Residents press Red Hook board on eminent domain, transparency and meeting materials

Several residents spoke at the start of the June 9 Red Hook Town Board meeting to urge greater transparency and to criticize certain town actions.

Resident Roland Page said he objects to the town’s eminent domain condemnation of the Red Hook Boat Club and criticized Supervisor Robert McKeon’s leadership, calling it more dictatorial than collaborative. Page also raised objections to a fence and solar panels on Cookingham West and requested that any studies about the solar panels — including whether atmospheric conditions make panel life exceed project debt service — be made public.

Roxanne Fischer thanked the board for moving the public comment period to the start of the meeting and urged that agendas and related documents be posted well in advance so the public can meaningfully review materials. Fischer said oversight is critical given legal issues surrounding the eminent domain acquisition and suggested that one board member who voted yes could rescind their vote to resolve the matter.

Francis Uku said the Village of Red Hook Police Department is a major driver of tax imbalance between village and town taxpayers and suggested the town consider forming its own police force. Vincent DeCicco said meeting documents are often posted only hours before meetings, leaving inadequate time for public review and undermining confidence in the process.

No board votes or formal responses resolving these concerns were recorded at the June 9 meeting. Supervisor McKeon acknowledged the comments and said the board will consider packet timing, but he also noted that engineering and legal documents are sometimes not fully complete until the day of the meeting.