Town of Southeast approves grant engagement and multiple municipal resolutions; several PILOT votes show abstentions

The Town of Southeast board handled a series of resolutions and administrative items July 8, approving contracts and authorizing applications while tabling one intermunicipal contract for further review.

Key votes and outcomes

- Millennial Strategies LLC (grant application): The board approved a $3,500 payment to Millennial Strategies to prepare and submit a grant application to the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation for Spring House Water District remediation and authorized the supervisor to execute required documents.

- Grant submission authorization: The board authorized the supervisor or designee to execute and submit all documents necessary to apply for EFC WIIA grant funding in connection with Spring House.

- Millennial one-year grant contract: The board approved a one-year contract with Millennial Strategies LLC to provide grant research and writing assistance to the town through June 30, 2027.

- Natural gas cooperative bid participation: The board passed a resolution authorizing the town to accept the lowest responsible bidder for cooperative natural gas supply participation and authorized the supervisor to execute agreements to secure pricing.

- APAP Land Management LLC PILOT (Putnam County IDA): When asked to record votes, multiple board members abstained citing that the IDA has authority to approve or deny PILOTs and that a town vote is advisory; at least two members (including the supervisor) voted yes and several abstained. (Transcript shows abstentions from multiple members and recorded yes votes by Supervisor Castellano and Councilman Mezada.)

- Kinsley Group PILOT: A similar PILOT schedule was read and the board recorded several abstentions and some yes votes.

- Intermunicipal agreement with Village of Brewster for uniformed court officers: Members requested the final contract before voting; the board voted to table the item for two weeks.

- Dignelli Ventures LLC special-use permit (Route 312): The board granted a special-use permit with conditions requiring compliance with zoning and engineering review to mitigate traffic and drainage impacts.

- Public hearings set: The board set public hearings for Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, on the signage zoning application and on amending the volunteer firefighter/ambulance-worker tax exemption to include unmarried surviving spouses.

Roll-call notes and abstentions: For the APAP and Kinsley PILOT items several members abstained specifically to avoid casting an advisory vote on matters the Putnam County IDA can approve without town board action; the supervisor and at least one other member recorded yes votes in those roll calls. The transcript records multiple named abstentions during roll calls for those PILOT items.

Next steps: Tabled items will return for final review in two weeks; public hearings are scheduled for Aug. 6.