Germantown NY Democrats Organization

Board Members Present: Supervisor David Helsley, Deputy Supervisor Austin Sullivan, Council Member Kaare Christian, Council Member John Kukon, Council Member Brittany Dufresne (appointed and sworn in at this meeting, replacing Sarah Suarez)

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

Others Present: Philip Williams (Germantown Sportsmen’s Club); Tatiana Carayannis (Recreation Committee chair, remote); Sandra Osborne (Recreation Committee); Martin Overton (Waterfront Advisory Committee); A. Feldness (221 Main Street), Community Members

The July 14 meeting was one of the most substantial of the year. It opened with a public hearing on Local Law B of 2026 that surfaced community concerns serious enough to keep the hearing open and prompt a rethinking of the draft’s approach. The board then formally welcomed a new council member, received a comprehensive parks assessment from the Recreation Committee, and addressed a wide range of ongoing business.

Public Hearing: Local Law B of 2026 – Town Parks and Facilities

The board opened the public hearing on proposed Local Law B of 2026, which would repeal the outdated Local Law 3 of 2005 and establish a new framework for regulating town parks and facilities. The hearing produced substantive public input on two distinct concerns that will require revisions before the law can be adopted.

Sportsmen’s Club: Philip Williams, representing the Germantown Sportsmen’s Club, noted that the draft’s definition of “Parks” — which covers land “owned, leased, or operated by the Town” — raised concern among club members about whether the law could affect their existing lease. Town Attorney Smith clarified that a lease is a contract that cannot be superseded by a local law, and that the broad definition is intended as a catch-all to avoid future amendments if the town ever leases additional land for park purposes. She acknowledged the definition may need to be more precisely worded to make this clear.

River access and alienation concerns: A second commenter raised more complex concerns relating to historic public access rights along the waterfront in the Cheviot area — including what he described as a riverside road right-of-way with a long history of public use. He argued that defining such areas as “town parks” could inadvertently trigger legal obligations regarding alienation of a state asset, and urged the board to coordinate this local law with the ongoing LWRP process before adoption. Town Attorney Smith stated that the law does not create any new parks or change any existing public rights.

Board discussion and direction: Following public comment, board members debated whether the draft’s approach — authorizing the town board to adopt rules and regulations for parks by resolution — struck the right balance between flexibility and public accountability. Deputy Supervisor Sullivan and others suggested that the five (or now seven) specific town parks be named in the law itself, and that the rules and regulations be included in the law rather than delegated to resolution. Town Attorney Smith noted that incorporating the regulations into the local law would give the public more opportunities to comment on any future changes, since amendments would require a new local law and public hearing, but acknowledged the tradeoff in flexibility.

The board agreed not to close the public hearing. It was adjourned to the

August 11, 2026 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM, at which time a revised draft is expected to be available for continued public comment.

Background: Local Law 3 of 2005 has been identified for repeal since at least 2024. Town Attorney Smith has previously noted that much of the law’s content — provisions relating to park permits, the pavilion, and swimming — conflicts with current practice or has been superseded by later resolutions. The effort to replace it gained new urgency as Germantown invests significantly in its park infrastructure, including the state-funded pickleball courts project, and as the newly active Recreation Committee has begun developing a comprehensive parks use assessment. The SEQR process for the proposed local law was completed at this meeting, with the town board designated as lead agency and a determination of no significant adverse environmental impact.

Council Member Appointment: Brittany Dufresne

The board filled the vacancy created by the resignation of Council Member Sarah Suarez, effective July 1, 2026. Deputy Supervisor Sullivan nominated Brittany Dufresne; Council Member Christian nominated Sandra Osborne. The vote was 3–1 in favor of Dufresne, who was present and was sworn in at the meeting. She will serve through December 31, 2026; a special election will be held to fill the seat for the remainder of the original term.

Before the vote, the board publicly acknowledged Council Member Suarez’s years of service — including her years as a board member, her presidency of the Parks Commission, and her leadership in planning community events including this year’s Independence Day celebration.

Background: Brittany DeFresne previously served on the Germantown Town Board from approximately 2015 to 2019.

Recreation Committee: Palatine Park Use Assessment

Recreation Committee chair Tatiana Carayannis (participating remotely from Montreal) and committee member Sandra Osborne presented the results of the committee’s comprehensive Palatine Park use assessment — a project the committee launched last December through stakeholder interviews and a community-wide survey.

What the assessment found: The committee interviewed 14 stakeholder groups and collected 177 survey responses — roughly a 10% response rate, considered a strong showing for this type of outreach. The most-used park amenity is the trail network, followed by the children’s playground, the dog park, and then the Kellner building and sports fields. A significant finding was that many residents don’t experience Palatine Park as a single integrated facility — many did not know the dog park and playground were part of the same park.

What residents want: The single most-requested amenity — by a wide margin — is the restoration of swimming and a sandy beach at Lake George South, a desire consistent with both the 2018 Comprehensive Plan and the 2018 waterfront study, and with the committee’s stakeholder interviews. Other frequently requested amenities include a winter skating rink, kayak and paddle boat rentals, pickleball courts (already being funded through a state grant), lawn games, tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment for adults and older kids, and organized activities for teenagers. Residents also want the park to feel more alive, with events such as food festivals, art fairs, and live music.

Condition of the park: About 72–77% of respondents said the park needs work, particularly in grounds and landscaping. The Kellner building was praised for its recent upgrades. The athletic fields — described as having serious drainage problems, a cracked pitcher’s mound, inadequate fencing, and poorly maintained bathrooms and snack bar — were a consistent source of complaint, with youth baseball reported as having left the park entirely due to the conditions.

Short-term asks of the town board:

• A small Recreation Committee operating budget for outreach and printing costs
• A dedicated page on the town website for the committee to post park information, maps, and events
• Removal of the Quonset hut at Palatine Park (DPW has indicated it is feasible; its contents can be relocated to the maintenance building), opening space for potential court sports and improving the park’s appearance for future grant applications
• Moving forward with the comprehensive drainage plan for the ball fields — a project already in discussion that will involve full field reconstruction
• Upgrades to restrooms, the snack bar, and shower facilities at the ball fields and beach house
• A motion camera on the beach house restrooms to address vandalism and allow extended evening hours
• A feasibility study for swimming restoration at Lake George South — not an approval of swimming, but fact-gathering on county requirements and public interest
• Uniform park signage (the committee offered to assist with design)
• Protection of the Lasher Park shoreline through a conceptual design study — addressed separately by Council Member Christian later in the meeting (see below)

Committee-led initiatives: The committee also outlined work it plans to pursue on its own, including a comprehensive landscaping plan with volunteer involvement and coordination with the Garden Club; advancing the state-funded pickleball court project; a trail preservation and improvement plan; exploring the use of goats for invasive species removal in Robinson Forest; nature trail signage; using the beach house for kayak storage; fundraising for the kayak program (though the Ackerman grant was not awarded); and deeper collaboration with the Germantown Central School on shared use of school and park facilities.

Supervisor Helsley thanked the committee for its work and committed to addressing the budget and website requests at budget time. The board also discussed the complexities of the ball field drainage project (which will involve substantial reconstruction), the Quonset hut removal, and the kayak rack registration approach.

Background: The Recreation Committee was formed in early 2025 and has been among the most active in the town’s recent history. In addition to organizing the pickleball pop-ups and developing the successful grant application for permanent courts (a $200,000+ state grant approved earlier this year), the committee organized adult basketball and soccer pickup leagues and collaborated with the library on an Earth Day nature book trail. The park assessment is expected to be publicly circulated after incorporating board input received at this meeting.

Zoning and Subdivision Law Update

The revised draft code, use tables, and a list of changes have been received from planning consultant Matthew Rogers of LaBella Associates, with one item still outstanding: a historic resources map. Town Historian Tom Shannon has been working with Rogers on a revised approach — rather than a map that has become too crowded to read in the hamlet’s densest areas (Lower Main Street, Cheviot, and North Germantown), the historic resources in those areas will be listed in tabular form within the document.

Rogers has indicated he is close to finishing the map revisions but wants more certainty that the historic resources section — which is entirely new in this draft — will be retained before putting additional effort into it. Supervisor Helsley agreed to send the revised draft to the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals this week, asking for comments back by August 11 if possible, or September 1 at the latest. The LWRP Committee and Waterfront Advisory Committee will also receive the draft. The board expects to hold a workshop with Planning and/or ZBA before the formal process of county referral and public hearings begins.

Salt Shed Solar Array: National Grid Connection and IRS Direct Pay

National Grid is now making the final electrical connection to the salt shed solar array. Supervisor Helsley has begun the IRS Elective Pay (direct pay) application process, which entitles the town to a direct cash payment equivalent to the federal renewable energy tax credit. He described the application as complex and circular, requiring supporting documentation including proof of ownership deeds; Town Attorney Smith will assist in gathering those documents.

Hamlet Traffic Safety: School Zone

Supervisor Helsley tabled the school zone item to the August meeting. He plans to reach out to the new school superintendent in the next two weeks to obtain the documentation the Town Attorney requires before proceeding with the formal school zone designation process.

Other Continuing Items

Big Towel Agreement: The Fall 2026–Spring 2027 agreement is nearly ready but has been tabled to August pending final review of propane usage figures.

Parsonage Archaeology (Hartgen/Bard): Still no response from Bard College. A community member at the public comment period urged the board to pursue a phone call rather than relying on email, citing the importance of resolving the collection’s disposition before the town can move forward with fundraising for Parsonage restoration. Supervisor Helsley committed to following up persistently. A town historian’s comment indicated that both planning for bridge and mountain bike access at the Parsonage site and donor solicitation depend on getting Bard to engage.

NYSLRS Standard Workday Resolution: Still not ready. Supervisor Helsley directed Town Clerk Joyce Vale to notify all relevant individuals that those who have not responded by the August meeting will be considered non-participating.

New Business

Camp Palatine Counselors Approved: The board approved the list of camp counselors for the 2026 season. Camp enrollment is approximately 100–110 children this year.

Lasher Park Kayak Rack: The board approved the kayak rack sign design. The rack will have 12 slots. The board discussed a registration approach — rather than requiring kayakers to come to Town Hall. Construction by DPW is scheduled as a “rainy day” project; if demand exceeds capacity, additional racks will be built.

Pickleball Grant – Next Steps: The $200,000+ pickleball court grant has been approved by New York State. Portions of the project will need to go out to bid (three bids required as public work). Recreation Committee member Carayannis is planning a coordination meeting with all parties involved in the project, including DPW and the town attorney. The board also discussed the longer-term question of whether to consolidate Palatine Park’s multiple parcels — currently a mix of park, municipal building, and other classifications — to simplify future grant applications, with a $15,000 survey budget already available. The board will first consult the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) grant coordinator before pursuing any parcel boundary changes.

Lasher Park Shoreline Erosion – Conceptual Design Quote: Council Member Christian reported on a meeting he, Supervisor Helsley, Martin Overton (WAC), and DPW superintendent Anthony Cidras had with three DEC representatives at the north end of Lasher Park to assess shoreline erosion. The DEC recommended commissioning a conceptual design for the shoreline stabilization work — not a full construction plan, but sufficient to support permit applications and future funding requests. Council Member Christian obtained a quote from Dirt Works, a design firm with Hudson-area presence, of $17,500 for the conceptual design. The town attorney noted this would be a professional services contract and may require obtaining additional written quotes depending on the final amount. The board is also exploring grant funding to offset the cost, though some town contribution is expected.

Vehicle Surplus: The board approved declaring surplus the 2012 F-250 and the 2004 Ford ambulance, which will be retired following the arrival of a new DPW truck.

Sandra Osborne – LWRP Committee Appointment: Sandra Osborne was appointed to the LWRP Committee.

Committee Assignments Revised: With Dufresne joining the board, the Parks, Recreation, and History Department committee was reassigned to Council Members Dufresne and Christian (previously held by Suarez and Christian). The Communications and Technology committee will continue with Council Members Christian and Sullivan.

Supervisor’s Report

Supervisor Helsley reported on the Independence Day celebration: the event was held in wet conditions, bringing roughly one-third of normal attendance. Revenue was correspondingly reduced, resulting in an estimated $15,000 net loss (primarily fireworks). Despite the weather, the fireworks were widely praised. The fireworks vendor has already been re-booked for Saturday, July 3, 2027, with a rain date of Saturday, July 10, 2027.

Comments from the Public

A resident and business owner developing 221 Main Street — three new commercial spaces next to the Nines restaurant on the east side of the hamlet — asked the board to look into extending the sidewalk and improving street lighting in the gap between the corner near Nines and the new development. He noted the area is difficult to navigate for pedestrians with disabilities, children, and seniors, and that the existing light poles in the area have no street lights on them. Supervisor Helsley acknowledged the long-standing lighting gap in the hamlet’s lighting district and committed to investigating what improvements might be possible.

Executive Session

The board entered executive session to discuss personnel.

Upcoming Meetings

• Continued Public Hearing on Local Law B of 2026 (Town Parks and Facilities) / Regular Town Board Meeting: Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM