North Salem Town Board Worksession and Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026

The North Salem Town Board convened on May 12, 2026, for a worksession and regular meeting. Key highlights included a detailed budget presentation from the North Salem Central School District Superintendent and the approval of 18 resolutions. The board also held worksessions on a proposed zoning amendment for land conservancy organizations, revisions to the filming code, and the installation of a generator at 66 June Road.

Consent Calendar

• Resolutions 2-18 were passed unanimously. These included approvals for:
  • Payment of Town Bills ($22,892.11) and Highway Bills ($32,230.09).
  • Establishing workdays for the Receiver of Taxes (Carol Delus at 32.5 hours/week).
  • Recertification of records for the Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, and Confidential Secretary.
  • Release of a wetland escrow for 34 Yorks Road ($1,230).
  • Signing an inter-municipal agreement for the 2025 Senior Citizens Nutrition Program with the Town of Somers ($32,338.01).
  • Insurance renewal coverage agreements totaling $170,143.
  • Transportation services for the 2026 summer camp from the North Salem Central School District ($27,350 for 4 buses over 29 days).
  • A $250 security deposit refund to RockOnMusic Inc.
  • Facility use permits for the middle school gym and parking lot.
  • Recreation programming agreements with Day Rock ($1,700) and Rockland Golf Carts ($3,550).
  • Day camp medical services with Dr. Elliot Barsh/Optum Medical Care PC ($1,200).
  • Alcoholic beverage consumption for a Schoolhouse Theater Foundation event on May 15, 2026.
  • A commemorative plaque for the North Salem Community Center.
  • Acknowledging the retirement of Building Department Office Assistant Rosemary James, effective July 17, 2026.
  • Appointing Sharon Churcher to the Conservation Advisory Council (term expiring October 31, 2026).
  • Appointing seasonal recreation personnel: Michael Minnell ($17.34/hr) and Carmen Casal ($18.00/hr).

Presentation: 2026-2027 North Salem Central School District Budget

Dr. Adam VanDerStuyf (Superintendent), joined by Lindsay Idell (Assistant Superintendent for Business) and Kurt Goulden (VP of the Board of Education), presented the tentative budget.

• Enrollment: Current K-12 enrollment is 966, expected to remain stable (between 975 and just under 1,000) over the next 10 years. The UPK program is expanding, projecting 70 students next year with a current waitlist of 4 due to funding.
• Budget and Levy: The total proposed budget is $53,839,468 with a total tax levy of $45,891,475. The budget-to-budget increase is 2.79%, within the maximum allowable levy of 2.9%. Salaries and benefits represent nearly 80% of the budget.
• Goals and Initiatives: The budget supports a literacy system spanning K-7, multi-tiered systems of support, and a shift toward in-house professional development. An administrative position is being reclassified to a school psychologist role to generate net savings.
• Policies: The board discussed the ban on internet-enabled devices (cell phones, smart watches), noting a perceived increase in student interaction. The district is rolling out AI usage guidelines thoughtfully.
• Vote: The budget vote and trustee election will be held on May 19, 2026, at PQ (7 AM to 9 PM).
• Board Reaction: Town Board members expressed strong appreciation for the partnership, lauding the UPK program and the transportation agreement cost savings.

Discussion Items

Proposed Zoning Amendment for Not-for-Profit Land Conservancies John Baker (Executive Director, Open Land Foundation) and Pam Pooley (Chair) presented a proposal to amend the town code to cure a zoning non-conformity for the Oak Lane Foundation. The proposal creates a conditional use permit for land conservancy non-profits to have offices and equipment structures on preserved land.

• Positions: Board members expressed strong support, calling it a "great idea." A board member who is a trustee of the Open Land Foundation stated they would recuse themselves from a formal vote.
• Next Steps: The text amendment will be drafted, referred to the County, and brought back for a public hearing in approximately six months.

Town Code Chapter 90 (Filming) Revisions The board agreed to remove specific filming fees from the code to the administratively-updated schedule of fees and to remove the three-day maximum filming limit.

• Decision: A comprehensive "code sweep" will be conducted to identify and remove all fee amounts from the town code to simplify future updates and avoid public hearings for fee changes.

Generator Replacement at 66 June Road The board discussed the priority of replacing or upgrading the generator following a near power loss during a public hearing. The current unit requires manual startup.

• Decision: Staff were directed to prioritize the purchase and to create a clear emergency operating procedure for the existing system.

Budget Variance and Bank Account Overdrafts The Supervisor reported approximately $1,051 in overdraft fees across multiple town accounts dating back to 2020.

• Resolution: The board authorized reimbursement via individual vouchers from the affected funds. The process for reviewing the abstract before board meetings was reinforced to prevent future occurrences.

Key Outcomes

• The minutes from March 24, April 14, April 21, and April 28, 2026 were unanimously approved.
• Monthly reports for April 2026 from all town departments were accepted.
• All 18 resolutions on the agenda were voted upon and passed.
• The board authorized the Planning Board to proceed with formal zoning text amendments for land conservancy offices.
• Direction was given to amend the filming code to move fees to the schedule of fees and remove the three-day filming limit.
• A "code sweep" was greenlit to modernize fee structures throughout the town code.
• Staff were directed to reimburse bank accounts for overdraft fees.
• The board acknowledged the upcoming Memorial Day parade on May 25, 2026.