Town Board - Regular Meeting

TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING Town Hall Auditorium November 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM MINUTES

PRESENT: Supervisor George Hoehmann Councilman Mark Licker Councilman Donald Franchino Councilman Robert Axelrod Town Clerk Lauren Wohl

ABSENT: Councilman Michael Graziano Chief Wanamaker led the Town Board Meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. . There was a moment of silence for Councilman Graziano. His mother (Rosa) passed away. Councilman Graziano has been excused from this meeting. The Supervisor George Hoehmann declared the Town Board meeting opened. Assemblage saluted the flag. The Town Clerk read the roll call.

PUBLIC HEARING

PUBLIC HEARING #1: PH-1.

RESOLUTION No (486-2025) - Adopting a Local Law Entitled: A Local Law Approving the Salary of the Elected, Appointed and Boards and Commissions Members of the Town of Clarkstown.Adopted

PUBLIC HEARING #2: PH-2.

RESOLUTION No (487-2025) - Adopting a Local Law Entitled: A Local Law to Override the Tax Levy Limit Established by General Municipal Law § 3-c for Fiscal Year 2026 — Withdrawn

PUBLIC HEARING #3: Motion to: Preliminary Budget Hearing for Year 2026 — Adopted

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS AND GENERAL

PUBLIC COMMENTS The Supervisor opened the floor to Public Comments. Matthew Brennan, New City Mr. Brennan congratulated those who were reelected and elected this past Election Day. His comments are presented as a letter in the November 5th Rockland County Times. On Saturday, October 19, 2025, during the No Kings Demonstration, a right to safely demonstrate was not enforced by the Clarkstown Police.

Those anti Trump Demonstrations were the largest so far, as these massive demonstrations keep growing. I thought my right to safely counter demonstrate had been secured based upon the previous No Kings Demonstrations and my public comments during the Town Board Meeting after the first one?

This is because for the second demonstration there was a two barrier length visible counter demonstration, created on the southeast corner, adjacent to NYS Route 59, at the intersection of Middletown Road, where the Veteran Park is. There was a Police Officer assigned who stood the entire time while doing a good job, proactively preserving the peace.

Once again, I showed up at 11:45 am, before the demonstration started with my Trump or Bust, America is Back signs to show my support for the policies of President Trump. From the Clarkstown Police management on the scene, I requested a visible and secure counter demonstration area and the Sergeant on the scene said he could not do that because it will block the sidewalk.

I pointed that there was an alternate adjacent sidewalk through the Veterans Park and for the previous counter demonstration, a counter demonstration pen had been established and that setting up such pens creating pedestrian detours had been common practice during his 20 years serving as an NYPD Police Officer - with many tours spent policing demonstrations.

In every instance the focus was upon providing a safe environment so demonstrators on both sides of an issue, could do so in a peaceful manner. He also requested a uniformed Police Officer to be in immediate possession - media presence and prevent any emotional disturbed person from starting confrontations. This did not occur from the detail from at least 10 Police Officers.

I will admit the Anti-Trump Demonstrators were cordial and respected his right to demonstrate. However, this commingling from the Clarkstown Police Management with the Anti-Trump demonstration - he was constantly being crowded when trying to show his signs. He wanted to make his signs visible. One argument could turn into a massive argument - not knowing who would be triggered......(Mr.

Brennen's 3 minutes expired)........ Jackie Drechsler, Valley Cottage She was one of those protesters. I am not a violent person. I am a passivist. Most of the people at the protests are passivists. They want their signs and their voices heard.....just like Mr. Brennan. We do give anyone that wants to stand with Mr. Brennan, space and time. We do not crowd them.

The very first thing that President Trump cut was the Veterans Suicide Hotline. NAMI and BRIDGES bounded together to make sure Veterans know that they could call them. We stand with Veterans. We want the Veterans to get the care that they need, and the services they need. They deserve everything that they are entitled to. Ms. Drechsler's father was a Veteran. They deserve all of our gratitude.

She would like to express to Mr. Brennan that many of us are with him. We are not against the people on that corner. The Supervisor closed the Public Comment and asked Chief Wanamaker to come up and address this. The Supervisor wanted it on the record that these protests have been orderly. When they get to be this large, they put an undue burden on the Town of Clarkstown.

He thinks this is something we should look at for all protests of this nature. There was recently an issue with a Torah Parade down a street in Clarkstown with no permit. We need to look at these things going forward. We have incurred thousands of dollars worth of overtime for these protests. Many of the participants are not from the Town of Clarkstown.

The groups that are organizing these protests are County wide groups. We should be reimbursed so it is not as much of a financial burden on the Town. In the coming years, there may be more and more protests and the burden should not fall only on the Town of Clarkstown. We have to have a police presence. There are thousands of dollars being spent by the Clarkstown residents.

A more secure location would be at the Rockland County Court House. Many places hold them at County Courthouses. The Supervisor is not stating that there will be action taken, but he will say that we need to look at it. When someone organizes an event, it will impact traversing on a sidewalk. Sidewalks and parades in the streets should include obtaining a permit and limit the total number of people participating.

We will put resources into them, but we need to make sure it does not turn into an undue burden. Chief Wanamaker stated these protests, pro-Israel, pro-Palistine.....these protests have been going on Route 59 ever since the beginning of the Palestine - Afghanistan war. The Chief is proud of the Clarkstown Police and the officers that were assigned there. With 4500 people there, there was no enforcement needed.

No one broke the law. We are here to make sure that everyone can express their Constitutional Rights. He has received many, many compliments on the officers that were assigned there. They conducted themselves professionally. There was no political views that were expressed from them. He is well aware of Mr. Brennan's complaints. If we could have accommodated his needs, we would have.

Unfortunately, we are limited to the type of barriers that were used. There were many Veterans that wanted to stay at the same location. The Chief was instructed that they would only have Veterans at that particular location. It was one of the largest protests on Route 59. It went off without a hitch, blockage or traffic problem.

Around the country, protesters are taking over city blocks, impeding traffic and some get very violent. This did not happen in Clarkstown. He cannot thank the officers enough for their professionalism and keeping it peaceful. The Chief believes a more enclosed place to protest may be a better location. They had a Drone up in the air to check the rooftops.

If there is a more closed-in place, where they can have more control over.....that would be ideal. The Supervisor continued - we need to look at these larger scale events. Right to life protests gets hundreds and hundreds and sometimes thousands of people along Route 59. All of this cost the Town of Clarkstown money. Should the Town bear the responsibility? In NYC, you need to move on the sidewalk.

Should the residents of Clarkstown be on the hook for the costs? It may be safer to have it held elsewhere. Where can we have this many people protest safely? Can we save some of the Police overtime? Why should only our Town be on the hook for this? Historically, protests like this were held at the Rockland County Courthouse. In many communities, this is the place to have them.

We are spending a lot of resources and the Supervisor has concerns. He has concerns that people are protesting on the edge of a major roadway. He does not like what is happening with protests across the country. This is something that people need to consider. Colin Schmitt, Director of Finance spoke regarding changes from Preliminary to Final Budget for 2026. Mr.

Schmitt stated that it was time to take action on the 2026 Town of Clarkstown Budget. There are changes that are important to highlight for the Board. The Board and staff received and was emailed updates and or briefings on the updates and now he will release to the public these higher line item changes. The Final Budget is Tax Cap Compliant.

The increase is the exact, same increase that was previously discussed in the preliminary Budget. 2.51%. There has been no change in the Levy from the Preliminary Tentative Budget compared to what is being presented now. This is what will be voted on. This fully funds all operations in Town Government as residents and tax payers come to expect. The Final Budget maintains and expands all essential service offerings.

We have increased revenue lines in the final Budget from an increased Rockland Green Host Fee, real live savings from the Siemens Article 9 Energy Project, and additional expected real estate income.

Several additions from the tentative budget presentation that will now be included in the final budget - adding an additional Code Enforcement Officer and two additional Clerk's in the Building Department - vastly expanding our already largest Code Enforcement Operation in the County. This is to meet the continued demand Code Enforcement Actions to protect Tax Payers and Residents.

We are adding a Spanish Speaking Clerk for Parks and Recreation to accommodate the growing demand for Spanish Speaking residents. There is a need to communicate over the phone as well as in person with our Parks and Recreation Department. The Town has increased funding support to the IT Department for critical requests to ensure our IT safety and resiliency.

We are continuing our strong funding support for our Clarkstown Police Department and our EMS Agencies. He would like to reiterate the low Bond interest rate. The refunding rate came back better than expected at 2.36%. 3.22% for all other funding. This will lead to another $100,000 in savings which will help us going forward.

It is yet to be determined the number of retirements in the Police Department and Highway Department. New Officers and Highway staff will be starting at a lower salary. The Supervisor reiterated - we are not breaking the cap and we have not changed the tax levy. We are recognizing some additional revenue in a couple of different locations.

We are giving two additional clerks (in the budget) to the Building Department. We are actively looking for a Spanish Speaking Code Enforcement Officer and a Spanish Speaking employee in the Parks and Recreation Department, interfacing with the Public. Co. Licker asked Mr. Schmitt - He has always believed that the Tax Cap was 2%. Can you explain why it is 2.51%? Mr.

Schmitt stated that the State Comptroller's Office actually puts out a formula that each Municipality has to enter a significant amount of information into. Our Comptroller, Sara DiGiacomo, does a fantastic job of dealing with this complex formula. That formula tells you what your true Tax Cap is. Our true tax cap is just above 2.51%. We are in compliant with New York State Law.

The Supervisor stated that an example of this are School Districts budgets, which are usually 2.6 or 2.9%, technically over 2.0%. Certain capital projects are exempt from School Budgeting. Different funds and how they are applied, cause the cap to go up. It is a complicated formula, but our Tax Cap is never 2.0%. We get the number from the NYS Comptroller's Office. Co.

Licker stated that he understood a lot had to do with pension cost increases as well. In addition, he stated that sales tax revenue, last year was $5 million? This year, he saw that the projection is $2.6 million? Is that accurate? Regarding the Tax Cap Calculation, Town Comptroller, Sara DiGiacomo stated that this year they needed to make changes to the Budget for the State Comptroller's Office.

They wanted us to disburse it amongst diferent funds. We took it out of our General Fund and put it towards our B Fund, and our DA Fund. Mr. Schmitt added, that direction was taken from the NYS Comptroller's Office for all municipalities in the county. The Supervisor stated - this brings up the whole Sales Tax issue with Rockland County.

The formula that the County of Rockland uses, that now the State Comptroller requires the municipalities - even though we are getting the sales tax, there are residents in the Town of Clarkstown (Village Outside of Town Fund). More sales tax will go in this fund. Again, because of the State Comptroller - how sales tax is distributed by the County of Rockland. Rockland is the only County that does this.

Rockland is sharing 6% of the sales tax with municipalities. Clarkstown is paying 61% of the Commercial Rateables that are generated with the vast majority of the taxes in Clarkstown. There is a reason why we need more Fire Inspectors and Code Enforcers while our Police Department is taking all of these calls. We do not get a fair distribution.

The Supervisor asked everyone to go to our County Legislature and express themselves. This outdated formula that the County made up, requires the municipalities to take a chunk of the sales tax and place the money into different funds. We do not need to put them into these funds, but we are required to place them there - direction from the State Comptroller's Office.

The County has not done a lot of projects, but this is why they are accruing a lot of money. The Towns and the Villages that are driving the sales tax with services we provide. Again, 61% of the Commercial Ratables are here, in Clarkstown. Our Police, our Ambulance Services, our EMS (Paramedics), Fire Inspectors etc..

these agencies have to respond to the Palisades Mall, Doctor's Offices, many Businesses - we are funding that. The Sales Tax that is being collected is not being fairly distributed. Westchester County is 18%. Mr. Schmitt stated that "we are one of the lowest in the entire state." This needs to be dealt with going forward. The Supervisor made a motion to adopt the 2026 Budget for the Town of Clarkstown.

This was offered by Co. Axelrod, seconded by Co. Licker. All were in favor (with the exception of Co. Graziano). Again, the Supervisor expressed his condolences to Co. Graziano, who was very sorry he could not be at this meeting. The Supervisor made a motion to adjourn. This was offered by Co. Licker, seconded by Co. Franchino. He thanked everyone for attending.

RESOLUTIONS

AGENDA ITEM #1: RESOLUTION No (488-2025) - Adopting the 2026 Budget for the Town of Clarkstown — Adopted

ADJOURNMENT At 5:44 PM there was a motion by the Supervisor to adjourn this Town Board Meeting. This was offered by Co. Licker, seconded by Co. Franchino. All (except Co. Graziano, due to his absence) approved. Respectfully Submitted, Lauren Marie Wohl UPCOMING MEETING Next Town Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2025.