Town Board Meeting — June 4, 2026

The Amenia Town Board held its regular meeting on the evening of Thursday, June 4, 2026, at Town Hall. Present were Supervisor Rosanna Hamm, Councilperson Nicole Ahearn (Deputy Supervisor), Councilperson Vicki Doyle, and Councilperson Walter Dietrich. The meeting opened with a brief executive session for interviews related to the code enforcement officer/building inspector position and the summer recreation program. The board addressed eight major discussion and action items before adjourning into a second executive session regarding the potential hiring of an engineer for Fountain Square.

EMS Cost-Sharing Discussions

Supervisor Hamm reported on ongoing efforts to address rising EMS costs in the region. She met with County Legislator Eric Alexander and Stanford Supervisor Julia Desto to explore potential solutions, including a multi-town collaborative service model. Towns under consideration for a shared arrangement include Northeast, Amenia, Washington, and the Village of Millbrook. A Zoom meeting is scheduled for June 12th with supervisors and county legislators to continue discussions. Supervisor Hamm noted that getting Northwell involved as an alternate provider is also being pursued.

Route 44 Sidewalk Project — Update

Supervisor Hamm reported complications with the Route 44 sidewalk project. The contractor Pascual declined to proceed after his bonding company refused to bond the project as planned — filling in missing sections — due to liability concerns. The county inspector, DOT's John Walsh, and Pascual will now meet on-site to determine if a workable solution exists. If not, the town will proceed to the third bidder on the list. The grant contract extension has been signed, with monthly progress check-ins required.

Habitat for Humanity Update

Elco Kessles, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, visited Town Hall the morning of the meeting. The project has secured its funding and construction is expected to begin in August.

Highway Garage — Bid Solicitation Authorized

The board unanimously approved Resolution 51, authorizing the formal solicitation of bids for general construction, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work on the new town highway garage and salt storage facility. The project is proposed on a five-acre lot on the east side of Route 22, approximately 2,200 feet south of South Sinpatch Road. Bid documents are posted on the town's website and have been sent to the Millerton News. The bid opening is set for July 9, 2026.

"Amenia Spy Catcher" Play — August 21–23

Playwright George Fansen presented an update on his upcoming production, Amenia Spy Catcher, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Fansen, who received county grant funding for the project, reported a full cast has been assembled from Amenia and surrounding towns. Performances are scheduled for August 21–23 at the Amenia Town Hall Theater. The board discussed a request for $2,241 to purchase lighting equipment and approximately $1,850 to hire a structural engineer to assess the theater's I-beams before installation. The board agreed to seek a second quote on the engineering assessment before committing funds; a decision is expected at the next meeting.

Tree Removal at Burial Ground — Approved

The board approved a motion to hire Lee Trees to remove select trees from the town burial ground at a cost of $2,700 per day. The trees have been causing shade, sap accumulation, and root damage that threatens historic gravestones. George Fansen, who identified the problem, will coordinate with the tree service on which trees to prioritize. Supervisor Hamm asked to be notified of the scheduled work date.

Consent Resolutions

The board unanimously approved two resolutions on the consent agenda:

• Resolution 49: Authorizing the closure of Main Street for the Classic Car Show and Flower Event.
• Resolution 50: Amending Resolution 44 of 2026, relating to the assignment of court clerk duties to the clerk of the justice.

Shared Courtroom Possibility Raised

Chris Kennan, Supervisor of a neighboring town, addressed the board during public comment. He noted that state law permits towns to share a courtroom (though not a court clerk's office), and that his town is exploring whether to formalize such an arrangement with a neighbor as it fits out its newly acquired town hall building. No formal proposal was made; Kennan described the appearance as introductory. The board received the information.

Code Review & Employee Performance Check-Ins

Councilperson Nicole Ahearn reported on her review of town codes, agreeing with Ken Topolsky's prior recommendation to await completion of the Comprehensive Plan review before making broader code changes. She noted that fence regulations in particular are scattered across multiple code sections and could benefit from simplification. Ahearn also introduced a proposal to implement voluntary performance check-ins for town employees — not as evaluations, but as a way for the board to express appreciation and for employees to share feedback on their roles. The initiative is in its early stages.

Other Items

• Comprehensive Plan Review committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 9th at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall.
• Amenia Harvest Festival permit work underway; Councilperson Ahearn has been in contact with DOT regarding the road closure application process.
• Wasaic Welcome Signs: Councilperson Doyle reported on the condition of existing signs at Old Route 22 and Benson Road — significant paint loss and a missing finial. The board discussed whether to refurbish existing signs or coordinate with James for new signage consistent with the Amenia welcome signs.
• Northern Dutch Raiders: The board discussed electricity costs associated with the group's use of town facilities, with Councilperson Doyle to communicate cost expectations to the group.
• Fiber Optics/5G: A resident question about whether fiber optics are being embedded in town roads during repaving was raised. The board could not confirm and agreed to look into it.

📹 Watch the full recording on YouTube

This summary was generated from the YouTube recording of the meeting. It is intended as a public service and may contain minor transcription inaccuracies.