As part of Meghan Borland's campaign for Town Council, she hopes to inform and involve more residents in the town. These summaries are generated by AI technology, with links to the source documents.

In case you missed it, here's an AI-generated summary of last Monday's town board meeting, covering a lot of topics. Please note: this is generated by an Artificial Intelligence Tool and may contain misspellings etc., for full meeting details and full accuracy see the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcCBXRq0qM4

1. **Good Cause Eviction Local Law Introduction and Debate** 

  - Pleasant Valley proposed a local law to enact a “good cause eviction” regulation, aligning with state law and similar rules in cities such as Albany and Rochester. 

  - The law aims to protect tenants from unjustified eviction while allowing landlords to evict tenants for legitimate reasons with proper evidence. 

  - The good cause eviction law restricts landlords from non-renewing leases without just cause and caps allowable annual rent increases at 2%-8%, while allowing higher increases for justified property improvements. 

  - Small landlords owning one unit are exempted, closing a loophole that previously allowed landlords with multiple LLC-owned properties to evade tenant protections. 

  - Environmental review procedures are required by state law before adopting such local laws.

2. **Diverse Public Opinions on the Good Cause Eviction Law** 

  - Supporters emphasized the importance of tenant protections to reduce housing insecurity, protect vulnerable populations, and curb exploitative practices by landlords. 

  - Those in favor stressed that the law balances tenant protections with landlord flexibility and that evictions for non-payment, illegal activity, or lease violations remain possible. 

  - Opponents argued that Pleasant Valley has had zero evictions in recent years, suggesting the law addresses a non-existent problem. 

  - Landlords expressed concern over increased screening, potential rent hikes to cover eviction costs, and negative impacts on small landlords maintaining affordable housing. 

  - Some feared the law could discourage investment in property improvements, reducing rental housing quality. 

  - Debate included concerns about the law increasing bureaucracy and government interference in private property rights.

RESOLUTION FAILED: Burke-Chapman Nay, Rifenberg Yay, Albrecht, Nay, Degan, Yay, Cookinham Nay.

3. **Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Amendments and Concerns** 

  - The town considered amendments to ADU regulations, increasing allowed bedrooms from one to two units per ADU and permitting notification to the fire department. 

  - Discussion included potential occupancy limits (number of persons allowed), with suggestions to increase from two to three people to accommodate typical family sizes. 

  - The ADU law requires owner occupancy of either the primary or accessory dwelling, limiting investor-driven multi-rental expansion. 

  - Some officials and residents expressed concerns that ADUs might alter the character of single-family neighborhoods, introduce multifamily uses, and strain enforcement resources. 

  - It was clarified that ADUs must comply with existing zoning setbacks and cannot be placed in front yards or areas disallowed by current regulations. 

  - The town debated how to define “compatible design” for ADUs, with no definitive resolution.

ISSUE WILL BE DISCUSSED AT NEXT MEETING

4. **Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulations under Review** 

  - The short-term rental law has evolved to allow only hosted rentals where the owner is on-site overnight during the rental. 

  - Maximum occupancy was reduced to eight people total, with two permitted per bedroom. 

  - STRs would be permitted in legal dwellings within zones allowing residential use, excluding many from private roads, shared driveways, and dense developments. 

  - Enforcement challenges were repeatedly discussed, emphasizing the need for clarity, permit requirements, penalties for illegal operations, and technology assistance to identify unregistered STRs. 

  - Strong concerns were raised by residents living near STR properties, describing nuisances such as noise, garbage, uncontrolled guest behavior, and safety issues. 

  - The town considered stricter provisions to limit STRs in specific neighborhoods and private roads, reflecting public feedback. 

  - The Planning Board reportedly opposed regulating private property in this manner, causing tension in finalizing the law.

ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED AGAIN AT NEXT MEETING

5. **Pleasant Valley Summer Camp and Camp No Teaming Discussion** 

  - The town board discussed the possibility of operating the summer camp at Camp Noooteeming, a large county-owned property

- The proposed camp budget increase is $85,700 funded by reallocating assigned fund balances from other recreation programs such as soccer and pickleball. 

  - The town lacks a current camp permit and must reapply under the new arrangement. 

  - A memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Duchess County was proposed for use of the facility, but the contract was incomplete and not shared publicly before the vote. 

  - There was significant frustration over poor communication, lack of preparation for hiring staff, unclear responsibilities for lifeguards and safety, and ambiguity surrounding aquatics programming and playground use. 

  - Recreation department staff expressed being overwhelmed and under-resourced, requesting increased manpower to manage the expanded duties. 

  - Board members debated the fiscal responsibility and risks associated with adopting the camp plan without clear operational details. 

  - Concerns were raised about liability if public access is allowed outside camp hours without supervision. 

  - Ultimately, some board members voted to approve the MOU and related budget modifications, despite reservations.

Burke-Chapman YAY, Rifenberg NAY, Albrecht YAY, Degan NAY, Cookinham, YAY

6. **Pleasant Valley Basketball Program and Referee Staffing Issues** 

  - The town runs one of the few large in-house youth basketball programs, serving over 300 children with numerous teams and games. 

  - The program faces critical challenges with referee shortages due to new municipal payroll and insurance requirements preventing casual or voucher-based payments. 

  - Efforts to recruit certified referees have been hampered by increased screening and payment complexities, threatening the continuation of both youth and adult leagues. 

  - Proposed use of technology platforms, such as NBC Sports Engine, aims to improve communication, scheduling, and organization for basketball and other sports. 

  - The board discussed possible solutions including junior referee training programs and outsourcing referee management, while navigating state insurance and comptroller rules restricting contractor payments.

ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED AT A FUTURE MEETING

7. **New Town Hall and Beautification Committee Updates** 

  - Construction on the new town hall continues with roofing, siding, and interior work progressing; courtroom benches are being procured separately to reduce costs. 

  - Beautification committee bylaws were adjusted, removing certain board members from mandatory attendance but retaining opportunities for liaison participation. 

  - Discussions on signage and site maintenance for the new town hall were ongoing.  

  - Staffing includes a director experienced with the camp for past two years, but lifeguards and aquatics director recruitment remains incomplete. 

  - County support for staffing is promised but not contractually guaranteed in writing. 

  - Public access to the site outside camp hours is contemplated but security and liability details are unclear.

7. **Basketball referee payroll constraints** 

  - Payroll and insurance requirements have prevented casual or voucher payments to referees, resulting in significant shortages. 

  - Neighboring towns reportedly pay referees via vouchers, raising questions about the town’s specific barriers. 

  - Possible solutions include subcontracting payments through organizations like Skyhawks or adopting junior referee training programs, but with concerns over oversight and payment baggage.

8. **New town hall progress** 

  - Roofing and siding are mostly complete, sheetrock installation progressing, and an electrical inspection passed. 

  - Benches for the courtroom are being procured separately to avoid markup costs.

9. **Beautification committee adjustments** 

  - Removal of mandatory attendance by recreation director and public works staff while retaining options for them to participate. 

  - Appointment of a committee chair is a priority to continue work on town beautification efforts.

10. **Voting outcomes on key items** 

   - The good cause eviction local law failed to pass after a roll call vote (two in favor, three opposed). 

   - Appointment of the planning board chair passed narrowly. 

   - The memorandum of understanding for Camp Nooteeming was approved despite some opposition. 

   - Appointment of Camp Nooteeming staff failed because of concerns about prior terminations and lack of re-engagement with candidates.