The downtown depot served the Tilden company’s massive pharmaceutical manufacturing operations and the thriving Shaker commerce. The second stop brought tourists to fill the hotels surrounding the springs, which local histories describe as a renowned spa that attracted seekers of rest, health, and recreation. The route began with the Lebanon Springs Railroad in the 1850s, changed owners and investors in the 1860s, and was finally absorbed into the Rutland Railroad around 1900–1901.

Abbie Shoobs, a board member of the Corkscrew Rail Trail Association, explained how the challenging topography, with 263 curves and steep grades, led to frequent derailments and washouts, making the route expensive to run. The rise of cars and trucks in the twentieth century made the line obsolete. Passenger service ended in 1931, and the railway closed for good in 1953.

That is what makes Saturday’s open house worth seeing. The depot is a surviving piece of the time when hotels, springs, factories, Shaker enterprises, and railroad stops made New Lebanon a commercial hub and tourist destination. The depot gives visitors a chance to imagine what was lost and what might yet be.

The current efforts to save the depot focused first on stabilization and are now working on

rehabilitating the old gem. The rectangular wooden-framed building has two rooms, stands eighteen feet tall with an overhanging roof to protect passengers from the weather. Abbie Shoobs said the depot has beautiful windows, and a local volunteer has been restoring each pane one by one. “When he’s finished, the light in those high-ceiled rooms will be wonderful.”

The rehabilitation work is part of an effort to build a rail trail along the Rutland Railroad line. The Corkscrew Rail Trail Association website states that a 2.5-mile section of trail opened in 2015 and runs parallel to NYS Route 22 through southern Stephentown into New Lebanon.

The Association purchased a 3.44-acre parcel at 16 Lovers Lane in New Lebanon at a foreclosure auction in 2019, including the train depot and another 1.3 miles of trail.

The association hopes that one day the trail will extend to Chatham and “join trails that continue south through Columbia County to join the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Dutchess County.” The majority of the trail is on private land, which means landowners must allow access across their property. Some landowners embrace the benefits of hosting the trail, but others express concern about liability, privacy, and potential misuse.

A short dive into the benefits and drawbacks of rail trails found that most towns experience economic benefits as trail users often visit local businesses, especially cafés and restaurants. The frequency of visits is increased on trails without water fountains or restrooms. Most landowners end up neutral or in favor of the trails, as their property values tend to go up and their worst fears are rarely realized. Though trespassing, littering, off-lease dogs, and dog poop can be issues.

Many rail trails prohibit motor vehicles as they erode the trails and significantly increase the noise.

A Rails with Trails Best Practices suggests that successful trails that work for users and landowners have:

• clear trail rules

• trash cans

• multiple entry and access points

• enforcement of no‑motorized‑vehicle rules

• regular trails maintenance

• strong fencing or screening to protect property owners’ privacy.

A visit to the depot on Saturday is an opportunity to glimpse the past and discuss possible futures, and commemorate a beloved local resident Joe Ogilvie. Joe was a driving force behind both the rehabilitation of the train depot and the building of the rail trail. Without his tireless, positive effort, the train depot would still have holes in the roof and be decaying every day. He was “the sweetest man in the world” and will be deeply missed.

School Budget Update

The school board met last night and decided to hold a second vote on the budget at the same 6% tax levy. The vote will be on June 16^th.

This information came from School Board Vice President John Kalisz, who attended the first Community Forum held last night at the Community Center.

Still Time To Register

Unregistered voters living in the school district can vote on the budget by registering at the district office, located at the high school. This registration is only valid for school elections. You still need to register through the state to vote in local, state, and national elections

As co-chair of the Outreach, Marketing, and Communication Committee, I’m glad to have helped bring this event to life. Tonight, I will be co-facilitating the forum alongside Regina Griffin. The entire committee is committed to creating a productive, welcoming space for everyone in our community.

The forum is designed to be structured yet informal, in hopes of spurring genuine conversation between residents and town officials. The forum is also a Special Town Board, meaning most, if not all, board members will be in attendance. We have invited members of the Zoning and Planning Boards, so residents will have direct access to a broad range of knowledgeable voices in one room.

Committee members: Sharon Powers, Jim Dawson, Schuyler Gail, Raymona Griffin, Matt Lansing, Darla Dobert, Phillip Ortiz, Eileen Raab

What Questions Can Be asked?

No topic about the town is too big or too small, though we must all treat each other with respect. If someone in the room knows the answer, you’ll get it on the spot. If a question is complicated or tricky, the committee will capture it and make sure you receive a follow-up.

You can ask questions in person, write them on a card, email them, or send them via chat on the live broadcast.

Tonight is just the beginning of what we hope will be many community forums to share options, gather questions, and ideas. And perhaps most importantly, keep the lines of communication open between residents and local officials.

Please join us for a respectful, engaged conversation about what is happening in New Lebanon with the people who can answer your questions or find the answers

Tonight, May 21, at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30)

New Lebanon Community Center

523 Route 20

https://meet.google.com/ikn-jhmo-cvw

The School Budget Vote

If you haven’t heard, the School Budget Vote did NOT get the 60% need to pass. The School Board will meet tonight to decide the next steps. My understanding is they will either:

1. Accept the austerity budget. This means they will use the same budget as last year and will likely have to make difficult cuts. However, they will not have to hold a second vote.

2. Go out for a vote with a new number.

3. Go out for a vote with the same 6% tax levy increase.

If a second vote fails, the school will operate under the austerity budget. Which path they take will be decided tonight.

Need Help Paying School Taxes?

Anyone who struggles to afford the increase should consider applying for the STAR School Budget Tax Relief. It is relatively easy to apply, and many people qualify. You will still have to pay the school tax, but a refund will arrive a couple of months later. It doesn’t cover the entire levy, but it will help.

To find out more about the school budget:

• School Board Budget page

• Previous NLI article on the budget vote

2026 New Lebanon Middle and High School Spring Concert

• Location: 1478 Route 20, New Lebanon, NY

• Date: Tuesday, May 19

• Time: Polls are open from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

The school district is asking for a 6% tax increase. This is a genuine hardship for many families and anyone living on a fixed income. The School Board worked hard to cover school needs without overburdening taxpayers. For instance, salaries and benefits make up over 70% of their budget. The district cut expenses over the last two years by eliminating nine teaching positions, representing about 16% of our teaching staff. The schools now depend on the teachers pulling double and triple duty.

The school board wrote in their budget notice: “The proposed 2026-2027 budget is a 4.07% increase over the current year. This increase reflects general inflation, ongoing instructional costs, and uncertainty around final state aid. The Board has adopted a 6% tax levy increase to support this budget while maintaining enough fund balance in reserve to help with future years.”

The budget has to pass by a super majority of 60%. If the budget does not pass. The school district will either ask for the town to vote on the same budget or a reduced one, which will cut deeper into their thin reserves. Cutting into reserves will likely lead to higher tax levies in the coming years.

If You Need Help Paying School Taxes

If you are concerned about paying school taxes, you can look into the STAR School Tax Relief program. To qualify, you must own your home and use it as your primary residence. Many households in Lebanon Valley qualify. Check your eligibility here.

To find out more about the school budget, visit:

• New Lebanon School District Budget Note

• School District Budget Information page

• New Lebanon Independent article

Vote at Walter B. Howard on May 19th, from 12 - 8 PM

A bond attorney from Hodgson Russ found a solution, but the project needs to apply for grants this fall. This means there is a short time to complete a multi-step process, which has board members and residents wondering what is going on.

Why are Town Board votes happening when the Feasibility Study isn’t done?

The vote last Tuesday enabled the town to hire the lawyer who figured out how to allow people to opt out of the municipal wastewater system. The new lawyers will create a petition that the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) will use to enroll property owners.

The Feasibility Study can’t be completed without knowing how many people will use the system and how big the service district will be. So, the vote last Tuesday allowed the study to go forward. The cost of this work will be 100% reimbursed by a state grant.

It is worth noting that most sewer districts require every property to connect. In this case, the town found a way to accommodate both the property owners who want the sewers and those who do not. But this adds significant complexity to the process.

Project Engineer Brendon Beck describes the steps to apply for funding.

When will the Feasibility Study be complete?

There are two more steps to completing the study:

1. Finish the SEQR review. The review identifies potential impacts and gives the engineers time to develop mitigation plans. The SEQR was started last year by the Town Board, which has been identified as the reviewing body. In the May meeting, this new board was asked to submit any questions so the engineer could respond. The intention is to finish the SEQR review during the June Town Board meeting

2. Determine the sewer system’s size, scope, and cost. The project must get firm confirmation from those who want the sewers. Property owners will be asked to sign a petition that will include a firm cap on the system’s cost. If costs go above the stated threshold, the petition will not be binding. Once the number of users is known, the cost of creating and maintaining the system can be calculated.

If the project passes SEQR and the cost per user is known, the Feasibility Study will be complete. If the cost per user comes in at or below the threshold, a public hearing will be held to discuss the project, and then the people who signed the petition will ask the town board to create a sewer district.

Why is a sewer district needed?

The district will assume responsibility for the municipal sewer system. It will allow the town to isolate sewer system users from the rest of the town and ensure all costs are paid by the users. The state and other funding agencies also require the creation of a sewer district to award funds.

Why is a bond needed?

To apply for grants, the district must have a bond in place to hold any potential funds. This is the final step needed before the project can apply for funding. The goal is to complete all steps in time for the project to apply for funding early this fall.

Would A Municipal Sewer System Benefit Downtown New Lebanon?

There are many wells and septic systems in the limited space downtown. Some owners already face water problems. The new system would improve safety across the entire corridor and the surrounding ecosystem, including Shaker Swamp and Wyomanock Creek.

The downtown corridor has long been identified as the place for economic development. With the rising costs of roads, schools, insurance, and property taxes, raising income is one of the best tools the town has for keeping New Lebanon affordable. But with the current wastewater challenge, the town’s primary economic development area cannot add new businesses such as a coffee shop or a laundromat. A new restaurant would have to install its own wastewater processing system, an expense large enough to prohibit most new businesses.

Many detailed questions about the sewer system remain and need to be answered. At the same time, the proposed system would allow the town more options for raising revenue, something it will likely need. It may be wise to keep the big picture in mind while zeroing in on the details.

Who Pays For The Project? Will everyone in New Lebanon have to pay?

All of the funds come from grants and the property owners tied into the system. Neither the town nor anyone outside the district will have to pay anything. Towns often fall into development traps by securing grants to fund a project without a way to pay for operations and maintenance. That is NOT happening here. The district will have a clear plan for who pays the ongoing expenses.

Another common mistake towns make is letting outside developers rely on investment firms. This often gives capital funds too much leverage in the town. That is NOT happening here. Grants and system users will fund the system. The Town Board will govern the district, which will be composed of local property owners.

If the town is going to create a downtown sewer, this is a good way to do it.

How Much Will It Cost?

The following information is drawn from the CAC’s overview. Installing the system will cost $5-6 million. The project expects, and hinges on, getting 70%-80% of that money from New York State and other grants.

The remaining development funds will be borrowed and repaid by system users over time. Estimated yearly costs for the system:

• Construction debt = $35,000 - $45,000

• Annual operation costs = $40,000

• Revenue needed per year = $75,000 - $85,000

The Tilden Project is willing to pay more than its share for the municipal sewer system, making it affordable enough for others to join. Without Tilden, the per-user costs will rise to a level that would make the project too expensive for most users.

In practical terms, the financial feasibility of the municipal water project depends on Tilden getting built. It should be noted that, though Tilden would like to use this system, they have a plan for on-site wastewater treatment. They do not need this system to move forward.

Brendon Becker describes the sewer system. He spoke about it twice. Both sections are included.

How Big Will the System Be?

Each property will have a new septic tank that collects solid waste and is cleaned out by the district on a rotating basis. The liquid waste will be pumped to numerous leach fields. Each property will be connected to a pipe that leads to where Route 22 South splits off from Route 20 and then pumped into a series of leach fields

A small building with an automatic distribution system will spread the liquid across several fields, but this isn’t a complex processing plant requiring expensive maintenance. It is the type of connected septic systems identified in the Room Enough for Both report as a solution that has been effective for many small towns in New York.

Why Has This Taken So Long?

The planning process took roughly 2 years and was designed as an opt-in project, with no one forced to join. A pipe might have to run through an owner’s easement, but the owner would not have to pay.

In 2025, right before the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) presented the project to the Town Board, they learned that opting out was not possible. The system had been set up to collect annual fees based on a local tax zone. A tax zone must include everyone. No one can be skipped or omitted.

The town board stopped the project until the CAC could ensure that people could opt out. It took 10 months, but another law firm, Hodgson Russ, designed a fee-based system that does not rely on the local tax system.

The fee-based system will be managed by the town or a third party that bills users directly.

Have more questions? Want more information?

Come ot the Community Forum next Thursday at the Community Center. The board members will be there, as will members of CAC, and perhaps the project engineer, Brendon Becker.

You can find the project files and maps on this page under the sewer district.

Together for Youth campus

Andrew Vadnais, Darrow Head of School, said the “near-death” experience woke us up and caused us to make changes.” The academic program remains the same, but how the school looks for students has shifted.

The new approach has worked so well that Darrow signed a letter of intent to purchase the $15.3 million Together For Youth property on Route 22 in Canaan, previously known as Berkshire Farm. The school and unnamed investors are currently doing due diligence on the purchase and hope to close by the end of the year. The details of the deal and the ownership structure are not public, though more information will be shared during the June 12-14 alumni weekend.

At over 700 acres, some of which are in the conservancy, the school will focus on occupying buildings near Route 22. The main classroom and administrative areas are in excellent condition, as are many of the dorm pods. The facility has an immediate capacity of 130 students and expects to reach up to 200 when the remaining buildings are ready.

Maintaining Two Campuses

When asked about the future of the current Darrow Campus, Mr. Vadnais said that Darrow is the heart of the school. The buildings are “the Vatican of Shakerdome”. He stated emphatically that there is no way they are moving from Mt. Lebanon. The increased capacity “will allow us to take some of the older Darrow dorms offline and use the historic tax credit to redo them.”

The new Sound Academy will be built at Darrow. The beloved basketball court and black box are at Darrow. The strong alumni community also has a deep connection to the upper campus, and the lower campus cannot match the acres of soccer fields. Plus, both campuses are needed to attain the stated capacity of 300 students. While there are no guarantees, there are structural and historical reasons for the school to retain the Central Family campus.

He also welcomes stronger protections for the site and the Shaker Swamp to ensure that “this crown jewel gets preserved.”

Darrow Campus

Hockey Arena

The school would love to have a rink, as their nine teams travel to the Boys and Girls Club in Pittsfield or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink in North Adams. The complex schedule needed to accommodate all the travel means some academic classes go until 7 pm.

But with all the work ahead, the school has no plans to build a rink anytime soon. Though Mr. Vadnais stated he would love to build a rink in the middle of town, so everyone could use it. “The old bowling alley location would be perfect,” he said.

How They Grew

“The idea that you’re gonna have 90 families paying $70,000 a year in this economy, forget about it. We pivoted to create an affordable boarding school.” Andy Vadnais

Expanding the basketball, soccer, and hockey programs led to this growth. The school hired Antonio Anderson, a 4-year starter at Memphis, to run the basketball program and created strategic partnerships with United Soccer Group and Atlantic Coast Academy Hockey, both based in Pittsfield. The first phase of the hockey partnership brought in 67 international students. The relationship is working so well that the school and the ACA want all 170 hockey students to attend Darrow.

The school no longer waits for students to find them. Darrow coaches seek out players and get them to apply. The new system is attracting students and delivering results. The school touts 6 basketball teams and 9 hockey teams. The boys’ AAA basketball team finished 14^th in the nation, and the girls AA team made the final four of the National Tournament. One of the 2024 hockey teams won a national championship.

Tucked away on the mountain are three top-quality athletic programs with high-level games open to the entire Lebanon Valley community to cheer on.

Academic Success

Darrow has maintained its high academic standards, offering over 150 courses, including programs in farming, music production, construction, and professional kitchen work. The school has a student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1 and has placed students in prestigious colleges and universities.

Progress

The increased enrollment has improved the school’s finances. As the school grows towards 300, the scale needed for sustainability, Darrow wants to increase enrollment for all student types in all their programs. Athletes account for over 65% of the current 110 students. Art and music account for the rest.

Spending three times the school’s endowment and bringing on investors to purchase 700 acres will present a host of challenges, but the old approach wasn’t working. Mr. Vadnais said the opportunity to expand their growing programs “ was too good to pass up.”

“I want the town to be proud of the school,” Mr. Vadnais said.

The board asked many questions about the new submission, requested additional information, and a few changes (see the list of requests below). Chris Bertram, the town engineer, asked about the curb cut connecting Route 20 to Tilden Road, the emergency generator, minor stormwater grading issues, and asked for increased dumpster capacity.

Compared with previous Tilden project reviews, which raised major issues around wastewater, stormwater, and access to the loading dock, the technical requests were minor

The Well, Widening Tilden Road, and the Permitting Process

Regulations require the well to be 100 feet from the property line. The existing well is 90 feet from the edge of the property. DEC will determine whether the well can stay or needs to be moved. But they will not decide on the well or anything else until the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) is completed. Tilden project engineer Brendon Becker stated that the permitting process will not continue until SEQR concludes. (See the video below). I confirmed this with both Chris Bertram and DEC.

Well location and permitting discussion

The largest change presented last week was the widening of Tilden Road by 4 feet to give trucks room to turn into the Grocery store’s loading dock. The board asked the applicant to review the impact on the trees on the library side of Tilden, and Chris Bertram requested more detail on how the widening of Tilden Road will interact with the curb cut on Route 20, which will involve the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Brendon Becker said the New Lebanon Highway Superintendent, Peter McCagg, reportedly suggested avoiding complications by staying out of the DOT right-of-way. It was pointed out that the point of widening the road is to provide extra room for the trucks to turn into the loading bays (See video below).

Depending on project approval, a permit to widen Tilden Road has been granted.

Town Engineer, Chris Bertram’s question and discussion of widening Tilden Road

Reviewing SEQR Part 2

Completing the SEQR is key to advancing agency permitting, as well as the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) processes. At the April meeting, the Planning Board reviewed Part 2 of SEQR, where the reviewing agency identifies potential negative impacts.

Areas of concern previously identified by the Planning Board as needing mitigation were confirmed, including impacts on groundwater, transportation, energy, noise, and light, though most of these potential risks appeared to have been addressed in the planning process.

But Questions 17 and 18, Consistency with Community Plans and Character, prompted the board’s most probing questions and discussion. The Board debated whether the use and size of the building sharply vary with the surrounding neighborhood. They questioned whether the project would create additional demand for existing services and what impact it would have on neighborhood density.

Solutions to the challenges of water safety, roads, and noise are measurable, but quantifying how the building fits into the neighborhood is much harder. Based on the discussion during the meeting, the SEQR decision may come down to these questions.

Completing SEQR Part 3 and the Public Hearing

To complete Part 3 of SEQR,

1. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the Tilden project – tentatively scheduled for June 3

2. The applicant will submit their plans to mitigate the possible impacts identified in Step 2.

3. The Planning Board will use the public input and the mitigation statement to complete the SEQR assessment.

At the conclusion of the process, the Planning Board will issue either:

• A Negative Declaration, which means the project will NOT have a significant impact on the environment, including the local community.

  • The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) will then decide whether or not to grant the variance to allow the building to have 41 apartments instead of the 28 permitted by current zoning.

  • The project will then go back to the Planning Board for approval.

  • Permitting by the state agencies, if DOT, DOH, and DEC can also move forward.

• A Positive Declaration indicates a significant environmental impact, and a more extensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required. The Planning Board will likely provide:

  • Scoping directives about what must be addressed, often with required mitigations and conditions for approval

  • Perhaps ask for additional data, modeling, or plans

  • The impact on the project is not clear, as the applicant would likely miss their September funding application deadline

The Tilden Project approaches a key decision-making point with the conclusion on SEQR Part 3. The public has a chance to weigh in on June 3^rd.

Key Dates:

• June 3^rd – Public Input Session (date may change)

• June 17^th – Planning Board Regular Meeting

List of information and changes from the Planning Board:

• Confirm the noise level produced by the heat pumps

• Detail the effects of widening Tilden Road on trees, mailboxes, and the curb cut

• Point the Board to the letter from State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

• Decide on what size, location, and fuel type for the emergency generator

• Provide a content drawing of the building from the other side of 20, looking east to include the blue house and the library.

• Provide a copy of the SWPPP report

• Address the minor grading issues in the stormwater system.

• Increase the dumpster capacity and improve the fencing around them.

List of the suggested changes in Chris Bertram’s Comments from Review of Applicant Materials from April 13:

• Revise Project Narrative:

  • Amend unsupported, conclusory statements that systems will not adversely affect neighbors and that agency review is substantially complete.

  • Accurately describe the current status of all agency reviews.

  • Clearly identify all remaining permits, approvals, and conditions

• Revise SWPPP (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan)

  • Address winter operation and maintenance, including frozen ground, snow storage, snowmelt runoff, and deicing materials.

  • Demonstrate adequate pretreatment for runoff entering infiltration and bioretention practices, especially from paved/parking areas.

  • Quantify pretreatment volumes and sediment capture capacity.

  • Demonstrating compliance with the NYSDEC Stormwater Management Design Manual pretreatment requirements.

  • Identify all pretreatment measures for each

• Erosion and Sediment Control plan

  • Prepare and submit a site‑specific, detailed erosion and sediment control plan

  • Ensure it is coordinated with proposed grading, drainage, construction sequencing, and SWPPP.

• Revise Site Plan / Zoning

  • Show how trucks turn right across Tilden Road

  • Dimension all required setbacks from property lines, rights‑of‑way, and other regulated features.

  • Clearly demonstrate zoning compliance.

• Revise Dumpster and Screening details:

  • Clearly show location and screening for dumpster/refuse areas in compliance with Town zoning requirements.

  • Provide or reference details for site furnishings, fencing, screening, and enclosures, including dumpster and transformer screening, coordinated with the Site Plan (Sheets C155–C156).

• Update Grading & Stormwater Plan (Sheet C115)

  • Incorporate any grading revisions needed as a result of supplemental testing.

  • Coordinate grading changes with stormwater modeling and stormwater management details.

• Revise NYSDOT / Driveway and Access plan

  • Finalize driveway geometry, curb radii, lane widths, and pavement tie‑ins in accordance with NYSDOT standards as part of the Highway Work Permit process.

  • Add a note confirming that sight distance has been evaluated, meets NYSDOT standards, and stating who did the analysis and when.

• Revise Traffic / Access / Mid‑Block Crossing plans:

  • Re‑evaluate and, if needed, revise the available storage length for eastbound US‑20 traffic at Tilden Road to reflect the future mid‑block crossing/refuge island.

  • Address whether left‑turning vehicles from US‑20 to Tilden Lane will have adequate space to decelerate safely in the two‑way left‑turn lane, considering the crossing island.

  • Clarify the status and potential repositioning (east or west) of the future mid‑block crossing to mitigate rear‑end crash risk.

• Revise the Water System Engineer’s Report plan and narratives to:

  • Reflect that the project will be a regulated community water system under NYSDOH Part 5.

  • Identify all outstanding water‑quality testing, treatment design (if needed), and NYSDOH approvals required before construction and operation.

  • Align the sanitary system description across the Water/Sanitary Engineer’s Report, SPDES correspondence (Exhibit D)

New York State released its education budget for the year, and New Lebanon CSD will receive only a 1.00% increase in Foundation Aid, totaling $26,431. This is not enough to cover rising personal and operational costs, such as fuel.

The Board emphasized its efforts to save money. Staff salaries and benefits account for 71% of the budget, and over the past two years, 9 teaching positions have been reduced. This is a 16% decrease in educational staff. Chris Harper, Superintendent of the Schools, described the teachers as doing double and triple duty and the schools as running as lean as possible.

Yet, the district will need to use the fund balance for next year. The state recommends that the district maintain a 4% cushion to account for unforeseen events and emergencies. Of the four tax levy options considered, only 6% and 6.5% keep the fund reserves above 4% (See the table below).

To be clear, the proposed budget with the 6% tax increase will draw on an estimated $339,691 in fund balance. But the fund balance will remain about 4%.

The school district remains in a very tight fiscal position. The 2026-2027 budget will not get the district out of this bind. But it will pay for next year.

Public Hearing

A public hearing on the budget will be held on May 6th. Please note that the budget has been decided and no changes will be made. However, the public will have the opportunity to comment.

Voting on the Budget

May 19th is the vote for the 2026-2027 school budget. A 6% tax levy exceeds the tax cap, so the budget will need to pass by a 60% vote.

If the budget does not pass, the district will likely hold a second vote with the same or a revised budget. If it fails to garner 60% a second time, the district reverts to a contingent budget with a 0% increase.

This would leave the schools nearly a million dollars short. Sports, field trips, and extracurricular activities would be cut. Supplies and equipment purchases will be sliced, and the district will cut deep into the fund balance. The school’s fiscal position will worsen, and voters will likely be asked to bail out the system in the following years.

Please come out to vote. You can have a direct impact on school taxes and the education of our children.

A Note on the article: I did not attend the meeting, but spoke with attendees and relied on information published by the Board of Education.

Collections run on Wednesdays and Saturdays through May 23rd

• Wednesday 2 pm - 5:30 pm

• Saturdays 9 am - 1 pm

All proceeds go to the New Lebanon Library.

Bring your clean, lightly used books, CDs, and DVDs. Volunteers are to help with book collection and during the sale. No experience is needed, and you can sign up here.

The Book Sale will take place on May 30th and 31st.

If you have any questions, please reach out to friendsofthenewlebanonlibrary@gmail.com

The second Privilege of the Floor remains open-ended, allowing people to speak on any topic.

Supporters say the change helps the meeting flow more smoothly. The two pre-meeting comments at the April meeting focused on the topics at hand and allowed the board to move quietly into the agenda.

There has been pushback about this change regarding First Amendment rights. But the New York Open Meetings Law does not require towns to have a “public comment” period. Whether residents get to speak, and how, is a policy choice created by the town board. “Privilege of the floor” is a procedural concept, not a legal right.

A second objection stated that the town boards needed to weigh in before making changes. Supervisor Houghtling had announced the new policy without a vote. I looked into the rules and found the objection accurate, especially if a previous board had adopted the policy. The relevant guidance for any public comment session comes from board policy, town law practice, and open-government resources, including the Association of Towns.

I spoke with Supervisor Houghtling, and she then wrote to the Associations of Towns to ask whether the board needs to weigh in on changes to the towns’ public comment sections. They answered saying, “The town board determines issues associated with providing public comment or privilege of the floor, and the supervisor administers the board’s policy.”

The Town Supervisor acknowledged the need for board involvement and said the topic would be placed on the May agenda for discussion and potential action. This episode offers a concrete example of how governance works with residents asking questions, the Supervisor seeking guidance, and the board revisiting the policy.

Notes for the reader:

• The key distinction remains: privilege of the floor is a policy-based mechanism, not a right.

• For more information on how meetings run, please consult the Open Meetings Law.

Please note that the New Lebanon Recycling Center remains temporarily closed through June 30^th. Fortunately, there is a collection center at 452 NY-295 in Chatham, which is only a 10 to 15-minute drive for most of us.

The closure is part of the county’s attempts to close a budget shortfall. The county waste management system was designed to pay for itself through property taxes, permit and bag sales, recycling fees, and tipping fees (charges for truckloads of refuse). But it has run a deficit for the last few years, forcing the county to draw fund balance to cover costs.

In 2025, the board of supervisors addressed this messy situation by changing the fund from an Enterprise Fund (self-supporting) to a Refuse & Garbage Special Revenue Fund, which pays for deficits with a tax levy.

Starting this year, any red ink will be recouped from a tax levy. This is good news for the county's fiscal health, and we will stop pretending the fund is self-sustaining. But it places a greater burden on taxpayers. The estimated shortfall for 2026 is $1.2 million.

What is causing the shortfall?

Debt service to upgrade our aging infrastructure. Our trucks and facilities are old and need to be replaced, and the county takes out bonds to pay for the investment over time. In 2024, the county took out a $2.5 million bond to upgrade facilities. This year, the county took out a $225,000 bond for equipment replacement and will take out $300,00 for equipment and $200,000 for construction in 2027.

We have underinvested in our infrastructure for years, and now we must buy new trucks and fix the infrastructure. The current vehicle replacement plan will run through 2031. The yard and building improvements run from 2027 to 2031.

Staff costs have also increased, as have the service fees for managing solid waste at Greenport. Bag and punchcard income are down as fewer people use the system. All of which means our country’s waste services costs will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.

For advice about what and how to recycle, check out the county’s Recycling Encyclopedia.

Will the New Lebanon Recycling Center ever re-open?

It hasn’t been determined. The County Board of Supervisors seek ways to keep the system running while controlling costs. Given the financial challenges the fund faces, we may be driving to Chatham.

A note about the research:

All the data comes from the 2026 Columbia County Budget. The document was download and the full Claude Suite was used to pull out the relevant waste management data. All queries were run agains that data and then fact checked.

First meeting of the Outreach, Marketing, and Communication Committee

Background: The Town Board created the committee in early January this year to improve communication with residents and to gather their concerns and questions. The primary charge is to create Community Dialogues.

A Shared Aim: Though each brought different perspectives, we shared the aim of bringing the town together. Many of us talked about how constructive and respectful in-person conversations are at Maverick, the Gallup Inn, or the Free Store. Even when people disagree, they speak to each other with respect in-person, while online discussions often slide into insults.

Communication Challenges: We also talked about how to address these challenges and agreed to start with community conversations. Residents often miss important meetings or volunteer activities. One committee member presented a trove of information about what people discuss online and during Priviledge of the Floor at Town Board meetings.

Proposed Next Steps: The committee had many ideas for addressing these issues and wants to start by holding public discussions where residents can ask questions. We are still figuring out how the meetings will work. We will likely experiment until we find what works. Potential formats include informal circles at the American Legion or Town Hall for one topic, while Town Hall may function best for another situation.

We tentatively plan for our first discussion on April 30 at the Community Center. While details are still being worked out, the plan is for these discussions to be free and open to everyone, with light snacks, and for children to be welcome.

The OMC committee currently has three activities:

1. Committee meetings where we plan events and outreach activities (new)

2. Providing marketing materials about the town (ongoing)

3. Public discussions during which residents can ask questions, provide ideas, and provide feedback (new activities)

You can watch the first meeting here.

A note about collaboration with local information: This effort is designed to be transparent and inclusive. The New Lebanon Independent will serve as a local, non-biased resource to help share accurate information about what’s happening in town. I welcome input from residents through the committee and the public talks.

I went on last Saturday, and the work went quickly with a lot of joking around and some pizza. There are just three pieces left to install. The seams will still have to be sealed, the rails buffed, and there’s a lot of painting to be done.

But they have made excellent progress. Twice, skaters stopped by to say how excited they are to get on those ramps.

The project has taken quite some time, but many skilled volunteers are working hard to provide our community with an excellent resource for our youth. No doubt older folks will use it too, but providing places for young people to engage and explore is necessary and often difficult to achieve. So we owe a big thanks to everyone involved.

If you want to help out. The next work day is Saturday, April 11, at 9 AM in Shatford Park.

The guys even found a couple of ways for me to lend a hand. So, come on down and get reminded how many people in this town give so much to make things happen for the rest of us.

Here are a couple of other volunteer opportunities:

1. Shatford Park Rail Trail Clean Up – Saturday and Sunday, April 11 and 12, from 11 am – 5 pm. More info here.

2. New Lebanon Roadside Clean – April 25^th, 9 AM. Meet at Shatford Park Pavilion. More info here.

The tax levy will either increase by 5.5%, 6%, or 6.5%.

The board wants to support the schools without overburdening taxpayers. So the 5.5% increase would seem the obvious answer.

However, the school district continues to play catch-up after a decade without a tax increase. Those easy times have put a toll on the school district and the town over the past few years.

The BOE is weighing a:

• A 5.5% increase that necessitates spending $400,000 from the fund balance, substantially reducing the fund balance. The fund balance is the money remaining after all expenses from the previous year.

• A 6% levy increase would require approximately $350,000 from the fund balance

• A 6.5% levy means only $300,000 is needed from the fund balance.

No matter the chosen percentage, the fund balance will be drawn down. So the choice is between getting by next year by spending down a large portion of our reserves or saving more for the following years. The lower the reserves dip, the more exposed the town is to a potentially larger tax levy in the future.

The budget and the tax levy will be set at the next Board of Education meeting on April 21^st at the Walter B Howard Elementary School. If you want to add your voice to the process, please attend.

Highlights from the budget:

Challenging news:

• A 1% increase if funding is expected from the state.

• Leaving the district with a shortfall of $983,651.

  • Options to make up the shortfall

    • Tax levy

    • Use Fund Balance

    • Reserves – money set aside for a specific purpose, such as capital projects.

    • Debt service – borrow money

    • Reductions

• Fuel oil and gasoline prices rose this year.

Good news:

• Prescription and property insurance hikes came in lower than expecded lowering the budget by $286,036.

• This year, the district did not have to use the planned $400,000 in fund balance, so it is available to cover costs next year.

• Diesel and propane prices have been locked in this year, keeping those costs below market.

These positive developments mean that the schools could get by with 5.5% increase, but it would leave them exposed for the following year.

A note about the numbers:

As shown in the chart below, 70% of the budget goes to salaries and benefits. Another 21% goes to contractual services, leaving little room to trim costs, especially since both schools already operate with slim staff.

This chart was rebuilt using the numbers presented during the April 1 Budget Workshop

A transportation note:

The school may still be mandated to purchase electric buses in the future. The BOE is pushing back, but they may need our help. However cool electric buses sound, they will be very expensive for New Lebanon. I’m currently reaching the issue and will say more soon.

The free consultation began last May and included two community consultations and a public forum with rural real estate developers. The report’s recommendations are based on what the townspeople said in the three meetings.

An overall suggestion is that planning for housing and conservation should not be a separate process. The two priorities can work together. The reports recommend that, as the town updates its Comprehensive Plan, people working on housing coordinate closely with those working on conservation.

It makes specific recommendations for 4 key areas identified by residents as possible sites for conservation and/or development.

Almost all of the sites, the downtown parcels, West Lebanon properties, Shaker Swamp, the Knob, and the Bog are privately owned, and nothing will be done unless the owners want it. In fact, the report is a series of suggestions for the updated Comprehensive Plan.

The big idea is to imagine the future we want for New Lebanon and then amend the Comprehensive Plan to make the changes possible. Adam Bosch, CEO of Pattern for Progress, said we can “determine what we think would be the highest and best possible use of a property based on the town’s stated priorities.” These are only options to put on the shelf.

The places covered are:

• Downtown housing and mixed‑use: The report suggests refining downtown design standards into a form‑based code, so new buildings at places like Tilden Plaza, Midtown Mall, the former OTB, and the old bowling alley can look coherent and be easier to approve.

• Create more options for big sites: With flexible zoning, the town could preserve streams and fields while allowing mixed uses and cluster housing on large parcels, such as Lebanon Valley Speedway and the Ski Lodge. The tools suggested are:

  • planned‑unit development

  • conservation subdivisions

  • floating zones

• Shaker Swamp and the Knob and the Bog: It recommends stronger protections for the wetland and historic Shaker landscape, plus gentle reuse of existing Shaker buildings for lodging or housing if owners ever wish to pursue it. The tools suggested are creating:

  • Critical Environmental Area

  • conservation overlays,

  • conservation easements

  • land stewardship (Bog and Knob)

• Rail trail and walkability: The report highlights the Corkscrew Rail Trail as a spine that could link housing, Shatford Park, the school, downtown, and church lands, and suggests long‑term work with landowners and land trusts to fill in gaps and prevent new construction on the rail bed.

The report points out that some towns collect money for housing and conservation through

Community Housing and Community Preservation Funds. Real estate transfer tax on properties that sell above the median sale price, and levies a small sales tax, usually around 0.5%, that could go into the fund to help achieve town priorities such as preserving land and building houses. It should be noted that the Community Housing Fund is not yet available, but is being discussed in Albany.

A few other interesting suggestions:

• Some rural towns have built density in specific areas by building a community septic system. They create one large septic system that many buildings tie into. This is an effective, more affordable, rural-scale solution that can help small towns build a commerce area.

• Tax Incentives to build housing on top of existing buildings. The state offers a tax break to owners who want to build housing on an existing structure. The existing building would continue to pay the same taxes, but the addition would get a tax break that phases out over time.

• Use only health and safety standards for downtown zoning. The report says that health and safety standards are robust enough that we don’t need to lay other requirements on the process.

To find out more, check out:

• Room Enough for both Final Report

• Final presentation

• Recording of Final Meeting

• Past Room Enough for Both recordings and reports

• Discussion with the Housing Developers

On May 19, the town will vote on next year’s school budget, which will determine if our school tax increases and by how much.

Last year, the first budget didn’t pass on the first attempt, and the district had to make large cuts.

A full room attended the meeting, where the Board of Education decided to hold a second vote with a reduced budget. Many residents spoke eloquently about the impact of losing beloved teachers, and it was moving to hear the love for the school and the commitment to our students.

But it was too late to change anything because the process was too far along. If you want to influence the 2026- 2027, there are two key opportunities:

• April 1^st – Next Wednesday’s Budget Workshop

• April 15th - the regular Board of Education meeting

The budget will be adopted at the April 15th meeting. Once the budget is adopted, it will be set, and no changes can be made. There will be a Public Hearing on May 6, which will not change the budget. It is an opportunity for the Board of Education to inform the public about the budget.

• May 19th – The budget vote will be held.

The school budget has the biggest impact on our local taxes. Good schools produce engaged citizens and skilled workers who shape our country’s future. Rising school costs can force seniors and struggling families to make hard choices about their own lives.

Poor schools weaken our future, and well-resourced schools burden the present. There is no easy answer, but the more people who show up, listen, ask questions, and vote, the better the decisions will be.

A quick summary of the current school budget:

• The school budget will NOT have to increase as sharply as last year.

• The state is currently projected to increase its contribution by 1%.

• This small increase means the schools will likely have to ask the taxpayers to contribute more, but the amount is not set.

School taxes are a complicated topic, but resources to help explain them. For instance, the Board of Education shares the results of all its meetings. There have been three budget meetings, most of which have been poorly attended by the public.

Preliminary Budget from the third budget presentation on 3/11/2026

Here are a few more resources:

• The latest school budget presentation

• A School Budget 101 page

• A video explaining the NY State Tax Cap.

• Potential school tax relief for seniors through the STAR program.

Subscribe now

The marketing portion of the committee’s work will likely continue to promote the town and its businesses. The communication side of the mission has not been set as the group has yet to meet.

One idea discussed during the interview process was the possibility of public dialogue sessions in which citizens could ask questions and raise concerns in a structured setting. How these will work or when they will start will be determined by the committee over the coming weeks or months.

I am one of the new committee members and have been chosen as a temporary co-chair.

Because I also write here at the New Lebanon Independent, readers should know that I’ve thought carefully about how these duties will intersect. My goal is to present town issues fairly and clearly by speaking with my people on both sides and providing documentation whenever possible. My work on the committee feels aligned with this approach.

During my interview, Councilor Powers asked how I would balance writing about the town and serving on the committee. My answer is that I remain committed to improving the dialogue in our wonderful town. Even though people disagree, we can engage with each other respectfully, which is the most effective way to move forward.

If a conflict arises between my role on the committee and my work at the Independent, I will address it openly and choose the path that best serves the goal of improving public understanding.

I hope that my work on the committee will deepen my understanding of the town and bring more perspectives into the reporting here.

The eight members of the Marketing and Communication Committee are:

• Raymona Griffin

• Schuyler Gail

• Eileen Raab

• Matt Lansing

• Jim Dawson

• Sharon Powers

• Erminia Rasmussen

The Sidewalk project continues to evolve, and I’ll do my best to walk through where we are now. The big picture is that the sidewalks must be concrete, they may extend to the park, and possibly reduce the town’s contribution.

Last month, the town board voted not to proceed with a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) application for additional funding. Soon after, the funding team from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) said the town could apply for a new project that would cover:

1. Amend the current project to use concrete as the sidewalk surface

2. Adding a concrete sidewalk between the high school and the park

3. Provided additional contingency funding to cover unexpected costs.

Creighton Manning, the project engineers, are preparing and submitting the application, at no cost to the town. The town has no need to accept the funding, so there is little to no risk for the town.

If the new funding is fully approved, the project can proceed as originally designed, with concrete, and may also include the new connection from the high school to the park.

If the new application is not approved, the original can move forward with some changes.

Sidewalk discussion from March 10, 2026

Why use concrete, and what does it mean for the budget?

DOT has recently required the town to use concrete for the sidewalk surface. This is great for durability, but tough on the budget because concrete is much more expensive. In addition, the town board has committed to keeping the town’s contributions at $500,000, the amount the town voted for in the 2024 referendum.

To balance these competing priorities, the sidewalk committee worked with Crieghton Manning to find three ways that the project could stay on budget while using concrete. They recommended leaving the curbs in place. Not having to move the curbs and restructure the drainage saves enough money to afford concrete. In the March 10^th Meeting, the Town Board approved the option that leaves most of the curbs in place.

Of course, DOT still has to approve the revised plan, but at the time of this writing, the sidewalks project has two possible avenues:

1. New TAP funding approved

   1. The original project moves forward with a concrete surface.

   2. A new concrete sidewalk from the high school to the park might be added.

   3. The extra funding could reduce the town’s cost below the $500,000 commitment.

2. No new funds awarded

   1. The sidewalks still go from the library to High School on the north side, and from Roaring 20’s to Midtown Mall with 2 street crossings

   2. The surface will be in concrete.

   3. The curbs on Route 20/22 will not change except for a few spots when they must come in to provide enough easement for the sidewalk.

With the fickleness of DOT approving stone dust, then recommending the town use asphalt or concrete before demanded concrete, the project may experience more twists and turns. I will do my best to keep on top of it.

Central Hudson’s new grid

Central Hudson’s published 2025–2028 rate plan said delivery costs were scheduled to rise:

• 5.5% in 2025

• 6.25% in 2026

• 6.6% in 2027

The company needs the money because 20% of its grid infrastructure is at the end of life. They are also modernizing and securing the grid while investing in renewable energy. A 5% - 6% increase is reasonable.

But what explains the nearly 24% jump in the per-kilowatt-hour delivery rate?

Maybe the rate jumped up to cover storm recovery costs and reconcile other charges, but the bill doesn’t say. This isn’t because I used more. The price per unit shot up.

The New York Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities in New York State, should give ratepayers a clear explanation of these increases and rebate any inflated charges.

Governor Hochul has proposed a Ratepayer Protection Plan that would eliminate hidden fees, force utilities to focus on affordability, and ensure data centers pay their fair share. No law has been passed, so none of these changes are in effect. The PSC has started the process of ensuring data centers pay their fair share.

Supply Rate Increase

My supply rate, the fuel needed to produce electricity, increased by 36%. Central Hudson made no estimates of supply costs because it doesn’t control fuel prices. But 36% increase in twelve months?

The company’s latest cost analysis showed a 10% rate increase between March 31, 2025, and September 30, 2025, which roughly aligns with rising fuel prices. But what made the rate jump up by another 26%?

Fuel costs haven’t risen that much this winter. AI data centers didn’t cause it. They currently swallow only 4.4% of our electricity nationally, up from 4% in 2024.

I want to know what I am paying for.

Electricity is essential, and I’m willing to pay for it. Investing in our grid and paying workers is necessary. But when rates far exceed expectations, explanations are needed.

Change in my DELIVERY charge from 02/25 – 03/26: The rate per kilowatt-hour increased from (0.09783− 0.07894)/0.07894 ≈ 23.9

Change in my SUPPLY charge from 02/25 – 03/26: The rate per kilowatt-hour increased from (0.14269177−0.10464082)/0.10464082 ≈ 36.3%

Saturday, March 1, 1 – 3 p.m. EST.

A conversation on Zoom with Shawn Stevens and Wanonah Kosbab, members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans. Shawn is a cultural & historical educator, spiritualist, and storyteller.

His sister, Wanonah, is a cultural revitalization advocate focused on environmental stewardship and mental health. Facilitated by David Brule. See flyer below.

Zoom link to the lecture.

Donations appreciated. nolumbekaproject.org/donate

Years before any current board members served, the town consolidated most of its funds into a single, interest-bearing account. The town pays its bills from the pooled account. The funds, while held in one account, are tracked and accounted for separately. Some funds are reserved for specific purposes, such as landfill monitoring and highway department expenses. Do these reserved funds need to be held in separate accounts?

The question becomes complicated when the town incurs a large expense that is later reimbursed. Landfill closure costs are reimbursed after the town pays the initial bill. The town uses pooled funds for those payments and then waits for reimbursement to replenish the account. The town has used this method for years. Whether this is the proper way to handle these situations is under review.

Special Board Meeting December 29, 2025

The entire board wants to know and follow the correct procedure. On December 29, 2025, the Town Board held a special meeting to consider how to answer these questions.

Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling supported sending a letter to the New York State Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) outlining specific questions about the accounting practices.

Councilor Jessica Amlaw instead moved that the Town Board formally request “a comprehensive audit of the Town’s financial records, accounting practices, and internal controls covering the period from January 1, 2014, through the current year to date.”

The motion passed 3–2.

Discussion of calls from an OSC investigator on January 13, 2026

At the January 2026 Town Board meeting, Supervisor Houghtling reported receiving a call from an OSC investigator asking whether the town was alleging theft or fraud. Investigations, she said she was told, are opened when criminal conduct is suspected. Supervision Houghtling did not think the allegations were made, and put the investigator in touch with the other board members.

When asked whether she had also spoken with OSC, Councilor Amlaw said she had been asked whether she believed there was theft and said she did not. The audit is underway and will help the town clarify its financial practices. The audit, in itself, does not indicate criminal wrongdoing, though it may result in recommendations for improved compliance and possibly referral for further review.