$676K Tentative Budget Presented - Restricted Street Parking Expected

By Mary A. Crisafulli

MARGARETVILLE - The Margaretville Village Board presented the $676,102 2025 tentative budget on March 19, an increase of $9,524 over 2024. A public hearing is scheduled before the organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 4:45 p.m. The proposed budget is just under the state-mandated tax cap increase of 2.25% at 2.24%.

The budget includes an overall salary increase of 3%. Insurance rates are expected to increase a few thousand dollars and the budget includes roughly $25,000 for the fees. Another increase was included for the lighting district as NYSEG bills have grown and are not expected to decrease. 

Expected revenues have increased due to the anticipation that the village will use NYClass, a municipal investment bank. The institution holds 4.2% interest rates compounding daily. Current interest rates for the village's CDs are at around 3.2% and investments are locked in for one year. NYClass allows municipalities to remove funds immediately if requested before noon.

Bookkeeper Beth Bush reported Middletown recently invested in NYClass and raised hundreds of dollars in just a few weeks.

In another discussion, the board agreed to refine a letter to be sent out to village residents and businesses regarding parking restrictions. The letter limits parking to one side of the street on all village roadways. Particulars on enforcement and what violators can expect will be detailed. If the village decides to tow vehicles they will be brought to Stamford, Delhi, or Tannersville. The board is expected to finalize the letter by Friday, March 28. 

Trustee Sarah Hubbell noted a main issue with double-parked vehicles is that it causes limited access for emergency service vehicles. 

In other news

A memorial bench is being planned for Gary and Willis Marks who were greatly involved in the Rotary Club. 

All future down payments on cemetery plots at the annex are required to be paid off in one year.

It is expected the board will begin reviewing all local laws for potential updates. 

Margaretville will join forces with Middletown and Fleischmanns in sending out an RFP (request for proposals) to develop a joint comprehensive plan. The committee tasked with assisting plan development is expected to have three residents from each municipality. 

Trustees approved the liquor license application for a New Kingston resident seeking to update and open the old pub at 814 Main Street as a restaurant. Applicants will still need the liquor authority and State Department of Health to review.

 

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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes Intensive Care Unit at Bassett Medical Center with Beacon Award for Excellence

COOPERSTOWN – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

The Beacon Award for Excellence – a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments – recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that earn this award with a gold, silver, or bronze designation meet specific criteria established by the AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence.

“The silver-level Beacon Award recognizes the highly effective systems in place at Bassett Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit. We appreciate AACN awarding us for this honor,” says Christina Curcio, MSN-RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at Bassett Medical Center. “A key component of this award is continual learning, which we encourage in all of our units. 44 nurses work at Bassett Medical Center’s ICU and more than 36 percent of them carry specialized certifications in critical care, elevating them professionally and showcasing the expertise they bring to each patients’ bedside.”  

AACN President Jennifer Adamski, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at the ICU at Bassett Medical Center for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence to achieve a silver level designation. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” she explains.

This designation was awarded to the Bassett Medical Center ICU in 2024 and is valid through 2027.

 

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MUSINGS OF A LOCAL by Iris Mead - RESTAURANTS, THEY COME AND GO

Everyone knows the restaurant business is one of the hardest businesses to navigate and stay afloat. Why then do people keep opening (and closing) them so often?  Trying to open and maintain a strong footing in the business climate today requires more than an ability to cook.  It requires more money than one would think to open an eatery after finding the right location.  As they say, when opening any kind of business, it’s location, location, location.  Why then do people keep doing it? 

First, it looks like fun – community spirit, a place for people to gather and eat good food, showcasing your ideas in design and types of food you offer, playing the role of host and helping the economy by hiring employees. All these things sound great in your head but in reality can be, and usually are, very difficult to achieve. Restaurants have one of the highest risks of failure and usually fold within 1-3 years.  The National Restaurant Association estimates that about 30% of new restaurants fail within a year. Advertising and consistency is key to maintaining your customer base.

So many things play into a successfully run restaurant, especially in small communities like ours. Finding good help, both in the kitchen and wait staff, is key to successfully running any business but especially so in the restaurant business.  Finding that help is hampered by our small population.  In addition, because our area is so spread out how far one will travel to try a new venue and will they go back if they aren’t satisfied with the first visit is another major obstacle.  Usually, a new restaurant has its ups and downs during the first few months and needs a chance to get its footing.  Word of mouth is so important for a new start-up as it can both help or hurt a new business.  And restaurant owners do not start recouping their costs until they are open for a few years.  

One of the villages in our area lost two long-time favorite restaurants and will soon be losing another fairly new restaurant that has garnered good reviews and customers.  But the good news is that one of the long-closed eateries will soon open with new owners that have restaurant experience.  We wish them well and hope that it will become a destination for locals and visitors alike.  

Meanwhile, as the pendulum continues to swing back and forth as the economy fluctuates, there will always be that one person who defies the odds and opens and successfully makes a living serving the public with good food at a reasonable price.  Let’s support them.

 

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Shandaken Exploring Mountain Jam Festival, Town Zoning Permits and Procedures

STAFF REPORT

SHANDAKEN — The Shandaken Town Board held a special meeting on March 13. Topics included zoning permit fees and procedures, the Mountain Jam festival, and other town matters.

The board considered adding a $40 fee to the current abutters fee to cover public hearing notice and legal advertising expenses for projects. Town officials noted that they want the language to be updated in the related code or related documentation to something along the lines of  “fees and related expenses incurred by the town” in order to avoid repetitive changes to the code language over time.

The board discussed the order of applying for permits, with the building permit typically coming first, followed by a floodplain permit if necessary, and then a zoning permit if the floodplain permit is issued.There is currently not a fee schedule for zoning permits.  

A proposal was made to bring in training for the building department, with a suggested budget of up to $1,000, to improve procedures and processes.

Part of the discussion revolved around permit fees for manufactured and modular housing, with concerns about the current fee structure and whether it's appropriate to charge the same fee for both types of housing. The issue of foundation costs was also raised, with questions about whether there should be a separate fee for foundation work and how it should be calculated for manufactured and modular housing.

The conversation touched on the process of issuing building permits, with some on the board suggesting that the current system is flawed and that permits could be issued on a per-contractor basis rather than a single permit for the entire project. Some in attendance suggested doing permits on a per-dollar basis.

The topic of verifying engineered blueprints and ensuring compliance with building codes was also discussed, with questions about who is responsible for verifying the plans and conducting inspections.

The need to review and revise the fee structure and permitting process was discussed, with some suggesting that it's premature to set fees without establishing a clear procedure for issuing permits. The conversation was tabled until the next meeting, with plans to review the proposed changes and hold a public hearing before making any decisions.

Representatives from the Mountain Jam festival attended the meeting to discuss their plans and request support from the town. The representatives noted that it has been difficult to find other agencies to step up as lead agency, which could include the town. This could involve designating a lead agency and completing an environmental review process. There are concerns from the town about the costs and responsibilities associated with being the lead agency, including the need for an escrow account to cover legal fees.

The town board discussed the need for public documentation and review of the project plans before making a decision, with some members expressing concerns about the lack of time to evaluate the documents. The town discussed whether the Mountain Jam event will require a permit, with some uncertainty about the specifics. Concerns were raised about safety and logistics for a potential event, including the number of attendees, traffic, and emergency services. The discussion was tabled.

A meeting is scheduled for April to provide more information and answer questions from the public, with the possibility of voting on the project at a later meeting. According to the Town of Shandaken website, there is a meeting scheduled for Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. that will address the Mountain Jam project.

The town is waiting for an appraisal report on the Phoenicia School, which is expected to take about 3 days to complete, and they also need clarification on a rental agreement and any limitations on said agreement.

A resolution was adopted for the construction of a natural playground through CREST funding at Glenbrook park.

A resolution was adopted for a policy to fund and facilitate local emergency medical services in the county.

A resolution was adopted to amend contract for Glenbrook Pavilion with Brian Hommel Home Improvement

The town has $50,000 from a NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) grant to purchase an electric vehicle, and they are exploring options such as a Rivian, with the goal of staying within the budget. The town has some extra funds available, including around $25,000 in ARPA funds, which could be used to cover any difference in cost if they choose a more expensive vehicle. The town has until the end of 2025 to complete the purchase of the electric vehicle in order to use the NYSERDA grant funds.

 

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Shandaken Planning Board Talks Hotel, Permits, and Gatherings

Staff Report

SHANDAKEN — A public hearing was held to discuss Robin Cornish's application for a special use permit to construct a single-family residence within 100 ft of a stream bank in a residential three-acre zoning district. Cornish requires a special use permit and has worked with the DEC and representatives to ensure the project is respectful to the environment, with a minimum 50 foot setback from the stream.

A second public hearing is held to discuss the Wellington Hotel restoration project, an adaptive reuse of the existing hotel to create 10 multifamily affordable housing apartments. The applicants,  Wellington Blueberry, LLC and RUPCO, Inc. for administrative reviews under

the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Residents such as Jan Jaffe, president of Wellington Blueberry LLC and Friends of Pine Hills Historic District, Derk Jackson, a resident unrelated to Wellington Blueberry, Gigi Loizzo, owner of Belleayre Lodge and board member of Wellington Blueberry, and others spoke in favor of it, highlighting its potential to enhance the local community and environment.

There was a discussion about a class two home occupation permit and the resolution of an offsite staging issue, with the applicant agreeing to use a turnaround on route 28 for staging, and the logistics company using a specific address for the pull-off.

The applicant had been having issues with truck drivers coming to the property, but this has been resolved by removing the physical address from the bill of lading, so drivers can only go to the designated pull-off area.

There is a separate issue with a notice of violation for storage of commercial equipment on residentially owned property, which the owner has appealed, but the class two home occupation permit is being considered as a way to mitigate the problem. The owner is required to minimize the time that units are left at the staging area, and Speedy's Towing is used to pick up the units, with the goal of resolving the issue and allowing the business to operate. The Police Department recommended three locations for access, with one being east of the property, and it was discussed that trees must be planted within a certain timeframe. The board discussed the need for a motion to send the application to the county, with conditions such as the planting of trees and the submission of a short form environmental assessment. and the permit being non-transferable to future tenants. Concerns were raised about noise propagation and the potential impact on residential neighbors, with suggestions to minimize noise and create a buffer zone.

The Leeway, owned by Perpetual Space LLC, has submitted an application to host gatherings at its location, 5191 Route 28 in Mount Tremper. Jeremy Bernstein, owner of The Pines in Mount Tremper, supports The Leeway's application, citing the benefits to local businesses and the property's suitability for intimate gatherings. It was noted Patrick McGann, a local resident and business owner, also supports Leeway's pursuit of a special permit, while Jean M. Maloney, an adjacent neighbor, expresses concerns about the potential noise and impact on property values.

The planning board discussed Leeway's application, with some members referencing an Article which states that music should not be unreasonably audible beyond the property line, and considers the potential precedent for other residents in the town of Shandaken.

The town is considering an extension of a special use permit for the Crossroads project, which has been extended multiple times since its initial approval in 2016. Some board members express concerns about automatically extending the permit, citing changes in the town and community since the project's initial approval. A motion to extend the permit for one more year was made, but it did not carry due to lack of support from the required number of board members.  The board discusses the need for a public hearing to gauge community feedback on the project, with some members arguing that it is necessary to consider the community's current thoughts on the project as it has changed since the initial application.

 

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We Have New Neighbors

By Vic DiSanto, Museum Associate, Iroquois Museum

HOWES CAVE – A new couple has moved into the area!  The Iroquois Museum is happy to announce that a pair of bald eagles have nested in the neighborhood.

We would like to extend a hearty welcome and hope that the nesting pair like their new home.  After they get settled in, visitors to the museum will be able to view their activities from a telescope that we are setting up on our grounds.  

Bald Eagles hold a lofty status in Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) lore. Led by Deganawida, the peace maker, the Iroquois symbolically buried their weapons beneath a white pine known as the Tree of Peace. Atop the tree, Deganawida placed an eagle to scream out a warning at the approach of danger.  

The eagle is also considered to be the leader of all the birds.  For this reason, Native Americans have chosen the eagle and its feathers as a symbol of what is highest, bravest, and strongest. In the Native American culture, eagle feathers are given to one another in honor, and the feathers are worn with dignity and pride. They are treated with great respect.

The Eagle and the Hermit Thrush

But even the strongest and bravest can be outwitted. According to a Haudenosaunee tale, the Good Spirit decided that the bird who could fly the highest would have the most beautiful song. The eagle was confident he would win, but a little brown thrush hid himself beneath the eagle’s feathers.  As all the birds flew upward, one by one they began to tire and drop out of the contest until only the eagle was left. The eagle flew as high as he could until he was completely exhausted. The eagle looked around and saw no other birds, so he turned around to fly back toward Earth. Just then the little brown thrush hopped off the eagle’s head and flew upward to the Land of the Holy Spirits, where he learned a beautiful song. Yet after he returned to earth, he was ashamed because he cheated, so he hid, and today this shy species of bird is known as the Hermit thrush.

Bald Eagle Restoration in New York State

The use of DDT in New York State led to the extirpation of Bald Eagles by the early 1960's. The majestic raptor had stopped producing eaglets because the eggs were collapsing during incubation due to a thinning of the shells caused by the pesticide.  

The United States and Canada banned DDT in 1972 and in 1976 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) started transporting juvenile bald eagles from Alaska and releasing them here. Over a 13-year period, 198 nestling bald eagles were transported and released in New York. The program met with success, and by 2010 there were 173 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles who called New York home!

Eagle Watching Etiquette from DEC

• Don't approach eagles any closer than a quarter mile

• Avoid eagle roosting areas

• Don't make loud noises when in the presence of an eagle

• Keep your pets at home when you go eagle watching

• Don't try to make the birds fly under any circumstances

Bald Eagle Facts

One of the largest birds of prey (raptors) found in North America, bald eagles stand about 30 inches high, have a wingspan of 72-84 inches, and weigh between 8 and 14 pounds.

A bald eagle nest is a large structure, usually located high in a tall, live white pine tree near water. The nest is reused and added to (decorated) each year, often becoming eight or more feet deep, six feet across, and weighing hundreds of pounds.

This majestic bird is easily identified in adult plumage by its unmistakable brown body set off by a white head and tail and bright yellow bill (male and female eagles look identical, except that the female is usually about one third larger and heavier than the male, as is typical in birds of prey). Sexual maturity and the characteristic white head and tail are achieved at five years of age. The word bald in the eagle's name comes from a word in Old English that means white headed.

Immature bald eagles lack a white head and tail. They are mostly chocolate brown with varying amounts of white over the body, tail, and underwings. Juvenile bald eagles are often mistaken for immature golden eagles, which are much rarer in New York.

The bald eagle is a long-lived bird, with a life span in the wild of more than 30 years. Bald eagles mate for life, returning to nest in the general area (within 250 miles) from which they fledged. Once a pair selects a nesting territory, they use it for the rest of their lives.

Bald eagles produce only one or two offspring per year, rarely three. In New York, the young fledge by mid to late summer at about 12 weeks of age. By 20 weeks they are largely independent.

 

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Cobleskill Drops Non-Conference Matchup to Skidmore

COBLESKILL — The SUNY Cobleskill baseball team fell to Skidmore College, 9-3, in a non-conference contest Tuesday evening at Fighting Tiger Field. The game was called after eight innings due to fading daylight.

On a chilly evening where offense was hard to come by, senior Zach Ducorsky (Oceanside, NY) paced the Fighting Tigers with a 1-for-3 performance and a run scored. Freshman Thomas Reis (Deposit, NY) provided the biggest highlight of the night, launching his first collegiate home run in the eighth inning. Logan Firment (Andes, NY/South Kortright) added a hit and a stolen base, while Troy Enamait (Vernon, CT/Rockville) scored a run and swiped a bag of his own.

On the mound, Logan Scott (Binghamton, NY) turned in a solid start, allowing just one run on four hits over four innings but was tagged with the loss. The Cobleskill bullpen saw action from Jack Laughlin (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walker Panas), Evan Balbera (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford), and Tyler Sienko (Binghamton, NY/Windsor).

Skidmore struck first, plating a run in the opening frame on a wild pitch. The Thoroughbreds extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth before Cobleskill clawed back in the sixth. Ducorsky came around to score on a Korin Laurilla (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) RBI groundout, and a wild pitch brought home Enamait to cut the deficit to 3-2.

However, the game unraveled in the seventh as Skidmore capitalized on Cobleskill miscues, erupting for six runs to break the game open. Reis answered in the eighth with a towering solo shot off the scoreboard in left field, but the rally was cut short as darkness forced an early ending.

The loss drops Cobleskill to 5-8 overall, while Skidmore improves to 10-4-2 on the season.

 

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County Approves $35.87M Broadband Project Bond

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — A unanimous vote to move forward on a $35.87 million bond to finance a broadband project came with a healthy dose of skepticism from some Schoharie County Supervisors.

At its Friday, March 21 meeting, the county Board of Supervisors approved a resolution authorizing the "issuance of not exceeding $35,870,000 in bonds" to fund a project aimed at giving every county resident the ability to connect with the Internet.

The plan is to use proceeds from the bond to essentially front money for the project, and then pay back the borrowing from a $30 million grant the county is supposed to be getting from the state ConnectAll Program. The grant is a reimbursable one in which the county puts up money for the project and is then reimbursed from the grant at various milestones along the way.

Before the vote to approve the bond resolution, BOS Chairman Bill Federice of Conesville and Supervisor Stephen Weinhofer of Broome said they would be voting against it though they ended up casting a yes vote.

"I would vote for $30 million, and I ask that we consider circling back to that. I won't support this at that number ($35.87 million)," Federice said before the vote.

Weinhofer voiced similar concerns while Supervisor Donald Airey of Blenheim also expressed skepticism though he never said he would vote against the measure.

"I will support this but not because I love it," Airey said, adding that he didn't favor one of the alternatives, to use part of the county's substantial fund balance (surplus) as front money for the broadband project.

"I don't like the debt load, but I want to protect our general fund and reserve fund (fund balance)," said Airey.

A roll call vote on the bond resolution ended up being unanimous after county Treasurer Mary Ann Wollaber-Bryan and Andrew Watkins of Fiscal Advisors addressed the board. Those two and others will be putting together details of the bond issuance now that the resolution has been approved.

Wollaber-Bryan has described the $35.87 million figure as a safeguard reflecting the project's $33.3 million estimated cost and $1.6 million in contingencies.

"There is no intention to actually borrow the full $35 million," she said at the March 21 BOS meeting. "An initial $15 million is what we would go with. We could decide to borrow less or borrow more. We don't want to cut ourselves short so that we have invoices coming in and we have no way to pay them."

The bond resolution states the broadband project will be "initially funded with the remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds in the amount of $204,635.14."

Also approved by the BOS at the March 21 meeting was a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) resolution stating that the broadband project will have no significant impact on the environment.

In other actions, the board approved eight appointments to the Schoharie County Youth Board. Appointed were Janine Pustolka of Cobleskill (term expires Dec. 31, 2026); Matthew Wilms of Seward (Dec. 31, 2028); Da-Lai Wu of Schoharie (Dec. 31, 2028); Meghan Keaney of Sharon Springs (Dec. 31, 2028); Dan Cornwell of Sharon Springs (Dec. 31, 2027); Jeffrey Sperbeck of Seward (Dec. 31, 2027); Melissa Bevins of Middleburgh (Dec. 31, 2027) and Marissa Karker of Schoharie (Dec. 31, 2027).

The board also approved the appointment of Jessica Beretz to a farmer seat on the Schoharie County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, term to expire Oct. 1, 2027.

 

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County Board Disagrees With State's Solitary Confinement Rules

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — New York State's Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act (HALT) is misguided and should be repealed, according to a resolution approved by the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors at its Friday, March 21 meeting.

The act was cited as one of the main reasons for the recent unauthorized strike by more than 2,000 state prison guards.

Signed into law in 2021 and effective on April 1 of 2022, the HALT Act limits segregated (disciplinary) confinement of inmates to the Special Housing Unit (SHU) or in a separate keeplock housing unit to a maximum of 15 consecutive days or 20 total days within any 60-day period, according to the Schoharie County resolution.

"These time limits may not be meaningfully extended even where an inmate has committed such serious acts as attempting to escape, physical or sexual assault on staff and other inmates, or even homicide," the document added.

It continued that since the HALT Act went into effect, the number of daily assaults in NYS correctional facilities has gone up from 6.8 to 8.1 a day, an increase of 25 percent.

"The HALT Act essentially eliminates any meaningful disciplinary sanctions for inmates who commit violent acts," the resolution stated. "Convicted murderers, career violent criminals and other dangerous inmates already serving life sentences in particular now have virtually no significant disincentive to commit violent acts while incarcerated."

It goes on to say that the HALT Act is unnecessary because even prior to the Act "confinement to the SHU did not constitute true 'solitary confinement' and could only be imposed subject to significant procedural safeguards, including notice and a hearing."

The resolution calls on the New York State Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul to "enact immediately legislation repealing S.2836 known as the HALT Act, and restoring the prior inmate disciplinary framework."

In other actions from the March 21 meeting, the county BOS approved a resolution authorizing Chairman Bill Federice of Conesville to execute an agreement with Carver Construction, Inc. for replacement of the Ecker Hollow Road culvert in Schoharie. The total price is not to exceed $629,145.

Also approved was a resolution that schedules a public hearing for the next BOS meeting at 9 a.m. April 18 relating to the need for acquiring a fee title/easement for land that could be needed for replacing the Engleville Road Bridge over West Creek in the Town of Sharon.

The parcel in question is at 263 Engleville Road "owned now or formerly by the Estate of Ray Aker Jr." the resolution stated. It added that the "public be notified that there is no proposed alternate location for this project."

 

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County Board Hears Presentations On Grant Programs

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — The Schoharie County Board of Supervisors seemed agreeable to applying for one grant program and heard about the success of another at its Friday, March 21 meeting.

County Planning and Community Services Director Shane Nickle and Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corporation (SEEC) Executive Director Julie Pacatte addressed the board early in the meeting, with Pacatte's talk also featuring a visual presentation on a screen including charts and graphs.

Nickle briefed board members on the advantages of applying for County Wide Micro Enterprise grants under the federal Community Development Block Grant program while Pacatte talked about a similar grant program she said has brought a lot of success during the last four years.

Nickle said the county would be applying for a grant of $240,000 designed to help eight small businesses in the next two years. He added that he's looking to put the application in for April. Some of the qualifications would be a low to moderate income business owner with a business of five employees or less including the owner. The business could have no more than $200,000 in liquid assets.

Nickle added that grant money could only be used for machinery and similar uses and could not be used for real estate, paying off debt or construction. The owner would also have to be current on all property taxes.

Pacatte said a Digital Strategies program started in 2021 in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic involved cooperation between SEEC, the county and the villages of Middleburgh and Schoharie. She continued that the program has had $1.2 million to work with since 2021 and has benefitted 39 businesses and the two villages.

"Overall, it created 18 full-time equivalent jobs and 30 jobs total when you include part-time," she said. "We Wi-Fied Middleburgh and Schoharie and provided free access to the Internet for many residents. Two-thirds of the businesses benefited were women owned."

Among the positive results of the program were solar powered charging stations near benches in the two villages where residents could charge their phones or computers for free, Pacatte said.

 

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CRCS Proposes Third Budget Draft

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - At the last CRCS Board of Education meeting on Monday, Superintendent Matthew Sickles presented the third version of the 2025-26 budget to be voted on in May.

Before he jumped into the numbers, Superintendent Sickles noted the severe backlash over the past two iterations from the public.

“I know the mission statement sounds hypocritical, and I can do nothing to change some people’s minds,” he said. “But I have an obligation to serve the students of today and hand off the district in the future.”

He began the presentation by noting that the previous budget gap at the beginning of March was $868,034, and the district has been looking for more savings wherever they can.

The first adjustment was the walk-back on the proposed school resource officer addition, which saved approximately $90,000.

Superintendent Sickles also explained that the school psychologist addition would now be financially offset by a new behavior support and math intervention shift, but said that the registered nurse addition is non-negotiable because of state law. There would also be no change in cutting the librarian or art teacher positions from the last proposal.

With these new changes, the budget gap would be lowered to $680,334, but several other cuts to non-student-facing areas were considered, such as contractual services, materials and supplies, and a summer budget adjustment, bringing the new gap down further to $262,150.

“That’s it,” Superintendent Sickles said once the number was revealed. “There’s nothing left to cut.”

Before the final presentation on April 7th, the district hopes to receive $80,000 more in Foundation Aid, then use $182,150 to close the gap and balance the budget.

However, member Jason Gagnon suggested that the district was being too conservative with their interest number of $600,000.

“We’ve grossly underestimated parts of the budget, especially the interest,” he said. “If you raise it to $900,000, then that more than covers the gap and the two cut positions.”

However, the rest of the Board argued that while the actual interest number is higher than what they budgeted, they cannot become reliant on raising it because it may dip from year to year.

When Superintendent Sickles asked for direction for the April 7th presentation, Mr. Gagnon said that he stands in opposition to the suggestions.

“I will not support a budget without a librarian or an art teacher,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Bruce Tryon, Vice President Dominga Lent, and Steven Philbrick supported the budget’s changes.

Members Aimee Yorke and Mary Black both spoke at length about not liking the cut positions, but said that they would support it regardless.

Finally, member Susan Strasser was torn, but ultimately decided that she will only support the budget if they use their reserves to cover the cost of keeping the positions.

With a majority in favor of the budget, Superintendent Sickles will use that information to guide the final presentation before the vote.

 

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