November 6, 2025

Board Members Present: Supervisor Dave Helsley, Council Member Austin Sullivan, Council Member Kaare Christian, Council Member Sarah Suarez

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

Others Present: Chris Brown, Columbia County Land Bank; Alex Steer, Germantown Traffic Safety Board; Tatiana Carayannis, Recreation Committee Chair; Tony Albino, Fire Commissioner (via Zoom); Community Members

Zoning Workshop

The Board held a zoning workshop prior to the regular meeting to review proposed revisions to the town’s current regulations, specifically for signage and short-term rentals. The workshop focused on detailed comments and substantive changes to the draft being developed by consultant Matthew Rogers of LaBella Associates as part of the comprehensive update. Attorney Smith and consultant Rogers will incorporate the Board’s revisions into an updated draft, and once the Board reaches consensus on all substantive changes the revised materials will be forwarded to the Town Planning Board, Town Zoning Board and Code Enforcement Officer for formal review and comment as required by town code. A public hearing will then be scheduled on the comprehensive Zoning and Subdivision Law update.

Background: The town has been working on a comprehensive update to its Zoning and Subdivision Law for nearly two years to align with the 2018 Comprehensive Plan. At the October 14 meeting the Board decided to hold a workshop to review and discuss updated signage regulations and short-term rental model regulations before scheduling public input sessions.

Temporary Signs – Size and Quantity Adjustments

Councilmember Christian raised concerns about the proposed temporary sign regulations, noting that current limits of 6 square feet maximum area and 4 feet maximum height are unrealistic in today’s environment, noting common political campaign signs regularly exceed these limits, with recent examples of 3-by-4 foot signs placed throughout town.

Christian suggested increasing the limit for a single temporary ground sign to 12 square feet and allowing up to 18 total square feet per lot (rather than the current 3-sign limit), which would permit approximately six standard campaign signs per property. He noted that driving north on Route 9G reveals multiple campaign signs in a row, which the board views as acceptable.

Councilmember Sullivan and Supervisor Helsley agreed with the adjustment, sharing that campaign sign quantities of five to seven signs per household are typical during election cycles. The Board endorsed Christian’s suggested revisions to reflect realistic contemporary practice.

Sign Illumination – Down-lighting Requirement

Councilmember Christian proposed adding down-lighting only requirements to the sign illumination standards for all new installations, explaining that upward-pointing lighting contributes to light pollution, affects nighttime sky visibility and creates glare in neighboring properties.

The proposed language would require all external sign illumination to be “fully shielded” and directed downward. Existing signs would be grandfathered in, with the down-lighting standard applying only to new installations or modifications. Supervisor Helsley and Councilmember Sullivan expressed agreement with making this a down-lighting-only town.

Nighttime Illumination Hours and Non-Business Signs

The Board discussed language stating that signs shall not be illuminated between 10 PM and 6 AM unless the premises are open for business. Councilmember Christian sought clarification to strengthen protections for non-business signs, proposing that such signs remain dark during these hours regardless of occupancy.

Attorney Smith agreed to review the proposal to ensure compliance with free speech considerations, while noting that illumination regulations are generally subject to reasonable regulation. The Board indicated support for stronger language protecting against unnecessary nighttime illumination of non-commercial signs.

Internally Illuminated Signs – Zoning District Restrictions

The Board debated which zoning districts should permit internally illuminated signs. Councilmember Christian argued that internally illuminated signs are inconsistent with hamlet character and should not be permitted in Hamlet Multipurpose (HMU) zones. However, he supported allowing them in Highway Commercial (HC) (the Route 9G corridor) and the newly created Rural Commercial (RC) district.

The Board agreed to permit internally illuminated signs only in HC and RC zones, removing them from Business Development and Hamlet Multipurpose zones. This change preserves the hamlet’s visual character while allowing commercial signage in appropriate zones.

Residential District Sign Standards

The Board identified conflicting language in residential district standards stating “One sign not to exceed 6 square feet, but signs shall not exceed 3 square feet.” After discussion, the Board agreed the language should read: “One sign not to exceed 3 square feet, and signs total should not exceed 6 square feet,” effectively allowing up to two 3-square-foot signs per residential property.

Summary
Attorney Smith will include aforementioned updates to the Zoning draft laws and the Board will announce a time to open for public comments before proceeding.

Old Business

Columbia County Land Bank Property Transfer

Chris Brown, representing the Columbia County Land Bank, presented an update to the proposed transfer of two tax-foreclosed county parcels (approximately 7.2 contiguous acres on Route 8) to the Land Bank for affordable housing development. This represents a continuation of discussions from February 2025.

Background: The Land Bank was created by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors and includes three town supervisors and four county employees to ensure towns have a voice in decisions affecting town properties. The Land Bank Board identifies properties of interest on the foreclosure list and then seeks permission from the relevant town executive body before proceeding with acquisition.

These two parcels (approximately 7.2-acres) are currently owned by Columbia County following tax foreclosure. Brown indicated the resolution for Board approval should appear on the county governance committee agenda (meeting November 19), with full Board vote anticipated in December. Habitat for Humanity has partnered with the Land Bank as a disposition partner and plans to seek grant funding to construct affordable housing on the site. Brown estimated that if grant funding is secured, earliest construction could begin within 1-2 years, with project completion and tax payments following thereafter.

Parsonage Roof Replacement

Work on the parsonage roof replacement by Better Homes Builders began this week, with significant progress made despite discovery of structural issues. Supervisor Helsley coordinated with Anthony Cidras (DPW Highway Superintendent) and Tom Shannon (Town Historian) to make the decision to perform necessary reinforcement to the damaged roof, essential to the structural integrity of the building.

Background: The Board awarded the $58,786.25 contract to Better Homes Builders in September 2025 after receiving seven bids. The project involves 24-gauge standing seam metal roofing (upgraded from 26-gauge for higher quality despite a $6,000 cost difference).

Salt Shed Solar Array

National Grid is installing a new utility pole for the Salt Shed solar project due to the existing pole being overloaded. Hudson Valley Solar submitted roof measurements, with installation expected within 7-10 days. The request to remove the town’s accounts from Community Solar has been sent to National Grid for processing. Supervisor Helsley expressed confidence the project will be online by end of November, as required to maintain the $50,000 grant.

Background: This project was awarded to SKJ Electric for $66,817.27 in August 2025, funded through the Green Revolving Grant account and fund balance. The project includes a separate electrical service to enable proper interconnection with the grid ahead of the generator, as required by code.

Hamlet Traffic Safety Initiative

The Board adopted a resolution requesting that Columbia County install traffic calming measures in the hamlet and reduce the speed limit, specifically on Rte 8 between NYS Rte 9G and Hover Avenue. The Board passed a separate resolution requesting a speed limit reduction in the hamlet to 25 miles per hour (the lowest legally permitted outside school zones without additional authorization). Both resolutions require Columbia County and New York State approval. If New York State rejects the speed limit proposal, the Board may ask Columbia County to explore other traffic safety interventions.

Background: Ongoing traffic safety concerns have been raised by local business owners regarding dangerous driving conditions and excessive speeds in the hamlet. Councilmember Sullivan and Supervisor Helsley have observed increased sheriff patrol presence. Alex Steer was recently appointed as Germantown’s representative to the Columbia County Traffic Safety Board and will voice these concerns at the next Traffic Safety Board meeting.

New Business

2026 Town Operating Budget Adoption

The Board formally adopted the 2026 Town Operating Budget. The public hearing on the preliminary budget was held on October 14, 2025, with no public comments received. Minor amendments were made to reflect final planning decisions:

  • Building Department Equipment: Reduced from $10,000 to $5,000
  • Data Processing (Computers and Software): Allocated increases totaling $3,000 to account for proper reallocation of Columbia County computer services fees
  • Bottom line budget remains unchanged with these internal reallocations

The Board voted unanimously to approve the amended 2026 budget as established for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2026.

Recreation Committee Presentation

The six-month-old Recreation Committee presented a progress report on its community engagement and programming initiatives. Committee Chair Tatiana Carayannis outlined the committee’s approach to expanding recreational opportunities, which included organizing various pop-up activities and clinics to gauge community interest. So far the two most popular activities are pickleball and a co-ed soccer league (enough players signed up to fund the entire winter season). Committee member Sandra Osborne added that the Parkinson’s pickleball pop-up drew substantial community interest and plans are underway for a regular Parkinson’s pickleball program for people with PD once permanent courts are available. While the Committee researches where best to place permanent pickleball courts, it requested that lines be painted instead of made with tape onto the basketball courts (which will get repainted as well).

Comments from the Board

Councilmember Suarez announced a community member reached out offering landscape services for the town, with inexpensive and simple ideas to beautify certain areas. Suarez also suggested the Board devise a calendar for the Town website that would include the reservation schedule for the Kellner Center, so that the public is made aware of its availability.

Councilmember Christian announced that a representative from the DEC Climate Resilient team reached out with a request to interview people about flooding at Lasher Park, and Supervisor Helsey said he would discuss with Anthony Cidras. Christian added that the DEC has an invasive species grant with a deadline in December, and he wants to apply for that to get a second boat and cutter for the water chestnuts.

Christian also announced consultant (Matthew) Rogers applied for a Greenway grant to help fund the rezoning effort. He will follow up with the paperwork.

Town Clerk Vale received an email about the Columbia Land Conservancy doing a survey. Supervisor Helsey said he would complete this.

Comments from the Public

Fire Commissioner Tony Albino requested that the public be informed that under the new law all monitored fire alarm systems must be registered. The Board agreed to post the notification on the Town website, send an email via Mailchimp and perhaps include a notice in next year’s tax bills.

Martin Overington mentioned there will be an event at the First Reform Church in December (date to be announced) in honor of Donna Diehl and the Board agreed to put it on the town calendar.

Upcoming

The annual Winter Glow is scheduled for December 13. The next Town Board meeting will be held December 9 at 7 PM.