Newburgh board adopts 2025 special-district budgets, approves $300,000 sewer transfer and multiple hires

The Town of Newburgh Board on Oct. 28 adopted final assessment rolls and budgets for multiple special districts and approved a package of routine personnel, contract and capital actions at a workshop meeting attended by Supervisor Gil Piaquadio and Councilmen Scott M. Manley and Anthony R. LoBiondo (Councilman Paul Ruggiero was recorded absent). The board opened a public hearing on the town’s 2025 budgets and special-district benefit assessment formulas and rolls, heard one public comment, and then closed the hearing before proceeding to votes and approvals.

Supervisor Gil Piaquadio confirmed that the public hearing notice was posted on the town website Oct. 16 and advertised in the Mid-Hudson Times on Oct. 17, which the Town Clerk, Lisa M. Vance Ayers, said satisfied New York State public hearing requirements. Resident Bill Fedder asked whether absent Councilman Paul Ruggiero had been part of the budget planning; Piaquadio replied, “Yes Councilman Ruggiero is in Florida right now and has been a part if the budget process.”

Votes at a glance: the board approved final adoption of assessment rolls and budgets for sewer, water, drainage and lighting districts including Crossroads Consolidated, Meadow Hill North and South, Algonquin, Gidney and other named subdivisions; it approved the annual audit in the amount of $1,340,671.86; and it authorized the relevy of delinquent water and sewer accounts totaling $619,527.85 to the county and town roll.

On capital and infrastructure matters, the board approved a $300,000 budget transfer from an interfund transfer to a Route 300 Sewer Repair account (H7123.5200) to cover contractor and construction engineering/inspection costs for repair and realignment of a 10-inch diameter force main. The meeting record shows the transfer was moved and approved by unanimous vote of attending members.

The board also approved multiple security releases for the Scannell-Newburgh Commerce Center project after the town received as-built certifications and departmental approvals. Approved releases included a $123,000 water-main insulation security (Bond #82C238244), a $46,550 clearing and grading bond (Bond #82C236322), a $1,324,131.50 site stormwater erosion and sediment control bond (Bond #82C236357), and a $261,520 subdivision site improvements security (Bond #82C236357). Town staff indicated engineering reviews and NYSDOT permit closure had been completed for relevant items.

On procurement and contracts, the board approved the recommendation to award the Town Justice Court façade upgrades rebid to Barone Construction Group, Inc. for a base bid of $275,000, subject to funding and apprenticeship requirements.

Personnel actions approved at the workshop included authorization to begin canvassing to fill the vacant civil-service court clerk position after the incumbent’s resignation; approval to hire Markiss Price as a water-maintenance worker with a target start date of Nov. 4, 2024; authorization to begin canvassing an account-clerk list for the Highway Department to replace a retiring accountant clerk; approval of a $15,000 budget transfer from Motor Oil/Fuel to Street Paving & Resurfacing; authorization to begin hiring a part-time parks laborer and an extension of seasonal worker Joseph Finch through Dec. 7, 2024; and the appointment of Sheri Drivanos as Assistant to the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation with a start date on or about Nov. 11, 2024, subject to background check and physical.

Other board actions included a $50.95 T-94 withdrawal to cover veterinary services for animal control, approval of a private road name (Lancia Drive) in the Dzicwiatowski Subdivision, and adoption of a resolution imposing mandatory restrictions on nonessential outdoor water use because of drought conditions. Supervisor Piaquadio read a townwide Halloween curfew proclamation establishing a curfew for door-to-door trick-or-treating from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Oct. 30–31, 2024.

The meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Final adoption of special-district assessment rolls and budgets: Motion by Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; vote: Manley yes, LoBiondo yes, Piaquadio yes, Ruggiero absent (motion passed). - Audit approval ($1,340,671.86): Motion by Councilman Scott M. Manley; vote: Manley yes, LoBiondo yes, Piaquadio yes, Ruggiero absent (passed). - Relevy unpaid water & sewer ($619,527.85): Motion by Councilman LoBiondo; vote: Manley yes, LoBiondo yes, Piaquadio yes, Ruggiero absent (passed). - Route 300 sewer budget transfer ($300,000): Motion by Councilman LoBiondo; vote: Manley yes, LoBiondo yes, Piaquadio yes, Ruggiero absent (passed). - Scannell-Newburgh Commerce Center security releases (totaling multiple bonds including $1,324,131.50 stormwater bond): Motion as presented; vote: Manley yes, LoBiondo yes, Piaquadio yes, Ruggiero absent (passed).

Sources: Town of Newburgh workshop meeting minutes, Oct. 28, 2024 (public hearing notices, motions and votes, staff presentations and attachments).