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Newburgh board approves $370,000 transfer for recreation center, hires, and project awards
Summary
The Town Board unanimously approved a $370,000 transfer from the Parkland Trust Fund to finish the new Recreation Building, adopted year-end budget transfers, authorized multiple hires in animal control and recreation, and approved engineering awards and securities for the Manheim/Newburgh auto auction at its Feb. 13 meeting.
The Town Board of the Town of Newburgh on Feb. 13 unanimously approved a package of budget moves, personnel actions and project awards that town officials said are needed to finish the new recreation building and keep scheduled infrastructure projects on track. Council members voted 5-0 to transfer $370,000 from the Parkland Trust Fund to the Recreation Building Capital Fund (H9121) and to authorize several year-end budget transfers and hires.
Town Accountant Ronald E. Clum told the board the $370,000 is an estimate of the remaining cash required to complete the recreation building; Councilman Scott M. Manley moved the transfer and Councilman Anthony R. LoBiondo seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The board also approved year-end transfers to cover over-budget items in 2025, including legal and police payroll and equipment adjustments.
The meeting included several staffing approvals and authorizations. Police Chief Donald B. Campbell requested hiring Jason Kozak as a part-time animal control officer with a proposed start date of Feb. 9 and a starting hourly rate of $21.26; the board approved Kozak's hire and separately authorized beginning the search for a full-time animal control officer. Parks Commissioner James Presutti received approval to begin hiring two full-time laborers, two part-time laborers and a full-time park attendant; Presutti also received authorization to solicit sealed bids for 2026 bus services for senior, youth/adult and summer camp trips.
On engineering matters the board accepted a recommendation to award survey work for the Hill Street and Hobb Street watermain project to Tectonic Engineering Consultants, Geologists & Land Surveyors, D.P.C., approved a $130,000 budget coding transfer for Filter Plant accounts, and set required securities and inspection fees for the Manheim/Newburgh auto auction site: stormwater security $1,621,800 (inspection fee $4,872), landscape security $144,000 (inspection fee $4,000), and tree preservation security $114,750 (inspection fee $4,590). The board also approved a Manheim Stormwater Control Maintenance Agreement and a change order to the DAT Water Plant influent valve modification (increase of $3,758.44 and contract extension to June 2026).
Chief Campbell reported department items during the department head reports, including the rollout of a county-purchased records management system now in use by local agencies: "Our new records management system is now on-line and being utilized for all reports, blotter entries and tickets," he said, adding that the system required local technology upgrades the town budgeted for and that the system should save money over time. He also announced a guilty plea in a July armed robbery case and an upcoming "Coffee with a Cop" event.
All motions recorded on the agenda for the evening passed by unanimous votes. The board adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Next steps: the recreation fund transfer will be carried out as an interfund transfer per the Town Accountant's instructions and the town will proceed with the hiring processes and engineering contract administration as approved.
