Town Board Workshop Minutes - September 30, 2026

TOWN OF SAND LAKE
TOWN BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING
September 30, 2026

A Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Sand Lake was held on September 30,2026 at the Sand Lake Town Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance the following answered roll call:

Present:
Supervisor Clemens
Deputy Supervisor Nippes
Councilman Glasser
Councilwoman Mason - Absent
Councilman Baker
Town Attorney Danaher
Recording Secretary: Barbara Hansen, Town Clerk

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Supervisor Clemens made a motion that was seconded by Deputy Supervisor Nippes, to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2026 Town Board Meeting. All were in favor, motion carried.

OTHERS PRESENT: William Glasser, Kevin Rifenburgh, Brian Hunt, Rob Dressner, Garrett DeGraff, and others.

Budget: Town Clerk, Barbara Hansen, presented the 2027 Tentative Budget to Supervisor Clemens and the present Board Members.

Reports:

Town Clerk:

• Rabies Clinic: October 17, Schodack Town Garage 3776 NY Route 20. Registration required, link is on our website. Please call my office if you need help signing up.
• Dog Licensing: NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets requires all dogs over 4 months old to be licensed in the Town where they reside, and must have an up to date Rabies Certificate to do so to insure everyone's safety. Also, it's the law!
• The Hound House: Doggie Day Care: Hosting a Canine Carnival October 24th in St. Henry's Parking Lot 10:00 am - 2:00. There will be entertainment, food vendors, and all things related to dogs, rescue organizations, organic dog treats, etc. I will have a booth set up to raffle items raising funds for the Sand Lake Dog Park. So come on down and enjoy the activities.

Supervisor Clemens:

• Climate Smart Committee: Hosted a successful clean up day last Saturday. Thank you to members and Highway for disposing of the trash bags collected to make Sand Lake Shine!
• Thais Road Bridge: Well underway. Hope to get abutments in soon and the rest completed in the spring.

Deputy Supervisor Nippes: No report.

Council Glasser:

• Veterans: VFW hosting their last chicken BBQ of the season on October 17th, full and ½ dinners available. Call VFW post to order.

Councilman Baker:

• Nopiates: Thank you to our Nopiates Committee for hosting "Families on the Path of Wellness" last week at Camp Adventure. Special thank you to Tim and Kim Murdick who lead the Committee.

Kevin Rifenburgh, Commissioner of Public Works:

• Thais Road Bridge: moving along nicely; concrete work should be done soon.
• Maintenance Work: Finishing up around Town with blacktopping, shimming, tree trimming and pothole repair, drainage and dry wells, trying to get ready for winter season, fast approaching.

Public Comment:

• Rob Dressner: Recently County Legislatures voted to live stream their meetings. Mr. Dressner advised the Legislature that this is the procedure in Sand Lake. After a brief adjournment there was a bi-partisan, unanimous agreement to allow live streaming and public comment at their meetings.

There being no other Public Comment the Board moved on to BUSINESS:

RESOLUTION #2026-09-160
Establishing the 2027 Town of Sand Lake Budget Schedule

Moved by: Supervisor Clemens
Seconded by: Councilman Baker

WHEREAS, one of the primary responsibilities of New York Town Governments is to adopt a structurally balanced budget that accurately estimates revenues and expenditures of the town for the upcoming fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, the budget adoption process has several dates and steps that must adhere to statutory requirements and deadlines; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Sand Lake hereby adopts the following schedule of actions and dates associated with adoption of the 2027 Town of Sand Lake Budget:

AYES 4 - NAYS 0 - ABSENT 1 Motion Carried

RESOLUTION #2026-09-161
AUTHORIZING VOLUNTARY SALARY WAIVERS AND PAID INJURY LEAVE FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE JOSH BUCCI

Moved by: Councilman Baker
Seconded by: Supervisor Clemens

WHEREAS, Josh Bucci is an employee of the Town Highway Department who is unable to work due to an injury; and

WHEREAS, Town Board members have expressed their intention to voluntarily waive the salaries otherwise payable to them for the period October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, and the Town Supervisor and Town Clerk have expressed their intention to waive additional salary amounts that together match the amounts waived by the Town Board members; and

WHEREAS, General Municipal Law § 92 authorizes the Town Board, by resolution, to grant an employee sick leave or a leave of absence with pay; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Town Comptroller is authorized to obtain a separate, written, prospective salary waiver from each participating official, specifying the amount waived and the pay periods to which it applies; and be it further

RESOLVED, that, effective October 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, the Town Board grants Josh Bucci paid injury leave under General Municipal Law § 92, in an amount not exceeding the aggregate salary voluntarily waived by participating officials during that period, subject to the Town's applicable personnel policies, collective bargaining agreement, and coordination with any workers' compensation or other wage replacement benefits; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Town Comptroller is authorized to calculate the waived salary amounts, prepare and record any necessary budget modification to provide for the authorized Highway Department leave payments, and administer the payments through Town payroll; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Town Comptroller shall apply the appropriate payroll withholding and reporting treatment to each official's effective salary waiver and to payments made to Mr. Bucci; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this authorization expires December 31, 2026, and any extension shall require further Town Board action.

AYES 4 - NAYS 0 - ABSENT 1 Motion Carried

RESOLUTION #2026-09-162
AUTHORIZING A PLAN FOR TEMPORARY SINGLE LANE REOPENING OF GLASS LAKE ROAD

Moved by: Councilman Glasser
Seconded by: Supervisor Clemens

WHEREAS, a portion of Glass Lake Road remains closed due to conditions requiring repair; and

WHEREAS, the Town is awaiting the requisite permits and approvals from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to perform the permanent work; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board wishes to evaluate whether the road can safely accommodate traffic in one lane while the permitting and repair process continues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to work with the Town Engineer to develop a plan for a temporary single lane reopening of Glass Lake Road, including any necessary traffic controls, signs, barriers, inspections, and operating restrictions; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the road may reopen to single lane traffic only after the Town Engineer determines that the proposed arrangement is safe and the Commissioner of Public Works confirms that the required traffic controls are in place; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Public Works is authorized to close the road again immediately if conditions change or if the Commissioner or Town Engineer determines that continued single lane use is unsafe; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the temporary arrangement shall remain in place only while it can be maintained safely. After the required permits are obtained and the permanent work is completed, the Town shall evaluate the road for a planned full reopening upon the Town Engineer's determination that it is safe for two way traffic.

AYES 4 - NAYS 0 - ABSENT 1 Motion Carried

RESOLUTION #2026-09-163
A RESOLUTION APPROVING LOCAL LAW AS TO FORM AND SCHEDULING PUBLIC HEARING

Moved by: Councilman Glasser
Seconded by: Supervisor Clemens

WHEREAS, The Town of Sand Lake is desirous of having the ability to override the New York State Tax Cap, if needed, for the 2027 Town Budget pursuant to New York State General Municipal Law Section 3-c, Subdivision 5, and

WHEREAS, the Town Board has reviewed proposed Local Law No. 3 of the year 2026, a copy of which is attached hereto, and

WHEREAS, such Local Law appears appropriate as to form and it appearing appropriate for a Public Hearing to be scheduled so as to consider public comments on such proposed Local Law,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that proposed Local Law No. 3 of the year 2026 is hereby approved as to form, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Public Hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Town Hall of the Town of Sand Lake located at 8428 NY Route 66, Averill Park, New York, 12018 so as to allow the Town Board to hear Public Comment on proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2026, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to issue appropriate Public Notice of the Public Hearing scheduled herein.

AYES 4 - NAYS 0 - ABSENT 1 Motion Carried

RESOLUTION #2026-09-164

BOND RESOLUTION DATED September 30, 2026 OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF SAND LAKE AUTHORIZING NOT TO EXCEED $1,659,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF SERIAL GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS TO FINANCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THAIS ROAD BRIDGE OVER WYNANTSKILL CREEK, AT AN ESTIMATED MAXIMUM COST OF $1,659,000, LEVY OF TAX IN ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS IN PAYMENT THEREOF, THE EXPENDITURE OF SUCH SUM FOR SUCH PURPOSE, AND DETERMINING OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

Moved by: Supervisor Clemens
Seconded by: Councilman Glasser

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF SAND LAKE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The Town of Sand Lake (the "Town") is hereby authorized to (a) replace the current bridge carrying Thais Road over the Wynantskill Creek, and (b) issue its serial general obligation bonds (the "Bonds") in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $1,659,000 pursuant to the Local Finance Law of New York, in order to finance the class of objects or purposes described herein.

Section 2. The class of objects or purposes to be financed pursuant to this Resolution is the replacement of the current bridge carrying Thais Road over the Wynantskill Creek, including, but not limited to, demolition of the existing road and sub-base, existing culverts and concrete headwalls, and excavating down to the natural creek bed, construction and installation of a new bridge, including preliminary costs thereof, costs incidental thereto, and issuance costs of the Bonds and bonds anticipation notes hereinafter referred to (collectively, the "Purpose").

Section 3. It is hereby determined and declared that (a) the maximum cost of the Purpose, as estimated by the Board, is $1,659,000, (b) no money has heretofore been authorized to be applied to the payment of the cost of the Purpose, and (c) the Town plans to finance the cost of the Purpose from funds raised by the issuance of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes hereinafter referred to, and the expenditure of funds received from a federal aid, New York State aid and one or more grants.

Section 4. It is hereby determined that said Purpose is an object or purpose described in Subdivision 10 of Paragraph a of Section 11.00 of the Local Finance Law, and that the period of probable usefulness of said purpose is 20 years. The proposed maturity of the Bonds authorized herein will be in excess of five (5) years.

Section 5. Subject to the provisions of the Local Finance Law, the power to authorize the issuance of and to sell bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the sale of the Bonds, including renewals of such notes, is hereby delegated to the Supervisor of the Town, the chief fiscal officer.

Section 6. The power to further authorize the issuance of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes and to prescribe the terms, form and contents of the Bonds and bond anticipation notes, including the consolidation with other issues and the use of substantially level debt service, subject to the provisions of this Resolution and the Local Finance Law, and to sell and deliver the Bonds and bond anticipation notes, is hereby delegated to the Supervisor of the Town. The Supervisor of the Town is hereby authorized to sign and the Town Clerk is hereby authorized to attest any Bonds and bond anticipation notes issued pursuant to this Resolution, and to affix to such Bonds and bond anticipation notes the corporate seal of the Town.

Section 7. The faith and credit of the Town of Sand Lake, New York, are hereby irrevocably pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such Bonds and bond anticipation notes as the same respectively become due and payable. An annual appropriation shall be made in each year sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such obligations becoming due and payable in such year, to the extent the necessary funds are not provided from other sources. There shall be levied annually on all taxable real property in the Town, a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such obligations as the same become due and payable, to the extent the necessary funds are not provided from other sources.

Section 8. This Resolution shall constitute the Town's "official intent", within the meaning of Section 1.150-2 of the Treasury Regulations, to finance the cost of the Purpose with the Bonds and notes herein authorized. The Town shall not reimburse itself from the proceeds of the Bonds or notes for any expenditures paid more than sixty days prior to the date hereof, unless specifically authorized by Section 1.150-2 of the Treasury Regulations.

Section 9. Pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York, as amended, and the regulations of the Department of Environmental Conservation of the State of New York promulgated thereunder (collectively referred to hereinafter as "SEQRA"), the Town Board of the Town of Sand Lake (the Town") hereby determines that the Purpose (as herein defined ) is a Type II Action, and that no further action is required to satisfy the requirements of SEQRA.

Section 10. This Resolution is adopted subject to a permissive referendum pursuant to Section 35.00 of the Local Finance Law and Section 90.00 of the Town Law. The Town Clerk is hereby authorized and directed within ten (10) days after the adoption of said resolution, to cause to be published a notice which sets forth the date of this Resolution's adoption and contains an abstract of the resolution concisely stating its purpose and effect.

Section 11. A summary of this Resolution, when effective, shall be published in full by the Town Clerk together with a notice in substantially the form prescribed by Section 81.00 of the Local Finance Law, and such publication shall be in each official newspaper of the Town. The validity of the Bonds or of any bond anticipation notes issued in anticipation of the sale of the Bonds may be contested only if such obligations are authorized for an object or purpose for which the Town is not authorized to expend money, or the provisions of law which should be complied with at the date of publication of this Resolution are not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty (20) days after the date of such publication; or if said obligations are authorized in violation of the provisions of the Constitution.

Section 12. The firm Barclay Damon LLP is hereby appointed to serve as Bond Counsel to the Town in connection with the Bonds and notes herein authorized.

Section 13. This Resolution shall take effect upon the earlier of (a) expiration of the time for filing a petition requesting that the issuance of the Bonds be submitted to referendum or (b) a positive vote upon the referendum authorizing the issuance of the Bonds.

The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilman Glasser, and duly put to vote on a roll call, which resulted as follows:

There being no other business to come before the Board Supervisor Clemens made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:12 pm. It was seconded by Councilman Baker and all were in favor, motion carried.

A complete Accounting of all Discussions on the Agenda is available to review via Streaming on the Town's website@: townofsandlake.us.

LOCAL LAW FILING
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
41 State Street, Albany, NY 12231
TOWN OF SAND LAKE

LOCAL LAW NO. 3 OF 2026 - A LOCAL LAW TO OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT ESTABLISHED IN GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW SECTION 3-C

Be it enacted by the Town of Sand Lake in the County of Rensselaer, as follows:

Section 1. Legislative Intent.

It is the intent of this Local Law to override the limit on the amount of real property taxes that may be levied by the Town of Sand Lake, County of Rensselaer, State of New York (hereinafter "Sand Lake") pursuant to General Municipal Law § 3-c, and to allow Sand Lake to adopt a budget for (a) Town purposes and (b) any other special or improvement district governed by the Town Board for the fiscal year 2027 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the "tax levy limit" as defined by General Municipal Law § 3-c.

Section 2. Authority.

This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law § 3-c, which expressly authorizes the Town Board to override the tax levy limit by the adoption of a local law approved by vote of sixty percent (60%) of the Town Board.

Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override.

The Town Board of the Town of Sand Lake is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year 2027 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the limit specified in General Municipal Law, § 3-c.

Section 4. Severability.

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this Local Law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance, shall be adjusted by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this Local Law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.

Section 5. Effective date.

This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS LOCAL LAW MAY CONFLICT WITH APLICABLE PORTIONS OF THE TOWN LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IT IS THE STATED INTENTION OF THE TOWN TO EXERCISE ITS AUTHORITY TO SUPERSEDE AND AMEND, AS GRANTED UNDER THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, SECTION 10. THE TOWN HEREBY PROVIDES NOTICE THAT IT IS EXERCISING ITS AUTHORITY TO SUPERSEDE AND AMEND.