Village endorses state packaging-reduction bill and signals support for Town of Rhinebeck occupancy-tax request

Trustees passed a memorializing resolution urging enactment of state-level packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure legislation and discussed a separate request from the Town of Rhinebeck seeking home-rule authorization to impose an occupancy tax.

Trustee Vanessa introduced the packaging-reduction resolution, describing producer-responsibility goals (including a referenced reduction target and prohibitions on certain toxic chemicals) and urging the village to signal state-level support. The board voted to pass the memorializing resolution to demonstrate local backing for the policy.

Later, trustees reviewed a Town of Rhinebeck resolution (identified in the packet as 2026-116) requesting home-rule authorization for an occupancy tax. Because the town — not the village — would enact the local law, the board opened discussion rather than a formal village vote. Trustees generally supported signaling that they would not oppose the town’s effort, conditioned on the town’s commitment to spend some of the occupancy-tax revenue on village capital projects. The board moved to express that support in principle and recorded voice assent.