Fishkill board approves summer hires, sets July public hearings and readies 250th celebration

The Town of Fishkill board approved routine personnel and procedural items, including hiring two part‑time recreation staff and scheduling multiple public hearings.

Two summer hires — identified at the meeting as Lydia Hollstead and Boston Smith — were formally included in the consent agenda and approved. The board also set a public hearing for July 1 at 7 p.m. to consider a proposed one‑time sewer assessment to recoup a December emergency main repair (estimated cost about $400,000; proposed assessment roughly $190 per affected property, payable over three water bills). The same July 1 meeting will include a public hearing on a draft local law to establish expiration provisions for site plan approvals (residential projects five years; other projects two years), designed to prevent indefinite stalling of approved projects.

The board accepted a $5,000 donation from local sponsors to support Friday’s 250th celebration, which will include music, historical presentations and fireworks (gates open 5:30 p.m., first 1,776 arrivals to receive commemorative pins). The board also approved routine items including acceptance of minutes, a litigation settlement (reported at $150,000), and fee‑schedule adjustments for the recreation department.

Why it matters: These routine votes affect town operations, budgets and near‑term resident obligations (the proposed sewer assessment), and the hearings provide an opportunity for affected residents to comment.

What’s next: The sewer assessment and site‑plan expiration proposals will be subject to public hearings on July 1; the board directed staff to publish required notices and mail information in the next water bill cycle.