Town of North Salem Town Board Meeting - February 10, 2026

The Town of North Salem Town Board convened on February 10, 2026, for a Regular Meeting and Worksession. The meeting began with an Executive Session for legal advice and contracts. Following the executive session, the Board returned to public session to conduct a full agenda of approvals, presentations, and policy discussions.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes & Reports: Minutes from the December 2, 2025 Special Meeting, December 9, 2025 Public Hearings (Budget and Water Rates), and the December 9, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved. Monthly departmental reports for January 2026 (Building, Highway, Planning Board, Police, Receiver of Taxes, Recreation, Supervisor, Town Clerk) were accepted as delivered.
• Financials: Town bills totaling $218,845.69 and Highway bills totaling $346,953.51 were ordered paid. The Supervisor noted the Highway bill included a significant expense for a new bucket truck. A PODS storage bill for $423.74 was approved for payment, though the Supervisor noted the standard monthly rate is $378 and will reconcile the difference.
• Appointments & Resignations: Alina Zach was appointed to the Town Housing Board (term expiring April 14, 2028). Adam Siegel was appointed to the Recreation Advisory Committee (term expiring April 24, 2028). Brandy Murphy Keenan was appointed Co-Chair of the Recreation Advisory Committee through December 31, 2026. The Board acknowledged the resignation of Peter Rosetto from the Architectural Review Board.
• Personnel: A third-step salary increase was authorized for Highway employee Justin Conley, raising his hourly wage to $44.54 per hour, effective February 15, 2026, as recommended by the Highway Superintendent.
• Tax Refunds: Tax refunds were approved for Peter Schultz ($5,722.92), Richard Vail ($494.96), and Francis Toote ($4,032.93).
• Equipment & Services: An expense of $1,000 was authorized for McGrath & Company for an updated appraisal of the Front Street parking lot to satisfy state grant requirements. An expense of $2,546 was authorized for Comairco for repair parts for the sewer aeration system at Peach Lake. The Supervisor was authorized to sign the New York State Department of Health Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) Program agreement, updating the town's defibrillator inventory to include units in police vehicles. The Highway Department's request to establish a Facebook page, managed by the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent, was approved under the town's existing social media policy.
• Bid Authorization: The Supervisor was authorized to seek bids for interior gypsum repair at Delancey Hall (Resolution 15).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susie: A resident speaking via Zoom (with camera off) urged the Board to ensure that hardwood floors are preserved or installed throughout Delancey Hall during the renovation. She argued for the historical integrity of the building, stating that given the significant investment, the Board should "do it right" and assess the condition of the floors beneath the current carpeting before finalizing flooring decisions.

Discussion Items

• MS4 Stormwater Management Program Update: William Angiolillo of Hahn Engineering presented the draft MS4 Annual Report and Stormwater Management Program Plan update. He highlighted new DEC requirements for municipal facilities inventories, post-construction stormwater practices inventories, and expanded outfall monitoring. Board members Catherine and the Supervisor raised concerns about erosion from dirt roads not being included in the plan and the impact of high phosphorus levels (200 µg/L permitted vs. 20 µg/L recommended) from the Speedy's permit on Peach Lake. Mr. Angiolillo explained that adding items to specific DEC lists triggers mandatory inspection requirements. The Town Board directed staff and the engineer to strategically incorporate dirt roads and the Peach Lake watershed issues into the plan.
• Croton Falls Plan Adoption & Implementation: The Board passed a resolution adopting the Croton Falls Plan as a supplement to the 2011 Comprehensive Plan, including a SEQR Negative Declaration. Board member Roland advised that the plan is a living document and can be amended in the future (e.g., if sewers are introduced), but any amendment would require a public hearing, a SEQR process, and must maintain zoning consistency to avoid spot zoning challenges.
• Delancey Hall Renovation & Heating Strategy: A comprehensive discussion was held on the interior repair scope, heating systems, and project sequencing. The Board debated whether to bundle drywall, painting, and flooring into one bid but decided to keep bids separate to avoid delays caused by subcontractor dependencies. The most critical issue was the lack of heat; the current oil boiler requires the tank to be moved for siding work, and temporary heating is not permitted. The Board leaned toward installing new heat pump systems first to seal the building envelope and provide stable heat for interior trades. The Supervisor reviewed three heat pump bids, with two considered competitive, and is verifying the bidders' Diamond Elite certification (which provides extended warranties) and references. A grant is available to cover the cost of the heat pumps. Propane backup was discussed but deprioritized due to calibration and maintenance concerns.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted: Croton Falls Plan Supplement to the 2011 Comprehensive Plan via a SEQR Negative Declaration.
• Appointed: Alina Zach to the Housing Board; Adam Siegel and Brandy Murphy Keenan to the Recreation Advisory Committee.
• Directed: Town staff and Hahn Engineering to incorporate dirt road inventories and Peach Lake watershed concerns into the MS4 Stormwater Plan before the April 1, 2026 submission deadline.
• Authorized: Supervisor to seek bids for Delancey Hall interior gypsum work. Bids for painting and flooring will be managed separately.
• Deferred: Resolution 10 (Authorizing Engineering Services with Kleinschmidt Associates) was tabled pending resolution of school district participation and DEP meeting logistics.
• Heating Plan: Board directed the Supervisor to continue evaluating heat pump bids and prepare a recommendation for formal contract award at a future meeting.
• Tax Refunds Approved: Three refunds totaling $10,249.81.