Newburgh · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Newburgh public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Fire Department Security Upgrades
The Fire Headquarters and Engine 3 at 492 Broadway would get updated cameras and a new entry system under an agreement with CDR Electronics Co., Inc.
2027 City Budget
The council was scheduled to discuss preparations for the 2027 city budget, which shapes next year's taxes, services, and staffing.
Combined Sewer Control Facility Electrical Construction
The city was set to award three construction contracts totaling roughly $45.5 million for the Combined Sewer Control Facility, part of its Long Term Control Plan to stop combined sewer overflows into the Hudson. A companion bond resolution would amend the project's 2022 financing. This is one of the biggest infrastructure investments on the city's books.
Mayor and Council Salary Increase
A public hearing was scheduled for November 9, 2026 on a local law amending City Charter Section C4.00 to increase the annual salaries of the Mayor and Council Members.
Community Cleanup Initiative
Newburgh is cleaning up West Parmenter Street on October 30. If you live or work nearby, expect a fresher block—and possibly some temporary disruption while crews work.
Council Meeting Schedule
Newburgh City Council has a work session Nov. 5 and a regular meeting Nov. 9, both in person at City Hall. It’s your chance to watch local decisions happen or show up and weigh in.
Newburgh Colored Burial Ground Memorial
The council was asked to designate itself lead agency for environmental review of a memorial at the historic Newburgh Colored Burial Ground. This is a first step in honoring a significant piece of the city's Black history.
Newburgh Colored Burial Ground Memorial Project SEQRA Review
The council was asked to designate itself lead agency for environmental review of a memorial at the historic Newburgh Colored Burial Ground. This is a first step in honoring a significant piece of the city's Black history.
Property tax levy above the tax cap
Local Law No. B of 2026 would let the city levy property taxes above the state limit set by General Municipal Law Section 3-c. That directly affects homeowners' property tax bills.
Brown's Pond Water Withdrawal Alternatives Analysis
The council was scheduled to consider contracts for water quality testing ($12,824) and algae treatment ($3,691 per treatment) at Browns Pond. This relates to the city's drinking water source protection.
Tax Certiorari Consent Judgments on Downtown Properties
Eleven resolutions would settle tax refund lawsuits against the city on properties including several Broadway buildings, 296 Liberty Street and 189 Grand Street. These settlements can reduce the city's tax revenue.
Water Filtration Plant Filter and SCADA Improvements
The council was scheduled to consider a $7.77 million contract with Gallo Construction Corp. to upgrade filters and the SCADA control system at the city's water filtration plant. It's one of the largest infrastructure investments on the agenda and affects the reliability of the city's drinking water.
cierre de servicios municipales por el Día de las Elecciones
Newburgh City Hall is closed Tuesday, Nov. 3, for Election Day, and only emergency services will be running. If your trash pickup normally falls that day, check the schedule—it may shift. Plan any city business for another day.
County Tax Exemption for Reservoir and Filter Plant Properties
The city was scheduled to request an exemption from county taxes on its reservoir and filter plant properties for 2028, saving the city money on its own utility lands.
Lutheran Street Fire Flow Analysis
A $7,500 Arcadis study would check whether water pipes on Lutheran Street can deliver enough flow for firefighting.
Fire Captain examination scheduling
Five exams were on the calendar: Police Officer agility testing on November 7, plus Senior Clerk, Senior Account Clerk, Principal Account Clerk, and Code Enforcement Officer exams in November and December. These build the hiring pools for city jobs.
Upcoming Civil Service Examinations
The commission certified hiring lists for positions including fire captain, police sergeant, and several clerk roles, and set dates for upcoming exams. These lists determine who can be hired into city jobs over the next two years.
NECSD desk audits
An update on desk audits of Newburgh Enlarged City School District positions, carried forward as old business with email correspondence.
June 2026 personnel report
K. Thomas asked the commission for reinstatement to an eligible list, which would restore the ability to be considered for appointment from that list.
Police technology contracts (Tasers and body cameras)
Three separate deals with Axon Enterprise were on the agenda: Tasers for five years, camera upgrades, and a five-year body camera renewal. Together they represent nearly $1 million in police technology spending.
Halloween curfew for minors
A proposed curfew would keep kids 16 and under off city streets from 9 p.m. Halloween night through 6 a.m. Sunday. It's aimed at safety but raises questions for families with older teens at events.
City Comptroller Recruitment
The city plans to spend up to $28,000 on a consulting firm to recruit its next City Comptroller, the city's top financial officer.
Non-Bargaining Unit Salary and Benefit Plan
Resolution No. 43 would amend and restate the salary and benefits plan for non-union city employees, affecting pay for a slice of the municipal workforce.
Standardized garbage cans
A longtime council legislative priority: uniform 95-gallon carts with attached lids for every home, like Poughkeepsie and Kingston did. DPW supports it — fewer lids filling with water, less litter — but it's a budget item likely tied into a future bond.
Rental registry trust fund sits untouched at $328K
Councilmember Monteverde flagged a rental registry trust fund with $328,000 sitting unused for years — money collected from rental licenses that was supposed to fund code staff. She asked that it be tapped to avoid hitting the general fund.
2026 Citywide Paving Program
The council was scheduled to discuss the 2026 paving plan, which determines which city streets get repaved this year.
Jobs for local young men and the formerly incarcerated
Councilmembers Shakur and Harvey pushed on DPW hiring: the street sweeper program employs formerly incarcerated residents, and Shakur said three young men were wrongly denied sanitation jobs over licenses. Wade confirmed sanitation only requires a Class D driver's license and 80 people applied for the latest labor posting.
DPW garage roof replacement
The DPW garage roof is so bad it rains inside the building — mechanics are working in puddles. Wade put $150K for design and $600K for construction in the budget, but says the real cost is closer to $1 million and it should be a capital/bond project.
DPW staffing shortfall since 2010
About 32 DPW positions were cut in 2010 and never restored — the department runs on roughly half its old workforce. Councilmembers Martinez and Stewart discussed adding permanent positions and raising temp pay from $18/hour, but Stewart stressed the city needs new revenue first.
Fire department staffing and overtime
The fire department is at 54 of a desired 62 sworn firefighters and Chief Puller wants two more positions plus about $1 million in overtime so Engine 1 doesn't get browned out when someone calls in sick. Councilmembers praised the department's overtime discipline and pushed for higher base salaries so firefighters stop leaving for better-paying departments like Arlington.
Firehouse building repairs
The Grand Street firehouse hasn't been painted or recarpeted in about 20 years and the garage doors are so old that parts aren't available anymore. The chief wants to start a repair and upgrade program, while Engine 3's 1866 Broadway firehouse is also aging.
Civil Service operations budget
Civil Service, which handles hiring rules for the city, the school district, and the housing authority, is asking for essentially the same budget — just $500 more for travel with gas prices over $5 a gallon.
Fire Department vehicle grant
The city could accept an $85,000 state grant — at no cost to local taxpayers — to buy a new fire vehicle with emergency equipment.
Bourne and Kenney PILOT agreement
A payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement for the Bourne and Kenney affordable housing development would set how much the project pays the city instead of full property taxes.
1 Lafayette Project PILOT Agreement
A presentation on a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal for the 1 Lafayette development. PILOTs affect how much property tax revenue the city collects from major projects.
Emergency sewer repairs on Broad Street
A $485,000 transfer within the sewer fund would pay for emergency sewer repairs on Broad Street.
Delano-Hitch Recreation Park grant application
The city was set to apply for a state KICKS grant of up to $150,000 to rehabilitate Delano-Hitch Recreation Park.
License plate reader contract with Flock Group
A proposed resolution addresses the city's use of fixed automated license plate readers and a contract with Flock Group, Inc. — a policing tool that raises privacy questions for drivers.
Aging water valves and main break risk
Many large valves date to the late 1800s — one broke during the Ellis Avenue main break that shut off half the city. The 2027 budget starts a proactive insertion-valve replacement program, about one per year.
Water department staffing and rate stability
Veteran water staff with 87 combined years are retiring, and Vradenburgh wants long-overdue pay upgrades for positions untouched in 30 years. Big equipment purchases may go into a bond paid through facility fees instead of water rates, keeping user rates flat.
Senior program funding questions
Councilmember Zorrilla noticed the senior travel line drops from about $21,000 spent in 2025 to nothing requested for 2027. Councilmember McLymore also pressed not to cut seniors. Staff agreed to review the line.
City archives need a permanent plan
The clerk's office is juggling a flood of FOIL requests — roughly 80-100 a year — while irreplaceable historical records sit in aging, flood-vulnerable storage at 123 Grand Street and the courthouse.
Recreation Department turnaround and 2027 programs
Overtime at the rec was $37,000 over budget by July but is now down 95.6% under new guardrails. The pool earned over $200,000 this summer, drawing visitors from surrounding towns. New 2027 asks include a maintenance mechanic, weekend fishing at Washington Lake and Browns Pond, and a trial return of ice skating at Delano Hitch.
Support staff for volunteer boards and council
Corporation Counsel said her office is the de facto administrator for several unstaffed boards — printing flyers, booking rooms, processing vouchers. Multiple council members asked to add an administrative support position in the 2027 budget to take that off the attorneys' plates.
Special-use-permit signs and public hearings
The Planning Board is adding printing costs for on-property signs so neighbors know when a special-use permit is pending, and wants a policy conversation about when public hearings should be held.
Conservation Advisory Council tree program
The CAC is asking for about $32,500, mostly for planting 15-25 trees a year focused on 'heat island' neighborhoods that lack shade. The city also wants an updated tree survey to clarify which trees are the city's responsibility versus a homeowner's.
ARC public outreach and web presence
The Architectural Review Commission wants business cards and a website so historic-district property owners can find guidelines and access state historic tax credits. Council members floated a shared site for all land-use boards to keep costs down and avoid splintering information.
Public Art Installation at 86 Broadway
DMU Music, Inc. was slated to get a license to access City-owned property at 80 Broadway to support a public art installation at 86 Broadway, adding to the city's cultural landscape.
PFOS and Catskill Aqueduct water reimbursement amendments
Amendments to two state DEC contracts that reimburse Newburgh for water purchased from the Catskill Aqueduct and for extra costs of providing alternative drinking water amid PFOS contamination.
Board member training
Council members pushed for baseline training for planning and zoning board members — Robert's Rules, environmental review law updates — using free state resources rather than big spending.