On the agenda: Garrattsville October 13, 2026 Preliminary Budget Hearing and Reg. Meeting Minutes ( 0 downloads ) — Data Center (Oct 13)

NEW LISBON TOWN BOARD---Public Hearing on 2027 Preliminary
Budget Meeting
October 13, 2026---TOWN HALL, GARRATTSVILLE

Present: Supervisor Brian Ryther, Deputy Supervisor/councilwoman Nancy Martin-Mathewson,
Councilwoman Amy Dill, Councilman Robert Schenfeld, Councilman Scott Fickbohm, Hwy. Supt.
Donald Smith, Town clerk Melaina Woodbeck. Also: Lenny Melillo, Mert Hall, Keith Begany.

Supervisor Brian Ryther opened the Public Hearing on the 2027 Preliminary Budget Meeting @
7pm.
The Preliminary Budget was Posted on the Town of New Lisbon Website and available for review
at the Town Clerks office.
There were no comments or questions from the public. Supervisor Brian Ryther stated that the
Budget line DA9060.8 for Health Insurance would need to increase due to a 14.5% rate increase
which should be around $3000.00.
Supervisor Brian Ryther closed the Public Hearing @ 7:28pm

Melaina J. Woodbeck, New Lisbon Town Clerk

Town of New Lisbon Board, 2026 Regular Monthly Meeting
October 13, 2026, Garrattsville Town Hall
Attendance same as above with add ons of County Rep Meg Kennedy and Town Assessor
Pamela Dyn-Gohde.
Supervisor Brian Ryther opened the Regular Monthly Meeting @ 7:28pm
Minutes from the Sept 8,2026 Regular Monthly Meeting and the Sept 29, 2026 Tentative Budget
Meeting were previously distributed and posted to the Town website. A motion was made by
Councilperson Amy Dill seconded by Councilperson Robert Schenfeld to approve and accept all
minutes as submitted. Motion was carried by 5 Ayes and 0 Noes.
Highway Superintendent Don Smith reports all work trucks are being rotated for their annual
preventive maintenance ahead of the winter months. Two plow trucks had new tires and rims
installed. He also reports 2 driveway culverts have been installed, one cross culvert has been
completed and another one in the process of completion on Myers Mills Road. Myers Mills
Stony Brook Bridge paving has been completed. Bell Hill Bridge has been posted for weight
limits of 22 Tons due to a NYS Bridge Inspection. Don also reported he has meetings set up to
start looking into new pricing and trade in value of our current excavator along with meetings

set up to look for new pickup truck. New Lisbon Highway garage staff is currently short one
employee.

Shared services are ongoing. Councilperson Nancy Martin-Mathewson reports our repair line is
currently lower this year than the previous 2 years!!
Floor open to Public, Resident Lenny Melillo mentioned the Highway crew did an excellent job
installing culverts as he was there working on other jobs himself. Keith Begany thanked Don
Smith for the installation of the Dead-End sign at the base of his road. He stated he would still
like to see a stop sign at the end of the Town Hall driveway.
Otsego County Rep Meg Kennedy reported Towns should be aware of Data Centers wanting to
coming towns. Perhaps we might want to look over our Planning Laws and Regulations to make
sure we are ready for such applications. Southern Transfer Station is currently accepting Clean
Land Fill. DOH state that Flu Season is here.
Mert Hull reported that Garrattsville Fire Co. Inc., had 9 calls in the 3rd Quarter of 2026 for a
total of 61-man hours on calls with an average of 4 members per call. Also, a total of 80-man
hours for training and maintenance of equipment on Monday nights.
Committee updates, Councilperson Nancy Martin-Mathewson reported that her and
Councilperson Amy Dill have been attending meetings and working to renewing our Towns
Bronze status for Climate Smart Community. Also, Nancy reported that New Lisbon has over
2500 KW of energy credits stored up for winter months from the solar panels placed on the roof
of the Town Hall. Councilperson Robert Schenfeld reports the outside water spicket has been
installed and functioning.
Dog Control Officer reports another quiet month.
Land Use Enforcement Officer, Pamela Dyn-Gohde reports a quiet month with no new
complaints. State she is still waiting on action to take place on existing complaint.
Town Assessor, Pamela Dyn-Gohde state she attended NYS Assessor Conference. There are still
no clear answers on Star program or senior Citizen program. It seems to be very hard to get
help applying for or getting help. Also, the new Veterans Exemption plan is still not completely
worked out and lacks answers as well.
Supervisor update, Brian Ryther states our Town Attorney Will Green received another email
from Town of Hartwick Attorney inquiring about lawsuit for Hartwick Fire Dept truck that was
damaged on way to a structure fire in the Town of New Lisbon. Will Green has advised their
Attorney that Garrattsville Fire Company, Inc is their own entity and will need to be contacted
separately.
Site plan review is ongoing. Brian Ryther has met with Planning Board Chair Mathew Palmer.
They are working on few ideas of what needs to be added into the new Site Plan Review.
The AFR (Annual Financial Review) has been submitted to NYS Comptroller’s Office. Review
back from NYS states the Town of New Lisbon fiscal stress score is a 0.0, which is an excellent
rating.
Approve paying of the bills. A motion was made by Councilperson Nancy Martin-Mathewson,
seconded by Councilperson Robert Schenfeld to pay the General Fund bills #135-#145 totaling
$2921.36 and the Highway Fund bills #117-#127 and #129 totaling $44901.08. Motion was

carried by 5 Ayes and 0 Noes. General Fund bills #146-#155 totaling $1140.29 and Highway
Fund bill #128 totaling $1538.98 were paid prior to meeting with prior board approval.

Open Floor to public, nothing to report,
A motion was made to adjourn the regular monthly meeting by Councilperson Nancy MartinMathewson seconded by Councilperson Robert Schenfeld at 8:03pm. The motion was carried by
5 Ayes and 0 Noes.

Respectfully Submitted,

Melaina J. Woodbeck,
New Lisbon Town Clerk