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Airmont trustees continue sidewalk public hearing after resident questions fees, snow removal and planning
Summary
Trustees continued the public hearing on a proposed sidewalk program after a resident questioned a $150 fee, snow‑clearing responsibilities and how sidewalk routes would be selected; the board also discussed, then deferred, a $100,000 sidewalk-planning grant that would require a $25,000 local match.
The Village of Airmont Board of Trustees on June 4 continued a public hearing on proposed sidewalk construction and creation of a village sidewalk fund after a resident raised questions about a $150 fee, who would be responsible for snow removal and how routes would be chosen.
The hearing matters because the ordinance would create a dedicated sidewalk fund and a process for siting sidewalks across the village; residents said they want clearer protections before the village commits to construction or charges property owners. Trustee-level review and a grant application tied to the plan also surfaced concerns about timing and local financial commitments.
At the start of public comment, an area resident said she opposed the proposal, saying, "I'm here tonight. I wanna talk not in favor of the sidewalk bill. I have a lot of questions about it." She asked whether the $150 described in the draft is a fee or a tax, whether exempt properties would still pay, and whether the charge would appear on tax bills; she called twice‑annual assessments of $150 "$300 for a service I really don't want." The resident also pressed for clearer language on homeowner duties after installation, asking, "Are they gonna be required to remove the snow? Because in the law, it's very clear that the village is not responsible for removing snow." She added, "Sidewalks are not gonna help that. We're gonna be spending money literally for a fool's errand, in my opinion."
Donna, the village clerk, told trustees that Airmont already has a code provision requiring owners to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property. The board and staff also discussed a separate but related grant opportunity (referred to in the packet as the SS4a grant) that would fund a comprehensive villagewide sidewalk and traffic‑safety study. The village engineer told the board that the grant would pay for the plan — "It's not for the actual sidewalk installation" — and that the grant would require a local match and timelines that could commit the village to follow steps the grantor specifies.
Trustees said they were not ready to adopt construction plans or accept the grant's obligations. The board voted to continue the public hearing on the sidewalk construction and establishment of a sidewalk fund to 5 p.m. on July 2. That motion passed on the record.
The board did not adopt the ordinance or accept the grant at the June 4 meeting. Trustees said they will review attorney and engineer comments and return with more information at the July meeting; one trustee summarized the prevailing view: because of the financial and timing commitments the grant would require, "we should just let it go" for now and consider future opportunities when staff can complete the required analyses.
What’s next: the trustees will revisit the sidewalk ordinance and any grant decisions at the July meeting, after staff and the village attorney review the draft ordinance, the engineer’s analysis, and public questions about fees and maintenance.
