New Lebanon council approves $2,435.90 settlement for vehicle damage after debated request for documentation

The New Lebanon Village Council voted 4-2 on July 21 to approve Resolution 2026-30, authorizing the acting village manager to execute a general release and direct payment of $2,435.90 to settle a property-damage claim involving a village service vehicle and a personal vehicle.

The measure authorizes the village to pay Sandra Ray Redmond in full rather than file the claim through the village's insurance carrier, administration said, because the settlement amount is close to the applicable deductible and the carrier advised that handling the claim locally would avoid adding a claim that could increase future premiums.

A council member asked for a complete claims file before the vote, including accident reports, repair estimates, photographs and any witness statements. Administration replied that the insurer had been notified, that the carrier recommended settlement to avoid insurance consequences and that the village had an estimate from a local body shop and supporting documentation available. The council considered, then rejected, a motion to table the resolution so members could review the materials; that motion failed by a 4-no, 2-yes vote.

When the council took the final vote to approve the resolution, council members recorded votes by name and position; the motion passed 4-2. Council discussion noted the amount will be paid from the village's claims/judgments fund (account code stated as A017) and that the law director drafted the settlement agreement.

The action instructs the acting village manager to execute the release and complete the payment process. One council member said she would have preferred more than one repair estimate be obtained before approval; administrators said the body shop used had previously provided competitive pricing for the village.