Mayor’s Message September 2026
Recently our weather has been anything but predictable, although some things can be counted on. When the Dutchess County Fair ends, our thoughts turn to fall. September 1st begins “Meteorological Fall”, based on weather patterns, while “Astronomical Fall”, which is based on daylight hours, begins September 22. Not to bum anyone out, but in September we lose about 2.5 minutes of daylight each day. On the other hand, we will gain all the delights of the fall season here in Rhinebeck.
The Rhinebeck Central School District will welcome students back on September 9th. Our student athletes have already started practicing. As always, please be extra careful driving in the Village when school is in session. The Safe Route to School project is still moving forward and it will be completed by the start of the 2027 school year.
Our Leaf Pick-Up trucks will be sticking to their north-south rotating schedule this month before gearing up for the fall schedule beginning in October. To make leaf pickup easier and more efficient for our crews, please keep your brush and leaves separated when you put them to the curb. Debris other than leaves can damage the truck.
With our CHIP’s funding from NYS we are pleased to let you know that we will be paving Arnett, Lorraine, and Oak Streets this month, possibly beginning as early as next week. You will see us milling down the streets prior to paving. We are currently waiting for confirmation from the contractor on the start date for milling. The work will be completed by Callanan Industries. Our current CHIP’s balance is $164,544,94 and the cost for completing these streets os $162,301.00
We know everyone loves the “leaf peeping” season. And soon we might have some “tree peeping” vehicles out and about in the Village. The Tree Commission is going to ask for a NYS grant to pay for an inventory of our urban forest, as well as a management plan update.
The Tree Survey will be conducted by vehicles that look like the Google Street View cars, although they will be recording information on trees along our streets, in our parks, and in the Municipal Parking Lot. Called LIDAR, the system uses lasers to map vegetation. The end result will be a detailed model of each and every tree in the public spaces in the Village. This new information will provide a major upgrade to our current existing data in TreeKeeper.. The grant also includes TreeKeeper training time for volunteers. The grant is 100% reimbursable.
The Village is investigating a BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) for our Water Treatment plant. It is an advanced technology device that uses rechargeable batteries to store electrical energy to be released when needed.
In looking at the high power bills at the Water Treatment Plant, we determined that short-duration demand spikes are driving up the utility charges. For example, when Central Hudson demand increases they charge facilities like ours a higher rate for our electrical consumption. During that time, BESS could provide stored power to the Village at a lower cost. Then, during regular usage hours, it would replenish its batteries.
This can be done by installing a system that will have a nominal power rating of 250 kW and an energy capacity of 1.144 kWh or similar (the size of a storage cabinet) battery at the water plant. We are looking closely at both the NYSERDA programs, and available federal funding opportunities, as we would need money to set the system up.
BESS would not only cut water costs, it could also earn us money, as part of a program that pays us to reduce our energy demand during high peak hours.
The Village Board will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday Sept, 8th at 6:00 PM to ask for residents’ input on an amendment to the Loading Zone Law. The amendment would make it unlawful for a vehicle, other than a delivery vehicle, to park, stand or stop in a commercial loading zone. And it would limit parking time for delivery vehicles to 30 minutes. Currently Garden Street is the only Loading Zone for delivery vehicles and a central location so many restaurants could be delivered to/from the same truck/location.
The Parks Committee has received two conceptual plans from Studio Hip for the Lion’s Mini Park. Please take a look at both and give your feedback to the Village Clerk at mmcclinton@villageofrhinebeck.gov Please go to Parks Committee — Village of Rhinebeck to review the designs.
Happy Anniversary!
Please join me in celebrating our employee anniversaries
Water Plant Operator Matt Green– 4 years
Police Officer Dan Killian – 10 years
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or comments. You can reach me by phone 845-876-7015 ext 308 at Village Hall or via email: MayorBassett@Villgeofrhinebeck.gov