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Rhinebeck board approves parking rules, contracts, reappointments and several routine resolutions
Summary
At its Dec. 8 meeting the Rhinebeck Town Board unanimously approved a suite of routine items including parking regulations, grant-related permits, legal representation in a lawsuit, financial resolutions and a fee for the library EV charger; the board also reappointed Amanda Miller and authorized public-notice spending for a train study.
The Rhinebeck Town Board passed a package of routine resolutions and motions during its final meeting of 2025 on Dec. 8, voting unanimously on items ranging from new parking regulations to financial housekeeping and limited contract approvals.
Key votes and outcomes
• Parking regulations: The board adopted a parking-regulation resolution that the record identifies as a formal local regulation; members said the measure can be amended at a future meeting if needed. The board noted that attorney Michael Barfield was absent due to illness but that counsel’s review had been completed in prior drafts.
• Contracting and legal representation: The board authorized retention of the law firm Zarin & Steinmetz to assist with a lawsuit involving Wayne Barnes and directed coordination with the planning-board attorney, John Mullins. The motion passed unanimously.
• Events and permits: The board granted permission for Clearwater Sleep to dock at the Ryan Collection from May 8–17, 2026, including overnight use by crew, and encouraged public visits.
• Appointments: Amanda Miller was reappointed to the Board of Assessment Review unanimously.
• Finance and capital projects: The board approved abstracts, budget transfers and created capital-project accounts for a maintenance truck and a records-building project. Several finance items were handled together under a single motion and passed unanimously.
• EV charging fee at Starr Library: The board approved instituting a user fee for the electric-vehicle charging station at the Starr Library—transitioning from a grant-funded free period to a user-paid model. In discussion the board referenced using ChargePoint and mentioned a rate described in conversation as "14¢" (as stated during the meeting) to cover electricity costs; officials said the town intends to avoid recurring taxpayer subsidy for the charging service.
• Public-notice spending for rail study: The board authorized up to $750 to produce and mail a postcard and to post study materials online as part of restarting a train-connection study and preparing a January grant application.
Votes were recorded as unanimous 'Aye' for the items above; individual roll-call tallies were not read aloud in the transcript. No item was tabled or failed. Several board members indicated items are amendable in future meetings and that attorney review would be sought where necessary.
The board also approved the formation or restoration of a water district related to a workforce-housing project and said permits and funding were expected to be finalized before year-end. That approval was presented as consistent with prior planning-board recommendations and passed without dissent.
The board closed the business portion of the meeting with routine housekeeping and scheduled follow-up discussions where legal or engineering review is required.
