Goshen board approves Jewish Family Services contract, consultant rate hike and several local measures; roll calls recorded

The Town Board of Goshen on March 3 approved a $10,000 service agreement with Jewish Family Services of Orange County to provide senior support services in town (with $5,000 offset by a legislative grant), raised consultant billing rates for attorneys and tenant engineers to $210 per hour, approved a raffle consent for a nonprofit, and set public hearings for three introductory local laws that would change terms of several town offices.

Jewish Family Services presentation and contract

Representatives from Jewish Family Services (JFS) described a senior independence program that provides transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, safety check phone calls and visits, and volunteer coordination. Paula Blumenau (community outreach coordinator) and Nikki Vonsini (executive director) said JFS partners with the Office for the Aging and other local agencies and currently works with multiple Orange County municipalities.

The board voted to enter a $10,000 agreement with JFS; the supervisor said $5,000 of the fee will be paid from a legislative grant, making the town’s net cost $5,000. The motion to enter the agreement was approved by roll call with these votes recorded in the transcript: Council member Gallo — Aye; Council member Floria — Aye; Council member Alliance — Aye; Council member Cantarino — Aye; Supervisor Bedra — Aye. The board added the phrase "subject to attorney review" before final execution.

Consultant rate increase and raffle consent

The board reviewed and approved an increase to $210 per hour for attorneys and tenant engineers; the motion passed on recorded voice votes (transcript indicates unanimous "Aye"). The board also approved a raffle consent form for the nonprofit Music for Humanity; the application covers a raffle that starts May 1 and draws Dec. 30, with tickets at $10 each. The board’s motion to approve the raffle consent carried by voice vote.

Introductory local laws and referendum timing

The board reviewed three introductory local laws and set a public hearing for March 13: (1) Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to expand the town supervisor term from two to four years (this change requires a mandatory referendum if adopted); (2) Introductory Local Law No. 2 of 2025 to combine the duties of town clerk with tax receiver and increase the term from two to four years; and (3) Introductory Local Law No. 3 of 2025 to expand the highway superintendent term from two to four years. A public hearing on March 13 was set, and a vote to refer any approved local law to a mandatory referendum would follow; the transcript indicates the board expects any referendum to be held May 7, 2025 unless the board elects a different election date.

Budget, minutes and other routine approvals

The board approved the Feb. 13, 2025 meeting minutes, authorized payment of accounts payable in the amount of $281,140.31, and approved multiple budget transfers and manual accounts‑payable runs (amounts and approvals were presented by Budget Officer Christine Cavaliere). The transcript records voice votes of "Aye" for these items. The board also approved a police department ARPA transfer to purchase a UTV, manual AP runs and other year‑end budget adjustments; detailed amounts were presented by the budget officer in the meeting packet.

Procedure and next steps

For the JFS agreement, the board added a condition that the town attorney review the contract language before final execution. For the introductory local laws, the board set the March 13 public hearing and noted that after the hearing the board may vote to send any adopted local law to a mandatory referendum; voting and notice procedures for any referendum will follow statutory notice requirements and were described by board staff.

Speakers quoted in this article are taken from the meeting transcript; vote roll calls are reproduced as recorded.