervisor English opened the meeting by stating that the intent of the meeting was to “build background knowledge,” and that it would only last an hour as the Board had scheduled interviews for two potential Recreation Coordinators commencing at 7:30.

The Board was uncertain as to where the summer camp would take place and how many busses would be needed or if the school would be willing to let the Town use their busses. They also did not know what, if any restrictions would be in place for busses or any of the potential trip destinations in terms of Covid. They were also unsure as to whether or not the camp could legally accept campers who don’t reside in Town and/or if they do, whether the fee would be the same for both residents and non-residents. Hopefully, answers to these and many other questions will be forthcoming soon. It was noted that once a Recreation Coordinator had been hired, that person would be responsible for hiring any and all staff. Other staff that they will be looking for include a Recreation Leader, Camp Health Director and Recreation Aids (similar to counselors). Councilmember McMillan commented that he hoped the Board would give great consideration to people who had previously worked at the camp. The Board mentioned they have already had many applications for jobs and Councilmember May added that to date all of them are from people who have formerly worked at the camp.

The meeting was adjourned promptly at 7:30. The interviews were not open to the public and were held in break out rooms.

The Town of Tuxedo is Hiring a Secretary to the Town Supervisor, Ken English

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Produces letters, memos, reports, and other materials, some of which may be confidential;
Serves as a receptionist, handles routine problems, screens and logs calls, receives visitors;
Opens and screens mail; answers mail independently or routes it with background data;
Maintains general and confidential files including personnel records, processes invoices;
Office management, ordering supplies, scheduling minor building repairs, monitoring service contracts;
Alerts Supervisor to statutory deadlines, official commitments, actions promised or expected;
Schedules and organizes arrangements for conferences and meetings;
May supervise assigned clerical personnel.

The position requires independent judgment, initiative and confidentiality. The ideal candidate should have proficiency in typical office suite software (Google suite / Microsoft 365) that includes document processing, and maintenance of social media accounts. Knowledge and experience in Town government is preferred. $32.37 per hour / 30 hours per week (1560 hours annually) for $50,497.20.

Please fill out the application and submit to townclerk@tuxedogov.org or bring to the Town Clerk's office on the 1st floor of Town Hall. The application can be found here.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. Councilmember May was absent.

The meeting began with a short report from Highway Superintendent Dollbaum who said he had heard from the MTA and they are planning to put in a new grade crossing in the East Village next Fall. They are currently aiming for either September 9 or 16. In order to do the work, they will need to shut the road down for one day (a Saturday) and will make “alternate arrangements” for people coming in and out of the East Village.

Agenda Item:
1-Extension of Building Moratorium – this is the 2nd extension of the current moratorium and it is being enacted because the Board is not ready to enact the zoning code changes called for in the current Comprehensive Plan. The extension is for 3 months.
Councilmember McMillen noted that the resolution stated that the original moratorium was for 6 months with 2 options to extend for 3-month periods, which adds up to a year. He wondered how they had been able to maintain it for far longer than that? Town Attorney Howard Protter responded that this wasn’t the first resolution that had been passed pertaining to the moratorium. The current extension was passed last June, but there had been several similar resolutions enacted beforehand. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay further commented that the Board hoped to start public hearings on the zoning code updates soon. The extension was passed unanimously.

The public was then asked for their comments. Sue Scher said she had 3 concerns: 1-she didn’t see any mention of the Recreation Advisory Committee in the plan for a “recreation coordinator.” 2-she feels that a Town Recreation Program needs to include activities for adults and seniors as well as children and she sees no plans for that and 3- she feels that the requirement of a high school diploma or equivalency is not enough to take on the responsibilities that being asked of the Recreation Coordinator.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that he had attended a Clean Energy Climate Smart Task Force meeting as well as an Orange County Task Force meeting and a Clean Energy meeting hosted by Deputy Supervisor Lindsay. He applauded the Deputy Supervisor for doing the work to move forward with these initiatives, which could lead to funding for the Town as well as major cost-saving improvements. He further reported that had attended a press conference and meeting with Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney regarding the American Rescue Plan. He learned that the Town of Tuxedo will receive a total of $391,605 to be shared with the Village of Tuxedo Park. Details on this will be coming soon.
The Town Board had a consultation with Attorney Howard Protter on setting up a discussion with the Related Group, and specifically Andrew Dance, with the intent of reviving the Tuxedo Farms project. It is expected that a major builder for the project will be announced soon.
The DEC has finally given permission to move ahead with the sampling process on the dirt pile at the highway garage.
Next, Supervisor English reminded everyone that the final Police Reinvention meeting would take place on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 via WebEx.
Finally, he announced that the Town needed to have a staff training session for all employees to formalize the procedures and process manuals. This is being scheduled for Friday, April 2 and will be led by Labor Consultant Michael Richardson.
Depupty Supervisor Lindsay reported that the Climate Smart Task Force was sponsoring 3 events in April:

She also updated the Board on the plans for the Plein Air Art and Concert events. They are still working on getting letters out to potential sponsors. She remarked that the June date was dependent on being able to have more than 200 people and since no one knows whether that will be permitted or what the State government will do, there will be a clause in all letters and contracts that lists an alternate date.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum gave an update on Covid vaccinations. These are now being given at SUNY Orange in Middletown as well as the other County sites. Appointments can be booked through the Am I Eligible section on the County website and are readily available. Orange County will also be opening a “Super POD” for vaccines in Goshen and appointments for this new location will also be available on their website. As soon as it is up and running, she will post a link. Finally, she reported that she had been trained in Nixle so there is now another way to consistently get important news to residents.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David got to the meeting late and missed the report of the MTA’s plan to upgrade the railroad crossing in September. Supervisor English gave a recap of what the Board knows so far.
Sue Scher commented that 97 people have answered the survey on the Police Initiative.

Other Business:
Supervisor English reiterated that the meeting for all Town employees to go over and explain the Employees manuals would be held via WebEx at 10 am on Friday, April 2nd. All Town employees, including elected officials are expected to attend.

The Town Board met on Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The Supervisor further noted that as part of the General Town Reorganization, the Town would be returning to a standard work 5-day week (as opposed to the 4 days a week that workers at Town Hall have been working). This is a requirement in order to meet New York State retirement laws. A time clock has been installed in both the Town Hall and Police Department. The Supervisor said that the staff has all been very cooperative.

Supervisor Update:
Supervisor English reported that he had made a site visit to the existing sewer plant with a representative of the DEC. They found that the plant is still meeting the requirements, although it is in bad shape. The LDC continues to meet with Related in an effort to work out a deal that will allow the new plant to open.
Next, the Supervisor reported that the Police Reform Reinvention was working hard under the supervision of Sue Scher, Councilmember May and Hallie Gaines. They have organized into four subcommittees:

If there are any residents who would like to get involved with the initiative, they should contact Sue Scher who will align them with committee of their choice.
Finally, the Supervisor announced that the next meeting of the Tuxedo Farms LDC (oversees the new sewer plant) will take place on March 18 at 10 am.
Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported on the upcoming Tuxedo Art & Music Event being planned by the P.O.R.E. committee for mid-June. There will be sponsorships available and the committee is hoping to run the events with money from these sponsorships and ticket sales and without the use of taxpayer money.
Town Board zoning workshops will be taking place on the first and third Monday of each month. The next one will be on March 15 at 6:30 via WebEx. The goal is to compile all the changes to the Zoning law from the new Comprehensive Plan and then move towards public hearings.
The Deputy Supervisor has also been working hard on the Climate Smart Committee. Some of the things that that committee is working on are Energy Code Enforcement training, a unified solar permit, and bringing Science of Climate Change and Recycling webinars to Tuxedo.
Councilmember May reported as liaison to the Tuxedo Park Library. The Library is working on their strategic plan, They are also developing a community survey.
Councilmember Reichgott stated that he has been in touch with Verizon who is looking for a spot to place a celltower along the Route 17/Thruway corridor. After receiving several inquiries from residents about the possibility of bringing Fios to Town, he discovered that in order for Verizon to offer FIOS, fiber optic cables are required. The Town does not currently have fiber optic cables and Verizon has no immediate plans to install them.

Monthly Reports:
Justice Department reported amounts of $28,910 (Justice McCathern) and $24,612 (Justice Brown) submitted to the Town.
Police Department – Supervisor English read the Police Report, which included several incidences of mental health related issues including a suicide and a disoriented driver. The department also assisted both the New York State Police with a baby who had stopped breathing and the Village of Tuxedo Park Police with a traffic stop. Additionally, there were countless snow storm related incidences.
Planning Board Chairman John Banyo gave a report on the Watchtower application proposed for the south side of Sterling Mine Road. All but 7 acres of this project are in the Town of Ramapo. The Town of Tuxedo Planning Board has been given the opportunity to comment on the application and as such has put concerns (about traffic and noise) into the scoping document for the project.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported on the availability of Covid vaccines.
Building Inspector Dave Maikisch spoke on his recommendations for adjusting the fees on as built permits in Town. This is when work is done without a permit and discovered only when the property changes hands and needs a certificate of occupancy. Town Attorney Howard Protter acknowledged that he had worked on a proposal for this, which has never been acted on. He said he would check his files and report back on this at the next meeting. On another note, Supervisor English reported that the Board is still working on the outdoor lighting issue as well as garbage cans being left out for too long.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola inquired about the consequences of improvements made to property long ago before some permit requirements were part of the law. He was told that if the improvements were made before permits were required, then they would not be considered illegal.
Superintendent of Highways Rob Dollbaum thanked the Board for the new Department employees. They have been busy with tree trimming, which will continue until the end of March when road work will commence. He also reported that good progress is being made on the rock pile at the Highway Department.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor Ken English began the meeting by announcing that on this day, the US had reached the “milestone” of 500,000 deaths from Covid-19. He then paused for a moment of silence in memory of all those who have died from the disease.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Mary Graetzer asked if someone would please identify which parts of the LDC bylaws were being changed or removed. She was told that the Board was not making any changes to the bylaws but that it had been provided just as a courtesy for background information.

Minutes - The minutes for the Town Board meeting of February 8 were accepted unanimously.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English reported that a draft MOU (memorandum of understanding) regarding the Fire Department’s use of Quarry Field for training purposes had been submitted to Gardiner Hempel for review. The next step will be to schedule a meeting with Mr. Hempel and the other Fire Commissioners in order to finalize the details of the MOU.
The Supervisor also announced that the final meeting of the Tuxedo Police Reinvention Committee will be held on Wednesday, February 24 at 7 pm. The meeting will be held via WebEx and interested residents can attend by clicking on the WebEx emoji on the Town website.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has been working on the Climate Smart Community Task Force. The next meeting, held jointly with the Tuxedo Park Climate Smart Committee will be on Monday, March 1 at 5:30 via WebEx. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has identified a webinar which she thinks is interesting and informative called the Sea Change Conversation. Since there is a charge of $300 to set up this webinar, she will be looking to the Village and the Tuxedo Park Library as well as TPS and George F. Baker High School to see if they will cosponsor this event.
She is also looking into recycling and composting with IWS.
Finally, the Deputy Supervisor commented that she was looking for feedback from Town Board members about the proposed Plein Air Event/Concert which had been proposed at the previous Town Board meeting. Supervisor English responded that there was no way to know what would be happening with Covid and the associated restrictions at the time the event has been proposed, although the Plein Air Event should be Covid friendly. As far as concerts are concerned, he feels the main focus should be on entertainment for the residents and not on selling tickets. He thinks we should be looking into what the towns of Monroe and Greenwood Lake do with similar events. Councilmember Reichgott commented that he wasn’t sure about spending Town funds on the event without a more detailed budget. He believes that spending grant money on the event would be acceptable. He also wondered if LDC money might be available. Town Attorney Protter responded that the LDC money was only for improvements to the Hamlet business district. Councilmember May commented that she thought it was fantastic that so many people were willing to work so hard on an event of this kind and that she felt everyone should support them. Councilmember McMillen expressed some concern, further noting that it was hard to successfully run events at Powehouse Park without support of anyone, including the government. He is torn. He agrees with the Supervisor in that the event should be primarily for the residents to enjoy. He also feels that it might be appropriate for the LDC as it would benefit the Hamlet. Councilmember Reichgott reported that consultant HES has put together a work plan for the dirt pile and it has been submitted to the DEC.
He further reported having investigated some of the questions brought forward by concerned residents at the previous meeting regarding the recent water main break. Specifically, residents wanted to know why a boil water order had been issued when there hadn’t been one in previous breaks. He learned that the protocol is quite involved and takes into account many different factors of the break. A boil water order is not always necessary. He further inquired as to whether there were any plans for a complete replacement of the antiquated pipes in the system and was told that, like in most water systems, this was a complicated and very expensive proposition. At this time, the Village Water Company has no plans for replacement, working instead on a-repair-as-required premise as most water companies do. Councilman Reichgott also reiterated that the water company is run by the Village and as such the Town Board has no control over how it is run. Supervisor English added that if water company customers weren’t signed up for Nixle alerts or hadn’t added their email addresses to the Town Clerk’s email list (both available on the Town website) then those customers would not receive alerts. Residents need to sign up for with these services in order to receive notifications.
Councilmember May reported that she had attended two days of the training offered by the Association of Towns. Her focus was on grants. She also gave great thanks to all the members of the Highway Department for the way they handled the recent snow storms.
Councilmember McMillen spoke about Nixle, the emergency alert software utilized by the Town. He put together a video focused on how the software is run and circulated it to all Board members. It is his opinion that the video should also be shared with the Police Department and the Town Clerk. Historically, Councilman McMillan has been the only one with access howeber with the last water main break, he was away for the weekend and thus didn’t get the information, which is why there was no Nixle communication. He also residents to sign up for the alerts which is easy to do on the Town website.
Town Attorney Protter suggested it was probably a good time to revisit the Town’s emergency management plan and to include Nixle in this plan.

Monthly Reports:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that she had been able to attend some of the Association of Towns webinars. The two she found most helpful were for tax collection and records management. She also went through some of the phone numbers for residents to call for information pertaining to Covid vaccines. She provided numbers for both the NYS Vaccine Hotline (833-697-4829) and the Orange County Office of the Aging (845-615-3700).
Police Department – Lt. Norton cautioned residents to drive slowly and with caution during the snowstorms. He volunteered to speak with Orange County 911 about helping with the Nixle alerts.
Building Inspector Maikisch noted that he had received a lot of complaints about outdoor lighting from various neighbors around Town and requested that the Board consider passing legislation regulating these lights. Further, people not bringing their garbage cans in at a reasonable time has also been the subject of many recent complaints. Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was still tree trimming in between snow storms. Additionally, he would like to discuss adding solar to the Highway Garage – something that was approved a few years ago, but the Town had been unable to obtain financing for it. He feels it might be worth trying again.
Councilmember McMillen inquired about plans for a cell tower in Lucky Park. Councilmember Reichgott responded that he has had some contact with Verizon but there are no plans as yet. Verizon would like a site on the Route 17 corridor so Lucky Park looks good to them.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David asked for an update on the emergency plan at the Arden dam. Councilmember Reichgott told her that there is no update as yet, but when there was it would come through the Planning Board.
Elyse Fuller thanked everyone for following up on the water and the associated communications issues. Next, she expressed support for the Recreation Summer Camp. She understands that Shari Brooks is no longer working for the Town but she hopes the Board will fill the position so that the camp can continue.
Jerry Mottola inquired about the Red Apple property and code enforcement. Building Inspector Maikisch responded that it’s a vacant building with a fence around it so it’s not endangering anyone. Councilmember McMillen wondered why the building hadn’t been condemned. He was told that the only thing that might have condemned it was the roof and the owners repaired that. Town Attorney Protter pointed out that property gets condemned when it presents a hazard to the owners or occupants. This property has been secured against that. He added that whether or not it conforms with property maintenance ordinances is something that can be looked into. Councilmember McMillen replied that he felt the condition of the property, while it might be “safe” certainly affected the value of the properties around it. Mr. Protter responded that this was a good point and that he would get together with the Building Inspector in an effort to determine if there was something that could be done. The Supervisor wondered if anyone had tried having a conversation with the property owner, suggesting that he would like to try.

The Town Board met on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

The Board went immediately into an Executive Session with labor consultant Michael Richardson to discuss the police contract. When they returned, Supervisor Ken English outlined the tentative agreement as follows:

The Supervisor explained that they are proposing a “tentative agreement,” which they will be presenting to the public at a later date. Next, it needs to be re-presented to the union after which they hope to have a formal agreement. The Board then voted on a resolution to ratify the tentative agreement and authorize the Supervisor to sign it. It passed unanimously.

Board of Assessment Review – Ed Brennan was reappointed as Chairmen with a term from 10/1/20 – 9/30/25; Michael Witt was appointed with a term from 2/8/21-9/30/24. Additionally, terms for current members Gary Phelps and Marie Warniaha were adjusted to end on 9/30/21.
Zoning Board – Frank Peverly was reappointed as Chairman with a term of 1/1/21-12/31/25; Omar Delgado was appointed as Alternate Member with a term of 2/8/21-12/31/21.
Planning Board – William Friedlich was reappointed with a term of 1/1/21-12/31/25; Ned Kugel was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Mike Reardon with a term of 2/8/21-12/31/21.
New York State Local Retirement System Standard Work Day

Presentations:
Watchtower representative, Ted Hoffman, to propose assistance with dirt pile remediation – The Watchtower is proposing to send people to operate the machinery as it sifts through the dirt pile when this work recommences in the Spring. There was some discussion about the project, largely concerning the equipment which the Town will be providing for the work and the cleaning to be done on it and around the site due to Covid precautions.

“Plein Air” Art and Concert Town Event Information by the P.O.R.E. Committee (Parks, Outdoor Recreation & Events), Deirdre Murphy. This will be a 3-day/2-part event which aims to attract both people and attention to Tuxedo and all it has to offer.
The Art part of this event will be a “Plein Air” event. The Committee will invite 20-30 artists within the Hudson Valley to come and paint at 15-20 designated sites which will be divided between 3 different themes: landscapes, water and architecture. The finished paintings will be exhibited in the train station and will be for sale with a 25% commission on sales going to the Town. The exhibit will be an event with prizes given to the winning artists in the different categories and all paintings for sale.
A music concert at Powerhouse Park will follow on the next day. The concert will feature approximately 5 local bands “with a follo“Plein Air” Art and Concert Town Event Information by the P.O.R.E. Committee (Parks, Outdoor Recreation & Events), Deirdre Murphy. This will be a 3-day/2-part event which aims to attract both people and attention to Tuxedo and all it has to offer.
The Art part of this event will be a “Plein Air” event. The Committee will invite 20-30 artists within the Hudson Valley to come and paint at 15-20 designated sites which will be divided between 3 different themes: landscapes, water and architecture. The finished paintings will be exhibited in the train station and will be for sale with a 25% commission on sales going to the Town. The exhibit will be an event with prizes given to the winning artists in the different categories and all paintings for sale.
A music concert at Powerhouse Park will follow on the next day. The concert will feature approximately 5 local bands “with a following” and a wide variety of food trucks.
The budget for the proposed event is as follows: $22,500 for the music portion of the event and $4000 for the art portion. The income projection for the event is $15,500. The proposal is for the Town to cover any shortfall. Projected dates are either June, 2021 or Labor Day depending on what’s happening with Covid.

Supervisor/Town Board Updates:
Supervisor English began his update by announcing that while working on the Reorganization document for 2021, it had been discovered that it would not be permissible under Civil Service regulations for one person to hold both the Recreation Coordinator and Supervisor’s secretary positions. However, since the Recreation job is mostly seasonal, it would be acceptable to combine that position with some sort of clerical work. The Supervisor offered that position to former Recreation Coodinator/Supervisor’s Secretary Shari Brooks, but she has turned the job down and has subsequently left the employ of the Town. Supervisor English wished her well, further noting that she had done excellent work for the Town in both positions. He added that they had not yet decided how to move forward with these positions. Next, the Supervisor announced that the annual meeting of the Tuxedo Farms LDC (sewer plant) would be held on Wednesday, Feb 17 at 10 am. Lastly, he reported that the next meeting for the police reinvention committee would take place on February 24 at 6:30pm. Notices will be sent out. The final meeting of that committee will be on March 24.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she has been working with Town Attorney Marissa Weiss on the Town Village Consolidation Summary and she feels they are ready to send it to the Town Board members for their review. After the Board has reviewed the document, it will go on the Town website. Additionally, she reported that she had been working on the Climate Smart Community Task Force. Committee meetings via WebEx will commence shortly and will take place on the first Monday of the month at 5:30 pm. The Task Force can earn points via education projects and she has found a presentation on the science of Climate Change which she believes is good. The presenters charge $300 so she is going to reach out to the library and the school and see if anyone wants to share the cost of such an event.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that over the weekend there had been two water main breaks in the line that runs from the Village to the Hamlet. Residents in the Hamlet are currently under a required boil water order, which will remain in place until two clean water samples have been taken. The first test happened on February 8 and the second one is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9. They are hoping to have results back and the boil water order lifted by Wednesday, February 10. On a related matter, the Village communicated that they have been experiencing a huge increase in flow to that line, which suggests a leak somewhere that they have not been able to locate. If anyone sees “unusual water,” please report to either Councilmember Reichgott, Highway Superintendent Dollbaum or John Ledwith in the Village.
Councilmember McMillen noted that the Town has a system that should be used for mass communication of important information such as this called Nixle. Residents can subscribe to it on the Town website. He proposed that they give the Village access/permission to use Nixle in order to better facilitate announcements like this out to the public. The Supervisor said he would look into it.

Monthly Reports:
Claire Squillini, reporting for the Justice Department, noted that they had acquired 4 new computers last month and also that the online credit card payments were going well. The Department will be starting virtual calendars in March.
The Police Dept. did not have anyone on the call but Supervisor English reviewed a few of the details from their submitted report. It was noted that there were more than usual incidents having to do with mental health issues again. This has seemed to be happening more as the period of Covid lengthens. Our police assisted several other departments including Sloatsburg and Warwick.
Highway Dept. - Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department had been working on snow, snow and with more snow and with more in the forecast expected to be doing so for the foreseeable future.
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum commented that she would be more than happy to help anyone get signed up for Nixle. She further stated she had noticed that there were vaccinations available in Westchester and offered any residents assistance in getting signed up.

Public Comments:
Elyse Glover Fuller thanked the Village of Tuxedo Park DPW for taking care of the water main break as quickly as they did and also she thanked Town Clerk Dollbaum for sending out the information about the break and the subsequent boil water advisory. She expressed great displeasure with not having been notified about the boil water advisory via Nixle or reverse 911. She wondered why this particular break resulted in a boil water advisory as she said she’d experienced many breaks but never had to boil water before. She wondered where this issue sat on the Town’s priority list and further suggested that the entire water system needed replacing. Councilmember McMillen explained to her that the water system is owned, operated and maintained by the Village of Tuxedo Park and as such it is not on the Town’s priority list at all. He added that access to Nixle is being expanded so communication should improve.
Dale Mottola wondered what could be done to recycle glass which the Town’s operator no longer accepts. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay replied that she was looking into this and hoped the Climate Smart Initiative would help solve this problem. Also, there were questions about whether or not IWS is actually recycling the items that people put out.
Mrs. Mottola also asked for an update on the turning lane into The Duck Cedar Plaza. She was told that the State DOT is still making excuses and has suggested that the owner of the property needs to pay for any work that is done. The Board has looked to State Senator Martucci’s representative in an effort get this problem solved.

The Town Board met on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay remarked that it had been a busy month of climate smart community initiative webinars which she had attended. The next meeting of the joint Climate Smart committee with the Village will be on Monday, February 1 at 5 :30 pm via WebEx. Instructions on how to join will be posted on the Town website.
Councilmembers McMillen, May and Reichgott all stated they had no reports.
Supervisor English reported that the Tuxedo Farms LDC met on January 21. The main purpose of the meeting was to have a conversation with Andrew Dance of Related Co. The Supervisor observed that they had had a very cordial conversation and that Mr. Dance said there would be a “revised model” for Tuxedo Farms coming in the future. He added that hopefully the Town would also see a path forward to the completion of the Tuxedo wastewater treatment plant. The next meeting of the LDC will be held on February 17 at 10am.
Next, he disclosed that he, Deputy Supervisor Lindsay, along with Town Attorney Howard Protter and Labor Consultant Michael Richardson had been meeting with the PBA in order to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Their next meeting will be on January 26. These meetings are not open to the public but the Supervisor English hopes they can successfully agree on terms.

A discussion on representatives from the Watchtower assisting with dirt pile remediation was tabled.

Presentation:
1-Beckman Appraisals to give update on State Lands. Town Assessor Jim Davies opened the conversation by commenting that the State Lands Study had been completed within the last few weeks and that the numbers were pretty much what he had expected. They will still need to go up to the State Land Unit at the Office of Real Property in Albany to be approved. He then introduced Mr. Beckman to give a brief update. Mr. Beckman began by explaining that Parkland is taxable. Appraisers looked not only at Tuxedo’s Parkland but also that in adjoining Rockland County where they found much higher valuations. They are proposing to raise the assessment by approximately $11,000 per acre. This would generate an additional $200,000 for the Town as well as $420,000 for the Monroe Woodbury School District and $80,000 for the Tuxedo Union Free School District. Beckman Appraisals has moved the assessment from $72 per acre to approximately $11,000 per acre. The Town and School Districts could see this additional money as early as September or October.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Camille O’Brien, who works for State Senator Mike Martucci, introduced herself and said she would be serving as a liaison for the newly elected senator when he was in Albany.

Other Business:
The following business were granted annual towing licenses in the Town:
   Loyal Tire
   Apple Automotives
   NJV Auto
   Harriman Auto
   C.A.R.S.

Department Updates:
Highway Department :
Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was still busy with tree work. They are currently on South Gate Road headed toward Eagle Valley. Next, he reminded everyone that electronic recycling is still going on through the end of the month. They are currently preparing all equipment for snow and have also been working on the rock pile, separating rocks. There will be a bonfire in Powerhouse Park on February 6. The department is also flooding the basketball court at Powerhouse Park for ice skating. Residents will be notified when it is ready.
Building Department:
Building Inspector Maikisch is still working on the cars in Southfields. Two more cars have been removed this week.
Town Clerk:
Regrding availability of the Covid Vaccine, Marisa Dollbaum reported that while one can check to see if they are eligible for the vaccine, there are not many places nearby which have vaccine to give. The closest ones she could find were Potsdam or Plattsburgh, both of which are about 400 miles away!
Police Department:
Lt. Norton recommended checking the NYS Department of Health website. recommended for information on vaccine availability
He cautioned that with a snowstorm approaching, everyone should take care and stay home if at all possible.
Court:
Claire Squillini reported that they had started accepting credit cards online last month and it is going very well.
Public Comments:
Irene Denaro feels that the last couple of Board meeting have brought to like how much has been neglected in the Town for so long. She is grateful to the Supervisor and Town Board for all their hard work to bring the Town up to date.
Evelyn David asked once again about the Arden dam and their emergency plan. It was retierated that the Town has no jurisdiction over this but the Planning Board does.

The primary purpose of this meeting is to host a Local Development Corporation Board conversation with Mr. Andrew Dance, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development, Related Hospitality, to discuss the completion and activation of the new Wastewater Treatment Plant that will serve residents in the Tuxedo Hamlet Sewer District.

The Town Board met on Monday, January 11, 2021 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor English began the meeting with Department Reports. First up was Building Inspector Dave Maikisch who stated that he had been regularly visiting a property in Southfields, which has a number of cars on it. The number of cars has been reduced to 28, down from 44, and all of them are registered. The property owners are working to remove more of the cars. The Building Inspector will check back in two weeks.
Police Department – Chief Abbott reported that Officers Shiloh and Hall had received a letter of commendation from Tuxedo Park Police Chief Dave Conklin. The officers assisted a Tuxedo Park officer who is new on the job with a difficult situation involving a mental health issue. During the course of the hour-long incident, the officers were able to deescalate the situation and transport the person to Nyack Hospital.
Town Clerk– Marisa Dollbaum reported that the 2021 tax bills had all been mailed out. She added that if anyone had not received their bill they could call her office or visit the Town web site where a copy of their bill could be downloaded.
Additionally, she stated that this year all training for Town employees and Board members will take place virtually instead of in person in Albany.
Justice Department – The Town courts are in suspension by Executive order. The courts are now accepting payments by credit card.
Highway Department – Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that the Department is currently focused on tree cutting. They are working their way down South Gate Road to Eagle Valley Road. Next they will head up to Laurel Ridge and Clinton Woods. They are also picking up Christmas trees and will be chipping up brush.

Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English reported that the LDC that is responsible for the sewer plant and sewer district has once again put in a request for a meeting with Related Companies. The next meeting of that LDC will be on February 17. Next, he announced that there would be a meeting of the Police/Town Collaboration committee on January 14 at 5 pm via WebEx. The meeting will be accessible via the Town website. The Supervisor met with Chief Abbott to discuss the agenda for this meeting which will include deescalating situations with cooperation between agencies as well as the benefits of detailed training. The meeting will be followed by an Orange County meeting on the same subject at 6 pm. He also reported that the Town/Village Consolidation had been formally enacted as of January 1, 2021. The Town’s website will soon be updated with all the details of what this means
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay commented that she had been in contact with Town Attorney Marissa Weiss and that they would be meeting to put together the report on the Town Village Consolidation for the website. Additionally, she stated that if anyone was interested in working on the Town’s Climate Smart Community Task Force, they should contact her directly. Meetings are held on first Mondays at 5:30. The Deputy Supervisor has also been working on various Community Development projects. The Parks and Outdoor Recreation Committee (PORE) is working to put together a couple of events for Spring and she is also working with the Real Estate Outreach Group. Anyone who is interested in joining either of these groups should contact her for more information.
Councilmember May acknowledged the “great work” done by Consultant Michael Richardson on updating the employment manuals for the Town.
Councilmember Reichgott stated that he has discerned that the Town has no legal jurisdiction over dams and as such as far as the Arden Dam Emergency Plan is concerned, the Town has no responsibility. He also reported that he had been in touch with Tectonic Engineering who is working with Verizon. They have said they are interested in improving conditions and installing new towers on the Route 17 corridor.
Finally, Supervisor English announced that rents for the businesses on the Town owned Long Meadow Road property (Highway Department) have been increased and should bring in an additional $25,000 in revenue.

2021 Town Reorganization
Supervisor English announced that henceforth the Town Hall will be open 5 days a week, and made the following appointments:

After the presentation, the Supervisor added that both the Town’s Employee Manual which sets out the rights and expectations for each employee and position and the Compensation and Benefits Manual have been rewritten under the direction of Michael Richardson. The Town will be holding a workshop for employees to discuss these manuals as all employees will be required to sign a statement saying they have received them and agree to abide by them. The manuals will be posted on the Town website.

Public Comments:
Several audience members commented that they thought the Reorganization was very well done and congratulated the Board for all their work.
Evelyn David noted that Chase is closing their branch in Town and wondered if the Board had done anything about finding a replacement. She was told they would have to check into what the procedure for that is.

The Board then oted to adopt the Reorganization as presented with the caveat that it could be added to in the future.

The Town Board met on Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English announced that the masonry repairs to the old sewer plant have now been completed along with repair of the guard rails and installation of new cyclone fencing. Additionally, he said he had sent a letter to Andrew Dance at Related asking for a meeting to continue talks about the completion and activation of the new sewer plant.
Next, the Supervisor introduced the Tuxedo Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. Governor Cuomo has asked all towns and cities to meet with residents and stakeholders to discuss fairness in policing. The Supervisor commented that he has replied to this request stating that the entire Town Board was behind the idea and would be working hard to comply. Several audience members, principally Sue Scher and Hallie Gaines spoke up in favor of the initiative and volunteered to work on it as well.

Town Board Update:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that the DEC has announced Green
Innovation grant programs for improvements to infrastructure as well as to improve water quality and flood mitigation. She will be attending a webinar on the subject on January 13. Grant applications are due on February 12.
Councilmember May remarked that she had received questions and comments on the new website and had been working on those. She vowed to continue to bring transparency to the Town through information on the website.
Councilmember Reichgott commented that he had received some “feelers” from Verizon a while ago about whether or not the Town would be interested in updating cell service in Town. He responded positively and has heard nothing since. He will pursue this.
Councilmember McMillen said that while he had nothing new to report, he wanted to recognize his colleagues on the Town Board for doing a great job throughout the Covid crisis and continuing business as usual in the Town.

Discussion Item:
Long Meadow Road Cleanup -
Supervisor English stated that the Town was in receipt of a proposal from Hydro Environmental Solutions for a project to include characterizing the material on the Highway Department’s Long Meadow Road property. Town Engineer Sean Hoffman was present and was asked for his opinion on the proposal. He explained that this proposal was also to bore into the pile and to come up with a solution that would satisfy the DEC’s order of consent. Councilmember Reichgott said that he felt the Town should be looking at more than one proposal for this work. The Supervisor stated that he was hoping to avoid mentioning the amount of money cited in the contract as he felt they might be looking for another bid. Town Attorney Protter responded that this would be specialized work and thus an exception to the competitive bidding requirement. Eventually, after a long discussion, they decided to table voting on the proposal until January. In the meantime, they would like the proposal rewritten to include up to 20,000 cubic yards of material, (currently it specifies 6000 yards) which has already been screened by the Highway Department.

Discussion of Reorganization goals with Consultant Michael Richardson –
Supervisor English introduced Mr. Richardson and then presented the goals as follows: to align the Town with civil service, to define the requirements of competitive vs. non competitive jobs, to look into pay parity for jobs with similar descriptions, and to bring the Town back to 5 days of service in Town Hall. Mr. Richardson has submitted a proposal for the reorganization. He then presented a detailed and somewhat lengthy review of the different employment levels in Town.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum reported that the Town has been reactivated with the DEC for the issuing of hunting and fishing licenses. Additionally, she said that the Town tax bills had been mailed out. Residents are asked to either use the secure drop box in front of Town Hall or to mail in their checks in order to reduce traffic in Town Hall.

The Board then entered into a previously scheduled executive session for an attorney/client conference with Town Attorney Howard Protter. This lasted approximately one hour after which they returned to the meeting.

The Town Board met on Monday, December 14 at 7:00 pm via Webex. All members were present

The meeting opened with the annual public hearing on the Woodlands sewer rate. There was much discussion among the Board members who did not seem to understand why they were holding the hearing since none of them reside in the Woodlands. Town Attorney Howard Protter explained to them that this is the process which has been in effect since the Woodlands was built. Since no one had a comment, the public hearing was then closed.

Town Supervisor Update:
Supervisor English reported that the Tuxedo Farms LDC (for the Wastewater Treatment Plant) would be holding an attorney/client meeting on December 17 with the attorneys from Harris Beech as well as attorney Howard Protter. It is their hope that they can reestablish communication with Related and move toward the goal of opening the sewer plant by July 1, 2021.
Next he revealed that he and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay along with Town Attorney Protter and Labor Consultant Michael Richardson met with representatives of the Tuxedo PBA on December 3. They expect to hold another meeting by the end of the year. Negotiations on the current contract are ongoing.
The Supervisor also held a meeting with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum and Town Engineers and Councilmember Reichgott. It was their goal to come up with a plan for the required chemical sampling which is needed to begin removing the contaminated material from the Highway Department site on Longmeadow Rd.
The Supervisor and Councilmember Reichgott also met with two of the tenants at the Longmeadow Rd. property. It has been determined that the rents they are paying are way under what the market rate is for such properties. As a result, the Board has decided to raise the rents by 20%.
Supervisor English announced that the Town Justice Court has been ordered closed by NY State and all in-person activity with the public has been cancelled until further notice due to the increase in Covid cases in our area. However, the Justice Court has initiated online payments so going forward, people will not necessarily need to come to the court in person to settle any outstanding violations. Additionally, the Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board meetings will continue to be held virtually via WebEx.
Councilmember May reported that the Board had received several inquiries about the project on Route 17 between Tuxedo and Sloatsburg. After speaking to both the DOT and O&R, she discovered that there are two projects currently being worked on in that location. The first project is the sewer project. The original contractor damaged the gas lines and now Orange and Rockland is working to repair them. The “complete streets” project will commence in the spring and is expected to be completed by September, 2021.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that the joint Town/Village Climate Smart Community taskforce had met on December 7. They had a presentation on community choice aggregation and they will be getting that ready for a public meeting.
Councilmember McMillen announced the passing of former Supervisor Ted Hoffman.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum announced that the Town of Tuxedo will soon be reactivated with the DEC so residents will be able to get hunting and fishing licenses from her.
Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that leaf pickup had ended that day. Any future leaves will have to be put in bags in order to be picked up. Additionally, he stated that the roof on the records room has been complete. Finally, he reported that his department was getting ready for snow.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David inquired as to what the Town has heard about the emergency response plan from the Arden dam. She was told that the Board hasn’t heard anything about this as yet.

The meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session so the Board could meet with consultants.

The Town Board met on Monday, November 23, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. Councilperson McMillen was absent.

After approving several minutes (11/9, 11/10 and 11/17) and the vouchers, Supervisor English opened the Public Hearing on Sign Law Amendments. He read a statement from Town Attorney Marissa Weiss which stated that the purpose of the amendments was to amend the current sign law which is a part of the Town Code. The main issues are:

There were no comments from the public regarding this law. The Town Board had also submitted the proposed amendments to the Planning Board for review and comment. As per Ms. Weiss, that Board is largely in support of the proposed changes. Their only comments centered around political signs. They have suggested amending the language in the law as it pertains to how long they long these signs can up as well as their removal. The signs are permitted 30 days in advance of an election and they must be removed 1 week after. The Planning Board has recommended using the word “mandatory” instead of “encourages” in reference to this timeline.
Town Attorney Weiss explained that mandating the timeline would be an infringement of first amendment rights. On another note, Supervisor English pointed out that the amendment clarified several issues with sign sizes which he felt was a good addition. Councilmembers Lindsay and May agreed.
Councilmember Reichgott added that the sign law was only one section of the Town Zoning Code, which the Town Board is presently reviewing in its entirely. There will be opportunities to tweak it further before it is finalized. There were no further comments and the public hearing was closed. The amendments were then unanimously approved.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English reported that the Tuxedo Farms LDC for the sewer plant had met and authorized attorneys from Harris Beach to investigate whether or not there are any legal obstacles that will prevent them from opening the sewer plant. The Board expects a report in December. The Supervisor reiterated that the LDC Board is committed to reaching the deadline for getting the new sewer plant up and running as per the needs of the community. They are equally committed to protecting the environment and meeting the DEC’s goals for reducing waste deposited into the Ramapo River.
At the Highway Department property, things are moving along with the removal of the dirt pile as well as the stumps. They are looking into a required sampling program for the material. The sampling needs to be under the direction of a qualified environmental professional. The Town has reached out to their Engineer H2M, who is in the process of reviewing what the needs are so they can make a recommendation.
The police contract is set to expire on December 31, 2020. Supervisor English and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay have been meeting with Town Attorney Howard Protter and Labor consultant Michael Richardson to get ready for the negotiations with the police. They are planning an Executive Session on December 14th to update the Town Board members on this matter.
At the Highway Department property on Long Meadow Road, the Town has tenants whose leases have either expired or will be expiring soon. The Supervisor, along with Councilmember Reichgott, has been working with Town Attorney Protter on this matter. They expect to have some proposals to go over with the rest of the Board during the December 14 Executive Session in hopes that they can present proposed leases to the tenants.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that at the most recent Zoning Workshop they had discussed conducting an updated survey in order to find out what uses were desired in/for the different districts of the Town. The survey was subsequently created. It was then circulated to the Town Board members, who completed it. It will now be sent out to all municipal Board members. Once those responses have been collected the survey will go out to community members as well.
Next, Deputy Supervisor Lindsay revealed that a subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee, PORE (Parks, Outdoor Recreation and Events) have been working on the creation of a Pollinator Meadow.
The meadow will be created on the Palisades Interstate Park Commission’s property near the overflow parking lot at the Junction of Routes 17 and 17A. Volunteers will be removing invasive species and plan to plant an array of native species there in order to attract pollinators (butterflies, bees and other wildlife) They hope to promote it as an attraction in Tuxedo. Information on this project will be made available on the new Town Website.
Councilmember May stated that she,Town Clerk Dollbaum and Shari Brooks have all been trained on the new Town website which should be live within the next week or so. Supervisor English added that the Town was also in the process of upgrading the internet service in Town Hall.

Public Comments:
Evelyn David expressed her concern over the Town’s liability with the new dam going in up in Arden. She recounted what happened during Hurricane Irene, when the East Village flooded out due to the combination of the dam’s failure and a simultaneous release of water from communities upstream. It resulted in a serious flood.
Councilmember Reichgott responded that the Town did not have any jurisdiction over the dam because they did not own it. Rather, he advised that the New York DEC was the responsible party. The Town does not have any ownership of the dam in Arden. In response, Ms. David stated that she believed that the Town could ask for scheduled water releases and she urged the Board to do that. According to Ms. David, there was a conversation about this between the the Planning Board and the owners of the Arden dam who agreed to scheduled releases. However when the papers became available, all the responsibility and liability had been put on the Town! The Board agreed that they would review the final plan for the dam.

Department Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department has been busy collecting leaves. They started in Laurel Ridge and now are working in the Town before working their way out to Eagle Valley. Leaves need to be out on the curb by December 15, which will be the last date for pick up. Additionally, they are still working on catch basins. A new roof is in the process of installation on the records building and Department is also working on a fence at the old sewer plant. Finally electronic cycling will be taking place at the Highway Garage until January.
Building Inspector Maikisch announced that there is a new owner at Tuxedo Auto Body. Also a potential new owner for Tuxedo Gulf will be appearing at the TAC committee this week.
Town Clerk Dollbaum announced that the new website will a button that will allow residents to subscribe to different alerts from the town so that they can essentially customize which types of information they receive from the Town. Also, she reminded everyone that Town Hall would be closed on Thanksgiving but that recycling and garbage pick-up would occur the day after.

Supervisor English wished everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.

The Town Board held a special meeting on November 17, 2020 at 5pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Supervisor English explained that the reason for the meeting was to adopt the 2021 Town Budget with an amended Tuxedo Farms Sewer System budget levy. He said it was a 1.7% increase from last year. Councilperson Reighgott asked if this increase was for properties within Tuxedo Farms itself with no changes for the properties in the rest of the Hamlet? The Supervisor replied that this was correct. He added that this was to cover “anticipated increases in legal fees and Board member compensation & addition fees to Muni Cap that are related to the anticipated activation of the wastewater treatment plant in 2021.” The budget was then adopted as amended unanimously and the meeting was adjourned.

The Town Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, November 10 at 6pm via WebEx for the purpose of voting on the 2021 Town Budget.
Following some very brief discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of adopting the budget as proposed.

Town Board Updates:
Deputy Mayor Lindsay reported that on the Thursday previous the Economic Development committee had met with the Orange County Departments of Economic Development & Tourism and Film and took them on a tour of areas available for use/development and they were very excited! “It’s putting Tuxedo on the map and we will continue to work with them on how to promote Tuxedo.”
Councilwoman Maria May reported that on November 12 they would be receiving training from Civic Plus on the new website. The old website has been merged to the new one and they have also added additional content and reorganized things to give it a fresh look. They expect the new site to be up and running by November 25. She thanked Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum for all of her assistance.

Monthly Reports:
Supervisor English read submissions from the Justice Court as well as Police Chief Abbott’s police report into the record. He thanked the Chief for his report further noting that he felt it spoke volumes to the diversity of the calls that the Department faces on a daily basis.

Vouchers:
The Board voted unanimously in favor of approving vouchers for payment.

Public Hearing: Sign Amendments:
Prior to opening the hearing, Board Attorney Marisa Weiss provided the Board with a brief over-view of the proposed amendments. The Board has been conducting an on-going review of the Town Zoning code for quite some time, but it has recently come to their attention that there are some interim amendments that are needed to the sign code for issues that keep arising mostly pertaining to ambiguous or unspecified definitions within the code as well as whether or not certain signs are exempt. Additionally, the Board has expressed some concern with temporary commercial and real estate signs, which in some cases have been remaining on various properties for extended periods of time. There are a myriad of issues with many of these signs ranging from their size to lack of maintenance and there has been some overall confusion in terms of the language of the law and how things are supposed to work. Most of the changes proposed in the amendment have already been discussed and reviewed by the Board as part of their overall zoning review and they center around the clarification of certain definitions such as the different types of signs and a more distinctive description of sign area. Additionally, the amended law clearly identifies those signs, which are exempted from the permit requirement and cleans up some first amendment issues. The Building Inspector has expressed some concern with the proposed provision that would allow temporary, commercial and real estate signs to be exempt from the permit requirement for 1 year, citing the potential for enforcement issues. The attorney has recommended amending things as presented to require permits for these types of signs, however they would be no-fee for a period of one year. This would allow the Building Inspector to keep track of when the signs went up and how long they have been there.
The public hearing was then opened.
Evelyn David requested that the Town consider installing a second directional Trail sign at the end of River Road.
There were no further comments, however the hearing was kept open.
The proposed amendments will next go to the Planning Board for their review and will be discussed again at the November 23 meeting. Residents wishing to submit comments prior to that can submit them in writing.

Discussion Items – Review of Public Comments 0n 2121 Budget:
The Board discussed the public comments received during the budget hearing at their previous meeting.
Town Board member Jay Reichgott provided an overview of the comments in order to mobilize the discussion. Noting that there would be no action associated with the complementary comments of gratitude that were received during the hearing, Councilman Reichgott thanked those residents for their positive remarks.
Next, a request from the Silver Dollars to carry over their unused funds into the next fiscal year was addressed. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay is working with the bookkeeper in hopes of finding a way to make this happen.
Moving on, the Board discussed comments centered on dissatisfaction with the proposed 2% raises for Town Board members during the pandemic as well as some objections to the larger increase in stipend proposed for the Deputy Supervisor.
Supervisor English proposed that the Town Board members forgo the proposed 2% increase.
Councilman Reichgott pointed out that, after determining there were sufficient funds, the Town Board had proposed what was essentially a 2% cost-of -living increase to every Town employee that was not otherwise covered by collective bargaining. This happens to include the Town Board, the Planning/Architectural Review Board, the Zoning Appeals Board and other various Town employees. For the individual Town Board members, not including the Supervisor, it comes out to roughly $150 each. This being said, he agrees that these are tough financial times and is willing to forgo the increase. He feels they should forgo the increase for all of the appointed boards, but it should remain for the other Town Employees.
The Board was in agreement.
Supervisor English wondered why this was only being considered for Town Board members and appointed officials and not all elected officials. “Where does it stop?” he queried.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that the other elected officials included the Town Judges, Highway Superintendent and Clerk.
Councilman McMillan suggested that the line was drawn for him between those who work for the Town for a living and those who do it for civic duty.
The Supervisor countered that he believed any elected official was motivated by civic duty. He further suggested that while he had no issue with forgoing the increase for himself, he did have a problem with making that decision for others.
This was discussed at some length. Ultimately it was decided that the Town Board members would forgo the increase for themselves only.
Moving on to the proposed increase in stipend for the Deputy Supervisor, Supervisor English stated that it was view that there needed to be an Executive Administration presence in Town Hall on a regular basis during the daytime. This is necessary so that they can conduct business with contractors, consultants, department heads, Town Employees and residents. The Deputy needs to work directly with the Supervisor. For a long time the Town’s executive structure has mostly run on an evening schedule. In the interest of full disclosure he announced that he would be retiring from his day job in January and that a big part of the motivation behind this decision was his position as Supervisor, which he takes very seriously. “There is no way that this job can attend to all the concerns that this Town is facing with a Supervisor that can only be mostly available in the evenings,” he stated. “Most Town Council people have full-time jobs and don’t have the opportunity to be able to work in Town Hall in the daytime on a regular basis. I think we are very fortunate to have a Deputy Supervisor now who is available and does spend many many hours at Town Hall. This is an executive administration presence that I think is totally required. This is $5,000. Lets not lose sight of that. It’s $5,000 to allow somebody to able to provide this extra service to work with me in Town Hall.”
Councilman McMillan stated that he respectfully disagreed, noting that the level of hours and participatory effort that had been put forth by other officials in those roles, including himself for 3 and1/2 years, had never been fiscally recognized. “I never thought of recognizing myself for the extra hours and the weekends that I spent. I thought it came with the territory,” he noted. He further stated that in his 7 years on the Board he had not heard of this discussion before much less seen it come to fruition. It’s not that he doesn’t understand what the Supervisor has outlined. He recognizes that there is frustration associated with the extra hours required by the job, but in his view there is no good argument to create this new stipend for the Deputy Supervisor.
Councilwoman May commented that the Deputy Supervisor role as enacted by Deputy Supervisor Lindsay over the last year has included $250,000 for the Town, mostly due to the grant work that she has done. This kind of work is hard to do when one has a fulltime job. She feels that having an executive team in Town Hall is a good idea. Just because it has never been done before does not mean that it should not be done now or that it doesn’t make sense to do it. “We are a large Town with few people running all of the things that have to be done,” she stated. “I don’t have a problem with re-envisioning the role of the Deputy Supervisor as more than just a councilperson,” she said further commenting that she felt they should “definitely do it.”
Councilman Reichgott suggested that the five most dangerous words in the English language were “we’ve always done it this way,” further commenting that just because the proposed stipend has not existed in the past, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t change things now. He noted that what was being discussed was a stipend associated with the position and not “money for Michele.” If the reason for the increase is that Deputy Supervisor Lindsay is available and is doing more work as a result, he feels this is not the way they should be thinking about things. Rather the question at hand is whether or not to establish a larger role for the Deputy Supervisor position, which would in turn deserve a larger stipend. He further suggested that they should develop a job clear description of what the role was going to be so that in the future, the Deputy Supervisor would know what they were getting into when they accepted the position. There followed a discussion of the various responsibilities, tasks and duties associated with Supervisor and Deputy Supervisor roles, specifically those that involve time investment such as the Tuxedo Farms LDC, management of Town properties and rental contracts, Police contract negotiations and the mulch pile cleanup efforts/DEC Consent Order. “There’s no way that all of these actions could be handled by a Board that basically meets twice a month on two Mondays from 7pm until however long we can keep people’s attention span focused,” commented Supervisor English.
Councilman McMillan responded that everything that had just been laid by the Supervisor out in terms of tasks associated with these jobs had always been present. There was nothing new. He had accomplished most of these things himself in many years fulfilling the role. He does not agree with the meat of the Supervisor’s argument and does not see this kind of thing happening in other Townships.
The Supervisor replied that if this line item was going to be a sticking point for Councilman McMillan, the way he understood it, the Councilman could vote against the entire budget.
Councilman McMillan suggested that further conversation on this topic could, and should in his view, be held “off-line. “I think we have said what we had to say for public consumption,” he added.
“Yeah, it comes down to voting on the budget,” reiterated the Supervisor.
The Deputy Supervisor commented that she felt that what was being proposed was a change in the position for the benefit of the Town.
“When you talk about adding an additional stipend,” added Councilman McMillan “just keep in mind that there are several people in the Town Hall that do this as their every day job who had to sacrifice their stipends over the past few years for the financial good of the Town.”
Moving on to another topic, the Supervisor referenced an email sent by Councilman McMillan with regard to tax reduction and suggested they discuss it.
Councilman McMillan agreed and proceeded to outline the contents of the email, explaining that the Town had been through some tough times working to become financially solvent over the past 7 years and that this had only just occurred. There are some unknowns on the horizon, many of which are fueled by Covid, such as tax revenue from the County. “To give a tax reduction right now after coming out of six years of proverbial hell trying to get back on track is very risky to me,” he stated. “Our Moody’s rating is not in the A category yet, we are still in the high Bs. There are still unkowns out there as far as the development of Tuxedo Farms. There is even some question as to whether or not Related will really open up the sewage treatment plant even though there is a resolution that says it will open on June 1.” While he is a supporter of keeping taxes under the cap so that residents can enjoy the associated rebates, he suggested that a tax reduction at present would bring an element of risk during an uncertain time.
Supervisor English responded by detailing where the reductions were coming from, focusing on a $250,000 fund balance restoration fund that is no longer necessary. There have also been some changes to fees, particularly the reduction of Workman’s Comp by $55,000 and $14,000 in NYS retirement funds. Additionally, after conversations with Chief Abbot, $53,000 in equipment funding was removed from the Police Budget. He went on to detail some of the other expenses within the budget and how they factored in to projected financial health over the coming years.
While he understands what Councilman McMillan is saying, he feels they are moving forward in a responsible way.
The Deputy Supervisor concurred, commenting that they had been able to reduce expenses and that she didn’t believe they should be taxing people in order to restore a fund balance that doesn’t need restoration. “We’re basically taxing the taxpayers on what the expenses are going to be,” she added.
Councilman McMillan responded that he was so used to being backed into a corner financially that he is extremely cautionary, which is why he had voiced his views the way he had in the email. He asked the Supervisor whether or not he believed the Town was properly insulated financially from any litigation that may arise from the Related project either at the level of he project itself where they are building the homes or at the sewer plant. “I know that we could possibly get the old plant put to us if they don’t comply on June 1. Do you feel confident that if one of those scenarios were to come true and it got put to us either way that we would be financially stable enough to stave off that effort?”
Based on the work of the attorneys and the engineers and his best evaluation of the current budget, the Supervisor responded that yes, he did have confidence.
There followed some further discussion about the sewer plant.
Councilman Reichgott commented that while he appreciated Councilman McMillan’s point, he felt the Town was currently in a position where they had sufficient reserves in the fund balances that if they should have something unexpected happen, they would be able to cover it…and given the current state of the economy with Covid, it is in his view a reasonable approach to take the gamble and not increase the fund balances this year.
The Supervisor reminded everyone that the books had not yet closed on 2020 suggested that there was a possibility that they might add to the fund balance in this fiscal year, which would also help.
The lack of budget workshops was discussed.
Councilman McMillan suggested that there were parts of the line-item budget that were hard for the general public to understand and that workshops allowed them to ask questions and gain clarity while also gaining some insight into the overall process.
Councilwoman May responded that she had attended the workshops the year previous and was one of only two people in attendance and one of them and the only one present at the other. “It was informative for me as a citizen to understand what was going on, however at this time of Covid and with 400 pages of worksheets, it might have been almost impossible to do in the way that they were done last year.” She further commented that she supported the proposed tax break and that she had made a point of working directly with both the Supervisor and the Deputy Supervisor so that she could fully understand the numbers and feel comfortable with them.
“Hopefully this Covid thing will be over next year,” replied the Supervisor, further noting that he had begun working on the budget the previous July. Unfortunately, he had a health emergency, which required hospitalization, over the course of the past month and this had impacted the process.
Deputy Lindsay added that she felt that they had put together a great explanation of many of the decisions that had been made, which was presented at the budget hearing, and that this had been their attempt to make it more understandable for people.
Councilman McMillan stated that he was not opposed to a tax reduction, but he felt the need to make sure in a responsible way that leadership was confident that the Town was positioned in a good place “ in case the apple cart did flip over that we were going to be somewhat insulated moving into the next year.” He thanked them for the conversation.

Agenda Items:
Resolution to Appoint Fire Commissioners Jeff Dowding and Paul Eichengreen – The Board voted unanimously in favor of appointing Appoint Fire Commissioners Jeff Dowding and Paul Eichengreen with a term commencing January 2021 and expiring December 31, 2025.
Set Date for 2021 Budget Date – The Board scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, November 10 at 6pm for the purpose of voting on the 2021 budget.

Department Updates:
Town Clerk – Town Clerk Marisa Dollbaum began by thanking all of the election workers who helped on Election Day. There were a total of 18 workers spread between three polling locations. Seven of them were Tuxedo residents.
The ADA complaint restroom and ramp renovation project is going well. Work should hopefully be completed by Thanksgiving.
Town Hall will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Mrs. Dollbaum thanked all Veterans for their service.
The Supervisor interjected to thank Mrs. Dollbaum for a job well done managing the election, which entails a lot of work.
Mrs. Dollbaum thanked the Supervisor, noting the former Clerk Donna Matthews had been a huge help.
Highway Department – The department has been busy picking up leaves and getting ready for the winter months. They are working on repairing catch basins while the weather is still good. Additionally, they completed work on the dirt pile utilizing the rented equipment, which was subsequently returned. They are now looking to contract with an environmental engineer to sample all of the materials that have been “sifted and sorted” The DEC has outlined protocols for analyzing and disposing of the materials and the Town continues to work on this. Superintendent Dollbaum continues to try and identify authorized people who might possibly be able to take some of the materials away.
Electronic Recycling is currently underway at the Highway Garage. There is a box in the front by the gate, with drop off available between the hours of 7-3 M-F and on Saturdays from 8-12. No televisions or monitors will be accepted. Detailed information is on the Town website.
Orange and Rockland will be performing tree trimming and removal on or around November 24 on Hospital Road, School House Lane, Schoolhouse Road, Mountain Road, Hillside Avenue, Circle Drive, Contractors Road, Orange Turnpike/Old Route 17, and associated side streets. Effected residents will be informed in advance by notice if there are any trees on their property which need to be trimmed.

Public Comments:
The Deputy Supervisor went through the list of attendees, un-muting each one to ask whether they had any public comment.
Hallie Gaines thanked the Town Board for all their work, further noting that she greatly appreciated the open conversation and reconciliation amongst them when they did not easily agree on things. She further thanked them for fighting for “important things” for both the Board and the nominal increase for both the people who are working hard and for people who are struggling like she is.
A resident who identified himself as Hank commented that it had been a good meeting. He further extended an offer to utilize a large sign in his front yard that is currently used by the Renaissance Faire for two months out of the year. Noting that he did not want anything political there, he suggested it could be used for any functions or events such as the Farmer’s Market.
Irene Denaro thanked the Board for all the hard work they were doing in addressing “so many issues in the Town that have been neglected or just not dealt with for such a long time.”

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that there has been introduced before the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo, New York, on September 28, 2020,

a local law entitled, “Sign Law Amendments,” which local law would revise the exemption provisions of the sign code. A complete copy of the Introductory

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo will hold a virtual

public hearing on said proposed local law via Webex at 7:00 P.M., on November 9, 2020, further details of which will be included in the public

The Town of Tuxedo will make every effort to assure that the hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance

DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Recreation Department – Shari Brooks reported that trick or treating will be permitted on Halloween, pursuant to CDC recommendations. (masks, social distancing, passing out candy as opposed to having kids grab it out of a bowl etc.) Additionally there will be a Trunk or Treat event at Powerhouse park during the day where children can come for trick or treating. There is a strict schedule for the various age groups, which should help to keep the crowd spread out over the afternoon. Everyone must wear a mask and gloves will be distributed. Fire Company #1 has decided not to move ahead with their annual event this year due to Covid concerns. The event will resume next year.
Police – Lt. Norton noted that there would be a police presence at the Trunk or Treat and further there would be some extra patrols on for Halloween night. Commencing November 1 the PBA will be participating in “No Shave November.” The money saved by not shaving for an extended period of time will be collected and donated to their charity of choice, which is St. Jude’s Medical Center. This year they are hoping to step things up a bit by hosting a fundraiser at Powerhouse Park on November 14. PBA members will set up grills and fire pits and show off their beards while flipping burgers and enjoying live music from Councilman Dave McMillian and friends.
Building Department – Supervisor English indicated that the Board was in receipt of a very thorough, detailed report and that they were planning to divert discussion until their next meeting on November 9 so that they could “really dig in” to some of the questions and comments therein.
Town Clerk – Donna Matthews reported that construction at the Town Hall was going very well. People have been inquiring about voting and whether or not the polls will be open as usual. The answer is yes. Each District polling place will be open on November 3 from 6am-9pm. Information pertaining to early voting can be found on the Town website. Lastly, Mrs. Matthews expressed her gratitude to Claudia Bakhtiary, who recently donated office supplies to the Town Hall.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2021 PRELIMINARY TOWN BUDGET:
Summary of 2021 Budget:
Supervisor English reported that he and Deputy Supervisor Michele Lindsay had been working with the various Department Heads and members of the Town Board to put together a budget that would remain under the tax cap and keep Tuxedo an affordable place to live. The proposed budget presents a -.68% levy change from last years budget. They are looking to reduce expenses by making long-term investments in durable equipment such as new trucks for the Highway Department and new police cars. These will be procured through low interest municipal lease-to-own programs. This aging equipment has reached its dependable life span and needs to be replaced. Budget analysis shows that this will reduce expensive maintenance costs for labor and parts and ensure that our public service teams have the tools they need to do their jobs. They are attending to a long-term liability at the Town’s Long Meadow Road property. This 24-acre site continues to be under DEC monitoring. The DEC has imposed a consent order 9 years ago that set expectation for cleaning up a large deposit of construction debris and other contaminants that were illegally dumped on the site. When completed, the remediation will remove the liability exposure resulting from the potential fines, which could be up to $3,000 per day. The excavation, material screening and sample analysis is being done by the heavy equipment operators in the Highway Department utilizing rented equipment. There is an on-site DEC monitoring who is essentially guiding the process to ensure that the required work is being doing. They have also allocated fund reserves for contractual obligations with the Police to cover unpaid vacation and sick days upon retirement. Current Tuxedo PBA obligation estimates total $165,000 for officers eligible for retirement. This will prepare the Town to meet contractual expenses expected in the near future due to the impending retirement of officers. The Town Board continues to seek grants and State funds for infrastructure improvements. They are currently working on ADA bathrooms and accessibility ramps at Town Hall with a$225,000 federal grant. Additionally, the Town Hall roof is going to be replaced with funding from a $100,000 SAM grant (State Aid to Municipalities) that was secured through Senator Jenn Metzger. The Town has invested in LED street lights programs offered by O & R that will reduce electricity cost by an expected $30,000 annually and they have already seen that savings in 2020. Both the Tuxedo Park Library and the Tuxedo Joint Fire Districts have submitted budgets with no increase. They hope to reduce tax burdens for residents and business owners by contracting with Beckmann Appraisals to provide appraisals of New York State land in Tuxedo. This firm was successful in appraising State lands, including Harriman State Park, in the Town of Stony Point and that resulted in a fairer distribution of the tax levy among all taxpayers in that town.
On the revenue side, the Board has been conservative in anticipating State revenues due to possible Covid reductions in New York State sales tax, State aid and mortgage transfer tax revenues. The sales tax revenue projections from the County have been set at very conservative levels given the uncertainty of the State’s financial condition. Again, the goal is to keep Tuxedo affordable for residents and businesses and to continue improving the Moody’s Bond Rating success. They have also been conservative with the Justice Court revenue estimates. Because they were closed for months due to Covid, the court is still in the process of trying to clear the backlog of appearances, the vast majority of which are traffic violations. They expect that actual fine collections will surpass their conservative estimates. The Hamlet Sewer Distict is a situation in flux. The existing plant is badly deteriorated and needs to be replaced by the new plant that was constructed with the $30,000,000 bond issued by the Tuxedo Farms Local Development Corp.. The LDC Board has passed a resolution intended to bring the new plant on line by July 1, 2021. As a result, the budgeting is somewhat ambiguous. The increase of tax level for this District only will be earmarked either for repairs to the existing plant or the transition to the new plant, which is supposed to have higher operating costs. There is a fund balance of approximately $430,000 that will be partially used to resolve these issues. Regarding personnel, all non-contractual employees were afforded a 2% increase. This includes those who serve on appointed Boards. They are also allocating a modest increase in funds for a Town Prosecutor who works in the Justice Court to streamline the judicial process and ensure that Tuxedo continues to get its fair share of the fines received. The Supervisor has also proposed an upgrade in the position of Deputy Supervisor because he feels it is necessary in order to attend to the daily requirements of running the Town. The executive administration requires a daytime presence in Town Hall in order to conduct business with contractors, consultants, department heads, Town employees and Town residents. The Deputy works directly with the Supervisor and the workload requires a level of engagement that goes far beyond the evening schedules of Town Board meetings and occasional workshops. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has successful authored and managed several large grants and cost savings initiatives totalling over $350,000 in 2020. The executive team also manages project oversite for the sewer plant and the cleanup of the Long Meadow Road property as well as contract negotiations and development projects.
There are also monies in the budget to hire a new full time police officer to replace retired Sgt. Decker. Funding to add part-time officers in order to fill all shifts will also be provided.
The Public hearing was then opened.
Evelyn David stated that her comment did not pertain to the budget but rather she wanted to discuss the construction of a new dam in Arden, the Emergency Action Plan and who is liable. She requested that the Board put this on an agenda for discussion in the near future.
Claudia Bakhtiary commented that going through the line items could sometimes be a bit “befuddling” and she wished that there could be some kind of guidance the public could look up to follow along. Noting that 2% was not a terribly big increase across the board for everyone who was working to run the Town, she thanked the Board for their time and efforts.
Kim D agreed that navigating the budget had been a bit confusing but that 2% was seemed a relatively small increase and she also thanked the Board for their hard work.
Jerry Mattola wondered whether there would be a meeting with Town residents to discuss the sewer plant and the potential increase in rates. He was told that this would be addressed later in the meeting.
John McNamara commented that times were tough at the moment and Covid was making things especially difficult for a lot of people many of whom found themselves out of work and unable to pay their taxes or their mortgage. The Town is anticipating lower revenues from the State. The previous administration worked hard to build back the reserves and he finds it to be complete unacceptable for the Town Board members to give themselves a pay raise. “I appreciate the hard work, but you all knew what the pay was when you were running for the Board and to give yourselves raises in the time of a pandemic when people are out of work is completely unacceptable and especially if you are dipping into the reserves for that.”
Mary Graetzer agreed that a raise a Board raise was inappropriate. Further she wondered whether there had been any public budget workshops that people could listen to in order to understand how they had arrived at what was being presented. “Usually, the way it has gone, is that the budget is presented and then the Board has workshop meetings so that the different Board members have a chance to ask questions and discuss what’s going on with the budget…and to my knowledge, that didn’t take place this year. If it did, it wasn’t in public and I didn’t see any of it.” She further noted that she had been following the Town Board for decades and that she did not know of a single Deputy Supervisor who had had any salary other than the one that every other Town Board member receives. She then reiterated that she felt it was extremely inappropriate as well as hurtful to people in the Town that this year had been chosen to raise the Deputy’s salary.
Michael Reardon noted that he hoped everyone was remaining safe and healthy during these difficult times. He then inquired as to when the budget workshops had been held, further noting that this particular Board had ben “very big” on workshops in the past, but he had not seen anything done for the budget. Secondly, he wanted to know whether or not police 24-hour police coverage had been restored, suggesting that before any money should be spent, it should go towards the first responders who are protecting residents during these difficult times. “The explanation of the Deputy Supervisor getting over 70% pay increase from the Supervisor made it sound like the Supervisor needed help. If the Supervisor needs help, the money should come from his salary not from the taxpayers.”
Andy Berish commented that the Silver Dollars had not been able to go anywhere to spend their allotted money and he wondered whether the Board might carry this funding over into next year so that they might be able to use it in the future or if they would lose it.
Next, each of the Town Board members were given an opportunity to comment. Dave McMillan noted that he had provided feedback as requested via an email. He agreed with some of the public comments, specifically pertaining to the increase in salary for the Deputy Supervisor, suggesting he felt it might not be warranted. “I didn’t know there was a pitch counter going on for all the efforts,” he commented. “I certainly put in a lot of effort when I did the job for over three years so, I guess I didn’t understand what the catalyst for that was.”
Maria May stated that she wasn’t sure that people realized that the work of the Town was huge. “Unless you are on the Board and you see the work that the Deputy Supervisor does, you do not realize the amount of time, the amount of hours, the amount of effort and also the amount of money that comes into the Town because of the work of the Deputy Supervisor….so I think it is definitely ok and right and to the benefit of the taxpayers in this Town that this position would be made more of a fuller-time position. The increase is definitely warranted. It’s a lot of work.”
Jay Reichgott noted that he did not have any particular comments to make other than that he had heard the comments from the residents and would take them under advisement.
Supervisor English then stated that he felt the Town Board should give all of the comments careful deliberation so that they could respond effectively at their November 9 meeting with real focus. Public comments will be accepting in writing until Thursday, November 5. These can be submitted via email to the Town Clerk. The budget is due to the State by November 20. If necessary the Board will set special meetings to accommodate the process.
The hearing was then closed subject to the receipt of written comments.

AGENDA ITEMS:
Resolution to appoint the Town Clerk- Donna Matthews is retiring effective October 31, 2020. The Board voted unanimously in favor of appointing Marisa Dollbaum to the position of Town Clerk to fill the unexpired term ending 12/31/21.

OTHER BUSINESS:
Budget Modification – Supervisor English made a motion to make a modification to the 2020 budget allowing for an increase of $250,000 to cover expenses associated with the dirt pile remediation cleanup at Highway Garage. The money will be taken from the unassigned fund balance in the A fund.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay noted that the Town was finally moving to remediate the dirt pile and comply with the DEC consent order. “We are really saving a lot of money by renting equipment and having our highway machine operators actually running the machinery to sort the dirt.” She cautioned that if they did not move forward with this, they could be facing DEC fines of up to $3,000 per day, as noted earlier in the budget summary. They feel it is a prudent way to deal with a serious situation. They had previously allocated monies for repairs to the Town roof, and that allocation has covered the costs of dirt pile remediation. They are now at the point that a further allocation needs to be made that will fully cover the costs of the remediation. Funds for the Town Hall roof will remain allocated and that project will soon be in the bid phase.
Mr. McMillan wondered if the $250,000 would finish the project or whether or not this was only phase 1 of the project.
The Deputy Supervisor responded that it was just for this year and that there was an additional $250,000 budgeted for 2021 to keep the project moving forward.
Following some further discussion, the Board voted unanimously in favor of approving the modification.
Highway Department Report –Highway Superintendent Rob Dollbaum reported that rental agreements for the equipment being utilized for dirt pile project had been closed out that day. The next phase of the project entailed cleaning up by sorting through and separating the material that is left. They will work on this over the winter. The department has been busy picking up leaves. The Superintendent cautioned that if residents rake their leaves and leave them by the street for pick up, they should be sure to remove sticks and branches from the piles so as not to clog the machines.
They have also been busy readying the plows and trucks for winter and snow season.
Lastly, it was noted that there is still mulch available for residents at Quarry Field.
Supervisor English commented that he visited the Mulch Pile at the highway garage at least three times per week and he felt that under Superintendent Dollbaum’s leadership the Department was doing a fantastic job. He thanked everyone for moving the cleanup efforts forward. There followed a brief discussion
about the mulch pile cleanup and the associated process.
Discussion – Prior to adjourning the meeting, the Board briefly discussed and agreed that they would put the budget statement from earlier that evening into letter form so that it could be widely circulated via the Town website as well as email.

Notice of Public Hearing for the Preliminary 2021 Town of Tuxedo Budget October 26, 2020

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English said that he had no update for this meeting.
Councilperson McMillen stated that, starting with the next meeting, he would be streaming the meetings live. This will be in addition to recording the meetings for the Town’s You Tube channel as well as the WebEx.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
The Supervisor stated that there would be no public comments on agenda items at this meeting.

Department Head Updates:
Town Clerk Donna Matthews stated that ADA construction on the Town Hall has started. They are doing considerable work in the Town Clerk’s office and, as such, it may be necessary for her to work remotely for a couple of days. If this happens, she will notify everyone. She also stated that with the election coming up, she recommends that everyone who can should vote early. The closest place for Tuxedo residents to do this is Monroe.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department was coming to the end of their sign replacement program. He also noted that there was still mulch available at Quarry Field.
The Supervisor added that the work to clean up the Highway property was coming also very nicely.

Public Comments:
For the second meeting in a row, Supervisor English decreed that there would be no public comments.

The Town Board met on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English began the meeting by recapping the recent meeting of the Sewer LDC in which it was decided to bring the new plant online as soon as possible and no later than July 1, 2021.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that as part of her economic development efforts, she has gone ahead and had a a design put together for the Quarry Field billboard. The sign will promote the Town as a place to live and do business.
Councilperson May reported that she had had a conversation with garbage contractor IWS about glass recycling which has been an issue lately. The problem according to IWS is that in Orange County, there is comingled recycling. The method used by IWS to pick up recycling entails the glass getting crushed and then shards get mixed in with the other materials making them all unusable. The company suggested that the Town set up 2 stations, one in the north and one in the south part of town and then residents could take their glass to those places. This doesn’t seem like such a good idea to Councilperson May and she is still working on coming up with a way to get Tuxedo residents’ glass recycled.
Supervisor English added to his report saying that the DEC is very pleased with the progress being made to clean up the dirt pile at the highway garage.
Councilperson McMillen wanted to know about the progress of mounting the mock website for the town.
Councilperson May responded that she has been in touch with the company several times and they keep saying that they are working on it.
Councilperson Reichgott advised that the ADA improvements to Town Hall (bathrooms, ramps) is now in the paperwork stage and he hopes that the actual work will begin soon.

Department Updates:
Supervisor English has been researching a new lock for the new gate at Lucky Park. The one he is recommending would have 500 keys that could be distributed to Town residents only.

Public Comments:
Supervisor English stated that having public comments was optional after which he commented “since it’s 8:43, I’m going to move to vouchers.” He added that anyone having a comment could submit it via email or wait until the next meeting.

The Town Board met on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 7:00 pm via Web Ex. All members were present

Public Hearing Park Rules and Regulations Amendment to local law:
The recent problems in Powerhouse Park, with too many non residents crowding into the Park and then littering and not cleaning up afterwards, were the motivation for putting together a local law that would allow the police to regulate use of the park. Unfortunately, the Board had not discussed the proposed law among themselves and a copy of the proposal had not been made available to the public, which made having a hearing where the public could comment almost impossible. Therefore the Board chose to read through the proposal and discuss it workshop style. The hearing was continued until the next Town Board meeting on August 24. Click here to read the part of the Town Code that was discussed. Before the hearing continues, a new copy of the proposed new code will be posted on the Town website.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English began his report by announcing that there would be a Sewer LDC meeting held via Web Ex on Tuesday, August 11 at 3 pm.
The Town received a Judge’s order to remove DeMarino’s equipment from the Highway Department site so that was taken care of.
The Supervisor further reported that he has been scheduling budget meetings in preparation for the 2021 Town budget. He also commented that the Town is still accepting bids for the cleaning contract (to clean Town Hall, Police Department, Train Station, Highway Department and the bathrooms at Murphy Field. These bids are due on August 17.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she was finishing up work on the SAM grant (State and Municipal Facilities Programs) for $100,000 to replace the Town Hall roof.
Councilmember Reichgott gave a quick account of his work on the grant for adding an ADA handicap accessible restroom to the first floor of Town Hall in order to accommodate people using the court. Since the Town has now received more money than they initially thought they would need, they have decided to make changes to the second floor restroom in order to make that ADA compliant as well.
Councilmember May reported that the new town website, currently in development, would be moving on to the next step, which involves the developer building a “staging website,”

Discussion Topics:
1-Image for Quarry Field billboard – the plan is to reproduce the main image from the new website with a line underneath that reads “visit our new website” followed by url. Under that will be the slogan ‘Gateway to Orange County.”

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
Mary Graetzer wondered why the Town was hiring another assessor to reassess the stand lands in Town when they already had an assessor in their employ. She further wondered why the current assessor couldn’t do the work. She was told that this would be addressed when that item came up on the agenda.

New Business:
Planning Board Chair John Banyo appeared to bring the Board up to speed on 2 projects that are currently before the Planning Board. The first one is an Audio Visual Production Center for the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is a large project which encompasses 249 acres only 7 of which are in the Town of Tuxedo (the rest is in the Town of Ramapo). The site plan doesn’t show any development on the 7 acres. The rest of the development is extensive and includes a 880,000 sq. ft. building with studios, a clinic, and a cafeteria. There are also plans for 645 residential units (studio or 1 bedroom) and 1255n parking spaces. They will need a freshwater wetlands permit from Tuxedo as well as a driveway permit. The Ramapo Town Board has requested lead agency status and the Planning Board has agreed to that but requested that the Tuxedo Town Board be designated as an involved agency. The other project is an addition to St. Joseph’s Home. This is entirely in the Town of Ramapo but the access road (which is the current St. Joseph’s access road) is on the Tuxedo town line. They are proposing a 20,000 sq. ft. addition with 24 additional beds. Also a separate 3700 sq, ft, house with 5 bedrooms is being proposed. Mr. Banyo also informed the Town Board that the Planning Board would be discussing the rebuild of the Echo Lake dam at their meeting on Tuesday, August 11.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola commented that there have been many bears on his road and wondered if there was any way to get them tranquilized and moved. The answer was no. The DEC will not do this.

Esteemed Town Employees, Town Board colleagues, Tuxedo residents, and visitors.

The Justice Court, our busiest unit, will resume “in person” operations this week. They have a backlog of cases to adjudicate so managing the crowds will be a concern. We will limit the number of people in the building at any one time and the flow of traffic will be unidirectional. Visitors to the court will enter through the front door, be admitted to the courtroom, go before the judge, and exit through the side door in the courtroom.

Town Board Meetings will continue to be held via WebEx until further notice. The Community Room, where we normally hold these meetings, is small with poor ventilation and thus not suitable for any size crowd. I hope that in the fall we can begin hosting meetings in person. The Community Room is also a meeting space for our senior citizens so keeping them safe will be an important factor in deciding our public access policy.

As the pandemic continues to unfold The Town Board, working under the direction of The Governor’s Office and Orange County officials, will update our emergency response as necessary. These plans are all subject to change.

We continue to move forward and strengthen our community. So, stay safe, work together, and continue to help those most in need.

The Town Board met on Monday, July 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. Councilmember McMillen was absent.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English opened the meeting by giving an update on what has been happening in and around Powerhouse Park. The situation began with an influx of hikers who came mostly to enjoy the trails in Harriman State Park and were parking all over the place—on the roads in the East Village and up and down Route 17, all of which are no parking areas. The Town responded by putting up new No Parking signs everywhere and the police wrote many tickets. The goal was to get the hikers to park in the commuter lot. They had some success with that. The next problem area was at the Lucky Skate Park, again with hikers parking there. Eventually, the Highway Department installed a gate with a lock in that area, which solved the problem. At the same time, police details were increased which meant bringing in extra part timers. Now there is still a huge influx of non residents arriving who want to access Powerhouse Park with some staying there and others going through and up to “Bubbles” to swim and just “hang out,” barbequing and swimming. They have left behind a huge mess with garbage everywhere. The Supervisor and police officers have hiked up there and explained to the people they found t that the area was being shut down to non residents. A group consisting of Highway Department workers, police officers and many local citizens cleaned up much of the garbage at both Powerhouse Park and Bubbles. Police details will be continued and the Board will be checking the Town Code to make sure that all of the “unwanted activity” there is clearly unlawful. Movie Night was held on Friday, July 24th in Powerhouse Park. It was very successful with over 60 people showing up to enjoy music and a movie.
The Town continues work on clean-up at the Highway Department property. The Board has put aside $250,000 to accomplish this. So far they have rented a screener, a bulldozer, an excavator and a contamination condemnation meter. The Highway Department has designated two men to work on the project which they estimate will take about 5 months.
Regarding the Hamlet sewer plant, a WebEx meeting has been scheduled with the Hamlet Sewer District LDC Board on August 11. They will be putting together a presentation of what is involved and what the costs might be with bringing the new plant on line.
Agenda Items:

Department Head Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department is finishing up with patching the roads and getting ready for line striping. They are also working on the dirt pile at the Highway Garage.
Town Clerk Donna Matthews reported that her office is running smoothly during the shut down for Covid 19. She further commented that her ex husband had passed away on Sunday and she wanted to commend the police department who were very helpful after her son found his father. She also thanked all the residents who had come out to help clean up the mess at Powerhouse Park as well as the police for their work in patrolling Powerhouse Park and helping to enforce the rules there.
Supervisor English added that the Town Court is scheduled to open on August 5 and everyone is working to make sure it goes smoothly. The details are yet to be finalized.

Public Comments:
Deirdre Murphy thanked Councilmember May for all her work on the website. Sue Scher commented that she felt it had been a very good, thorough meeting.

Vouchers were signed and the meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to discuss contracts and litigation with the Town Attorney.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo will hold Public Workshop to review Zoning changes on Wednesday July 29th at 7:00 pm. This workshops will be held virtually via WebEx. (Log onto Tuxedogov.org and click the WebEx icon at the top of the page. To dial in 408-418-9388 Access Code 796-956-205)

The Town Board met on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

This was a special meeting called for two agenda items only. The first item was the annual presentation from Town Auditor Andrew Arias of Cooper Arias. To see the Powerpoint presentation given by Mr. Arias, click here.

The second agenda item was a public hearing on a CFA (Consolidated Funding Application) grant. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay opened the hearing by stating that she had recently learned that the Consolidated Funding process has been delayed indefinitely because of Covid 19. The hearing had already been scheduled so they decided to go ahead with it. The Deputy Supervisor noted that she had received some good comments from members of the Town Center Committee arm of the Economic Development Committee. Copies of the 2019 application were circulated. This year the Town had planned to add the preliminary drawings done by engineer Al Fusco pertaining to the vehicle and parking law changes recently addressed by the board. No action has been taken as of yet on this plan and Supervisor English stated that no action would be taken until the Board had heard from all the residents who would be directly affected by it. To see a copy of the 2019 application, click here.
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Click HERE to view the Notice for the Public Hearing on the Consolidated FUnding Application (CFA)

The Town Board met on Monday, July 13, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English stated that the Town remains under a consent order from the DEC at the old Perfect Cut property (mulch pile), which has been in place for about 10 years. There is now the potential for fines for non-compliance. The Town has put aside $250,000 and under the direction of new case monitor, Larry Ricci, has rented equipment to work on the site. Highway Superintendent Dollbaum has dedicated 2 employees for the work. The Town has also rented a meter to test the dirt that they are screening. The employees will be sifting through the entire dirt pile and sifting out all the various contaminants that have been discovered. No contaminated soil will be allowed to leave the site.
The new hamlet sewer plant needs to be brought on line. The existing plant has reached the end of its lifespan. Supervisor English reported that he would be meeting with representatives of Related on July 15 to discuss the process and that he hoped to hear an update on their plans for the Tuxedo Farms property at that time as well.
RFPs have been issued for the garbage contract as well as for a professional cleaner to clean Town Halll, the Police Station, the Train Station, the Murphy Field restrooms and the Highway Department.
Since this region is now in Phase 4 of the Coronavirus remediation, the Board has started to think about reopening Town Hall. Noting that he had not received any complaints from the public, the Supervisor commented that he felt that the Town Hall personnel has responded well to constituents during the closure.
Councilmember McMillen stated that he has negotiated with Optimum a wireless upgrade for the entirety of Town Hall as well as an upgrade for the Community Room.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay has been keeping track of the deadline changes for the Census. She stated that it was very important for everyone to be counted so that the Town would be eligible to receive all the possible money it could. The deadline is currently in mid-August. As a follow-up to the Economic Development webinar, “Moving Tuxedo Forward,” she said there were so many expressions of support from various leaders and she wanted to follow up on all of them so she will be calling another meeting soon. She also announced that the Village of Tuxedo Park has voted to become a climate smart community. She hopes that there are projects that the Town and Village will now be able to work on together.
Councilmember May reported that she is still working on the new Town website.

Other Business:
Town Auditor Andrew Arias will give his presentation on the 2019 Town audit and the year to date finances on Monday, June 20 at 7 pm via WebEx. There will also be la public hearing about a CFA grant (State Economic Development grant as opposed to the CDBG grants which are federal) at that meeting. Plans are to add some engineering drawings to the application which was being worked on last year.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7:00 pm via WebEx. All members were present.

Town Supervisor/Town Board
Supervisor English began his remarks by reporting that the Economic Development event or “Moving Tuxedo Forward” held on Saturday, June 20 at 10 am, had been very successful with close to 100 people logged on to attend. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay mentioned that she thought the comments made by the elected officials who were present were particularly helpful especially when it came to addressing the financial situation that the whole State faces right now. She added that there were “a lot of things that could still be done,” and said she would circle back to her committee members to follow up on the suggestions that were made.
Next, the Supervisor announced that he wanted to address the executive order which had closed Town Hall so the Board could formulate plans for opening the Hall and allowing people in to transact business. He suggested that Town Hall should be open with limited access to the employees with his main concerns being traffic flow and maintaining a healthy environment. He further suggested putting a notice on the door outlining the process which will include only one person at a time to approach the window for service and markers on the floor to help people maintain a social distance. Town Attorney Marissa Weiss advised the Board that they would need an Executive order outlining the process. The attorneys will work with the Board on the details. The original Executive Order has expired so they will need to extend it with some modifications.
Councilmember Reichgott reported that the ADA improvements for the courtroom for which the bids were rejected at the last meeting, was being re-advertised in the coming week with some changes to the project. Also, he announced that there was now more money available for the Community Block grants due to Covid and the Town has received additional money for the project.
Councilmember May commented that she was still working on the new Town website and now has the first mock up of site. There was some discussion about what things various people want to see on the site. The big one seems to be the ability to accept payments online. The Board will look into this.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay stated that since comments from the public are not allowed at the zoning workshops, people have been asking when they will be able to ask questions and get responses. The answer is that there will be several more workshops as the Boards work on the Zoning Code and public hearings, where the public can be heard and ask questions. These meetings will probably start in September.

Department Head Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum said he had heard grants for sidewalks mentioned in the Economic Development Conference and would be interested in getting one. He was given information from several Board members and it was decided that he would get together with Councilmember Reichgott and walk the sidewalks so they could decide what to apply for.
The Superintendent said he and his crew had been out patching roads. They have done Mombasha, Brammertown, Susan Court, Alma Court, Helmstown and are currently on Benjamin Meadow Road. He plans to start chip sealing on July 6. Soon, they will begin changing street signs in Laurel Ridge, Clinton Woods and the north end of Town.

Public Comments:
Irene DeNaro wondered what had happened to the stop sign in Laurel Ridge. The signs were missing for several days but are back now. No one knew the answer to this. New signs were ordered and installed.

Vouchers were signed and the meeting was adjourned into an Executive Session to receive advice from the attorney.

The Tuxedo Town Board will host a WebEx Webinar with Residents and Elected Officials on Saturday, June 20 from 10am-12pm.

The Town Board met on Monday, June 8, 2020 at 7:00 via WebEx. All members were present.

Town Supervisor’s Report:
Supervisor English commented that the Board has been holding Zoning Workshops which he personally finds very helpful in bringing him up to speed on planning and zoning issues in the Town. The workshops have been led by Town Planner Bonnie Franson. There is no public participation in the workshops but public hearings will be happening down the road and that’s where the public will be able to participate. In the meantime, he feels that the Town Board and the members of the Planning and Zoning Board who have chosen to attend the meetings are all getting a good education about the Town’s Code.

The Supervisor then remarked that he was having a hard time coping with “everything that’s going on in our country” right now. He expressed his fervent hope that everyone will actually mean the words they say in the pledge of allegiance and make this country fair and equitable for everyone.

Set schedule for future Zoning Workshops and plan for public. Hearing – The next workshop will be on June 17. The Board thinks they might need 2 or 3 more workshops after that. They hope to get
to public hearings by September.

Public Comments:
The Board then held an informal discussion about the possibility of any protests or gatherings of people looking to express their feelings about what is going on in this country. They have had some inquiries from a group of people who would like to gather and express their feelings.
Sue Scher said she represents a small group of Tuxedo residents who want to to gather and share views about systemic racism. They are not affiliated with any organized groups. They want to be sure they are socially distanced. They have heard that Chief Abbott and the police department are interested in working with them and they are pleased about that. No date has been determined as yet for a gathering but they want to make sure they welcome people from all parts of Town.
Supervisor English commented that the Town Board looked forward to hearing more from this group. They are amenable to working with them and will try to remove any obstacles that might exist for their gathering. The Board very much wants to support free speech and citizen involvement.
Next, the Supervisor commented that the Board would like to set up a system where each section of the Town would have a dedicated time slot during which they could come and discuss the issues that concern them with the Board. He noted that there were “lingering concerns’ in the East Village about the Lucky Skate Park. Over the past weekend, there has been vandalism there. Donna Matthews observed that there have been problems with this park for a long time although they are getting worse because of Covid-19 and the fact that people are around and looking for things to do. There is a lot of traffic going in and out of the park and cars are parking in the woods. There are also A.T.V.s coming in and out. She reported that last weekend a lot of graffiti was painted in the park and, despite the fact that there is supposed to be no parking, people are parking there anyway. The kids she saw in the park over the weekend did not live in Town. At the moment, she feels the Park is not safe for use by younger kids. Also, there is garbage everywhere. There is also graffiti and lots of out of town cars parked at Powerhouse Park. There seems to be a lot going on at both Parks and she doesn’t feel it’s just hikers. Residents of the East Village are becoming more and more concerned about what’s happening in their neighborhood. She wondered if the Town could put up signs stating that the Parks were for use by residents only. The Board discussed with Highway Superintendent Dollbaum installing a gate that could be locked (leaving ample access for fire trucks). It was agreed that this could and would be done as soon as possible. Ultimately, Supervisor English stated that he wants the Board to get together with residents of the East Village to find out what their needs and desires are for a permanent solution. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay suggested they consider applying for a community block grant to pay for improvements to the parks.

Department Head Updates:
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum commented that there was still mulch available for residents, although he finds that the demand for it has diminished. His department is getting ready to do their annual road work. They are also working on inventory mapping. Councilmember May wondered about installing a doggie bag dispenser and receptacle for collecting the waste at Quarry Field. The Superintendent said he would look into it.
Police Chief Abbott reported that he was still having problems with parking along Route 17 because the roads in Harriman State Park remain closed. He has also been working on the problem in the Lucky Park.

The Town Board met virtually via WebEx on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 7pm. Councilmember McMillan was absent.

Town Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English began the meeting by announcing that a Memorial Day video featuring the May 25 Memorial Day Celebration had been posted on the Town’s YouTube Channel. He reported that it had been a good, if abbreviated, ceremony and thanked those who took part. Next, he reported that he and Deputy Supervisor Lindsay had listened to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus’ daily County report on Covid19 (available on Facebook) and repeated some of the latest numbers and information given there. He emphasized that in order for businesses to reopen, they need to have a safety plan in place as well as a signed, one-page affirmation that they will follow the Governor’s orders about social distancing and masks. Phase Two is expected to begin on June 9th.
Councilmember May reported that the Town’s new internet consultant, Civics Plus, had sent out a survey about what people want to see in a new website which had received a large response. It seems like most people want to see a community calendar and reporting on community events.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announced that Moving Tuxedo Forward would take place virtually on June 20th. During this event, members of the Economic Development Committee will be making reports on what they’ve been working on to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus as well as State Senator Jen Metzger and State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec.

Agenda Items:
1.    Discussion – Outdoor Dining – The Board concluded that in order for local restaurants to open for outdoor dining, they would need to have site plan approval from the Planning Board. The earliest that this would be possible is June 9th.
2.    Waiver for 30 wait to Tuxedo Hospitality (Steve’s Pizza) to upgrade liquor license was unanimously approved.
3.    Resolution of adoption of Moratorium on Development Approval – this is already in place and the Board unanimously approved the extension for 6 months.
4.    Resolution approving sign permit for Farmer’s Market was unanimously approved.
5.    Resolution to approve Zoning and Planning Board Members to attend training – Since members are required to do a certain number of hours of training on an annual basis, it was decided that they could attend the Town Board’s workshop meetings regarding the upcoming zoning code amendments and that the time spent at those workshops would could toward their training.

Other Business:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that Engineering Consultant Al Fusco had informed her that all the bids on the proposed installation of the ADA improvements (ramps and automatic doors into the courtroom and upstairs Community Room plus an ADA compliant bathroom installed next to courtroom) were too expensive. The Town had applied for, and won, a community block grant to pay for this work but the bids way exceeded the amount of the grant. It was agreed that the Board would send the projects out for rebid but this time separated into the different projects rather than as one project.

Department Head Reports
Police Chief Abbott reported that the Police Department was working on the hiker parking issues that have been ongoing in the East Village. Town Clerk Matthews commented that parking by the Lucky (Skate Park) is bad and that the area needs No Parking signs.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department is patching roads and getting ready for roadwork, which will be done in July. He also commented that the solar company he has been talking to about converting the highway garage to solar energy reached back out to him after seeing the recent upgrade in the Town’s Moody’s rating.

Public Comments:
Jerry Mottola asked for an update on the Post Office land just south of the building (had been looked at for a possible municipal parking lot). He was told that this is still under consideration however the Town will need to find funding for converting the property to a parking lot. Perhaps this might happen in next year’s budget.

The vouchers were approved and the Board adjourned into an Executive Session to receive advice from Town Attorney Howard Procter regarding a personal issue.

Orange County is included in the Mid-Hudson region which is expected to re-open with Phase 1 on Tuesday, May 26, provided that we meet the criteria for Contact Tracers. If you or someone you know is interested in helping our region by becoming a Contact Tracer, the following notice contains links for the training process. The notice also includes re-opening guidance and guidelines for businesses.

Per Governor Cuomo, the Mid-Hudson Region will be opening on Tuesday, May 26th, contingent upon having the required number of regional contact tracers signed up and certified. To that end, the County Executives in the Region have agreed to be sure that each does what is needed to fully meet this metric.

If you are willing to be a contact tracer or know someone else who will, please do the following no later than 5:00 pm Monday, May 25th:

· Provide your name and e-mail address to Michael Ventre, Deputy Commissioner of Orange County Health Department (mventre@orangecountygov.com).

· Provide Deputy Commissioner Ventre with a copy of your certification upon completion of the course/test (scan and e-mail, or text or e-mail a photo of it).

· Please note: if you have already done the steps above, you do not need to resubmit the information.

· The Empire State Development website has re-opening guidance and guidelines for businesses: https://esd.ny.gov/

The Town will be upgrading their website using CivisPles. Before finalizing the contract they would like resident input to see what things people would find useful on the site. Please take a minute and complete the small survey using the link below:

The Town Board met on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 7:00 pm virtually via Web Ex. All members were present.

Supervisor’s Update:
Supervisor English began his update by reporting the numbers from County Executive Steve Newhaus’ daily update to Orange County. In regard to reopening Town Hall, which he said would not happen until the Governor gave the go ahead, he reported that he had been working with various members of the Town Hall staff to put together a plan for safely reopening the building.
Town Board Update:
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay reported that she has been involved in working on the plans for Memorial Day, which are still in the beginning phase. So far, the Committee is leaning toward holding the traditional ceremonies in Southfields and at the Monument in Town. Any other activities will be postponed until a later date.
Councilperson May reported that the Town’s new Website consultant, Civics Plus, is in the process of finalizing the survey they will be circulating to help ascertain what features Town residents are looking for on the website. She also reported on the Town’s thank you video to First Responders and essential; workers that she has been working on. The video can be viewed on the Town’s You Tube Channel.
Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announced that Moving Tuxedo Forward would take place on June 20. At this events the various committee who have been working on the Economic Development will present what they’ve been doing to Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, State Senator Jen Metzger and State Assemblyman Karl Brabenec. This will be done either by video conference or in public if allowed by then. The public is invited to attend either form of the presentations.

Public Comments on Agenda Items:
There were none.

Agenda Items:
1-Resolution to grant Moratorium Waiver to Augusta Properties – This was passed unanimously. There will be a public hearing on this project at the Planning Board meeting on May 12.
2-Resolution to schedule workshops for Zoning Code/Comprehensive Plan – The Supervisor stated that they are having a hard time finding dates, which work for Board members as well as Town Planner Bonnie Fresno. They will continue to work on this scheduling via phone.
3-Resolution adopting Final Consolidation Plan – This was unanimously passed.

Department Head Updates:
Police Chief Abbott stated that his department was preparing for another large influx of hikers over the weekend. They will again be ticketing people who park along Route 17. There will, however, be free parking available in the lower commuter lot. (on weekends only). The police are also conscious of extra parking in the East Village and will be patrolling the area.
Highway Superintendent Dollbaum reported that his department has finished up tree trimming for the year and will be segueing into more roadwork.

Vouchers were discussed and approved and the Town Board left to go into an Executive Session to receive advice from Counsel regarding a personnel issue. When they came back approximately an hour and a half later, they announced two things:
1-the Democratic Primary is back on for June 23rd. Since this is expected to be a low turnout event, the thinking at this point is to hold it for all districts in the Train Station. Details still need to be finalized with the Board of Elections..
2- the Board has voted unanimously to give Poiice Chief Arthur Abbot a raise in salary to $35,000. This raise will be retroactive to January 1, 2020.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.

The Town Board met virtually via WebEx on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm. All members were present.

Public Hearing # 1 – Continuation of Town Village Consolidation:
Town Attorney Marissa Weiss gave a short summary of the Town Village Consolidation plan along with a timeline of how it came to be. The Plan is available on the Town website. There were no comments from the public and the public hearing was adjourned. Written comments sent to the Town Clerk will be accepted through April 30. The Board will not be holding a second hearing on this matter.

Public Hearing # 2 – Moratorium on Development Approvals:
There were no comments and the public hearing was closed. Written comments sent to the Town Clerk will be accepted through April 30. Since the Town must wait to hear from the County before taking action, this will not be voted on until the next meeting.

Supervisor/Town Board Update:
Supervisor English reported that the Town’s Moody’s rating has gone up two levels. The Town continues to work with the DEC in regard to the Highway Department site. The site has been secured and they are currently working on a testing procedure and a remediation plan. The reopening of Town Hall will depend upon a sanitation plan. Shari Brooks is working on finding a contractor to do this work and, once it has been done, they can consider reopening the building. Councilmembers May and McMillen reported that they have recommended that the Town sign a contract with Civic Plus for the Town’s website and they are very excited about the improvements that will be coming to the website. Councilmember McMillen recapped the information from the Town’s recent press conference announcing the donation of face masks by Michael Bruno and Cathy Morris as well as from Tuxedo resident Michael Coleman. These masks will be made available to the police and other first responders in Town as well as Town employees. Deputy Supervisor Lindsay announced that the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has an emergency loan fund of $500,000 available for loans to small businesses that have 25 or fewer employees. The maximum loan is $10,000 with no interest for 6 months, after which there is a 2% interest rate. The loan will need to be repaid within 24 months. Follow these links for more information:
https://www.ocnyida.com/press-release/
https://www.ocnyida.com/funding-corporation/small-business-loan/
She also stated that there would be a workshop meeting on Monday, May 4 at 7 pm to review the zoning code. Also on Monday May 4, during the day, the Town will hold a pre-bid meeting with interested contractors who wish to work on the ADA projects at Town Hall that the Town has recently received funding for. She closed with reminding residents to complete and submit census replies.