A public hearing was held on a local law to exceed the 2% state recommended tax cap. Supervisor Marshfield advised that we probably will exceed the tax cap by about 2%, however due to the increase in full value assessments, our tax rate per thousand should go down from last year. There were no comments and the hearing was closed. The hearing will be rescheduled as the notice given to the public was not accurate.
Kay VanDusen spoke to the board about the need for foster parents in the county. The program is through Social Services and currently has 58 foster children ranging from babies to 18-year-olds. Kay handed out brochures related to her plea for help.
Several people attended to voice their opposition to the proposed battery storage project on Cobbe Cross Road. Discussion on rumors that EDF is spreading around, to the conflict-of-interest waiver agreement and local law procedures. Supervisor Marshfield informed them that there is a process to go through, which are spelled out in the local law and that the process needs to be adhered to like any other law. In reviewing the Battery Storage application, the planning board not only reviews the site plan, but they must review a road use agreement, stormwater plan, host benefit agreement, pilot agreement in lieu of taxes, fire remediation plan and the SEQRA, plus others for a complete review of the application. To circumvent that process surely will institute a potential lawsuit by a billion-dollar company. Once the complete application is thoroughly reviewed there will be a public hearing. Supervisor Marshfield also praised the Town Planning and Town Board for their proactive vision in developing a stringent local law.
Highway Superintendent Tweedie reported that the CHIPS projects for the year have been completed. We are putting up the new sander on Auction International for bids again.
The board gave permission to Highway Superintendent to accept whatever bid comes in on the sander. This is a good time of the year to seek bids and sell it.
The USDA streambank stabilization project on Hoyt Road has been completed.
The streambank stabilization grant project on Scobie Road was approved and should be completed next year.
Supervisor Marshfield gave an impartial report on purchasing a used bucket truck to the board for their review in making the decision whether to purchase or not. The Highway committee will meet with the Highway Superintendent on this.
The Highway garage septic system is in need of replacement and the process has begun.
Hamden wastewater processed 278,344 gallons of sewage for the month of September. The pump on Mill Street is now working after an extended time of not working.
The FEMA 4825 projects on Oxbow Hollow, Chambers Hollow and East Brook are slowly making progress.
The NYS Comptroller’s Office reports that Hamden’s Susceptible Stress Report is the same as it was in 2023 and 2024.
The board after review of costs supplied by Supervisor Marshfield voted to accept Constellation Energy as our town power supplier at .10227 cents per kWh for a 61-month period. American Energy Partners quoted a price of .1233 cents per kWh. Our contract with Constellation over the past 5 years was at $.07 per kWh.
Supervisor Marshfield gave the board a proposed town budget for 2027. Overall appropriations are up by about $80,000 but revenues are up about $39,000. Due to an increase in assessments, the rate per thousand of assessment to taxpayers should go down overall. Hamden and DeLancey lighting remain the same as last year, and Fire and ambulance contracts will go up about $3,283. We will exceed the tax cap by about $23,188 or about 2% over the cap. Attached is the 2027 proposed Preliminary budget.
The board calls for a public hearing on the preliminary budget for November 4th at 6:30 pm at the town hall.
Respectfully submitted by Wayne Marshfield
Town of Hamden Town Board Meeting of October 23, 2026
The sole purpose of this meeting was to hold a public hearing again on overriding the tax levy limit as established by the State. Supervisor Marshfield said that we will exceed the tax cap, however due to an increase in our townwide assessments, the rate per thousand should go down. Motion was approved unanimously by a local law to exceed the tax cap.
The second resolution approved by the board was that there were no adverse impacts on the environment from passing the local law to override the tax cap levy.
There were no comments and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Wayne Marshfield
Delaware County Board of Supervisors Meeting of October 14, 2026
A budget amendment was approved in the acceptance of Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) Alliance’s nonpartisan 2026 Election Excellence Grant for $15,000.00. This is for the Election Office and for planning and operationalizing reliability.
A resolution was adopted as a budget amendment to allow the Public Defender to purchase a Document Scanner for $4,897, which was not budgeted.
A resolution was adopted to transfer $11,922 from the Sheriff Patrol to Stop DWI. This is to replace the Sheriff’s Department Data master and to aid in desktop breath testing equipment.
A budget amendment was approved in the amount of $84,150 in Probation to pay off the departmental Retirement 25-year plan. This was the most economical way to handle this.
A resolution was approved in the amount of $30,662 in Mental Health for transferring funding from Contingency to Professional Fees Psychiatric. This again is for the unreimbursed inpatient psychiatric hospital costs.
The equalization costs for each town were approved. Hamden, Walton, and Franklin are at the 100% level.
A public hearing was approved to be held on the 28th day of October 2026 for the purpose of possibly overriding the state recommended tax cap of 2%.
A public hearing was approved to be held on the 28th day of October 2026 for the purpose of setting up a procedure for payment of delinquent taxes and installments in the Treasurer’s Office.
A resolution was approved to designate the Department of Economic Development as Tourism Promotion Agency for Delaware County in 2027.
Respectfully submitted by Wayne Marshfield
Delaware County Board of Supervisors Meeting of October 28, 2026
A resolution was approved to amend the 2026 county budget by accepting $15,000 from the State Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestallment Program. This will assist individuals and families who are facing eviction. Department of Social Services is the designated local agency to administer the program.
A resolution was approved to transfer once again moneys from the contingency account to the Psychiatric Fees account in the amount of $47,150 for individuals deemed incapacitated to meaningfully participate in their criminal defense proceedings and require care in a NYS Psychiatric hospital. This is through the Mental Health Department
A resolution was approved to submit omitted taxes in Real Property in the Towns of Masonville, Roxbury, and Sidney. Respectively the taxes are $2,827, $1,539, and $4,662. These omitted taxes will be levied on the 2027 tax bills.
A resolution was approved as a budget amendment transferring $15,000 within the Planning Department to purchase two more weather stations to enhance County coverage of weather data.
Respectfully submitted by Wayne Marshfield
