Washington County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Sewer board sets 2027 budget with no tax levy increase, 5% O&M rate hike

The Sewer District Board of Commissioners on Aug. 11 approved a 2027 budget recommendation that holds the Ad Valorem tax levy at 0% while continuing a 5% operations and maintenance (O&M) rate increase and giving sewer employees a 3% salary raise. The board also approved several capital projects and agreed to take over sewer billing from the Treasurer's office, a move expected to save more than $40,000 annually.

Sewer District Board

All actions were unanimous. The board approved:

• A 2027 budget with no increase to the Ad Valorem tax levy, a 5% O&M rate increase, and a 3% salary raise for sewer employees.
• A request for qualifications (RFQ) for the FE-1A project's engineering design and construction administration.
• A $55,000 budget amendment from the capital reserve for the John St. CSO line.
• A $76,565 budget amendment from the capital reserve for the Drifting Ridge/Argyle Pump Station.
• Taking over sewer billing from the Treasurer's office, saving over $40,000 annually.
• Minutes of the June 9, 2026 meeting as written.

Audit Committee

The Washington County Audit Committee on Aug. 19 approved $2,409,292.58 in monthly bills across all funds, plus $1,867.30 in stale vouchers to Kimberly Van Wormer, Esq. The committee also approved sending a letter to the Office of Mental Health requesting clarification on CPL Article 730 invoices. All votes were unanimous, with one abstention on the July 15, 2026 meeting minutes.

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Aug. 21 at 10:00 AM in the Supervisors' Chambers, County Office Building B, Fort Edward. The agenda was procedural, with no specific items for discussion or decision listed. The resolution submission deadline was Aug. 13, and public viewing was available via YouTube. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the provided data. Residents are encouraged to check the county's official website for future meeting schedules.

Washington County committees approve $1.5M in grants, equipment purchases

The Washington County Public Safety Committee approved over $1.5 million in state grants for communications and personnel at its July 28 meeting, while the Public Works Committee authorized equipment purchases and a sewer project change order. Both committees met on the same day, and their decisions were recorded in official minutes.

Public Safety Committee

The committee approved a new conflict of interest policy for attorneys in the Assigned Counsel Office and the Public Defender Office. It also recognized a $1,270,600 Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant (SICG) and forwarded it to the Finance Committee, and approved a $281,552 PSAP Operations Grant for personnel. Out-of-state travel for the Director to a conference in Parsippany, New Jersey, and two Probation Officers to attend active shooter training in Oriskany, New York at no cost were also approved. The committee accepted a Crime Victim grant for the District Attorney and approved the minutes of the June 30 meeting.

Public Works Committee

The committee approved the purchase of two 2027 International dump trucks and four Joma plow systems from the 2026 budget. It also authorized the Chairman to sign Change Order #9 for the LTCP WWTP grit system. Updates were provided on two sewer separation projects funded by a $25 million grant.

Other recent meetings

Several other meetings took place in the past two weeks, but their minutes have not yet been published. The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on July 27 to consider a resolution regarding Sewer District No. 2; no details were provided in the agenda. The Planning Agency met on July 28 to review a referral for a proposed expansion of a self-storage facility at 1335 State Route 196 in Kingsbury, adding a 30'x100' building. The Health & Human Services Committee met on July 29 to discuss the Rural Health Transformation Project, the Early Intervention Wait List, and a WIC budget modification, among other reports. On August 6, the Personnel Committee discussed backfill requests, a title change in the County Clerk's office, and an interim Superintendent of Public Works. Also on August 6, the Board of Supervisors held a special meeting to consider appointing an Interim Superintendent of Public Works, and the Finance Committee discussed creating a $25 million capital project for the Sewer District, along with several grant allocations and a consultant for a discrimination/harassment policy.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed within the next 14 days.

Washington County committees weigh sewer district projects, grants, and staffing changes; no minutes published yet

Washington County's recent committee meetings covered sewer district work, grant funding, staffing changes, and public safety grants — but because minutes have not yet been published for any of the July meetings, no final votes or outcomes can be confirmed from the available records. All items below reflect what was listed on agendas, not what was decided.

Sewer District work in focus

The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting July 27 to consider a resolution authorizing action regarding Sewer District No. 2. The agenda did not provide additional details on the resolution.

The Public Works Committee met July 28 and was scheduled to receive updates on the FE-1A and HF-1A sewer district projects and consider Change Order #10 for the LTCP WWTP Upgrade Projects. The committee was also set to authorize the purchase of two 2027 International dump trucks and four initial Joma Systems for 2025 trucks, all under the 2026 budget.

The upcoming Finance Committee meeting on Aug. 6 will review creation of a $25,000,000 capital project for the HF-1A and FE-1A Sewer District work.

Grants under review

Several committees had grant items on their agendas:

• Government Operations Committee (July 21): 2026 Election Grant of $13,278.60 and 2026 Mail Ballot Grant of $15,378.44.
• Public Safety Committee (July 28): Acceptance of a Crime Victim Grant for the District Attorney, recognition of the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant, and recognition of the PSAP Public Safety Answering Point Operations Grant.
• Agriculture, Planning, Tourism & Community Development Committee (July 21): Review of new septic grant funding and the Tri-County Workforce Development Board PY26 Budget.

The Aug. 6 Finance Committee agenda lists grant allocations including the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant for SFY 2025 and SFY 2026 totaling $1,270,600, the PSAP Operations Grant for SFY 2025 and SFY 2026 totaling $281,552, and the EFC Septic Grant for Planning at $300,000.

Staffing and personnel

The Government Operations Committee was scheduled to discuss a proposed change of staffing pattern from Clerk to Account Clerk for the County Clerk, along with a County Clerk 2026 budget update and a County Administrator Discrimination/Harassment Policy.

The upcoming Personnel Committee meeting on Aug. 6 will consider backfill requests for Buildings & Grounds, Treasurer, Department of Social Services, and Veterans; a proposal to remove one Clerk and add one Account Clerk in the County Clerk's office; and discussion of an Interim Superintendent of Public Works.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Aug. 6 to consider a resolution appointing an Interim Superintendent of Public Works.

Health and human services

The Health & Human Services Committee met July 29 to hear updates on the Rural Health Transformation Project, discuss the Early Intervention Wait List, and review a WIC Budget Modification. The agenda also included Social Services finance and homeless reports and Public Health program updates. No binding votes were scheduled.

Planning review

The Washington County Planning Agency met July 28 to review a referral under General Municipal Law §239 for a proposed expansion of a self-storage facility in the Town of Kingsbury. The project, at 1335 State Route 196 (Tax ID 1553-2-4), would add a 30'x100' building. The applicant is Jason Halliday of Advance Storage LLC.

Coming up

• **Aug. 6 — Personnel Committee:** Staffing backfills, County Clerk title change, and Interim Public Works Superintendent discussion.
• **Aug. 6 — Board of Supervisors (special):** Resolution to appoint Interim Superintendent of Public Works.
• **Aug. 6 — Finance Committee:** $25M Sewer District capital project, grant allocations, and consultant hire for discrimination/harassment policy.

Audit Committee approves over $208,000 in voucher and prepaid bill payments

Washington County's Audit Committee approved more than $208,000 in payments at its July 15 meeting, the largest concrete spending decisions made by county government over the past two weeks.

Audit Committee payments

The committee approved payment of $24,709.88 in stale vouchers and agreed to prepay two large bills: $106,277.96 for a Shi International camera-licensing bill and $77,555.50 for a Fort Miller culvert bill. Members also accepted the June 16, 2026 Audit Committee minutes and adopted a motion to pay all bills as audited. All motions were adopted without recorded vote tallies, according to the official minutes.

Other recent meetings

Several other county bodies met between July 17 and July 21, but minutes have not yet been published for those sessions, so only agenda items are available.

The Personnel Committee reconvened on July 17 at 8:30 AM in Room B214, County Office Building B. The notice did not list specific agenda items, indicating the meeting continued work from the July 9 session.

The Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on July 17 at the County Municipal Center in Fort Edward, viewable by the public via a live YouTube stream. Resolutions were due by July 9, with typed resolutions due July 16.

The Government Operations Committee met July 21 to discuss budget updates and a proposed staffing change from Clerk to Account Clerk for the County Clerk. The agenda also included two election-related grants — a 2026 Election Grant for $13,278.60 and a 2026 Mail Ballot Grant for $15,378.44 — plus a review of the County Administrator Discrimination/Harassment Policy and a County Clerk 2026 Budget Update.

The Information Technology Committee met July 21 to review projects, ticketing, and cyber security reports.

The Agriculture, Planning, Tourism & Community Development Committee met July 21 to accept June 23 minutes, review the Tri-County Workforce Development Board PY26 Budget, discuss tourism updates, review new septic grant funding, and review Ag District #3 & #24.

Coming up

• **July 27 — Board of Supervisors (special meeting):** Will consider a resolution authorizing action regarding Sewer District No. 2. Viewable via YouTube.
• **July 28 — Planning Agency:** Will review a site plan referral for an expansion of an existing self-storage facility at 1335 State Route 196 in the Town of Kingsbury (Tax ID 1553-2-4). Applicant Jason Halliday of Advance Storage LLC proposes adding a 30'x100' building.
• **July 28 — Public Safety Committee:** Will consider acceptance of a Crime Victim Grant for the District Attorney, approval of an ACO/PD Offices Conflict Policy, recognition of the SICG-Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant and the PSAP Public Safety Answering Point Operations Grant, and review of ILS updates, contract revisions, and funding processes.
• **July 28 — Public Works Committee (10:00 AM):** Will accept June 30 minutes, receive updates on FE-1A/HF-1A sewer district projects, consider Change Order #10 for the LTCP WWTP Upgrade Projects, and consider authorizing purchase of two 2027 International dump trucks and four Joma Systems for 2025 trucks, all under the 2026 budget.
• **July 29 — Health & Human Services Committee:** Will hear updates on the Rural Health Transformation Project, the Early Intervention Wait List, a WIC budget modification, Social Services finance and homeless reports, and Public Health program updates. No binding votes are scheduled.

Washington County committees approve $817,000 in contracts and amendments; sales-tax hike undecided

Washington County's Finance Committee approved more than $817,000 in budget amendments and contracts at its July 9 meeting, including a $379,862 amendment to the Department of Public Works snow and ice agreement — the largest single item acted on across recent committee meetings. A proposed sales-tax increase was discussed but no final decision was made.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee, meeting July 9, approved several budget amendments and contracts:

• **$379,862** amendment to the DPW Municipal Snow & Ice Agreement.
• **$175,000** contract for a licensed social worker for the Sheriff's Office.
• **$262,282** nursing services contract for the Washington County Jail.
• **$95,082.72** mini-bid for a DSS small SUV awarded to G and H Auto Group.
• **$82,807** budget amendment for AI Powered Caseworker Assistant software at DSS.

The committee also amended the Title-by-Grade schedule to replace a Highway Worker I (seasonal) title with a Highway Worker (summer seasonal) title and added a part-time Caseworker Assistant at Grade 12. A Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution for officials was adopted, and a motion directing backfill requests to department oversight committees before Personnel Committee review was adopted. The committee accepted its June 11 minutes.

No final decision was made on a proposed sales-tax increase.

Personnel Committee

Also meeting July 9, the Personnel Committee approved backfill appointments for DPW, DSS, the District Attorney, and the Youth Bureau. It amended the non-union Title-by-Grade schedule to remove Highway Worker I (seasonal) and add Highway Worker (summer seasonal) at Grade 9, with a rate of $21.69. A part-time Caseworker Assistant was added to the non-union schedule at Grade 12, with a rate of $25.08.

The committee authorized the Treasurer to create payroll slots for temporary appointments approved by the Personnel Officer. It entered executive session to discuss a specific individual's confidential information and then returned to regular session. The June 11, 2026 minutes were accepted.

Audit Committee

On July 15, the Audit Committee approved payment of stale vouchers totaling $24,709.88. It also approved prepaying two bills: a $106,277.96 camera-licensing bill from Shi International and a $77,555.50 culvert bill from Fort Miller. A motion to pay all bills as audited was adopted. All motions were adopted without recorded vote tallies. The committee accepted its June 16 minutes.

Board of Supervisors

The Washington County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hold a regular meeting July 17 at the County Municipal Center in Fort Edward, in the Supervisors' Chambers. The meeting was open to the public via a live YouTube stream. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published. The resolution deadline was July 9, and the typed resolution deadline was July 16.

The Personnel Committee was also scheduled to reconvene July 17 at 8:30 AM in Room B214, County Office Building B. The notice did not list specific agenda items, indicating the meeting would continue work from the July 9 session. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

Three committees meet Tuesday, July 21:

• **Agriculture, Planning, Tourism & Community Development Committee** — will review the Tri-County Workforce Development Board PY26 budget, discuss tourism updates, review new septic grant funding, and review Ag District #3 and #24.
• **Government Operations Committee** — will discuss a proposed staffing change from Clerk to Account Clerk for the County Clerk, review a 2026 Election Grant for $13,278.60 and a 2026 Mail Ballot Grant for $15,378.44, consider a County Administrator Discrimination/Harassment Policy, and review the County Clerk 2026 budget update.
• **Information Technology Committee** — will review projects, ticketing, and cyber security reports.