The Gallatin Town Board met for under an hour on April 22, covering town hall repairs, a proposed fire district dissolution, and a planned road closure near the town center.
Supervisor John Reilly led the session, guiding the board and a small audience through an update-heavy agenda. Timetables for the removal of asbestos siding, clapboard repairs, roof replacement, and solar installation at town hall remain undecided. While there has been public support for free-standing solar panels, the town will also seek bids for roof-mounted alternatives.
A continued point of discussion was the fire commissioners’ proposal to dissolve the town’s fire district. If enacted, the move could shift fire protection costs to property owners currently served by departments in Ancram, Livingston, Milan, Pine Plains, and Taghkanic. Highway Superintendent Jack Gomm, who also serves as a director of the Milan Fire Department, reiterated his belief that the district could be preserved if new individuals step forward to serve on the commission. “For which one need not be a member of a fire department,” Gomm added. Reilly said he has invited the current commissioners to attend the board’s May meeting to further discuss the matter.
In infrastructure news, Reilly announced that Columbia County will close a section of Route 7 near Tinker Hill Road — close to Town Hall — beginning Monday, May 5, for a culvert replacement at Roe Jan Kill. The closure is expected to last through October, with detour signs posted. The project was approved by the board in February. Located just east of Gallatin Town Hall, the detour will redirect traffic via Route 11 and Route 82. Temporary access will be maintained for homes on Tinker Hill Road.
The Conservation Advisory Council will host a public event at Taghkanic State Park on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. The program includes updates on the town’s Natural Resources Inventory, a hike featuring views from the water tower, and refreshments.
In new business, the board unanimously approved the appointment of Lynda Sheer to the Senior Advisory Council/Office of Aging, joining Peggy Watson in that role.
Town Historian Louisa Ruby reported progress on a new historical archive featuring photographs, oral histories, and an interactive map of Gallatin’s historic homes and sites. “Because of the space required for these, they will first be uploaded to the CAC’s website — appropriately identified and linked to the town website,” Ruby said. The board has allocated funding in the 2025 budget for website and communications upgrades, with the goal of eventually hosting the historical archive on the town’s own site.
Assessor Rene DeLeeuw reminded residents that the 2025 property tax “grievance” day is Tuesday, May 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. Property owners wishing to contest their assessment should email DeLeeuw at gallatinassessor@yahoo.com in advance.
The next Gallatin Town Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 20.