Town Board Meeting — May 21, 2026
Meeting Overview
The Amenia Town Board met on Wednesday, May 21, 2026. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including water district infrastructure, recreation programming, housing board legislation, a DOT speed limit study request, and municipal finances. The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel matters and legal advice on Route 44 litigation and possible leasing of municipal property.
Supervisor's Report
The Supervisor reported on a complaint about the port-a-let at the rail trail parking lot at the bottom of Depot Hill. After reviewing the agreement, the county — not the town — is responsible for maintenance. The county confirmed they pump it weekly. Residents with issues should contact the Supervisor's office.
Water District Update
La Valle Road Project: The water infrastructure project on La Valle Road is progressing well. The team is awaiting delivery of a modular unit expected between September and November. One additional cost item was identified: the piping from the well pump house to Route 22 needs to be upgraded from a 4-inch to a 6-inch line.
Meters: Some water meters are malfunctioning and need replacement. Residents who received a call from VRI should contact them to schedule meter checks.
Online Bill Pay: The board confirmed that online water bill payment is being explored through the current meter company. Nancy is working on the technical connections.
Frozen Pipes: The town attorney is drafting a local law to address frozen pipe issues. The town plans to send notices in the fall reminding residents leaving for winter to ensure water runs regularly.
Recreation — Summer Camp Takeover
The Armenian USA community organization approached the town about taking over their summer camp program, which they have run for years. The organization will cover all costs for this year — salaries for the recreation director and counselors, supplies, and all expenses — since the expense was not in the town budget. The town will appoint Amy as recreation director. The board emphasized retaining the existing experienced staff given the tight timeline.
Housing Board Local Law
The board discussed the housing board local law that came up at the previous meeting. The housing board recently met with Christie to finalize the scope for the FCH grant, which includes working with Victoria from the planning board to understand the housing board's responsibilities and what can be done with the grant money. The board will continue reviewing the proposed legislation.
DOT Speed Limit Study — Route 22
A resolution was discussed requesting the New York State DOT to conduct a traffic/speed study on a section of Route 22 in connection with the Hudson Valley/Hudson River organization's request. The resolution was initially on the consent agenda but was pulled for further discussion. Board members debated whether submitting the resolution commits the town to a speed limit change. The resolution and accompanying letter were drafted by the planning board attorney. After discussion, the board clarified that the study is just a request for DOT to evaluate — it does not commit the town to any outcome.
Planning Board Attorney
The board discussed proposals from two candidates (referred to as A and B) for the planning board attorney position. The approach will be to negotiate a contract with candidate A first, and if terms cannot be reached, move to candidate B. A resolution would be passed once a contract is finalized.
Consent Agenda — Resolutions
The consent agenda resolutions were approved. The board authorized payment of the monthly abstract totaling $292,134.07, broken down as follows: General Fund $189,181.79, Highway Fund $24,255.72, Amenia Lighting $1,296.64, Wassaic Lighting $498.51, Amenia Water $9,995.93, Water District Capital Project $51,186.07, and Highway Garage Capital Project $15,719.41.
Community Notes
A board member noted the exceptional spring flowering display in Wassaic, particularly the dogwoods along Furnace Bank Road heading into the hamlet, describing it as one of the best displays of flowering dogwoods they had ever seen.
The board discussed the importance of preserving the town's natural beauty and roadside character, referencing Lady Bird Johnson's highway beautification efforts.
Executive Session
The board adjourned into executive session to discuss personnel matters, legal advice on threatened litigation regarding Route 44, and legal advice on possible leasing of municipal property.
This summary was generated from the YouTube recording of the meeting. It is intended as a public service and may contain minor transcription inaccuracies.