Enhanced minutes — transcript-derived discussion summaries per item. Not the official record.
monthly— Board of Trustees Meeting
Agenda (27 items)
Order reflects how the Board actually took items up at the meeting (which sometimes differs from the posted agenda — e.g. items brought forward when a guest is present).
Trustee Uku raised two notes about the June 22 minutes. First, she sought confirmation from the Treasurer that the interfund advance resolution (Resolution 28) correctly stated the interest rate as 'unless required by law,' noting that the Treasurer had since confirmed the rate is now required by law. Second, she flagged that Resolution 41 is no longer valid based on subsequent legal guidance. The Mayor clarified that these observations do not change the minutes themselves and are matters for future agenda items rather than minute-acceptance issues.
The board voted unanimously to accept the minutes as written.
Trustee Allen requested a brief moment to celebrate first responders who had responded to a serious accident in the village that day. Deputy Mayor Kjarval noted she had a brochure to share but agreed to do so during her reports. Trustee Uku raised a question about lawn and property maintenance complaints listed in the zoning report, seeking clarification on the complaint process and fee schedule implications; the Mayor agreed to address this during the Deputy Mayor's report rather than during agenda acceptance.
The board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as amended.
Trustee Allen took a moment to publicly celebrate the emergency response to a serious motor vehicle accident that had occurred on Firehouse Lane earlier that day. He specifically praised Sergeant Sterret of the police department for his immediate presence at the scene and Public Works Officer Jake Smith for his heroic response beyond the call of duty. The Mayor and other trustees added their appreciation for the coordinated response from the Red Hook Fire Company, Empress Ambulance, and New York State Troopers, noting the road had been closed for approximately one hour.
Trustee Uku shared a written message from a community member expressing gratitude to the first responders, funeral home staff, firefighters, EMT workers, state troopers, police, and named individuals including Jake Smith, Dave Schwartz, Patrick Troy, and Bruce Troy for their efforts to save the lives of the community member's in-laws, who remain hospitalized and fighting for recovery. The message also thanked Tiffany Troy for keeping the family informed throughout the crisis.
Lieutenant Hildenbrand provided a comprehensive briefing on New York State e-bike and e-scooter regulations. He explained that legal pedal-assist e-bikes require riders to be at least 16 years old, have operational pedals, and are limited to 20 or 25 miles per hour depending on class. E-scooters have the same age requirement and must have operational headlights and taillights. E-dirt bikes, which can reach 40–60 miles per hour, are illegal on public roads and only permitted off-road; they require no title or registration and are not insurable in New York State.
Hildenbrand emphasized that approximately 95 percent of youth-operated e-bikes in the village are actually illegal e-dirt bikes. He noted that the village has not had serious accidents involving e-bikes yet, but warned it is only a matter of time given the speeds and the behavior he observes—including wheelies down center lines on main roads like Route 9 and Route 9G. He stressed that all riders must follow traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs and red lights, and that violations can result in traffic tickets identical to those issued to motor vehicles.
The Lieutenant described the village's enforcement approach: officers first warn youth riders and contact parents to retrieve the bikes. If violations continue, parents can face charges for endangering the welfare of a child, which is an arrestable offense. He noted that while he personally would not allow his own 13-year-old to ride an e-dirt bike, he understands the appeal to youth and emphasized that the village cannot turn a blind eye to the violations due to liability concerns. The Mayor clarified that these are state vehicle and traffic laws that the village cannot preempt or modify.
Hildenbrand then presented speed-trailer data collected on Fifth Street in two periods: June 15–22 and July 8–13. In the June period (facing east), 2,754 of 2,841 vehicles (97 percent) were at or under the 30 mph speed limit, with an average speed of 22.48 mph and only 87 vehicles exceeding the limit. In the July period (facing west), 2,627 of 2,677 vehicles (98.13 percent) were under the limit, with an average speed of 19 mph and only 50 vehicles exceeding it. Only three vehicles exceeded 40 mph across both periods. Hildenbrand concluded that while there are some speeding violations, the data does not indicate a major speeding problem on Fifth Street.
The Mayor noted that the speed-trailer data shows approximately 474 cars per day on Fifth Street, a significant volume for a narrow road shared with pedestrians and cyclists. She observed that temporary speed humps are on order and should arrive soon. Hildenbrand expressed mixed feelings about speed humps in general but agreed they are important for Fifth Street given the sharp turn and limited visibility; he noted a recent DWI incident on that road where a driver took the turn too fast and hit a fire hydrant. He recommended two speed humps to slow vehicles to near-stop speeds around the corner.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval asked whether the speed-trailer data could be made available to the public. Hildenbrand confirmed the data is open to the public and suggested that residents living on monitored roads would likely want to review it. The Mayor proposed organizing the data on the village website by street and time period so constituents can access historical comparisons. Hildenbrand indicated he maintains a folder with separate tabs for raw and existing data, organized by street name, allowing easy retrieval of past data.
A constituent asked whether Hildenbrand could explain the difference between an electric dirt bike and a gas dirt bike. Hildenbrand explained that gas dirt bikes can be registered and insured as motorcycles because they come with a title, whereas e-dirt bikes have no title and cannot be registered or insured in New York State. He noted that some states, like Montana, allow online registration of off-road vehicles through services like Dirt Legal for a fee, but such out-of-state registration does not permit operation in New York. He also mentioned that the county has held training for all law enforcement on e-bike and e-scooter regulations due to the widespread problem.
Hildenbrand addressed a resident's email concern that the speed trailer was positioned too far from the turn on Fifth Street. He explained that the trailer's radar can detect vehicles from a mile away and that positioning it where drivers cannot see it in advance is intentional—to capture real data rather than artificially low speeds caused by drivers spotting the device. He emphasized that the trailer does not issue tickets, record license plates, or capture personal information; it only collects aggregate speed and volume statistics.
The Mayor announced that the two e-bike infographics presented by Hildenbrand will be posted on the police department page of the village website. Hildenbrand offered to continue deploying the speed trailer to different streets and to provide data to the board at future meetings. The Mayor suggested establishing criteria for speed-trailer placement requests to avoid being overwhelmed with requests, and proposed that residents email info@redhookvillage.gov so requests can be coordinated through the Mayor's office.
The Mayor explained that the village operates two EV charging stations using ChargePoint's service. The town had previously covered the service cost, but the village now needs to establish its own plan. The ChargePoint Cloud Plan is an annual subscription service that links the charging stations to the web, allowing the village to track usage, revenue, and charging data. The cost is $715 per station annually, totaling $1,430 for both stations.
Trustee Uku asked for clarification on what 'cloud plan' means and how it links EV chargers to the web. The Mayor explained that the cloud service connects the charging stations to user accounts and provides the village with access to usage and revenue data through a web interface.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval asked whether the village's charging rates would need to be adjusted to cover the new service cost. The Mayor noted that the rates approved in February were never intended to cover the full cost, as the town was covering the service expense at that time. She acknowledged uncertainty about whether the rate-setting calculation had included the service cost.
The Mayor indicated that she believed ChargePoint was the only viable service provider for these stations and that switching providers would be much more expensive. She noted that Clerk Cavanaugh would normally have provided additional details and backup information but was absent.
Given the lack of complete information and the need for further review, the Mayor proposed tabling the ChargePoint proposal to the next meeting. Trustee Uku seconded the motion to table.
The Mayor presented easement requests from Hughes Holdings of Dutchess LLC for a conditional site plan approval for a multifamily development on Firehouse Lane comprising three two-family dwellings (six units total) in the NMU district. The project requires water, sewer, and sidewalk easements to the village. The Mayor proposed approving the water and sewer easements but tabling the sidewalk easement pending further review of design specifications.
The Mayor proposed amending the sidewalk easement language to align with village practices for other properties. Specifically, she sought to delete the four-hour deadline for snow and ice removal following written notice, remove the requirement for certified mail notification, and replace 'reasonable cost' with 'based on the village fee schedule.' She also proposed changing approval authority from the Mayor or village trustee to the highway department foreman.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval expressed concern that the board lacked a map showing the sidewalk location and design specifications. She noted that without knowing the sidewalk's width, setback, snow buffer, or other design details, the board could not make an informed decision. She questioned whether the village would be taking over sidewalk maintenance responsibility.
The Mayor clarified that the easement grants the public the right to walk on the sidewalk but does not transfer maintenance responsibility to the village; the property owner retains maintenance obligations. She acknowledged that the board did not have complete design information and suggested that the sidewalk easement could be reviewed separately at the workshop meeting on July 27 after the village engineer and planning board had reviewed the site plan.
Trustee Allen noted that approving the water and sewer easements would allow the project to move forward with infrastructure work while the sidewalk design was being finalized. He expressed support for the two-week delay to ensure proper design review.
The Mayor noted that the conditional site plan approval likely requires all three easements, but a two-week delay for the sidewalk should not significantly impact the project timeline. She proposed removing all references to the sidewalk easement from the resolution and bringing it back for approval at the workshop after design review.
The board voted unanimously to approve Resolution 33-2026 accepting the water and sewer easements from Hughes Holdings of Dutchess LLC, with the sidewalk easement tabled for later consideration.
Trustee Uku introduced the kratom discussion by noting that a constituent had shared the topic with her, including newspaper articles about a young man who died believing kratom was a safe natural remedy. She emphasized the importance of having the conversation and expressed gratitude for the professional perspectives being offered.
Lieutenant Hildenbrand stated that kratom is highly addictive and dangerous, comparing it unfavorably to heroin and scheduled opiates. He noted that based on his work with drug task forces over many years, he has known people who found it harder to quit kratom than heroin or other Schedule 2 narcotics. He acknowledged that kratom is currently legal but expressed strong concern about its public health impact.
Trustee Rothstein provided technical clarification that seven-hydroxymitragyine (7-OH) is a specific alkaloid compound present in small amounts in the raw kratom plant, whereas mitragynine is the primary alkaloid. He explained that when 7-OH is extracted and concentrated as a pure distillate, it becomes much closer to a pharmaceutical drug and poses more severe health risks than the plant material itself. He noted that the DEA had reversed an earlier judgment to schedule kratom because of its apparent benefits for opioid withdrawal mitigation, creating a complicated regulatory landscape. Rothstein suggested that the distinction between the plant and the extracted compound is important for policy purposes.
The Mayor reported that a new New York State law passed around June 16–17 regulates kratom by prohibiting sales to anyone under 21, requiring specific packaging and labeling, and restricting advertising. She noted that based on preliminary consultation with the village attorney, the new state law may prevent the village from outright banning kratom, though some municipalities and counties have attempted bans. She suggested that the village's options may be limited to imposing parameters around kratom sales rather than a complete prohibition.
Trustee Allen noted that the village attorney had previously mentioned the possibility of restricting kratom sales through zoning—for example, by prohibiting sales within certain distances of schools and churches. He suggested this might be an interesting regulatory approach.
The Mayor proposed that the first step is to obtain and review the full text of the new state law and ensure that any retail locations selling kratom in the village are complying with its requirements. She suggested that further discussion could occur at the upcoming workshop meeting on July 27 to determine what additional steps, if any, the village should take.
Trustee Uku agreed to bring the topic back to the workshop for continued discussion.
The Mayor presented the June property tax report on behalf of Clerk Cavanaugh, who was absent. Property taxes due totaled $1,000,460.52. Due to rounding, Dutchess County's calculated amount and the village's ultimate collection amount differed by seven cents in the village's favor. The re-levy amount due was $19,918, bringing the total amount due to $1,000,480.52. As of July 1, the village had received $1,000,330.68 in property tax payments, with no penalties or finance charges collected. The village has 763 total parcels, with 76 parcels outstanding and accounts receivable of $140,827.84.
The Mayor explained that the village board had previously passed a bond resolution in February 2025 authorizing $20 million for the wastewater treatment plant Phase 2 expansion project. As the project has progressed and costs have been re-evaluated, the village engineer has determined that the updated project cost estimate is now $27.8 million (rounded to $28 million in the bond resolution). This increase reflects both inflation and the addition of new project elements.
The Mayor described three new elements added to the project scope: solar panels to offset the high electrical consumption of the wastewater treatment plant, a receiving station to accept pumped septic tank waste from Superior Sanitation (currently transported to Albany) which would reduce costs and potentially generate revenue from other municipalities, and short-term upgrades to address immediate operational needs. Trustee Allen emphasized that the engineers have urged the village to seek the maximum authorized amount possible, as construction costs only increase over time.
The Mayor clarified that approving the amended bond resolution does not commit the village to the full project cost; it simply authorizes the village to borrow up to $28 million if needed. The resolution is a prerequisite for applying for state grants, which are calculated as a percentage of the project cost. The village is pursuing two separate grant programs that could provide significant funding.
The board voted unanimously to approve Resolution 34-2026 amending the bond resolution to increase the authorized bond principal from $20 million to $28 million for the wastewater treatment plant Phase 2 improvements.
The Mayor introduced the Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIP) application to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The village is requesting $10 million, which requires a 25 percent matching fund. The village has already secured $2.5 million in matching funds from prior grants (a $2 million grant from the Mid Hudson Valley Economic Development Council and a $500,000 grant), which fully covers the matching requirement.
The Mayor noted that the WQIP application benefits from the village's consent order and historical water-quality sampling data. EFC has indicated that having the original lab reports from prior water testing strengthens the application and improves the village's scoring. The WQIP application is due July 31.
The Mayor outlined a best-case funding scenario: $10 million from WQIP, $9.4 million from IMG, and $2.5 million in matching funds already secured, totaling approximately $21.9 million. The village is also awaiting notification of federal funding from Congressman Ryan, though the full $2 million requested is not expected. This combination of state and federal grants would substantially reduce the village's local financing burden for the project.
Trustee Uku expressed concern about potential conflicts between the IMG and WQIP grants, noting that the WQIP RFA prohibits funding of costs already funded by other state sources. She questioned whether the village had adequate assurance that both grants could be awarded for the same project scope. The Mayor responded that Delaware Engineering has confirmed both grants are available and that the state may simply reduce one award if necessary to avoid overfunding.
Trustee Uku stated that she would abstain from voting on the WQIP resolution due to her concerns about the potential funding conflict and the lack of complete assurance that the grant would be awarded. She expressed reluctance to apply for grants without confidence in receiving them.
The Mayor acknowledged Trustee Uku's concerns and noted that the village must apply for available funding opportunities. She emphasized that Delaware Engineering has spoken directly with state officials and that the village is in a strong position. The board voted 4–0 with 1 abstention to approve Resolution 36-2026 authorizing application for a Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIP) from NYSDEC for up to $10 million.
- Trustee Uku abstained from the WQIP grant resolution due to concerns about potential double-funding conflicts with the IMG grant, but the official minutes do not capture her stated reason for abstaining.Transcript: “Uku: I don't think we should apply for things that we don't have a good understanding of or assurance of getting.”
The Mayor reported a mathematical error in a prior resolution approving a non-union employee pay raise. For Clerk Cavanaugh, a 3 percent increase should have resulted in a pay rate of $29.71 per hour, but the prior resolution incorrectly listed it as $29.70. The Mayor requested a corrective resolution to ensure the accurate rate is on record and approved by the board.
The board voted unanimously to approve Resolution 37-2026 correcting the pay rate for Jennifer Cavanaugh to $29.71 per hour effective June 1, 2026.
The Mayor explained the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) process for Red Hook firefighters. The fire company compiles a list of members who have earned service award points through attendance at meetings, training, and emergency responses. Members accumulate points throughout the year; those reaching 50 points qualify for a service award that year. When members reach 65 points, they can apply for a payout of accumulated awards. The fire company posts the list for 30 days to allow members to verify their points and raise questions.
The Mayor noted that the village board must formally review and approve the 2025 firefighter records listing and authorize the Mayor to sign the LOSAP Sponsor Approval Form. This approval is required before the village can submit the certification to the state program administrator.
The board voted unanimously to authorize Mayor Smythe to sign the Sponsor Approval Form for the 2025 Firefighter Records listing for the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP).
The Mayor informed the board that the village receives a franchise fee from Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) based on 5 percent of the cable company's revenue from village subscribers. Last fiscal year, the village received approximately $32,000–$33,000 in franchise fees. The Mayor noted that subscriber numbers have been declining as customers switch to other providers, so the franchise fee revenue is expected to decrease.
The Mayor indicated that she is sending the Spectrum contract renewal to the village attorney for review to ensure there are no concerning provisions. She noted that the franchise fee percentage remains at 5 percent in the proposed renewal. The Mayor acknowledged uncertainty about whether the village has any leverage to negotiate a higher percentage and indicated she would ask the village attorney whether other municipalities have secured higher rates.
The Mayor stated that this item is informational at this stage and that further discussion will occur once the attorney has reviewed the contract.
The Mayor reminded the board that the village has a $2,000 annual budget for trustee training, divided equally among the four trustees at $500 per trustee. The average all-in cost for NYCOM Fall School attendance (registration, lodging, meals, and mileage) has been running $1,400–$1,500. New attendees are eligible for a $1,000 grant, which would bring their total cost to approximately $500 if combined with their trustee allocation.
Trustee Allen expressed interest in attending Fall School and noted he had not yet registered. The Mayor encouraged him to apply for the new-attendee grant, which would fully cover his costs. Trustee Uku indicated she prefers to attend the winter legislative session instead, which is less expensive and still fits within her $500 allocation.
Trustee Uku raised a concern about an outstanding NYCOM invoice from January for $255 related to a former trustee's attendance at the Winter Legislative. She noted that the board had voted not to pay the bill, expecting the former trustee to cover it directly. However, she pointed out that the village should not owe NYCOM money; the bill should be sent to the former trustee, and if he does not pay, he owes the village, not the other way around. She moved that the village pay the NYCOM bill and have the former trustee reimburse the village.
The Mayor responded that the board had decided the former trustee should pay the bill directly and that she did not agree the village should pay it. She asked if any other trustee would second Uku's motion. No second was offered, so the motion failed.
The Mayor noted that NYCOM offers many training opportunities beyond Fall School at various price points, and that the $2,000 budget was approved through the budget process. She indicated that if the board wished to increase the training budget, it would need to identify where the additional funds would come from in the budget.
Treasurer DeFilippis presented the village's financial position as of June 30, 2026. The General Fund held $219,381.95; the Nightclass General Fund held $1,430,360.87; the Water Fund held $112,260.26; the Nightclass Water Fund held $150,330.96; the Sewer Fund held $150,260.24; the Arrow Clarke account held $80,320.37; the hardest partal account held $40.26; the Village Grade account held $5,106.35; and the Health Insurance Deductible account held $7,440.26.
DeFilippis reported on savings account balances: Fire Department $10,740.96, Police Department $18,460.66, NICLAS USDA Water Reserve $150,460.57, USDA Water Reserve at MNT $7.93, Highway Reserve $616.47, No Reserve $3,547.36, General Reserve $19,158.18, Unemployment Reserve $7,599.28, Court Reserve $3,560.04, and Office Reserve $1,050.95.
DeFilippis reported monthly expenses: General Fund $250,240.29, Water Fund $70,520.80, Payroll Clearing account $2,270.21, and Sewer Fund $30,560.98. She noted significant interfund transfers in June: $950,000 transferred from Nyclass to the KeyBank General Fund from tax receipts, and an interfund advance to the Sewer Fund from the General Fund that the board had previously approved.
The board voted unanimously to accept the Treasurer's Report for June 30, 2026.
The Mayor reported that the Red Hook Fire Department submitted an updated list of officers. Terry Lane is the new Fire Chief, and Keith McGilvery is the Administrative President. The department has 48 active members as of June 3, 2026, including 16 new members since August 2025. Eighteen members reached the service award point threshold for 2025.
The Mayor provided an update on the sewer expansion project. The updated engineering report was completed July 6 with a revised cost estimate of $27.794 million, up from $19.5 million. The increase reflects added elements including short-term upgrades, solar panels, and a receiving station. Short-term upgrade designs are due to the state on July 22. The sewer team reviewed a copy at a morning meeting, and the team will soon meet to discuss the income survey to determine whether to proceed with completing enough surveys for the project.
The Mayor reported on the Saw Kill Watershed Community Advisory Council meeting held June 24. Eli Duker and three summer student interns from Bard College have been working on a database of watershed data, including years of water testing and information from various sources. They are making the database accessible to the public. The meeting included a presentation on their work. Trustee Allen noted the presentation was very interesting and cool. The village's new wetland committee will begin with education, using data from the Bard database. Karen Schneller McDonald offered to share her criteria-for-success worksheet and will help with the committee's work as she can. She also recommended reaching out to the Hudson River Valley Water Association and Emily Vail.
The Mayor reported that the Wave Maker Award plaque, awarded to the Saw Kill Watershed Community and Karen Schneller McDonald for ten years of work, is now kept in the village's conference room pending the Watershed Community's decision on permanent placement. Various projects were discussed, including the aerodrome, the town's water tower land transfer, the golf course stream, Saw Kill stream reclassification, and a visit from Dutchess County Soil and Water to Fisk Library Pond (which may be renamed). The County Soil and Water encouraged starting by finding the flood point to determine when water becomes a threat to the village road, then creating a plan to move excess water, and separately delineating the buffer area and creating a planting plan.
The Mayor reported that the Saw Kill Watershed Community submitted a proposal to the town for well testing, with Supervisor McKeon suggesting testing the whole town. The community is waiting for a response. Senator Hinchy indicated that the Saw Kill Watershed Community will receive a $23,000 reimbursement grant, pending review of parameters. Eli discussed the Bard stream monitoring program and the loss of many volunteers. The community is coordinating with Bard to continue monitoring key sites and reviewing which sites should be monitored. Anyone interested in monthly stream sampling should contact the Saw Kill Watershed Community or email the Mayor. The next meeting is Wednesday, July 22.
The Mayor reported on the Dutchess County Transportation Council advisory meeting held June 24. A call for grant applications for projects associated with the safety action plan was released, with an extended deadline of July (date not specified). The county has $2.5 million in federal funding available. The Mayor suggested this is an opportunity for the pedestrian advocacy committee to work toward. Traffic counts will take place over the summer, likely in August, using cameras that record only vehicle counts without personal information.
The Mayor reported on the Moving Dutchess Forward plan. The final virtual public meeting will be held July 22 at 12 p.m., accessible by registering on movingduchesforward.com. The next advisory board meeting is July 29, and a policy board meeting will be held in person on August 6. The Mayor is on the policy board as a representative from the Supervisors and Mayors Association of Dutchess County.
The Mayor provided an update on the Narcan vending machine installed in early January 2026. In the first six months, the machine dispensed 286 kits of Narcan and many test strips (including fentanyl test strips and another type). According to Eric Dantron, Dutchess County's clinical program director, this is by far the highest usage of any machine in the county. The Mayor thanked former Trustee Amy Smith for coordinating the program with the county and Deputy Clarke Devens for keeping the machine fully loaded.
The Mayor reported that the village received notification from the U.S. Department of Treasury that it has complied with the closeout process for ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding of $200,101.97. The village used ARPA funds for water system repairs and upgrades (including the SCADA system), a mini excavator for public works, the hydrant buddy tool, village hall upgrades (new doors, police phone, drinking fountains, extra cleaning), planning work, a speed evaluation study, and other water equipment. While the Treasury indicated it could conduct a further audit, the village has completed all required processes.
The Mayor reported on the food waste collection compost program funded by a county grant. The program has reached 70 residents, approaching the original grant estimate of 85. The Mayor spoke with Ray Silverman of Laughing Fox Farm about providing pound data, which has not yet been received. With remaining grant funds, the Mayor is planning an educational event about the composting process, what not to put in food waste bins, and planting seeds in composted soil. The event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning, either September 12 or October 3. Anyone interested in helping should contact the Mayor.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported that the Town and Red Hook Planning Committee did not meet in July. The Town Committee met monthly on the fourth Tuesday at town hall. The June meeting focused on the survey and the latest workshop. The committee is determining when to conduct the actual draft and timing for the final workshop. Participants used color-coded dots to indicate goals at the last workshop at Rose Hill. The highest negative dots were on transportation and connectivity, and land use and town character, though it is unclear what specifically people disliked since suggestions were also provided.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on the Town of Red Hook Community Preservation Fund. The balance as of June 30, 2026 is $3,000,790.91. She contacted the CPF advisory board chair to ask about scheduling a meeting to give their opinion on the water district project discussed by the town's advisor. The chair has not yet scheduled the meeting but has added Kjarval to the contact list.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on Village of Red Hook Communications. She published a new business opening brochure on the village website and updated buttons on the homepage as requested by Clerk Cavanaugh and Laura. She added a link to the new fee schedule in multiple places. The brochure is currently a printout; the plan is to print color versions for distribution by the building and planning departments, the chamber, and village hall. The village is also exploring translation into Spanish using language access grant funds.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval noted that the Mayor and Trustee Allen reviewed the brochure and provided helpful feedback. She also mentioned that the village is developing a crisis services brochure with a similar layout to the Narcan vending machine information, listing emergency phone numbers, mental health resources, shelter locations, Code Blue warming and cooling centers, and information for those concerned about unhoused individuals.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on the Village of Red Hook's 25 miles per hour speed limit initiative. She called and emailed the DOT safety group; the investigator was out of office but responded that the matter is still in process and will be updated when there is progress. She indicated she will continue following up.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on the Language Access Grant. The village received one proposal from a sign shop and multiple proposals from other sign makers. The Mayor added that the tree cutting in front of Village Hall is related to the recent large storm; all tree companies are currently fully booked, which is pushing the work back.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on the Pedestrian Advocacy Committee. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor have begun contacting people interested in improving the pedestrian experience in the village to gauge their interest in serving on the committee. They have also been contacted by people who spoke with other trustees. Many interesting potential members have been identified.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on Village and Zoning Review. The village board is beginning to review the North Quadrant zoning law and held a public special meeting with the village land use attorney and planning consultant at 1 p.m. that day. The recording will be available on Panda for anyone who wants to watch it. The Village Board will continue the review at a workshop meeting on July 27 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Deputy Mayor Kjarval reported on the Village of Red Hook Building Department. In June 2026, 11 building permits were issued, 0 certificates of occupancy and temporary certificates of occupancy were issued, 18 certificates of compliance were issued, 3 municipal searches were conducted, and 0 orders to remedy, stop work orders, do not occupy notices, or court appearances occurred. Three complaints were received: one at 35 Thompson Street for lawn property maintenance (remedied), one at 12 Phillips Street for lawn property maintenance (status not provided), and one at 7423 South Broadway for noise/use (under review). Zero fire inspections were conducted. The planning board granted signage approval to Blue Sky Studio for 7508 North Broadway on July 11. The zoning board had no June meeting due to no agenda. Building department revenue for June was $1,011,819, which is high due to fire inspections of Bay Wright properties that are for sale.
Trustee Allen asked for clarification on the lawn property maintenance complaint at 12 Phillips Street, requesting information on whether it was remedied or what the status is. Deputy Mayor Kjarval noted this in her records and will add a star to follow up.
Trustee Uku reported on the Highway Department and Materials Management. In the new fiscal year, open clean contaminated recycling charges were zero. Materials management expenses for trash disposal were $1,670.89. Garbage income from tags was $2,380, and the Tivoli contract contributed $2,730, for a total June garbage revenue of $5,110. Scrap metal revenue was $580.14 in this period, bringing the total since the program began in 2007 to $602,005.39.
Trustee Uku highlighted public works accomplishments, noting that the crew used a rented lift to power wash Village Hall, reseal the roof and fascia at the DPW shop, wash both water tanks, clear Abrahams Park, and take down a dead tree. Tree City USA 24th anniversary decals were installed at two of the four village gateways. The village also ordered two traffic calming speed humps.
Trustee Uku reported on the Red Hook Public Library. The board met on June 18 with Marta Tepepa presiding. The library has a new back entrance door. The library held extensive programming in June, including the Mermaid Parade on June 13 with Tivoli, centered on a reading of 'Julian is a Mermaid' by Jessica Love. The library also participated in Tour de Red Hook on June 14, which was hosted by the town's Greenway and Trails Committee but originated at the library. Facility plans include ADA priorities: handrail edging at handicap parking, ramp railings, and other improvements. The library's finances are below budget year to date.
Trustee Uku reported on the Village Green Committee. She attended a DEC forestry grant webinar on June 2 and spoke during the Q&A about Red Hook's situation. The response was positive, but the Village Green approached the town tree commission about a joint intermunicipal grant application, and the town declined. The Village Green is recommending that the village proceed with its own application. The grant is for a tree inventory and management plan to update the outdated 2007 assessment. The application is due to the state August 12. The Village Green's third quarter meeting is Thursday at 6 p.m. at Village Hall. The committee is seeking new members and has asked the board for ideas on how to recruit, such as a news flash or tabling at community events.
Trustee Uku noted that the Mayor can include information about the Village Green Committee in the August newsletter and suggested that a news flash could be sent out about the Thursday meeting. She offered to provide the committee chair's email to Deputy Mayor Kjarval so they can coordinate outreach.
Trustee Allen reported on the Sewer Department. Operations are currently status quo. There were three operational incidents: an overflow at the post office pump station that was easily remediated with no significant impact on the plant (the Mayor clarified that DEC confirmed this did not qualify as a non-compliance event), a high mud well at the plant resolved by backwashing, and the team is automating the backwashing system to prevent future occurrences.
Trustee Allen explained that a mud well is a collection point where liquid overflows when sand filters become backed up or during backwashing. When sand filters are backwashed (water sent up through them to clean them), the overflow goes into the mud well, which is then returned to the equalization tank and reprocessed.
Trustee Allen reported that the plant is experiencing elevated temperatures in the outflow, not at emergency levels but something the board should be aware of. The village has a 70-degree limit on outflow temperature per the SPDES permit. In May, the old plant reached 71 degrees, and in June it rose to the low to mid-70s (approximately 74 degrees). The elevated temperatures are due to summer heat and the biological activity of the treatment bugs, which generate heat. The operator is testing a process to reduce bacterial growth and heat generation; if unsuccessful, he will reduce the bug population through wasting to prevent excessive heat production. The Mayor noted that exceeding the temperature limit could result in a non-compliance event requiring reporting, and that cooling systems are expensive to install.
Trustee Allen noted that elevated outflow temperatures are common at wastewater plants, particularly those using biological treatment systems. He suggested that the larger tanks in the expanded plant may help keep temperatures lower for longer, though this has not been confirmed. He proposed that the wetland committee could explore funding opportunities for long-term temperature mitigation as a wetland protection element.
Trustee Allen reported that Public Works Officer Jake Smith beautifully built a safety railing system at one of the plant locations, which the operator's team was excited to have. The village is assessing costs to install similar railings at other plant locations and other safety mechanisms.
Trustee Allen reported that the engineering schematics for the short-term upgrades were reviewed at a morning meeting. He expressed confidence that the village has operators and public works staff vetting the process to ensure it will work on the ground. The extensive 700-page engineering document was provided to all board members.
Trustee Allen reported that the Daily Catch newspaper recently visited the plant as a follow-up to a story from a year ago. He expressed interest in seeing what they report.
Trustee Allen reported that he is currently receiving quotes from various energy suppliers to renegotiate electric costs. He expects to have all quotes by the next workshop meeting so the board can discuss options.
Trustee Allen reported on the Public Spaces Committee. Things are moving well. Committee members collaborated with the town on recent pollinator plantings at the rec park. The committee is working on the revitalization of Abrahams Park. A grant was recently approved for an engineering study of parking lot possibilities (not necessarily to build a parking lot, but to get ideas from the engineer). Design intern Ursula Wolf has been creating schematics and presented rough concepts of shapes; she will present more detailed ideas at the next meeting on August 10.
Trustee Allen reported that the committee is developing catalogs of flora and fauna in the park. Deputy Mayor Kjarval suggested developing scavenger hunts based on the cataloging, which will be discussed at the next meeting. The committee needs more vested community partners and is interested in developing a web page (Deputy Mayor Kjarval indicated this is in progress). Public Works has mowed walking paths throughout the park, which radically changes the experience of the space. Young people have created fun signs in the park.
Trustee Allen reported on the Wetland Rehabilitation and Vitalization Committee. The first meeting is scheduled for July 28 (later corrected to Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m.). The committee will begin with education using data from the Bard database.
Trustee Rothstein reported on the Water Department. A meeting was held on June 22. The Red Hook Central School District requested use of water from a hydrant to water fields during renovations; the village will charge them for the water. Archdrop Fiber has been in touch about switching to their internet services for remote monitoring of the water system, which will save money and provide a more stable internet connection. The village will conduct PFOA sampling this summer, which Rothstein expressed enthusiasm about given the dangers of PFOA and the federal government's lack of action. Hydrants will be painted in a way consistent with best practices. There are 144 hydrants in the village.
Trustee Rothstein reported water utility billing data for June: utility bills issued totaled $167.30, penalties and finance charges issued totaled $592.32, utility payments received totaled $10,483.72, unpaid property taxes were nil, and accounts receivable outstanding as of July 1 totaled $16,970.81.
The Mayor requested a motion to ratify bills paid in advance of audit and approve audited vouchers. Bills paid in advance of audit since the last meeting totaled: General Fund $13,680.01, Water Fund $8,750.45, and Sewer Fund $120,375.35 (including $119,455 in Delaware Engineering invoices for Sewer Phase Two covered by the county grant previously approved by the board).
The Mayor noted that several Delaware Engineering invoices for Phase Two were incurred prior to December 1, when the county grant eligibility period begins. The Mayor confirmed with the village attorney that these invoices should not be approved until the village has secured financing. The plan is to approve these invoices once EFC financing is confirmed. Excluding these prior invoices, the Sewer Fund bills total $8,718.87.
Audited vouchers to be paid: General Fund $69,321.30, Water Fund $28,820.71, and Sewer Fund (excluding pre-December invoices) $8,718.87.
Trustee Uku raised a question about a Nelson Pope and Voorhees invoice for the Gateway North zoning project, which was billed as 'Cookingham properties.' She noted that this was the original project name but questioned why the invoice still used that nomenclature. The Mayor acknowledged the concern and agreed to ask the consultant to use 'Gateway North' on future invoices. Uku also noted that the invoice contained language stating 'transmit to mayor determine what edits to make,' which concerned her because zoning decisions should be made in public rather than through a private funnel to the Mayor. The Mayor clarified that prior to the public meeting, she met with the consultant and village attorney to discuss the meeting format and approach, but no decisions were being made; the language referred to how to manage questions and discussion, not substantive edits to the zoning proposal. The Mayor emphasized that all public meetings on zoning are open to the public and recorded.
Trustee Uku expressed satisfaction with the public process that occurred earlier that day and indicated she was happy for the work to proceed in that manner.
The board voted unanimously to ratify bills paid in advance of audit and approve audited vouchers as presented.
Upon returning from executive session, the Mayor presented Resolution 38-2026 authorizing settlement in the matter of Jennifer Fier against the Village of Red Hook. The Mayor explained that this is a small claims action in which the village denies any liability, fault, or wrongdoing. The village maintains that the snow removal charge was lawfully imposed and that Village Code sections 165-1 and 165-4 are valid and enforceable.
The Mayor noted that the village board and advisory council determined that the cost of continued litigation would likely exceed the amount in controversy. The original charge was $261, and the village is offering to settle for $125 in full satisfaction of all claims, costs, disbursements, interest, and attorneys' fees. The settlement is made solely to avoid the burden, expense, and uncertainty of further litigation and without any admission of liability, fault, wrongdoing, or violation of law.
The Mayor emphasized that the resolution explicitly states that neither the resolution nor the settlement constitutes an admission of liability or wrongdoing, and that the village expressly reserves the right to enforce the snow removal code against the plaintiff and all other property owners.
Trustee Uku voted aye but noted that the board may well see more of these settlements. She emphasized that the village has no liability and accepts no responsibility, and that the village is not liable for any issues related to the charge.
The board voted unanimously (with Uku's noted caveat) to approve Resolution 38-2026 authorizing settlement in the matter of Jennifer Fier against the Village of Red Hook for $125.00.
The Mayor called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The board voted unanimously to adjourn.
Documents prepared for this meeting (16)
Compliance & regulatory (1)
Department reports (3)
Trustee + committee reports (3)
Other working drafts (9)
- Hughes Holdings of Dutchess LLC Sewer and Water Main Easements
- Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval's Monthly Reports — July 13, 20262 versions
- Sewer Report — July 13, 20262 versions
- Red Hook Commons WWTP — June 2026
- EPA Discharge Monitoring Report — June 2026
- Wastewater Lab Analytical Reports — May 2026
- Drinking Water System Monitoring and Lab Analytical Reports — June 2026
- Board of Trustees Meeting
- Board of Trustees Meeting