The Village of Rhinebeck Board of Trustees approved a series of personnel, construction and administrative actions during its monthly meeting, including hiring two police officers, approving a change order for the Center Street project and passing multiple salary resolutions.

The approvals were routine votes taken during the regular meeting. The board voted to hire John Reiner and Michael Whelan as officers for the Village of Rhinebeck Police Department. Trustees approved change order number 6 for the Center Street project, which includes replacement of a manhole frame and cover and yielded a net contract savings. They also approved a consultant agreement tied to a federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant (see separate article) and authorized several personnel salary resolutions covering elected officials, judges and full‑ and part‑time staff for the fiscal year beginning June 2, 2025.

Why it matters: These votes finalize immediate staffing needs, close out a capital project change order and set compensation levels and contracting authority that affect the village’s operating budget and planned capital work.

Key outcomes and context:
- Police hires: The board welcomed John Reiner and Michael Whelan as new village police officers after brief introductions on their prior policing experience. No dissent was recorded.
- Center Street change order: Change order number 6, which addressed a sinking manhole frame and an area of puddling identified after paving, was approved. The board was told project reconciliation produced $15,833.57 in savings while the manhole frame/cover replacement cost was $12,000; the net effect leaves the contract roughly $3,833.57 under the overall authorized budget.
- TAP consultant/TAP-funded work (preliminary engineering/management): The board approved a consultant agreement to begin work on a multi‑year TAP project (separate article summarizes the scope). The board authorized the deputy mayor to sign the agreement.
- Salary resolutions: The board adopted a set of resolutions setting yearly compensation for the mayor and trustees, judicial compensation and wage rates for water, sewer, highway and administrative staff effective June 2, 2025 through June 1, 2026.
- Routine administrative approvals: Trustees approved vouchers presented for payment, two small prior‑year write‑offs ($165 and $28.64), the surplus auction of Village Hall audio equipment, and multiple community event permits (Juneteenth display, school music performance, Rhinebeck Lions Club rubber duck race).

What the board did not finish: Several substantive items — notably a proposed larger transfer to cover water and sewer budget overages and a proposed traffic restriction/public hearing for Beach Street — were discussed at length but tabled or dropped for now (see separate articles). The board directed staff to provide additional documentation on those items.

The approvals take immediate effect; staff and contracting parties were directed to carry out the implemented items and to return with any required follow‑up documentation or implementation schedules.