The Hague Town Board will make another attempt at regulating short-term rental properties in the town.
But the sentiment is not unanimous.
“I’m opposed to the short-term rental law,” said Councilwoman Lara Smith-Ryder, speaking at the July 14 Town Board meeting.
The Town Board enacted a short-term rental law about two years ago which a court nullified because of a technicality in procedure, said Councilman Jack Bast.
At Bast’s suggestion, most of the board supported directing town Zoning Enforcement Officer Ed Kirchberger to work with the town’s lawyer to draft a revised version of the original law for consideration.
“It’s going from where we are now instead of starting from scratch,” Bast said.
“I do think it’s something important to proceed with,” said Councilwoman Edna Frasier.
Councilwoman Maureen Cherubini said she would not support a revised law unless a restriction was dropped that required owning property for three years before it could be used for short-term rentals.
Supervisor Joshua Patchett said the provision was intended to give preference to year-round residents over investors who buy property specifically for use as short-term rentals.
Patchett said it appears the provision would likely be omitted in a revised law.
In other July 14 Hague Town Board meeting news:
- Councilman Jack Bast announced that staff at the state Office of Real Property Tax Services recommended rejecting the town’s
request for a special equalization rate for Hague property owners in the Ticonderoga Central School District property tax formula.
“Bad news – we were very disappointed,” he said.
The town quickly filed a rebuttal with the agency.
“More to come on that, I’m sure,” he said.
The action is separate from a complaint the town filed with the state Comptroller’s Office regarding the school property tax.
- The board authorized contracting with the Vincelette Law Firm of Latham at an estimated cost of up to $3,000 to insist that the Town Board be included in any discussion or negations of a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for a possible battery energy storage system at Ticonderoga.
The actual cost will probably closer to $1,000, Patchett said.
- The board discussed methods of addressing nuisance geese at the town beach.
Cherubini agreed to contact officials at Sabbath Day Point to discuss how they addressed nuisance geese.
- The board voted to provide veteran’s flags (banners) for veterans which have been town residents for at least five years.
- Patchett announced that the state Department of Transportation has agreed to reduce the speed limit, previously 25 miles per hour, in the school zone on Silver Bay Road. Signs will be posted soon.
- Bast announced that the town is seeking a volunteer to fill the vacant alternate seat on the town Zoning Board of Appeals, and is seeking to hire a part-time Zoning Board of Appeals clerk.
- The Hague Historical Society will host a lecture by Brian O’Connor about Loyalists in the North Country at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at the town Community Center, announced Ginger Kuenzel, the society’s president.
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