The Gallatin Town Board convened on Tuesday, March 25, and discussed the future of Town Hall repairs, short-term rental registrations, fire district governance, and the long-term use of a historic church property.
The board previously shelved plans for a full-scale Town Hall renovation or rebuild after determining in 2024 that the cost would exceed $3 million and add more than $2 million in town debt. Town Supervisor Reilly said the board had accepted “the town’s fate of not being able to finance an entire rebuild,” and instead proposed a phased approach to maintenance and upgrades over the next 18 months.
The proposed projects include roof repairs, new exterior surfacing, a reconfigured interior layout, and replacement of interior finishes. The town is also exploring the addition of solar panels to the roof or installing free-standing panels on the ridge behind the building.
Board member Jeff Jorve expressed concern that a piecemeal approach could result in a “Frankenstein monster” of multiple projects led by different contractors, reducing accountability and increasing inefficiency. He argued that a comprehensive plan would ultimately be more cost-effective. Board member Sara McGhee agreed with Jorve’s position.
Michael Moran, another board member, offered a more optimistic view. He said the existing building — some of which predates current building codes — could serve the town well into the future if interior and exterior upgrades were implemented. Moran also noted that while there had been broad interest during the pandemic in expanding community uses for the hall, that momentum has faded.
Board members and residents agreed on the need for architectural and engineering guidance to shape a master plan and its implementation, whether through a single large project or a series of smaller ones. Review of the plan will continue at future meetings.
With March 25 marking the deadline for registration of short-term rental properties in Columbia County, the board expects updated information on potential tax revenue at its April or May meeting. Granicus, the firm hired by the county to administer the tax, has estimated 60 to 70 STRs exist in Gallatin. Reilly said he suspects the resulting revenue will be distributed on a per capita basis, similar to sales tax, rather than tied to actual rental activity in each town.
The Gallatin Fire District has warned the board that it may face dissolution by year’s end if it cannot recruit at least five commissioners. Of the current four commissioners, two have signaled plans to resign. The district currently charges Gallatin taxpayers the same rate, regardless of whether their fire protection is provided by Ancram, Livingston, Milan, Pine Plains, or Taghkanic.
If the district were to dissolve, residents could face differing rates depending on their location and provider. There is also some uncertainty as to whether adjacent districts would continue serving Gallatin. However, Highway Superintendent Jack Gomm, also a director of the Milan Fire Company, said he was confident the neighboring districts — each with Gallatin residents among their firefighters — would continue service.
Town historian Louisa Ruby, speaking via Zoom, raised the future of the Gallatin Reformed Church on County Route 7. The building was constructed in 1823 and named a national historic site in 2021; the church property also includes a graveyard and a parish hall across the road.
Ruby said the congregation, which dates to the 1740s, wants the property to be used by the people of Gallatin when it is no longer needed for religious purposes. Ideas discussed include hosting lectures, concerts, community suppers, and meetings.
Reilly said the town would assume responsibility for cemetery maintenance once the congregation relinquishes use of the property, but added that it could not share ownership with an active religious organization. He said municipal ownership could also limit eligibility for state or private funding. Instead, he suggested that the congregation consider transferring the property to a nonreligious nonprofit to avoid private sale.
In other business, the board appointed Madelin Dafoe — who also serves as Pine Plains Town Clerk — as Gallatin’s new court clerk. The Conservation Advisory Council announced a public educational event to be held at Taghkanic State Park from 10 to noon on Saturday, April 26.