Wappingers Falls board adopts procurement policy, OKs SEQRA negative declaration; several local laws introduced

The Village of Wappingers Falls Board of Trustees on Feb. 12 adopted a municipal procurement policy, approved a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) negative declaration for a proposed zoning change and introduced two new local laws on littering and loitering, setting public hearings on those drafts.

Trustees voted on a series of routine and substantive agenda items at the regular monthly meeting, approving hiring and personnel actions, a conditional engineering waiver for a West Main Street project and authorizing the mayor to sign paperwork for a Wappinger Central School District capital project.

The board carried Resolution 7-25, adopting the village procurement policy. Village Attorney Lindars told trustees the General Municipal Law requires municipalities to adopt procurement policies for purchases not subject to public bidding; the board voted to adopt the policy.

Trustees also carried Resolution 4-25, adopting a negative declaration and associated Environmental Assessment Forms (EAF Parts 1–3) for Local Law Number 1 of 2025, which formally had been introduced as Local Law Number 4 of 2024 to amend Chapter 151 (Zoning). The board kept the public hearing on that zoning local law open and published a new notice: the board set a continuation for Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m.

Two new local laws were introduced and set for public hearings. Resolution 5-25 introduced a local law creating a chapter on littering; Resolution 6-25 introduced a local law creating a chapter on loitering. Trustees later confirmed both hearings would be scheduled for March 12, 2025.

Other actions carried or were recorded by the board during the meeting: approval of minutes from the Jan. 8 meeting; authorization to pay bills as per approved warrant; acceptance of a leave of absence for part-time court clerk Lee Cohen; acceptance of the resignation of part-time court clerk Jamie Boldrin; approval to hire Stephanie DeMasi as a seasonal deputy court clerk; hiring Jennifer Bofford as full-time secretary to the planning board; and 30-day advance notice approval for a temporary retail permit application at 2703 West Main Street (the former Hogg). Three additional hirings were moved to executive session for further discussion.

Trustees conditionally approved a waiver related to a grease interceptor at 2703 West Main Street based on conditions in a letter from village engineer Todd Atkinson. The mayor was also authorized to sign a letter allowing Wappinger Central School District to act as lead agency on a junior-high capital project.

Votes were recorded by voice on the record; vote tallies were announced as "Aye/Carried" in each instance where the transcript records the outcome.

Votes at a glance - Minutes (Jan. 8) — Approved (motion carried) - Authorization to pay bills — Approved (motion carried) - Public hearing on zoning local law (Local Law No. 1 of 2025) — Continued to Feb. 26, 2025, 6:00 p.m.; new public notice to be published - Resolution 4-25 (SEQRA negative declaration for Local Law No. 1 of 2025) — Adopted (motion carried) - Resolution 5-25 (introducing littering local law) — Introduced; public hearing set for March 12, 2025 - Resolution 6-25 (introducing loitering local law) — Introduced; public hearing set for March 12, 2025 - Resolution 7-25 (adopt procurement policy) — Adopted (motion carried) - Leave of absence, part-time court clerk Lee Cohen (effective Jan. 13) — Approved - Acceptance of resignation, part-time court clerk Jamie Boldrin (effective Jan. 27) — Approved - Hire Stephanie DeMasi, seasonal deputy court clerk — Approved - Move three additional hirings to executive session — Motion carried (moved for executive session) - Hire Jennifer Bofford, full-time secretary to planning board — Approved - 30-day advance notice/temporary retail permit request, 2703 West Main St. — Approved to proceed - Conditional waiver for grease interceptor, 2703 West Main St. — Approved subject to engineer's conditions - Mayor authorized to sign school district lead-agency paperwork (Wappinger Central School District capital project) — Approved - Relocate first-floor alarm plans to police station basement (grant-funded) — Approved

No trustee requested a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; recorded outcomes were announced as carried when votes passed.