The November 20th Town Board Special Meeting - with 4 members - began with Agenda ammendments, bascially asking that the discussion of Buildings & Grounds Department request for a lift be tabled until November 25 and include a discussion of ARPA funding until then. (Please remember that these funds have to have signed contracts in place by December 31, 2024).
Public Hearing on the Budget was reopened, after being tabled from the previous town board meeting.
A resident who had advocated for funding for Senior Programs in a previous meetings, she pointed out the contributions of Seniors to the Town of Wappinger - garden club, easter egg hunts, halloween, christmas, beautification programs, etc. - and thanked the board for the increase in the line items. She also showed the number of seniors in the Town and County are growing.
Discussion - to finalize the Budget -
Lt. N. Stuart provided an update to the board re: Town Patrol
13 patrols a week, averaging 4 hours each patrol
6359 calls in the last 12 months - a lot more activity than the previous 12 months
967 traffic stops - stops and arrests have increased.
The Town has asked for more targeted patrols this year to help manage road safety.
The public is asked to contact Lt. Stuart if there are any issues or neighborhood issues.
The Town Board expressed their thanks for the work that Lt. N. Stuart and the patrols are doing.
Village of Wappinger Falls - the village has eliminated the village police overnight patrols - the sheriff's department has always assisted the village, and included in the town patrols.
Town Patrols are on at night, not every night - the Town Patrols are requested to cover the village's overnight - as an "emergency" situation.
Budget Discussions
Agreed to items - salary increases 3% - Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, Budget Officer, Comptroller's office - HR, Town Clerk - adding $20K, medical buy-out for Town Clerk
Disaster Prep increased,
Veterans Support
Historical Society - $7500, Sports Museum $7500
Senior Center bus trip $14,000
Engineer $100K
Fire Inspector longevity plus $20,000 (social security) for backup
Fire Inspector clothing allowance
Approved
Requiring Discussion
Building Inspector Stipends from $10,000 - to $5000 stipend (for employee in the uion) and $5000 to salary (for the person not in union)
Stipend for certification for union employee - not non-union.
Approved
Sr. Center - special events $19,500 to $24,500
Approved
Sr. Center - materials - restore to $11,000
Approved
Town Board Supervisor Medical Buyouts - $10,000 for 6 people
Compromise $2,500 buyout per person? (the county requires 2 year of service)
the majority of the employees are new - the requirement of service time doesn't make sense.. won't be saving anything
Is there a need for a fulltime person in the Comptroller's department, if a part-time person.. no need for medical - Debate ensued about whether there is already a person available vs. having moved to Water/Sewer billing. (Town Board requested this) Comptroller currently has only 1 additional headcount - even though historically there have been 2 - workload is increasing). Headcount in budget doesn't mean the position will be filled - Town Board will still need to approve the hiring.
Medical Buyout - $2500 was Approved.
Comptroller - a half-time person in the budget - Approved.
Engineering costs in Sewer Districts - Each District needs to cover their engineering and legal costs ... not the entire town. In previous years (before 2024).. this was NOT broken out. (Neighborhood Sewer districts under consent decrees to improve their performance).
Debt payments are included in Tax Bills for their respective Districts - affects tax cap levy.
Engineering & Operations are billed in quarterly water/sewer rates - doesn't affect tax cap levy.
Approved.
B Revenue... Sales Tax Revenue -- increase budget by $100,000 ... .decrease the amount required from fund balance to balance budget.
anticipated a 1.86% Tax Levy increase which is under the tax cap.
The 2025 Budget for Town of Wappinger - Adopted.
Town Comptroller and staff, Town Department Heads - a comprehensive overhaul to make an accurate budget and the Town Board thanked.
Resolutions on Castle Point Park - Playground & Fleetwood Park equipment upgrade (using ARPA funding) -Adopted.
Bill Beale will walk with a measuring wheel to form an opinion on where a third playground will be placed.
Next Town Board Meeting November 25 at 6:00 PM
Comments