Minutes
| TOWN BOARD MEETING TOWN OF COXSACKIE January 13, 2026 — Read Minutes from Organizational Meeting January 13, 2026
Thomas Burke, Councilman Patrick Kennedy, Councilman Shane Pilato, Councilman Michale Veeder, Councilman/Deputy Supervisor Bambi Hotaling, Town Clerk Scott Eldred, Highway Superintendent Donna Wasilewski, Bookkeeper/Budget Officer GUESTS: The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Hanse at 7:06 pm immediately following the 2026 organizational meeting. The meeting was opened to James Hannahs of Greene County Economic Development, Tourism, and Planning. James gave an informational presentation on Greene County Housing Assessments and Pro-Housing Designations. Each member was given a copy. April from the Greene County IDA stated that the Village of Coxsackie is in the process of adopting a policy. The IDA has 10 acres of mixed-use land. James and April will be happy to answer any questions. A motion to accept the minutes of December 9, 2025, was made by Thomas Burke seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Supervisor opened the meeting to the public – no public comments. Highway Superintendent Eldred stated that they have been busy with the nuisance snow and ice storms. They have gone through 300 tons of salt. Minor breakdowns of vehicles have been repaired in house, but the 2018 truck is at W & W for repairs that will cost about $11,000. Scott would like to replace the thirty-year-old woodchipper, he got a price of $62,268.55 for a 2026 Morbark BRV13 Brush Chipper. Currently there is $65,000 budgeted for this purchase. Scott is also looking to purchase a new Cat loader; he will get prices. The 284 agreement will be ready for the next meeting. A motion was made by Thomas Burke seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried declaring the old woodchipper as surplus and authorizing the purchase of a new one. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Chief of EMS Myrdycz submitted a written vehicle report. They had 116 calls for December and 1275 calls for the year. Discussion on emergency repairs to the heating system at the EMS Station. As we are in the dead of Winter, Rick is asking that the Board declare this an emergency repair allowing the Town to bypass the bidding process. Brian Bender quoted a price of $14,500 for installation of a new Navian boiler. Since the adoption of our budget, the County has assumed the cost for Greene County Emergency Medical Systems, so the Town has sufficient funds to take on this project. Mike agrees that the system should be replaced but he does not agree that this is an emergency and suggests getting another bid. Discussion ensued. A motion to approve the repairs was made by Thomas Burke seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato Noes: 1 – Veeder A Memorandum of Agreement between the Teamsters Local 294 and the Highway Department was presented. The Highway employees have asked to be allowed to participate in the MVP health insurance plan that is offered to other full-time town employees; the Union has agreed to let them do so. The Teamsters Health Plan costs the Town $820.40 per person, and the MVP plan costs $646.11 per person. A motion to approve the agreement as presented was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Thomas Burke and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Doyle Security Contracts for Town Hall and the Senior Center were presented. The cost for the Senior Center is $37.75 per month for fire and burglary and the cost for Town Hall is $67.65 per month for fire and burglary. A motion was made by Shane Pilato seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried to approve the contract as presented. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Annual income limits as established by the County for Senior and Disabled tax exemptions were presented. The Town typically aligns with the County on both exemptions. A motion to adopt the recommended maximum income limit of $37,000 with full sliding scale for 2026 was made by Patrick Kennedy seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Attorney for the Town, Tal Rappleyea’s retainer was presented for approval. It was noted that the retainer which is paid monthly is $1,566.65 and the hourly rate is $200.00 for work outside the retainer. A motion to accept Mr. Rappleyea’s retainer was made by Thomas Burke seconded by Shane Pilato and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder 2026 Contracts with Greene EMS were presented. It was noted that the contract language is identical to previous years except that Article 2 has been amended to read “no fee” and Article 12 omits language dealing with payments by the Town as the County is assuming the cost. A motion to accept the contract as presented was made by Shane Pilato seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder 2026 Housing Contract with Columbia Greene Humane Society were presented. A motion to accept the contracts as presented was made by Patrick Kennedy seconded by Shane Pilato and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Proposal with RBT certified public accounts was presented for the purpose of examining the Justice Courts accounting and recordkeeping for 2025. The fee is $4,000. A motion to accept the proposal was made by Thomas Burke seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Burke, Pilato, Veeder Noes: 1 – Kennedy Notice of intent to Act as SEQRA Lead Agency from the NYS Thruway Authority was presented for a project to upgrade the Authority’s Land Mobile Radio System. A motion approving the same was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder A motion to reappoint Dawn Smith to Board of Assessment Review was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Shane Pilato and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Supervisor noted that currently there are three members on this board; the Town is seeking two more members. Town Clerk and Supervisor’s year end accounts were presented for review. General Fund and Highway bills in the amount of $303,884.79 were audited on abstract #1, voucher numbers 2026-1 through 2026-83. Bank reconciliations were presented for review. A motion to accept the budget transfers as presented was made by Shane Pilato seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder A motion to accept the November Justice reports was made by Patrick Kennedy seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 5 – Hanse, Burke, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder At 8:00 pm Supervisor asked for a motion to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing potential litigation. Thomas Burke made the motion which was seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. At 8:13 pm a motion to come out of executive session and adjourn the meeting was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Thomas Burke and duly carried. Copies of all resolutions, agreements, and contracts are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office.
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