The Town Board on Oct. 7 pressed for details on salary increases in the 2027 tentative budget, which totals $16,427,725. Members also heard pitches for a 36-unit housing development and a concrete-related operation on Route 9W, and reviewed problems at the town’s water and sewer plants.
Budget
The tentative spending plan is up $607,793 from the current year. Board members questioned several salary increases, including raises above the 4% typically tied to union contracts. They also raised concerns that the budget could exceed the state property tax cap.
Members asked that the budget clearly separate contractual increases, longevity payments, certification pay and discretionary raises so the board can see which costs could be reduced.
Proposed Twin Ponds development
Mike Boden of Land Design, representing 242 Grindard Avenue LLC and the Twin Ponds project team, presented a proposal for 36 townhouses and single-story condominium units on an approximately 40-acre property off Grindard Avenue. The plan includes a clubhouse, walking trails and shared open space.
The applicant is seeking a planned residential development (PRD) overlay and asked the board to start the review process. That process would allow more detailed site, environmental, infrastructure and community-benefit reviews.
According to the applicant, development would be clustered on the western side of the property near the ponds, leaving about 92% undeveloped. The eastern portion contains woodlands, wetlands and other natural resources.
The applicant said the project would connect to existing municipal water and sewer service, provide housing options for young families and seniors, and generate about 17 morning and 20 evening peak-hour trips, according to preliminary traffic estimates.
Boden described Twin Ponds as a community-driven initiative whose applicants are future residents rather than traditional developers. He said they are organizing a multigenerational neighborhood designed around community interaction, sustainability and aging in place. The group’s materials project move-in in 2028.
Boden said the overlay is not meant to increase development intensity but to give the flexibility needed for a better site design while protecting environmental resources.
Clemente Industries on Route 9W
The board held an extended discussion of the Clemente Industries concrete-related proposal on Route 9W, with traffic safety the main concern.
A traffic study cited in the discussion found an 85th-percentile speed of 65 mph on the corridor, which has a 55 mph limit. Officials worried about fully loaded concrete trucks entering the highway, which could mean as many as 30 truck trips a day under the scenario discussed. They also pointed to existing congestion and the presence of school buses.
The board said traffic safety remains a significant concern. It suggested that measures such as flashing lights or a lower speed limit could address some of the problems if the project advances.
A Clemente representative said the project has been unfairly characterized. He said the company expects to contribute tax revenue while making relatively limited use of town services. He also objected to changes in zoning legislation that he believes were prompted by the project.
Personnel and routine business
The board approved hiring Marissa Sortini as a part-time dispatcher at $20.47 per hour, effective Oct. 8, on the police chief’s recommendation.