Village of Hobart
Monthly Board Meeting
January 5,2026
The regular board meeting was called to order by Mayor Kaufman at 6:30pm.
Those present were Deputy Mayor Amy Reinshagen, Trustee Randy Roe, Trustee Kayla Mason. (Trustee Jim Quarino, Treasurer Michelle Sicari, code Enforcement officer, Rich Briscoe were absent) Clerk, Katherine Sparkes, Superintendent of Highways, Lucas McMullen, Head of Wastewater, Richi Horne, Members from the Hobart Community Alliance, Don Thomases, Julie Rockefeller, Kathy & Mike Duyer, Barbara Balliet, John Machino, Michelle Stephens, Evelyn Aguirre, Frederica Zimmerman, Mr. Richard VanVaulkenburg. Ayhan Dargan, Matei Liuba.
Community members in attendance, Donna Arnone and Chris Kaufman.
Mayor Kaufman proceeded with Department Head Reports
Lucas McMullen ( Superintendent of DPW) We have been busy with plowing. In December Christmas lights were put up. Excdss winds have raised havoc with the decoration on the green. Light are scheduled to be taken down within two weeks.
Richi Horne(Chief Wastewater Plant Operator) With high winds the plant suffered power outage. The process control needed extra help. Rural water. Keiste , new transduser, floats installed. Plant inspected by DEP, all good. Calibration of floats done. Furnace has been serviced twice. Slate fee glitch. Joe Kaufman recently took the ?? test, failed will retest in 3 months. Licence operators at the plant, Richi and Lucas. Chemical Delivary came in and checked, making sure that we are optimizing chemicals. 12/4 Bids opened for replacement generator. El Eng did bids went over report, to lowest bidder. Need a resolution from the board to accept bid , then it will be sent to NYC to move forward with work. The furnace at the plant is original. Richi has requested quotes for replacement, it has taken some time , she has obtained 3 bids: Muthigs @ 25400.00, Extreme Heating @$27500.00 and Treffeisin @ $28552.00. Motion made by Trustee Roe to accept Muthigs quote, 2nd. By Deputy Mayor Reinshagen.
12/4 Bid opening for generator project(under old business board made resolution to accept low bid per electrical engineers bid analysis from Diversified Wireless Inc. at $191,800)
Submitted SPDES renewal to DEC.
Hobart Community Alliance: Report from Don Thomases,
All residents from the Hobart Inn have been placed in new accommodations. The money raised by the community will be disbursed equally amongst them. The business that were in the Hobart Inn have use MURAL, on 631 Main Street while deciding their next step. And it has been decided that all the businesses will be moving to 40 Cornell Ave. Plans to be open early this month. Discussion still on the table about volleyball and pickleball at HAC, it is work in progress.
Christmas lights for the Village was discussed, 1500.00 collected, wants to buy 4 White lights will do some research. Inquired about the Christmas lights in Stamford, we will inquire about cost and contacts. Discussion of the Comprehensive Plan, included in this discussion will be planning board members, Mayor, board members, and the community. No date has been set for the start of this yet.
At the recent Hobart Community Alliance meeting many ideas / changes / improvements were discussed, there is a long list however they have pared it down to 5 ideas that will be discussed later tonight when the floor is open to the public.
D. Board member reports: none given
E. HAC report: No report, J. Quarino absent
F. Zoning report, no members present
G. Planning Board report: discussion of comprehensive plan started.
H. Fire Department, no report
Motion to accept Secretary/ Treasurers report, Montion by Amy Reinshagen, 2nd. by Trustee Kayla Mason, all ayes. Passed
Motion of approval of last board meeting 11/3/2025, our last meeting of 2025.
Decembers meeting set for 12/1/2025 cancelled and not rescheduled.
Motion to approve by Trustee Randy Roe, 2nd by Deputy Mayor Amy Reinshagen. All ayes, passed.
V. Old Business
a.) Water plant upgrades, Laberge awaiting approval of funding.
Discussion of getting a waiver from the Board of Health about the right of way of the Sheffield Well. Presently 200, the well produces 120 gallons per minute. Tabled.
b. Generator Project, low bid, motion made by Deputy mayor Reinshagen, 2nd by Trustee Mason, all ayes. Awarded to Diversified Wireless Inc. at 191,800.00, a resolution was passed.
c. Fire Clean up at 394 Main Street, discussion about offering that the Village bury debris. And bill the land owner, tabled.
d. Back taxes/foreclosures: discussed accounts, awaiting next move by lawyer. Posted of taxes in legal notices to be published this month. Moving forward.
e.Pre & Post Trips for Village vehicles, forms to be given to employees and submitted to supervisor in a timely manner.
f.Local Law for sidewalks, this will be discussed at the next meeting.
VI. New Bussiness
a. Start exploring grant options for Main Street Revitalization 2026.discussion about grants that my be filled for , Tabled.
b. Current year back taxes: For the year 2025/2026 total of unpaid Village taxes are $17,015.45. Some residents have paid and some residents have said they will make arrangements.
c. Exploring grant options for New playground and updates. Discussion of possible grants that the Village may seek. Discussion of adding a spash pad to the playground. All tabled.
d. Health insurance updates, the Village received and increase or health insurance premiums of 13% this year. Discussion.
e. Explore expansion of fitness center. There are 2 rooms now available to be used to expand, discussion and tabled for further discussion.
f. Next phase of Community Center Upgrades, flooring to be installed. Discussion of other possibilities. Tabled for further review.
g. Resolution of CWC funding, for the Maple Ave culvert replacement.
Resolution voted on , all ayes, passed.
h. Ambulance: the Mayor has contacted Headwaters about the sale of the
Villages ambulances that are out of service. Discussion about the sale of them. The Mayor will continue dialogue with Headwaters.
i. CWC application signed, approval from board m all ayes. Passed and signed. Start date for culvert replacement is Summer of 2026.
VII Floor opened for Community Participation
Members of the Hobart Alliance spoke
a. Fredrico Zimmerman: regarding the lighting on Cornell Ave. Presently there is only one street light and that seems dim. They would like to see if more lighting can be done. Discussed, tabled.
b. Lighting in the Village Parking lot at 80 Cornell Ave. Wanting more lights on the building, shining on parking area. Discussed, tabled.
c. Speeding on Main Street, John Machinod, concerns about speeding,for the community. Discussed signs, that is throught NYState DOT. Possible police presents more so. Discussed Activation signs, possibly solar, with that possible money raising for them. Tabled.
d. Exploring grant funding, Barbara Baleit will look into any grants that the Village may be able to attain regarding lighting, sidewalk expansion.
e. A possible chair lift in HAC, Michelle Stephens, the possibilities were discussed. The Village can not afford to put a chair lift in place at the present time. Discussion of grants for it. Tabled. Also discussed the fencing around the basketball court/pickleball court. Mayor informed the Alliance members that the fencing would be done. All of the fencing was in the plans of the area. We just haven’t gotten to that part of the plan yet.
f. Ayhan Dargin, discussion of mailbox placement.The US post office will not deliver to his home or even if he puts in a mailbox in front of his home. He is currently using his neighbors mailbox post. Discussed/tabled.
The meeting was adjorned at 7:55. The board went into executive session to pay bills.
Respectfully submitted, Katherine E. Sparkes, Village Clerk.
Next scheduled meeting January 5,2026 @ 6:30.