By Peter Calvert
Town Board Meeting, June 9, 2026
Board and Staff: Supervisor Ritchie Gabriel; Councilmen, Deputy Supervisor Bud Gladstone, Thomas Hall, and Dale Cole. (Excused: Jason Mondore) Support Staff: John Bouton, Highway Superintendent; Carol Ames, Town Clerk.
Supervisors Report: Ritchie Gabriel turned to the urgent need for gutter replacement at the library. The current gutter system lets ice and water do what it should not do. Estimates ranged from $2,150 for closed gutters and $1,190 for standard gutters. Board decided to opt for closed gutters, despite the higher cost, as they require less ongoing maintenance. Board is also looking into covered awnings over the Library’s external heat pumps.
Bids on the Water Banks Restoration Project will be opened June 18th. Ritchie Gabriel has done walk-throughs for several interested contractors. This project will be funded through previously approved, then frozen, and then unfrozen Federal Allocations.
Board presented and approved changes to the Senior Citizen Property Tax Exemption Rates. These exemptions provide relief to Andes senior citizens in lower income brackets. The tax relief is on an incremental sliding scale based on need, from 50% for all Seniors with yearly income less than $30,000 through 20% for incomes $35,800-$36,700. Eligible seniors can find an application to file at the Town Hall.
Town Clerk Carol Ames brought news from the Shavertown and Rural Cemeteries. Prices charged for burials, cremations and plots sold will be increasing, as the current rates are below market. Board passed a resolution to raise Burials for a Plot Purchased from $500 to $850, Grave Opening Fee from $550 to $1,000, and Cremation Opening Fee from $200 to $400.
The Communications Tower Law, Town Law #1 of 2001, must be amended by the Board if the current plan of the Town towards building a Cell Tower can go forward. In 2001, a law passed to restrict large scale building of Cell Towers in Andes. Now, the sentiment has evolved and localized Hamlet Cell coverage is desired. A Public Hearing on amending the law will be held at the beginning of the next Town Board meeting on July 14, at 7 pm.
Highway Superintendent Report: State DOT permits for installing 2 electronic, solar-driven, flashing, speed alert signs have arrived, and the placement of these 2 signs on the Route 28 approaches from Delhi and Margaretville can be done when the aluminum poles ordered from a Walton business are ready. Board decided to also go ahead to order the two additional signs previously approved for 2026. This could allow the Highway Dept. to coordinate the four concrete pole-base pours at the same approximate time—one for each road approaching the Hamlet.
An additional dual-wing plow truck would be helpful for the Andes Highway Fleet. A Western Star 2016 from the Town of Spafford, NY with 44,000 miles of usage is available at auction. After discussion, the Board authorized a bid up to $70,000, which is lower than the $190,000 cost of the same truck new. The purchase money would come from highway funds on hand. ~