Board approves fire contract, hires interim clerk, adopts sick-leave bank; tax levy set

The Village of Red Hook Board of Trustees on May 12 approved a series of routine and administrative measures, including a two‑year fire protection contract with the Red Hook Fire Company, authorization of a security certificate to allow the village to use redhookvillage.gov, the temporary hire of a part‑time building/planning/zoning clerk, adoption of a sick‑leave bank policy, and a formal tax levy for fiscal year 2025–26.

Among the votes, the board adopted Resolution 16 awarding the contract for fire services from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025 to the Red Hook Fire Company. The mayor said the parties had met multiple times and that the amount reflected funds the village had already accrued from a prior budget year; the contract amount discussed in the meeting was $120,305. The board approved the resolution and authorized the mayor to sign the contract.

The board also approved a proposal from CivicPlus to add a security certificate so the village can repoint its website to redhookvillage.gov. Trustees were told the annual fee proposed by CivicPlus is $89; the board authorized the mayor to sign the agreement.

On personnel, the trustees adopted Resolution 17 to create a part‑time temporary building/planning/zoning clerk position and engage Katie Caccard (Town of Red Hook planning board clerk) to fill the role while the village clerk, Lara Hart, is on extended medical leave. Caccard was approved at $26 per hour for an anticipated 10–15 hours per week, with costs to be charged to the general fund account 8010.1.

The board adopted a sick‑leave bank policy (Resolution 19) intended to allow full‑time village employees to voluntarily donate accrued sick days to colleagues who meet eligibility criteria. The policy as adopted (effective immediately) was amended in the meeting to clarify donations are voluntary and to refer to a dedicated sick‑leave bank. The board voted to adopt the policy as amended.

The trustees approved the village’s formal tax levy for fiscal year beginning June 1, 2025. The adopted levy raises $1,431,952 and, using the assessment roll figure the board cited ($298,302,960), yields the stated rate of 4.798479 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The resolution also sets the late‑payment penalty schedule the clerk will apply if taxes are unpaid after specified dates.

Other approvals included accepting an $800 in‑kind donation from Dave’s Tree Service to remove a tree and grind a stump at Memorial Park, routine motions to approve minutes from prior meetings and to pay bills after audit, and adoption of a motion to accept the treasurer’s monthly report.

Not all proposed measures passed. A resolution to transfer Hardscrabble event assets (including a bank account balance and social‑media accounts) to a newly formed nonprofit, Village of Red Hook Hardscrabble Events Corporation, did not receive a second and was tabled for a future meeting. Trustees discussed potential recusal by board members who are personally associated with officers of the nonprofit and asked for additional review before returning the item.

Votes were taken by voice; where recorded in the meeting transcript the board indicated unanimous “Aye” approvals on motions that carried. Where a recorded mover or seconder was stated on the record (for example, trustees moved and seconded approval of minutes and several resolutions), that moved/second language is reflected in the minutes; the transcript did not contain roll‑call tallies by name for each resolution.