Your Government and How it Works for You

Your Town Government and How it Works

As the resident bean counter, I work in the Office of the Town Supervisor Jean Carlson. She is the Chief Fiscal Officer and I administer the budget per her direction. Payroll and monthly bill paying are my responsibilities. Additionally, I do all of the administrative work for the Town Supervisor.

As Special Districts Manager, I work with the residents who have petitioned the Town Board for water and sewer service. I have been involved in forming 5 water districts and 1 sewer district in the 20 years I have been employed by the Town of Schaghticoke. Currently I am working with the residents of Hemstreet Park to form a proposed sewer district in that part of town.

I have encountered many wonderful people in Schaghticoke who have made my job very gratifying. Serving our residents is what that part of my job is all about.

Nancy Harder
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The Building Inspector is designated to administer and enforce the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code within the Town of Schaghticoke. The Building Inspector is responsible for the enforcement of all the provisions of the law, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the plans, specifications or permits for the construction, alterations and repair of buildings and structures, and the installation and use of materials and equipment.

He receives applications, approves plans and issues permits for the erection and alteration of structures, issue in writing notices or orders for the removal of illegal or unsafe buildings. The Building Inspector is also responsible to issue a Certificate of Occupancy, where appropriate, for buildings constructed or altered after having been inspected to determine they are in compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

The Building Inspector is also responsible for the enforcement of the Town Zoning Law, as well as enforcing the Code of the Town of Schaghticoke.

John Smolen, Building Inspector
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The Planning Board meets the first Wednesday of every month and on occasion holds workshop meetings on the third Wednesday, if necessary. The Planning Board is made up of 7 members, each appointed to a 7-year term by the Town Board, with one member's term expiring at the end of each year. All Planning Board meetings are held at 7:30 PM at Town Hall.

The Planning Board is responsible for administering the Town Subdivision Regulations and Town Zoning Law. The Subdivision Regulations apply whenever a parcel of land or lot is created in the Town that is less than 20 acres in size. The subdivision process starts with a pre-filing conference, then progresses to a public hearing and preliminary approval. Final subdivision approval is granted only after the County Health Department has also approved the subdivision.

The Town Zoning Law was enacted to help ensure orderly, well planned development within the Town. Under the Zoning Law, some commercial uses of property may require a Special Use Permit or Site Plan Review by the Planning Board. The Special Use Permit process requires a public hearing which allows residents who may be affected by a proposed commercial use of a property to voice concerns and provide input.

One Planning Board member serves as Chairman, while another serves as Clerk. The Chairman is responsible for preparing the meeting agendas, correspondences, ensuring compliance with other applicable laws such as SEQR, and the smooth operation of the Board in general. The Clerk of the Board is responsible for filing, and preparing and distributing meeting minutes.

Brian Davidson
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Position	Job Description
Assessor	The assessor is the appointed Official who estimates the value of real property within a city, town, or village's boundaries. Assessors must obtain basic certification by New York State. Each year appointed assessors must complete an average of 24 hours of continuing education. The assessor maintains the municipality's assessment roll -- the document containing each property assessment. The physical description (or inventory) and value estimate of every parcel is kept current. The property inventory is available for inspection by appointment before the filing of the tentative assessment roll. The assessment roll shows assessments and appropriate exemptions. Every year the roll, with preliminary or tentative assessments, is made available for public inspection. After the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) has acted on assessment complaints and ordered any changes, the tentative assessment roll is made final. Richard Brown, Appointed Assessor
Budget Director, Special Districts Manager	As the resident bean counter, I work in the Office of the Town Supervisor Jean Carlson. She is the Chief Fiscal Officer and I administer the budget per her direction. Payroll and monthly bill paying are my responsibilities. Additionally, I do all of the administrative work for the Town Supervisor. As Special Districts Manager, I work with the residents who have petitioned the Town Board for water and sewer service. I have been involved in forming 5 water districts and 1 sewer district in the 20 years I have been employed by the Town of Schaghticoke. Currently I am working with the residents of Hemstreet Park to form a proposed sewer district in that part of town. I have encountered many wonderful people in Schaghticoke who have made my job very gratifying. Serving our residents is what that part of my job is all about. Nancy Harder top
Building Inspector	The Building Inspector is designated to administer and enforce the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code within the Town of Schaghticoke. The Building Inspector is responsible for the enforcement of all the provisions of the law, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the plans, specifications or permits for the construction, alterations and repair of buildings and structures, and the installation and use of materials and equipment. He receives applications, approves plans and issues permits for the erection and alteration of structures, issue in writing notices or orders for the removal of illegal or unsafe buildings. The Building Inspector is also responsible to issue a Certificate of Occupancy, where appropriate, for buildings constructed or altered after having been inspected to determine they are in compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. The Building Inspector is also responsible for the enforcement of the Town Zoning Law, as well as enforcing the Code of the Town of Schaghticoke. John Smolen, Building Inspector top
Planning Board	The Planning Board meets the first Wednesday of every month and on occasion holds workshop meetings on the third Wednesday, if necessary. The Planning Board is made up of 7 members, each appointed to a 7-year term by the Town Board, with one member's term expiring at the end of each year. All Planning Board meetings are held at 7:30 PM at Town Hall. The Planning Board is responsible for administering the Town Subdivision Regulations and Town Zoning Law. The Subdivision Regulations apply whenever a parcel of land or lot is created in the Town that is less than 20 acres in size. The subdivision process starts with a pre-filing conference, then progresses to a public hearing and preliminary approval. Final subdivision approval is granted only after the County Health Department has also approved the subdivision. The Town Zoning Law was enacted to help ensure orderly, well planned development within the Town. Under the Zoning Law, some commercial uses of property may require a Special Use Permit or Site Plan Review by the Planning Board. The Special Use Permit process requires a public hearing which allows residents who may be affected by a proposed commercial use of a property to voice concerns and provide input. One Planning Board member serves as Chairman, while another serves as Clerk. The Chairman is responsible for preparing the meeting agendas, correspondences, ensuring compliance with other applicable laws such as SEQR, and the smooth operation of the Board in general. The Clerk of the Board is responsible for filing, and preparing and distributing meeting minutes. Brian Davidson top
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)	The ZBA is made up of five people, including the Chairman, appointed by the Town Board. The ZBA hears appeals and considers zoning variences after an applicant has had a project turned down by the Town Planning Board or a building permit denied by the Town Building Inspector, due to the proposed project or building not meeting the Town's Zoning Law. Upon receiving an application for a zoning varience, the ZBA schedules a public hearing on the application and directly notifies landowners within 500' of the subject parcel. In addition, a legal notice of the public hearing is placed in the newspaper designated by the Town Board. The Chairman presides over ZBA meetings held each month as well as public hearings. Following the public hearing, the ZBA votes to either approve or deny the application and advises the applicant and the Town Board. James Jensen top
Town Historian	I've been asked to tell you a bit about my job. Every town in New York is required to have a town historian by state law. The Town Supervisor appoints the historian. The job is not well-defined. I am charged with promoting the history of the town. Since I became historian in 1986, I have helped plan the town's bicentennial celebration, worked with school groups, taken on high school students as interns through the Participation in Government classes, added to the town's collection of historical documents and records, surveyed all the cemeteries in town, created small exhibits for the Schaghticoke Fair, attended meet-ings of town historians, researched and written on town history, and answered MANY historical and genealogical queries. I answer phone queries at all hours of the day, and increasingly use email and the internet. I absolutely love my very part-time job, and just wish it could be full-time. Chris Kelly top
Dog Control	The Dog Control Officer is responsible to respond to calls regarding all dogs running at large, all dog complaints and dog problems. He may be reached at 237-3286. Phil Simon top