The Pine Plains Town Board will hold a public forum to gather input on LaBella Associates’ design concept for a new Town Hall and scheduled a separate public hearing on a proposed water rate increase for the following week.
The Town Hall forum is set for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Community Center. The public hearing on water rates will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The board also approved its 2026 budget on Oct. 16 with no changes from the preliminary version. The budget is expected to be posted on the town’s website.
Water Department official Ray Jurkowski said the last rate adjustment was in 2023 and urged the board to review the proposal in light of rising utility, chemical, and maintenance costs. The suggested increase would raise the quarterly flat rate for the first 9,000 gallons from $45 to $50, and the per-thousand-gallon rate above that threshold from $5.80 to $6.20.
Jurkowski also reported strong results from recent hydrant flow testing near Route 82 and Lake Road, conducted with engineers for a potential development project. Two hydrants were opened simultaneously, each flowing roughly 1,200 gallons per minute with only a two-pound pressure drop. “We estimated about 9,000 gallons per minute available,” he said, adding that the capacity could eliminate the need for a private fire pump and allow the town to replace an aging 4-inch main. Looping the system, he said, “would benefit the town long-term.”
Town Attorney Warren Replansky said he sent the board sample short-term rental laws from Red Hook and Pleasant Valley and will forward additional examples. He recommended an attorney–client session to review regulatory options, including hosted and non-hosted models, before the board decides whether to move forward.
Replansky also discussed enforcement involving consolidated utility poles. Board members said Consolidated Communications has been notified of removal requirements and that “the clock’s ticking.”
Highway Superintendent Carl Baden reported that winter preparations are underway and requested permission to auction the aging Kubota “brush hog” mower, which recently suffered engine failure. The board approved the sale and asked Baden to return next month with specifications and pricing for a replacement. “We’ve put about $36,000 into it over the years,” he said.
Board members thanked volunteers for preparing holiday planters, installing trees and readying the town for Decorating Day on Nov. 29. Wreaths Across America will hold its annual ceremony on Dec. 13 at noon at the town cemetery.
The Conservation Advisory Council requested $2,000 for an aquatic vegetation survey of Stissing Lake. The board approved the spending.
Board Member Jeanine Sisco briefed the board on regional housing initiatives and said she intends to pursue a new survey of local housing needs to support future grant applications and planning efforts.
The board hired Joshua Dean as a part-time police officer at $25 per hour.