Newburgh Board approves budget transfers, hires court clerk and buys AI redaction software

The Town of Newburgh Board on Feb. 10 approved a series of budget transfers, purchases and personnel actions intended to close year‑end gaps and maintain services.

Supervisor Gilbert J. Piaquadio presided over the meeting at the town hall on Route 300, where the board unanimously approved motions including a $150,000 inter‑fund loan from the Crossroads Sewer District to the smaller Roseton Sewer District, multiple water‑department transfers tied to the NYC Aqueduct shutdown, and a $9,500 purchase of AI video redaction software for the police department.

The redaction software purchase was presented by Chief Donald B. Campbell as a way to speed Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) responses and to protect privacy. “What takes our officers hours will now take minutes with this software,” Councilman Scott M. Manley said while explaining how bodycam footage is redacted to hide victims’ faces and minors.

In financial business, Town Accountant Ronald E. Clum asked the board to approve several year‑end budget adjustments and transfers to cover overages including litigation expenses, facility repairs and police equipment purchases. Among the approved items was the inter‑fund borrowing of $150,000 to prevent an anticipated negative cash position in the Roseton Sewer District; Clum said the money will be reimbursed when 2025 revenues are received.

The board also approved a slate of water‑department transfers: an $8,000 transfer to cover personal services, a $1,900 transfer reallocating sludge hauling funds to insurance and payroll, and a $21,000 transfer to cover treatment‑plant repairs and consultant fees. Clum attributed many of the water costs to operations affected by the NYC Aqueduct shutdown and listed additional reallocations for sludge hauling, consulting, telemetering and related services.

The board authorized moving $330,000 from the Highway Fund into the Capital‑Highway Equipment Fund to finish purchases of two truck bodies and plows delayed since March 2024. It also approved transferring $164,000 remaining in the 2024 Justice Court façade budget to a capital fund after asbestos testing and contractor delays; Supervisor Piaquadio said the town previously received a $30,000 grant from the Division of Criminal Justice Services to assist the courthouse project.

Personnel actions included the swearing‑in of five police officers — Arthur Bongiorno, Christopher McAvoy, Kevin Espinal, Santos Ocasio and Josef Javorsky — and approval to begin interviewing to fill four part‑time dispatcher vacancies. Town Justice Jude Martini requested permission to hire Christopher Slingerland as a full‑time court clerk; the board approved the hire pending required paperwork, a physical, drug and alcohol testing and fingerprinting, with a proposed pay rate of $25.5095 per hour and a potential start date on or after March 10, 2025.

The board approved two intermunicipal equipment agreements with the Town of New Windsor: a conditional loan of valve exercising/turning equipment (with an operator) and a conditional mutual‑aid arrangement to use portable generators if they are not needed first by New Windsor, both effective through Dec. 31, 2025 and contingent on appropriate insurance naming the lending or borrowing town as additional insured.

During public comment resident Stephen Hunter asked whether the town would consider recording meetings for residents who cannot attend. “We did it all through COVID; it is something we can discuss for the future,” Supervisor Piaquadio said. Hunter also asked about the redaction software and the Crossroads‑Roseton transfer; Town Attorney Mark C. Taylor described Roseton as a smaller sewer district the town inherited with financial difficulties and called the transfer a temporary funding measure.

Votes at a glance (all motions passed 5–0 unless noted): • Start interviewing for part‑time dispatchers — mover: Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • Purchase video redaction software (Veritone Inc.) $9,500 — mover: Councilman Paul Ruggiero; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • Approve town audit $757,711.04 — mover: Councilman Scott M. Manley; second: Councilman Paul Ruggiero. • Approve January 2025 Budget Status Report — mover: Councilman James Politi; second: Councilman Paul Ruggiero. • Cash transfer Crossroads → Roseton $150,000 — mover: Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • 2024 budget adjustments and NYC Aqueduct related transfers — mover: Councilman Paul Ruggiero/Scott M. Manley (as presented); second: Councilman James Politi/Anthony R. LoBiondo (varies by item). • Move $330,000 Highway → Capital‑Highway Equipment Fund — mover: Councilman James Politi; second: Councilman Paul Ruggiero. • Move $164,000 for Justice Court façade to capital fund — mover: Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • Intermunicipal loan of valve equipment and portable generators with Town of New Windsor — movers: Councilman Paul Ruggiero/Councilman James Politi; seconds vary. • T‑94 veterinary payment $678.32 — mover: Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • Water department transfers ($8,000; $1,900; $21,000) — movers: Councilman Paul Ruggiero/James Politi/Scott M. Manley; seconds: various. • Hire Christopher Slingerland, Court Clerk (contingent) — mover: Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo; second: Councilman Scott M. Manley. • Set public hearings on zoning/stormwater penalties (March 10, 2025) and on extending volunteer fire/ambulance tax exemptions (scheduled for Feb. 24 workshop meeting) — movers: Councilmen Paul Ruggiero and Scott M. Manley respectively.

What’s next: The board scheduled the public hearing on local law amendments to zoning and stormwater penalties for March 10, 2025 at 7 p.m., and set a workshop hearing on extending volunteer service tax exemptions on Feb. 24 (transcript lists 2024; board set the date during this meeting). The board adjourned at 7:34 p.m.