Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval's Monthly Reports

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Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval's Monthly Reports
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Deputy Mayor Melkorka Kjarval’s Monthly Reports

August, 11th, 2025

Red Hook Together meets every first Thursday of the month. There was no meeting in August, the next meeting will be on Thursday, September 4th at 12pm/noon at the Red Hook VFW.

Village of Red Hook Indigenous History Project:

Historian Heather Bruegl, has shared the latest update: “ I am continuing my research, which has been a longer task than anticipated. Despite the difficulty in getting replies from those I've contacted, I am still finding relevant material. I am still on track to deliver the essay and resources by the October 1st deadline. I am hoping to send a draft by mid to late August.”

I will update the board once we receive the draft essay.

Town of Red Hook Comprehensive Plan:

Town of Red Hook Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee met on Tuesday, July 22nd. In attendance were the committee members, Town liaison Cristine Kane and also the Committee chair Julia Solomon, Patterns for Progress Eric Pierson and a representative from the NY Department of State; Amanda Wild. Wild explained the Smart Growth Community Planning Program assessment criteria. The Town Comprehensive plan is being funded through a NY State Smart Growth grant - and the town is required to demonstrate in their plan that that they have considered “Smart Growth” principles such as: Community Background, Mixed-use Neighborhoods, Diversity of Housing, Infill and Redevelopment, Public Spaces, Compact Neighborhoods, Open Space, Alternative Transportation, Climate Resilience and Mitigation, Sense of Place and Community Engagement.

On Thursday August 7th, The Mayor and I also met with Patterns for Progress Planner Eric Peirson to discuss ways in which the Town and the Village currently work together to provide services and/or have infrastructure overlaps.

The committee meets monthly from 7:30pm to 9pm on the fourth Tuesday at Town Hall.

Village of Red Hook Communications:

In order to comply with a new NY State law, the Village website and all Village emails use a .gov domain: redhookvillage.gov. The Red Hook Police are also in the process of having their email addresses updated from redhookpolice.com to redhookpolice.gov.

Please update your email address books as well as website links accordingly.

Village and Zoning Review: There was a meeting held on Aug 7th, 2025. In attendance was the Mayor, myself, the Village’s Planning Attorney Victoria Polidoro, Esq., from Rodenhausen, Chale & Polidoro, LLP & Bonnie Franson from Nelson Pope Voorhis, which is the firm who was hired to write the proposed “Gateway North” law.

We discussed feedback from Rupco at the previous July meeting, and applied edits to sections of the draft law. Once the new edits have been incorporated, there are plans to schedule an information session to explain the law's intent in detail and invite discussion and feedback from the public.

Links to the 2/26/25 draft of the Gateway North law, are linked in the March 13th special workshop agenda: redhookvillage.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03132025-662.

Planning/Zoning,

See attached Reports.

Building Department;

See attached Reports.

Changes between versions

2025-08-25→2025-09-08

minor edit+13 −21

The document title and header information were updated, and the attendee list was removed.

Title changed from 'Public Spaces Initiative Meeting Notes' to 'Village Green Committee Meeting Notes — August 18, 2025'
Document header date changed from '2025-08-25' to '2025-09-08'
Removed 'Attendees' list (Ash Bradley-Rickard, Linda Digasper, Babara Westermann, David Sokol, Mayor Smythe, Victoria Rolfe) and 'Absent' list (Betsy Brauer)
Reshaped content: Reorganized 'Pumpkins in the Park' discussion points into a single nested list structure
Image placeholder dimensions changed from '[40 x 40]' to '[42 x 42]'

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8/18/2025 **==> picture [4042 x 4042] intentionally omitted <==** ## **P U B L I C S P A C E S** # **I N I T I A T I V E** ## **O U R M I S S I O N** ## **Notes** 1. Welcome and Opening Remarks - Attendees – Ash Bradley-Rickard, Linda Digasper, Babara Westermann, David Sokol, Mayor Smythe, Victoria Rolfe - Absent – Betsy Brauer - Committee Advisory role - Mission Statement 1. Ash to send out revamped Mission/Vision statement with notes from Spring/Summer for review. Discuss at next meeting **2.** RHCC Seed Exchange Discussion Points: - Does it fit into the role of committee? 1. Village can donate the item to the community center and transfer ownership of maintaining to RHCC - Red Hook Library collaboration 1. RHCC is Seed Exchange, Library’s is a Seed Library (hand out seeds) 2. The two entities reach different parts of the community, seems beneficial to have both. Work to set up collaboration separately. 3. Pumpkins in the Park Discussion Points: - RHCC would like to participate but not own the event - Reach out to Library and Historic Society 8/18/2025 **==> picture [40 x 40] intentionally omitted <==** 1. Ash to reach out to other non profits on transferring ownership of event to keep it going. (Add Rotary) 2. PS can still volunteer and participate in event 8/18/2025 **==> picture [42 x 42] intentionally omitted <==** 3. If cost is brought down, Village could still maintain event. Bring - your own pumpkins, paper pumpkins etc. ## 4. 2026 focus Discussion Points: - Meadow requirements and guidelines 1. Research other municipalities for code around meadow gardens 2. How to inspire and encourage meadow gardens and keep aesthetic to code - Native planting and pollinators 1. Municipal lot /Chamber info booth revamp 2. Advisement on layout, design and native plants when project starts (TBD) - Art exhibits and processes 1. Review Art Expo information from 2015 5. Abraham’s task force - Time Frame for development 1. Village has engineering proposal for parking lot, waiting to confirm funds 2. After parking lot is finalized, then can move on to master plan for the park - Grant Opportunities for pollinator gardens 1. Research options available but may need plan for final submissions. Do not want to plant before having master plan finalized. 2. Pocket forests or native plant info gardens, areas designed to teach and inform people while being in the park - Bard collaborative 8/18/2025 **==> picture [40 x 40] intentionally omitted <==** 1. Can work with Bard curatorial program and 3 Sister Garden to bring information or events to Park - April as Native Plant Month

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