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Record of Proceedings

Town of North Salem Town Board Regular Meeting/Worksession - July 14, 2026

Town Board & Boards — Tuesday, July 14, 2026
BodyNorth Salem, New York
SessionTown Board & Boards
DateTuesday, July 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:47:06

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

The microphones up there on the screen you have on Zoom you have on muted.

Unassigned speaker

0:04

Right.

Speaker 2

0:06

I guess something on the

Speaker 1

0:07

you're being recorded.

Speaker 2

0:09

Okay.

Speaker 3

0:10

Uh oh.

Unassigned speaker

0:12

Okay,

Speaker 3

0:12

we're gonna call the I'm gonna call the uh July 14th, 2026 town board meeting to order, and we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Speaker 2

0:28

And the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and visible with

Unassigned speaker

0:35

all

Speaker 3

0:39

okay.

0:41

And Maria gave us a couple of the minutes, the June 9th, 2026 regular meeting and work session, the June 15th special meeting, and the June 23rd uh regular meeting and work session.

0:53

Any changes, additions, deletions?

Speaker 2

0:56

No,

Speaker 3

0:56

not for me.

0:57

Okay, Maria, thank you very much.

Unassigned speaker

0:59

Thank you.

Speaker 3

1:00

Uh we also have the um reports from the different uh folks.

1:06

I don't know.

1:07

Well, I I had sent you the one from finance.

1:10

I think he had sent something out later today too on some of the other so the building inspector monthly report, the facilities manager with the report, the highway department monthly report, planning board, financial report, police department, monthly report, receiver for taxes, recreational monthly report, uh, supervisors monthly report, town clerk monthly report, all for June 2026.

1:28

Uh any changes, additions, deletions, anything?

Speaker 4

1:31

No, just a question.

1:32

Was what Russell because it it it came today?

1:35

I didn't have time to compare.

1:37

Are there any differences then between what you sent us and what he sent us?

1:41

Yours were all in one document, his word.

Speaker 3

1:44

Did he send uh I sent the general fund to you?

Speaker 4

1:48

But it also had I think in at the back it had the

Speaker 3

1:51

um

Unassigned speaker

1:53

I remember

Speaker 3

1:54

the water districts.

1:55

Yes, he that's what he said.

1:56

All the I think Yeah, but he

Speaker 4

1:57

sent them separately.

1:59

Other than that, was any was anything changed?

Speaker 3

2:01

No, no, it's the same.

2:02

No, because none of the uh what do they call it when the packages aren't processed yet, Maria?

Unassigned speaker

2:07

This

Speaker 3

2:07

month the updated.

2:09

Yeah, so none of this month's stuff was actually in

Unassigned speaker

2:12

there.

Speaker 3

2:13

Um

Unassigned speaker

2:15

so

Speaker 3

2:15

any any changes or anything?

Speaker 5

2:17

No changes, just in uh a comment.

2:18

I mean, the uh we had emailed about this by maybe uh the time we're doing next year's budget, we should try to figure out the water meter costs.

2:27

Um

Speaker 3

2:28

I had that I did send everybody out.

2:30

I think it's about 160,000 to do it for everything.

2:34

But we can we can talk we probably should have a special group on that.

2:39

Um, because there's new water, the ones we have as you can understand, they were put in 2012, they still maintain that model, but they have a newer model, and they have software which we don't own the software yet.

Speaker 4

2:49

But we should have water meters at this point in all the water districts.

Speaker 3

2:54

Well yeah, we don't have them all.

2:56

It's I it's somewhere, so I I gave everybody a spreadsheet that said is a week ago I sent it out there.

3:03

Yeah,

Speaker 5

3:03

I don't

Speaker 3

3:03

remember.

3:04

These these are the ones that these are how many installed in each district, these are how many more we have to replace.

3:09

However, if we want the newer ones, which makes no sense to buy the older model, we may want to put some of the some of the districts we want them to have all the same.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Budget Equity Analysis██████████████████████22%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Town of North Salem Town Board Regular Meeting/Worksession - July 14, 2026

The Town Board of North Salem held a regular meeting and worksession on July 14, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Town Meeting Hall and via Zoom. The meeting included approval of minutes and reports, consideration of 19 resolutions, and worksession discussions on the use of the North Salem Community Center by elected officials and an update on the Delancey Hall renovation.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from June 9, June 15 (special), and June 23, 2026 regular meetings/worksessions.
  • Accepted all monthly reports for June 2026 from Building Inspector, Facilities Manager, Highway Department, Planning Board, Police Department, Receiver of Taxes, Recreation (May & June), Supervisor, and Town Clerk.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were recorded or identified in the transcript.

Discussion Items

  • Budget Coding and Bill Payments: Councilmember Warren raised concerns about numerous instances where individual budget lines had insufficient funds to cover charged bills, totaling approximately $2,000 in shortfalls across many line items. He questioned the board's fiduciary duty in approving such bills. Budget Director Roland explained that the overall fund balances are sufficient, that transfers would correct most issues, and that lines are often miscoded due to training gaps. The board extensively debated the need for accurate coding and budget transfers. A motion to pay the town bills (abstract No. 6, later amended to No. 7) totaling $276,100.66 and highway bills totaling $162,680.22 was passed unanimously after amending the abstract number.
  • Water Meter Replacement: The board discussed the need to replace water meters across districts (Croton Falls, Sunset Ridge, Candlewood). A spreadsheet indicated approximately $160,000 to replace all meters with newer cellular-capable models (Allegro) that can detect leaks remotely. Supervisor noted existing installed meters from 2012 could be upgraded, and the board agreed to discuss further during next year's budget process.
  • Grant Applications: Supervisor outlined two Water Infrastructure Improvement (WIIA) grant applications for Croton Falls Water District (due July 27, 2026) and Croton Falls Sewer District. He requested authorization to apply and to sign the required short-form Environmental Assessment Form (EAF). The board authorized both after discussion.
  • Delancey Hall Renovation Update: The board noted progress: scaffolding to be removed soon, exterior work complete, interior painting contract awarded to Tundra Contracting Group ($38,735.33), and temporary storage pod in place. Issues with a $33,000 quote for floor refinishing were raised; the board will seek additional estimates. Also discussed kitchenette upgrade, fuel tank placement, and cleaning ducts.
  • Use of North Salem Community Center by Elected Officials: The board discussed a draft policy restricting use by currently serving elected officials for non-campaign purposes (legislative updates, community forums). Concerns were raised about viewpoint neutrality and the potential for political activity. It was agreed to have legal counsel (Matt from Roland's firm) review the policy to ensure compliance with First Amendment considerations.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolutions Adopted (all unanimous):

    1. Pay Town Bills ($276,100.66) - Abstract 7
    2. Pay Highway Bills ($162,680.22) - Abstract 7
    3. Appoint Emma Newbauer as volunteer in Tax Receiver's Office (June 23 - Sept 7, 2026)
    4. Authorize expense to Amazon for six light posts and adapters ($930.96)
    5. Authorize final payment to Alinga Construction for Delancey Hall gypsum work ($5,990.00) subject to payroll certification
    6. Amend Resolution #219-26 to reflect correct legal name (Deal and Sons Inc. DBA New York Freightliner) and approve revised quote ($147,610.64)
    7. Release building escrow for 100-126 Wallace Road ($175.41)
    8. Authorize agreement with Clancy Relocation and Logistics for moving town property ($2,110.00)
    9. Authorize agreement with Go Mini's Portable Storage for a 20-foot pod ($1,337.45 for 3 months)
    10. Award bid for Delancey Hall interior painting to Tundra Contracting Group ($38,735.33)
    11. Authorize Supervisor to sign contract with Tundra Contracting Group
    12. Authorize refunds for Recreation programs ($1,210 to Rob Eggington; $550 to Maya Gat)
    13. Authorize application for WIIA grant for Croton Falls Water District
    14. Authorize application for WIIA grant for Croton Falls Sewer District
    15. Authorize application for Congressional FEMA grant and Westchester County Stormwater grant for Valeria Circle, Nash Road & Candlewood Lake
    16. Appoint Rosemary James as part-time intermediate account clerk (max 16 hrs/week, $45/hr, July 20 - Aug 20, 2026)
    17. Appoint Jennifer Santis as full-time intermediate accountant clerk/Building Department secretary ($76,748/year, probationary 12-52 weeks)
    18. Appoint Mary Leone Ferrara as full-time ZBA secretary ($71,409.05 base salary, probationary 12-52 weeks)
    19. Approve budget transfers totaling $51,000 across several lines to align coding and cover overages.

  • Next Steps: Legal counsel to review community center policy; board will discuss a possible reduction of August meetings to one.

Meeting Transcript

The microphones up there on the screen you have on Zoom you have on muted. Right. I guess something on the you're being recorded. Okay. Uh oh. Okay, we're gonna call the I'm gonna call the uh July 14th, 2026 town board meeting to order, and we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. And the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and visible with all okay. And Maria gave us a couple of the minutes, the June 9th, 2026 regular meeting and work session, the June 15th special meeting, and the June 23rd uh regular meeting and work session. Any changes, additions, deletions? No, not for me. Okay, Maria, thank you very much. Thank you. Uh we also have the um reports from the different uh folks. I don't know. Well, I I had sent you the one from finance. I think he had sent something out later today too on some of the other so the building inspector monthly report, the facilities manager with the report, the highway department monthly report, planning board, financial report, police department, monthly report, receiver for taxes, recreational monthly report, uh, supervisors monthly report, town clerk monthly report, all for June 2026. Uh any changes, additions, deletions, anything? No, just a question. Was what Russell because it it it came today? I didn't have time to compare. Are there any differences then between what you sent us and what he sent us? Yours were all in one document, his word. Did he send uh I sent the general fund to you? But it also had I think in at the back it had the um I remember the water districts. Yes, he that's what he said. All the I think Yeah, but he sent them separately. Other than that, was any was anything changed? No, no, it's the same. No, because none of the uh what do they call it when the packages aren't processed yet, Maria? This month the updated. Yeah, so none of this month's stuff was actually in there. Um so any any changes or anything? No changes, just in uh a comment. I mean, the uh we had emailed about this by maybe uh the time we're doing next year's budget, we should try to figure out the water meter costs. Um I had that I did send everybody out. I think it's about 160,000 to do it for everything.

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