Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodstock board clarifies committee conduct, appoints planning board member and approves routine resolutions
Summary
At its June 2 meeting the board approved a package of administrative resolutions: a letter clarifying advisory‑committee authority and external‑communication rules, authorization to send a letter to DOT and DEC about unauthorized committee communications, the appointment of Melissa Lorret to the planning board, an amendment to a town occupancy resolution for 41 Elwin Lane, and a resolution to establish standard work days for officials. Several actions were moved and approved by voice vote.
The Woodstock Town Board on June 2 approved several administrative measures aimed at clarifying committee authority, updating personnel reporting, and filling a planning‑board seat.
The board approved a letter and accompanying resolution to be sent to all active advisory committees to clarify their scope and communications protocols. The letter says advisory committees exercise only powers conferred by the town board and that committee members should not contact outside agencies or submit written advocacy without authorization. Committee‑branded social‑media pages and communications are subject to the same rules.
The board also approved a resolution authorizing the supervisor to send a separate letter to the New York State Department of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Conservation to note that certain committee communications were not authorized by the town.
In personnel business, the board appointed Melissa Lorret to the Woodstock Planning Board with a term through Dec. 31, 2028. The board amended an earlier 2018 resolution concerning residential occupancy of town‑owned property at 41 Elwin Lane to remove Sha Cox, retain Melissa Cox and add Gavin Cox; the resolution states a monthly occupancy payment of $71 will be deducted from Gavin Cox’s paycheck. Earlier in the discussion, a board member described the town’s minimal rent as $700; the record contains both figures and the meeting record does not reconcile the discrepancy.
The board also adopted a resolution establishing standard work days for elected and appointed officials and directing the clerk to report days worked to the New York State and Local Employees’ Retirement System using the attached form.
Why it matters: The advisory‑committee guidance clarifies who may speak on behalf of the town and aims to reduce unauthorized outside advocacy. The planning‑board appointment fills a vacancy; the occupancy amendment adjusts who is authorized to reside in town‑owned housing on cemetery property and assigns a payroll deduction for the stated monthly payment.
Next steps: The committee guidance letter and DOT/DEC letter will be posted to the town website and distributed to committee members; the clerk will report standard work‑day data to the state retirement system.
