Minutes
| TOWN BOARD MEETING TOWN OF COXSACKIE June 9, 2026 PRESENT: Richard Hanse, SupervisorPatrick Kennedy, Councilman Shane Pilato, Councilman Michale Veeder, Councilman/Deputy Supervisor Bambi Hotaling, Town Clerk Scott Eldred, Highway Superintendent ABSENT: Thomas Burke, Councilman GUESTS: The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Hanse at 7:00 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion to accept the minutes of May 12, 2026, was made by Patrick Kennedy seconded by Shane Pilato and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Absent: 1 – Burke Supervisor opened the meeting to Susan Moberg and Victoria Wilson of DESRI who provided an update on the Fint Mine Solar project. The proposed 100-megawatt project in the Towns of Athens and Coxsackie has been in the works since 2016. DESRI took over in 2022. After delays and a “pause” in 2023, things are back on track. Brushing and construction of entry and access points will begin in August. Tree clearing is expected sometime in the Fall. Road use agreements, host agreements, and escrow accounts are in place. They have met with the Town highway departments, locating driveways and have final engineered plans for approval. Another escrow account will be funded for legal and engineering fees. Payments will begin when the project is online in the Spring of 2028. Carol Metz asked about Decommission plans and battery storage. A bond amount has not yet been determined for decommission. No battery storage is needed. They met with the local fire departments and emergency services last month for Q & A training and to go over emergency response plans. A preconstruction meeting will be held with the communities. Supervisor opened the meeting for public comments. Carol Metz talked about the homebound meals program stating that it is shaky decreased from 25 delivered meals to about 6-8. The guidelines for the program have become much stricter. Congregant meals at the Coxsackie Senior Center are well attended; between 18-25. Highway Superintendent Eldred reported that they continue grader patching and should be done within the next couple of weeks. High Hill Road bridge repairs have been completed. The original quote was over by $5,500 due to conditions being worse than originally expected. The increased cost was in concrete and labor. The Town offered to split the difference in the increase. Roadside mowing has started and about halfway through on the first cut of the year. Cold mix paving has been completed on Murderskill Road and two-thirds of Adams Road. They will be chip sealed in July along with Lime Kiln Road, Pheasant Lane, Lime Street, All Peat Beds Road, and the Lane. Scott thanked the towns of Athens, New Baltimore and Catskill, the Villages of Coxsackie and Athens, and the Greene County Highway Department for their assistance with trucks and manpower. The Town received an increase of $16,800 in CHIPS funding which helped cover the escalating costs of asphalt. Scott attended Highway School in Ithaca June 1-3. It was an informative session networking with other superintendents from around the State. Scott would like to attend the NYS Highway Superintendent Association conference September 29-October 2 in Saratoga. The cost of the conference is $700 and the hotel is $567. Chief of EMS Myrdycz provided a report; they had 131 calls for the month. A motion to approve the additional funds to TCBR in the amount of $2,765 and amending the contract for the full amount to $85,981.00 was made by Shane Pilato seconded by Michael Veeder and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Absent: 1 – Burke The board thanked Scott for negotiating the additional amount down. Approval for Scott to attend NYS Highway Superintendent’s Conference was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Absent: 1 – Burke General Fund and Highway bills in the amount of $175,235.07 were audited on abstract #6, voucher numbers 2026-349 through 2026-417. Bank reconciliations were presented for review. A motion to accept the April Justice reports was made by Michael Veeder seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Absent: 1 – Burke At 7:27 pm a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Patrick Kennedy seconded by Shane Pilato and duly carried. Ayes: 4 – Hanse, Kennedy, Pilato, Veeder Absent: 1 – Burke Copies of all resolutions, agreements, and contracts are on file in the Town Clerk’s Office. __________________________________ Read minutes from last month |