December 9, 2025

Board Members Present: Supervisor Dave Helsley, Councilmember Austin Sullivan, Councilmember Kaare Christian, Councilmember Sarah Suarez. Absent: John Kukon

Staff Present: Town Attorney Corinne Smith, Town Clerk Joyce Vale

Others Present: Town Historian Tom Shannon, Friends of Historic Germantown; Ethan Whitmore, Friends of Historic Germantown (via Zoom); Tony Albino, Fire Commissioner; Alex Steer, Columbia County Traffic Safety Board; Martin Overington, Waterfront Advisory Committee; Community Members

Zoning and Subdivision Law Update

The town continues to refine its draft Zoning and Subdivision Laws, which are being updated to align with the 2018 Germantown Comprehensive Plan. The Board has been working with land use attorney Matthew Ryan to incorporate feedback from recent reviews and to refine the document’s presentation.

Brandon Hannaberry from the Planning Board has provided comments on the latest draft, noting both formatting and substantive issues. The Board and attorney Ryan are moving to ensure the document is cleaned up for readability before being sent to various boards for review, including the Planning and Zoning Boards and the County Planning Department. A final workshop meeting with Matthew Ryan is anticipated to occur either in early January or by February 10th at the latest, depending on when he can have the next draft completed.

The goal is to eventually hold a public hearing on these changes, which will allow residents to provide input before the laws are finalized. Substantive issues identified during the review process will be addressed before the public hearing stage.

Theodore Robinson Community Forest

Survey work on the property has been scheduled for December, though the Board noted the survey had not yet been undertaken as of the meeting date. The Board will follow up to ensure this work is completed in a timely manner.

On a related matter, the Board discussed a proposed third-party archaeological assessment of artifacts collected during a 15-year investigation of the area adjacent to the parsonage and currently held at Bard College. On the recommendation of the State Historic Preservation Office, the town seeks to retrieve these artifacts and properly preserve them. A Massachusetts-based archaeological firm has provided a quote of $4,800 to assess the collection’s scope, provide culling recommendations (to reduce the volume of materials to be stored in perpetuity), and create a professional map of the excavation site. Friends of Historic Germantown has pledged to cover this cost. The Board will reach out to Bard College to request permission for the assessment.

Parsonage Roof Replacement

Town Historian Tom Shannon reported that FOHG is pleased with the completed project.

Salt Shed Solar Array Project

The installation of a solar array on the town’s salt shed, initially scheduled for December 10, 2025, is being extended to January 31, 2026, at the request of Hudson Solar. The Board authorized an amendment to the contract to allow the extension on condition Hudson Solar indemnify the town for any loss of reimbursement or grant funding should delays affect the town’s ability to claim state and federal benefits. The National Grid easements necessary for the project have already been secured and approved.

The town was awarded $40,000 from NYSERDA under the Clean Energy Community Program to support this project, which will install a minimum 20.25 kilowatt rooftop solar array.

GEO Cable Franchise

The Board continues to follow up with GEO (formerly Arch Top and G-Tel) regarding renewal of the town’s cable franchise agreement. The company currently claims it is no longer accepting new cable customers, though the franchise agreement is technically still in effect. The town asserts that the company owes franchise fees for 2025. The town attorney will draft a letter to the company documenting the outstanding fees and reiterate the town’s understanding that the franchise agreement is still in effect.

Hamlet Traffic Safety

Councilmember Sarah Suarez reported that the town submitted an official speed limit reduction request to the Columbia County Traffic Safety Board in November, along with supporting documentation. The Sheriff’s office indicated it will provide a radar trailer to measure speeds, though the equipment is currently undergoing repairs. Once available, Sheriff’s Deputies will conduct traffic enforcement during the times residents have identified as experiencing the most speeding issues—primarily 4 to 6 p.m., throughout the week.

Winter Glow Event

Councilmember Sarah Suarez reported that the town submitted an official speed limit reduction request to the Columbia County Traffic Safety Board in November, along with supporting documentation. The Sheriff’s office indicated it will provide a radar trailer to measure speeds, though the equipment is currently undergoing repairs. Once available, Sheriff’s Deputies will conduct traffic enforcement during the times residents have identified as experiencing the most speeding issues—primarily 4 to 6 p.m., throughout the week.

The town’s beloved Winter Glow event will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025. The event will feature farmer’s market vendors at 10 a.m., a gingerbread house competition at the firehouse, and activities throughout the day including the lighting of luminaria at sunset, carolers at 4:30 p.m., and the tree lighting at 5 p.m. in the hamlet. Santa will arrive on horseback and carriage, and visitors will be offered hay wagon rides back to the Kellner Community Activities Building for Santa visits, face painting, and food. The fire and police departments will manage traffic, with one-way traffic flow into the hamlet and a complete closure of Main Street between Maple and Church during the tree lighting ceremony.

Recreation Committee Appointments

The Board appointed three new members to the Recreation Committee: Betsey Osborne, Natasha Sweeten, and Avery Jannelli. The committee continues to gain momentum, with strong attendance at the recent Turkey Walk event and a successful indoor soccer program.

Dog Licensing and Fire Alarm Registration

The Board approved a resolution to include information regarding dog licensing requirements and fire alarm system registration procedures with the 2026 tax bill mailings. This approach will reach all town property owners and will be more cost-effective than separate mailings. Local Law 3 of 2025 requires all monitored alarm systems to be registered with the town to help reduce false alarms and unnecessary emergency responses.

Fire Alarm Law Fee Adjustment

At the recommendation of the Fire District Commissioners, the Board agreed to modify the fire alarm registration fee structure. The original fee of $25 for the initial application and $25 for renewal every two years will be changed to eliminate the renewal fee. Property owners will be required to renew their registration every two years but will incur an additional fee only if they replace their system or build a new structure. This change is intended to encourage ongoing compliance with the new law.

Emergency Medical Services

Supervisor Helsley reported that Germantown will no longer receive emergency medical services (EMS) from Empress (formerly Northern Dutchess Paramedics). Columbia County EMS will now provide ambulance services to the town, with some calls referred to Copake Community Rescue in the eastern portion of Columbia County. The town approved the same chargeback agreement that was in place with previous providers, with no additional cost to the town.

Friends of Historic Germantown Memorandum of Understanding

The Board received a draft memorandum of understanding between Friends of Historic Germantown and the town. The agreement would formalize their relationship, particularly regarding how the nonprofit can serve as a conduit for state and federal grant funding for historic preservation projects. The Board will schedule a meeting with Friends of Historic Germantown representatives to review and finalize the agreement before it is formally approved.

Bridge Infrastructure

The Highway Department has informed the Board that Dales Bridge will be reduced to one-way traffic based on a recent inspection revealing significant deterioration of one abutment. This reduction in capacity is necessary to maintain the bridge’s safety pending more permanent repairs.

Other Business

Councilmember Austin Sullivan proposed discussion of a town board resolution in support of Congressman Nick Langworthy’s Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699, S.1945) and in opposition to government mandated natural gas bans. Noting that the matter is not directly relevant to Germantown, the Board agreed that a divisive vote was not necessary and declined to take up the discussion.

Community Announcements

The Reformed Church will host a Christmas concert in memory of Donna Diehl on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 4 p.m.

The next regular town board meeting will be held on January 13, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.