Town handles budget season, settles tax certs

NORTH EAST— The Town Board met for a regular meeting at Town Hall, Thursday, Oct. 8.

During committee reports, the Budget Committee presented its tentative budget, which does not exceed the given tax cap of .73 percent. 

The next step in the budget process is a public hearing for the town’s preliminary budget, scheduled Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7:15 p.m. in Town Hall. 

The board also heard from Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC). The agency sought the town’s endorsement for a proposed farmland protection project. 

The project involves DLC acquiring development rights from two farms in town: Caora Farm and Duncandale Farm Inc. The result would mean assured preservation of that open space, said Supervisor John Merwin in a follow-up interview.

The board agreed to endorse the project and send DLC a letter accordingly.

The Town Board also took action towards a porch repair at Town Hall.

The porch, Merwin said, is “falling apart.”

Merwin estimated the repair cost at $2,800 from JFS Construction.

An off-agenda item added for business was a resolution authorizing Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky to “execute consent judgements” in two tax certiorari proceedings against the town.

The proceedings are with Brian E. Mulhall and Cobble Pond Farm.

Both proceedings challenged  the denial of certain agricultural tax exemptions.

In both cases, “the attorney to the town, with the assistance and consent of the town assessor, has negotiated a settlement of this tax certiorari proceeding which involves the grant of a partial agricultural exemption for the said tax year.”

The board approved the resolution.