Rhinebeck board: quick votes — CCA extension, cemetery rules, streetlight maintenance and other routine approvals

The Town of Rhinebeck board approved a series of routine agenda items during its March 24 meeting. The board handled renewals, administrative appointments, grant agreements and several program and personnel approvals by voice vote; the transcript records the motions as passing, generally by unanimous aye votes.

Votes and key details recorded on the agenda (outcomes as recorded in the meeting transcript):

- Tab 1 — Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) renewal extension (2025O901 / agenda item for CCA renewal): The board extended the town’s CCA contract for five months to maintain a 50% New York-sourced renewable supply at 11.2¢ per kilowatt-hour. The chair noted Central Hudson rates had recently risen to about 16.6¢/kWh and recommended residents monitor rates. Motion carried unanimously.

- Tab 2 — Two-year extension for streetlight maintenance (2025-102): Motion approved unanimously.

- Tab 3 — Cemetery employee (20 25 1 03): Motion to approve appointment passed unanimously.

- Tab 4 — Partners for Climate Change cemetery grant agreement (20 25 1 04): Grant agreement approved unanimously.

- Tab 5 & 6 — Amendments to cemetery rules (20 25 1 05 and 20 25 1 06): The board approved changes clarifying planting setbacks around headstones (no planting within 18 inches) and related rules; members were warned the changes could cause emotional responses from families. Motions passed unanimously.

- Tab 7 — Tax collector to attend educational conference (20 25 1 07): Approved unanimously.

- Bookkeeper and supervisor to attend finance and personnel conference (agenda item): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 9 — Committee on building permits and planning process (agenda item 202-5109): Board formed a review committee to document and clarify building permit and planning-board procedures; committee includes staff, a former deputy supervisor, planning and zoning representatives, and an architect. Motion carried unanimously.

- Tab 10 — Park security cameras (20 25 1 10): Motion approved to install additional cameras and perform an audit of park security measures. Passed unanimously.

- Tab 11 — Recreation Earth Day event (20 25 1 11): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 12 — Recreation new hires (20 25 1 12): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 13 — Training reimbursement (20 25 1 13): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 14 — Amendment to summer camp registration (20 25 1 14): Board approved changing registration from grade-based to age-based format; motion passed unanimously.

- Tab 15 — Auction of maintenance equipment (20 25 1 15): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 16 — Purchase of robotic pool vacuum for kiddie pool (20 25 1 16): Approved unanimously.

- Tab 18 — Creation of capital projects (20 25 1 18, 20 25 1 19, 20 25 1 20): Board moved budgeted monies into capital projects for infant equipment, park pavilion build-out, and budget court; motions carried unanimously.

- Tab 21 & 22 — Preliminary accounts payable and capital-project abstracts (20 25 1 21; 20 25 1 22): Approved unanimously.

- New business — Appointment of dog control officer (20 25 1 23): The board appointed Patricia Wynne as dog control officer (noting there is no county/state designation for deputy dog control officer); motion passed by voice vote.

Items discussed but not decided at the meeting included an updated Rhinecliff parking plan and an attorney-client scheduling request relating to a Red Wing update; the board scheduled a Zoom attorney-client meeting for a later date. Multiple discussion items (Rhinecliff parking, towing procedures, and townwide parking rules) were described as in-progress work with follow-up to the town attorney and highway superintendent.

Most votes were conducted by voice and recorded as “aye” with the chair declaring motions passed; the transcript does not include roll-call tallies for most items.