Richland board approves $6,000 from fund balance for wetland delineation

The Town of Richland Town Board voted June 24 to approve $6,000 from the fund balance to cover expenses for a wetland delineation on a 14.2‑acre parcel flagged by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Councilman Larry Atkinson moved to approve the allocation and Councilwoman Sue Haynes seconded; the motion passed on a roll call vote of AYE by all members.

Board members reviewed an initial cost estimate for the delineation: $2,500 in basic costs (about $1,400 for fieldwork and $1,100 for administration) plus an estimated $1,200 for Mike LaSalle’s involvement, producing an initial project estimate of roughly $3,700. The board discussed setting a larger allocation to cover contingencies and ultimately approved $6,000 to ensure full coverage of project expenses and unanticipated charges. A motion in the minutes reads: "A motion was made by Councilman Atkinson to approve $6,000 from the fund balance to cover all project expenses."

The board emphasized the delineation will examine the entire property, not only the area proposed for a salt shed, to prevent future complications if a highway barn or other building is later planned on the site. They noted that if wetlands are identified the DEC could require relocating a proposed building, although the DEC is unlikely to prohibit development on the parcel entirely. The board directed staff to call Kristy to confirm funding approval and to authorize the delineation work to proceed.