Plattekill board opens public hearing on building-code update, postpones final action to June 18

The Town Board of Plattekill on May 20 opened a public hearing on Local Law 12026, a proposed update to chapter 32 of the town’s building department code, but agreed to continue substantive action until the town attorney reviews the draft.

Chair (S3) told attendees the board would “open up the public hearing, and then we’re going to leave it open until, I guess, June 18” while awaiting legal review and responses from the building inspector. Several residents asked whether the board would accept public comments at the meeting; the chair and other members said the board would accept comments but could not provide formal responses until the attorney’s input was received.

Residents pressed the board for detail about who drafted the revisions and why the building inspector — identified repeatedly by speakers as the primary drafter — was not present to answer technical questions. One attendee said the proposed language should be shown side-by-side with existing code so the public can see exactly what would change; board members agreed to prepare clearer documentation for the next meeting.

Because the town attorney has not yet reviewed the text, the board voted to keep the public hearing open and to reconvene the matter on June 18 so the attorney and the building inspector can brief the board and the public. The chair said the hearing will be re-opened for comment when those responses are available and properly noticed to the public.

The postponement preserves the board’s ability to take public input while ensuring legal and technical review precedes any final vote.