FORESTBURGH – The Town Board of Forestburgh voted unanimously to adopt their preliminary 2024 budget and a new zoning local law following a public hearing at their regular meeting on Thursday, November 2.

The Town Board adopted unanimously Local Law #3 of 2023, which affects zoning regulations.

Councilperson Steve Budofsky offered the resolution and moved for its adoption, which noted that the Town’s local laws, code, rules and regulations related to zoning were “outdated and in need of revision” and “did not adequately provide for the proper administration and enforcement of the Town Code.”

The alteration impacts 45 parcels of land throughout the town. For a majority of those parcels, they have been rezoned from either RR and Business to either B-1, B-2 or B-3.

The resolution and details of the changes can be found on the town website, www.forestburgh.net/departments/building-development/zoning.

2024 Budget

In addition to the Local Law receiving the green light, the preliminary budget received the town’s approval following a public hearing. 

As required by law, Town positions were capped at the following rates:

Supervisor                                                         

$28,500

Town Clerk                                                        

$37,000

Councilmen(4)                                                  

$7,125

Highway Superintendent                                

$54,000

Town Justice                                                      

$12,500

Tax Collector                                                      

$4,500

The budget was accepted unanimously by the Town Board.

911 Signs

Forestburgh Fire Department’s James Steinberg Sr. announced before the Town Board of the Fire Department’s offer to purchase, create and install updated EMS and emergency personnel 911 signs for each residence in the district, which would total out to be around an estimated $9,000 for 600 homes.

The sign poles are to be roughly 6 feet off the ground, with the signs themselves expected to be around 24 inches wide, as the reflective number stickers required by New York State must meet a minimum of 4 inches in size.

In addition to the stipulation that the town assist in funding the poles for the signs, Steinberg requested the town’s assistance with oversight from the Code Enforcement Officer and the Sullivan County 911 Coordinator with the installation of the signs.

The original 911 signs in the town were created by the late William “Billy” J. Steinberg, who crafted and installed them as a part of his Eagle Scout project.

Town Supervisor Dan Hogue said he is “in favor [of the idea],” but “has to make sure [the town] can do it.”