The Ancram Town Board is considering an offer to purchase the long-abandoned Tinsmith House, a landmark at the corner of Route 82 and County Route 7 that officials say has posed visibility and safety concerns for years.
At the Aug. 21 meeting, Supervisor Jim MacArthur said the owner had contacted the board to discuss selling the property. No action was taken, but the board will ask Building Inspector Ed Ferratto for an assessment before its September meeting.
The potential acquisition was one of several items discussed at a wide-ranging meeting that also covered new regulations for the town’s pavilion, a website overhaul, and the future of solar panels removed during Town Hall roof repairs.
Pavilion Oversight and Rules
Much of the discussion centered on regulations and staffing for the new pavilion at Blass Field. Steve Olyha, who led development of the facility, offered to serve temporarily as its director, handling public inquiries and ensuring groups of 30 or more secure permits, pay deposits, and comply with rules.
Town Clerk Monica Cleveland suggested the work could be folded into the duties of a part-time Planning Board/Zoning Board deputy clerk position currently being advertised.
Board member Bonnie Hundt said a small group had refined the rules discussed in July and now posted at the pavilion. Proposals include banning smoking, firearms, drones, and fireworks, in line with policies at other towns’ facilities. Members also debated closing the pavilion at dusk, though Olyha argued that exceptions might be warranted for groups such as the Ancram Center for the Arts.
Public comments ranged from calls for fewer restrictions — “just make it first come, first served” — to barring nonresidents. Pool manager Jennifer Boice reported that a “large group of non-Ancram families” had recently used the pavilion and requested access to the pool, pressing for an additional lifeguard.
The board scheduled a workshop for 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 18, ahead of its next meeting, to finalize staffing and regulations. Addressing calls to delay action, MacArthur told residents, “We are elected to make decisions. If you don’t like the decisions we make, vote us out. That’s the way town government works.”
Website Upgrade
Board member Amy Gold outlined plans for a major update to the town website, driven in part by new state requirements. Later this month, a technology committee will survey residents on desired features and share vendor options with the board.
Once a contractor is chosen this fall, work will begin in 2026. The project is expected to cost $5,000 a year for four to five years, compared with $1,500 annually now spent on largely volunteer maintenance. Goals include easier navigation and searches, simpler updates by staff, online access to town forms, and a shared community calendar.
Solar Panel Options
Board member Colleen Lutz reported she is gathering cost estimates for remounting solar panels removed from the Town Hall roof, either back on the roof, atop the pavilion, or on a carport over the parking lot. She will issue requests for proposals and will also work with the town attorney to draft a Payment in Lieu of Taxes policy for future private solar projects.
Concerns on Spending and Process
Board member Dave Boice, who said he had been quiet in recent meetings, read a list of concerns ranging from how the board manages public comment to oversight of the pool and pavilion.
“This could cost $400,000, $500,000 before it’s finished,” he said of the pavilion. “Who is going to be in charge? Parties going on into the night — is this what we want?”
Boice also criticized the town’s solar investments. “We’re throwing away money,” he said. “Over 15 years, we have lost money on the solar panels. In the next 10 years, they will be obsolete.”
In closing, he urged the board to deliberate more carefully: “We are too often in a rush, which is not where the Town Board should be.”
The pavilion is currently budgeted at $125,000, fully covered by a state grant. Additional costs could include staining, $200 per month for a portable toilet, and any staffing. Boice did not provide details on his higher cost estimate.