Town Board – Organizational Meeting – January 2026

January 5, 2026
RESOLUTIONS 

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1.  

2026 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

RESOLUTION #01-2026

Time/Date for Regular Town Board Meetings

First Monday of every month at 7:00 P.M. In the case of Monday holidays or cancellations due to inclement weather, the meetings will be held on the Tuesday after the 1^st Monday.

 

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #02-2026

Town Board Meeting Rules and Regulations

1. Call to order
2. Salute of Flag
3. Acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting
4. Written communications to the Town Board:

Town Clerk Report

Mail Review

5. Committee Reports and Updates
6. Old Business
7. New Business
8. Supervisors Report
9. Pay Abstracts
10. Public Comment/Communication – Public comments will be taken at the end of the meeting at the discretion of the Supervisor, unless engaged during the meeting.
11. Adjournment

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #03-2026

Naming Official Newspaper

Register Star

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #04-2026

Naming Bank for Deposits

1. Supervisor Bank of Greene County

2. Town Clerk Bank of Greene County

3. Tax Collector Bank of Greene County

4. Justice Christensen Bank of Greene County

5. Justice Banks Bank of Greene County

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #05-2026

Authorize Town Supervisor to appoint a bookkeeper.

1. Pursuant to Section 29 of the Town Law
2. Necessary for proper conduct of Town Affairs

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #06-2026

Authorize Town Supervisor to temporarily invest idle monies in accordance with the Town Investment policy (General Municipal Law, Section 11)

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #07-2026

 

Appoint Official Dog Shelter

Columbia Greene Humane Society

 

Round Top Animal Hospital

71 Palatine Park Road, Suite 8

Germantown, New York 12526

(518) 537-7387

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #08-2026

Appoint Official Dog Control Officer at the Budgeted Amount.

Desiree Webber

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #09-2026

 

Authorize Town Justices to hire a Court Stenographer when necessary.

1. For a proper record of testimony
2. Within limit of 2026 budget

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

 

RESOLUTION #10-2026

Appoint Town Historian

Dawn Brownson

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve All in favor – So carried

 

RESOLUTION #11-2026

Appoint Code Enforcement Officer

Eli Fieser at Annual Salary at Budgeted Amount

Deputy Code Enforcement Officer at $100.00 per month, if needed.

(Appointed by Code Enforcement Officer)

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #12-2026

Appoint Town Attorney (for Town, Zoning Boards, Assessor)

(Within 2026 budget limits)

Freeman-Howard, P.C., Hudson, New York

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #13-2026

Appoint Hudson Valley Law Partners/Matthew Griesemer (for Planning Board)

(Within 2026 budget limits)

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #14-2026

Appoint Town Engineer

CPL (Clark Patterson Lee)

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #15-2026

 

Designate Official Representatives to Association of Towns Annual Meeting

Supervisor Staats and Councilman Gildersleeve

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #16-2026

Establish 72.5 Cents Per Mile Rate for official Town Travel. (Per Federal Guidelines effective 1/1/26)

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Brownson

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #17-2026

Authorize Town Supervisor to sign 2026 State and Local Youth Contracts

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #18-2026

Appoint Registrar of Vital Statistics

Tracey Gallant

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #19-2026

Re-appoint Laurence Saulpaugh, Chair of the Planning Board

Re-appoint Mary Howard, Deputy Chairman.

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Brownson

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #20-2026

Re-appoint Desiree Webber, Planning Board Secretary

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Brownson

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #21-2026

Re-appoint Jesse Cutaia to the Planning Board for a seven-year term,

January 1, 2026- December 31, 2032.

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #22-2026

Re-appoint Lee Gallant to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term

January 1, 2026- December 31, 2030.

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #23-2026

Appoint Luke Kumburis, Chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals

Appoint Lee Gallant – Deputy Chairman

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #24-2026

Appoint Peggy Fieser Zoning Board Secretary

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #25-2026

Town Clerk’s appointments for Deputy Clerk and Deputy Registrar of Vital

Statistics –Lee Gallant and Connie Campisi

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #26-2026

Town Highway Superintendent’s appointment for Deputy Highway

Superintendent – Adom Lawyer

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #27-2025

Town Supervisor’s appointment for Deputy Supervisor

Councilwoman Dawn Brownson for term of January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #28-2026

Town Supervisor’s appointment for Budget Officer

Raymond J. Staats

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Brownson

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #29-2026

Town Supervisor’s appointment for Town Bookkeeper

Brian Fitzgerald, CPA, PC

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #30-2026

Town Board Committees CHAIR CO-CHAIR

Auditing All Town Board Members

Building & Grounds Raymond Staats Anthony Finta

Cable TV, Internet Networking Kris Gildersleeve Lindsey Lusher Shute

Grants Dawn Brownson Lindsey Lusher Shute

Highway Raymond Staats Anthony Finta

Insurance All Town Board Members

Legal Raymond Staats

Planning, Zoning and

Board of Assessment Review Lindsey Lusher Shute Anthony Finta

Recreation and Community Event Kris Gildersleeve Dawn Brownson

Village Green Committee Liaison to Town Board – Tami Connolly Easter Egg Hunt

Barbecue

Election Day Dinner

Holiday Program

School Liaison Kris Gildersleeve Lindsey Lusher Shute

Historical Committee Dawn Brownson Lindsey Lusher Shute

Parkland Use Lindsey Lusher Shute Anthony Finta

 

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #31-2026

Appoint Kris Gildersleeve Webmaster for Clermont’s website

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #32-2026

Appoint representative Ray Tousey to the Columbia County Office for Aging for the term of

January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Brownson

All in favor – So carried

RESOLUTION #33-2026

Re-appoint members of the Board of Ethics for the term of

January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.

Mary Howard

Susan Rifenburgh

Tracey Gallant

Ray Tousey

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

 

RESOLUTION #34-2026

Accept 2026 Salaries stated in the 2026 Budget, as follows:

OFFICE                               SALARY                                  PAY BASIS

Supervisor                            $ 6,200.00/yr                               Monthly Payroll
Councilpersons (4)              $ 2,900.00/yr                                Monthly Payroll
Town Justice                       $ 6,100.00/yr                                Monthly Payroll
Town Justice                       $ 6,100.00/yr                                Monthly Payroll
Town Clerk                         $ 9,800.00/yr                                Monthly Payroll
Deputy Town Clerk            $ 20.00 hr.                                    Monthly per hour
Tax Collector                      $ 5,100.00/yr                                Monthly Payroll
Highway Superintendent    $ 61,200.00/yr                              Bi-weekly Payroll
Certified Assessor              $17,500.00/yr                               Monthly Payroll
Court Clerk (1)                   $ 416.67/mo                                 Monthly Payroll
Code Enforcement Officer $17,500.00/yr                               Monthly Payroll
Deputy Code Enforcement Officer$ $ 100.00/mo                   as needed
Town Custodian                 $ 2,200/yr                                     Monthly Payroll
Assessment Review Board Mtg. $ 100.00/day                       By Voucher
Additional time                  Minimum Wage                           By Voucher
Secretary – BAR                Minimum Wage                           By Voucher
Zoning Chairperson           $ 1,150.00/yr                               Yearly Payroll *
Planning Chairperson        $ 1,150.00/yr                               Yearly Payroll *
Zoning Co-Chairperson     $ 950.00/yr                                  Yearly Payroll *
Planning Co-Chairperson  $ 950.00/yr                                  Yearly Payroll *
Zoning Members               $ 900.00/yr                                  Yearly Payroll *
Planning Members            $ 900.00/yr                                  Yearly Payroll *
Zoning Secretary               $ 1,100.00/yr                               Yearly Payroll
Planning Secretary            $ 1,100.00/yr                               Yearly Payroll
Trial Juror                         Minimum Wage                           By Voucher
Dog Control Officer         $ 375.00/mo                                 Monthly Payroll

*If any Planning or Zoning Board member is absent for more than two meetings, that members salary will be reduced by $100.00 for each additional absence.
Alternate members of the Planning and Zoning Board will be paid $50.00 per meeting when called upon to participate by the Chairperson.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

Full Time Budgeted Amount Bi-weekly Payroll

Part Time (Summer) $20.00 /Hr Bi-weekly Payroll

Part Time (Winter) $20.00 /HR Bi-weekly Payroll

Deputy Highway Superintendent $1,000/yr ½ in June, ½ in December

Motion made Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

Resolution #40 -2026 – Town of Clermont Fee Schedule for Building Department Fees and Zoning and Planning Fees.

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute All in favor – So carried

Resolution #41-2026 – Town of Clermont Official Undertaking of Municipal Officers

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

Resolution #42-2026 – Agreement between the Clermont Town Board with the Canaan Fellowship for the use of the Clermont Community House for the period January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 according to the terms and conditions of the lease.

Motion made by Councilman Gildersleeve, Seconded by Councilwoman Lusher Shute

All in favor – So carried

Resolution #43-2026 – Agreement between the Clermont Town Board and Columbia Greene Humane Society to act as kennels for the town for the period January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

Motion made by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

Resolution #44-2026 – Agreement between the Clermont Town Board and Round Top Animal Hospital to act as kennels for the town for the period January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

Motion made by Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

These agreements will be reviewed with the other policies of the Town.

1. Review Highway Personnel Policy (Note Changes if Any)

2. Review Procurement Policy (Note Changes if Any)

3. Review Fixed Assets

4. Review Investment Policy (Note Changes if Any)

5. Sexual Harassment Policy

6. Code of Ethics

7. Cash Management

8. Emergency Preparedness Plan

9. Review Road Bonds (If any)

10. Review Other Bonds (If any)

11. Review Workplace Violence Policy

Set time and date to review books and records of Town Clerk, Town Justices, Tax Collector and Supervisor on Saturday, January 17^th, 10 AM Motion by Councilwoman Brownson Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

A motion was made to adjourn the organizational meeting and enter into the regular meeting by Councilwoman Lusher Shute Seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve

All in favor – So carried

Respectfully submitted,
Tracey J Gallant
Town Clerk