Esperance Town Board officials: Harold Conklin, Barbara Sharpe, Benjamin Gigandet, and Town Supervisor Earl Van Wormer III. Also in attendance but not pictured: Planning Board Clerk Stephanie Gage, Highway Superintendent Michelle Brust, Esperance Planning Board member Mark Fitzgerald, and Schoharie & Esperance Town Assessor Erin Smith. Officials not in attendance this month: Michael Keller, Deputy Supervisor Brian D. Largeteau, and Town Clerk Jessica Castle.
By Heather Skinner
ESPERANCE-Esperance and Schoharie Town Assessor, Erin Smith, attended the regular monthly Esperance Town Board meeting on August 21st to address residents’ concerns about continued Data Collection after the process was supposed to be completed in Esperance and moving on to be done in Schoharie.
Residents have been calling about the returning data collectors, worrying they were being stalked by someone maybe not really there on County business. In the midst of community members trying to make sense of the situation, Highway Superintendent Michelle Brust was mistaken for a data collector while clearing ditches in her vest and unmarked truck (which can’t support a Highway Superintendent magnetic sign addition because its structure was made with aluminum). Brust has been doing increased, weekly road inspections to keep up with the high number of dead trees dropping limbs.
Smith explained the previously collected data was lost due to a technology error saying, “Apparently they had some sort of a dump with their technology and when they were transferring from their handhelds into the system, something happened and it disappeared on handheld and didn’t go into the system, so they were back out recollecting.” Adding that this Data Collection project has suffered the impact of many technology issues.
For additional information, Smith referred contact to CCD Schoharie County Director of Real Property, Lisa Thom, who explained more about the County’s Data Collection project currently in Esperance. Thom updated, “We are very nearly complete collecting parcel data and taking updated photos for the project.”
Thom also explained the reason for the project saying, “Our work in this is an aid to the assessor for the town. In an endeavor to maintain equity in a town assessment roll, a periodic review and update of the inventory on each parcel is necessary. New York State compares current sales prices to the assessments for each type of property to find the level of assessment a town is assessed at. They come up with an equalization rate for the town based on this analysis, the equalization rate is the total assessment divided by full market value of a property. The more accurate the inventory and data for the town, the more accurate their analysis will be. The process will allow all parcels to be assessed at the same level of assessment.”
Thom also expressed, “We appreciate the cooperation of the residents of the town of Esperance in this project.”
Smith is up for a 6-year reappointment as Assessor, with the next appointment beginning October 1st. Town Supervisor Earl Van Wormer III said to Smith, “I don’t think there’s any question that everybody thinks you’re doing a great job.”
Smith said, “I try to be fair,” to which Van Wormer agreed that she is fair and he wants to see her stay in the position.
Because Smith is assessor for the Towns of both Esperance and Schoharie, both Boards must be in agreement of reappointment details and talks are still ongoing. A motion was carried by the Esperance Town Board to give Van Wormer authority to represent them to resolve the reappointment. This decision was made to prevent delaying the process when the opportunity becomes available with Schoharie’s representatives, as their Esperance Town Board meetings always fall on the 3rd Thursday of the month, which would be cutting it very close to the reappointment deadline. Van Wormer confirmed he will keep the Esperance Town Board fully informed with time for concerns or objections on details of the reappointment to be addressed if they come up.
Van Wormer is also arranging a meeting with acting DPW Commissioner, Brust, and a couple of the DPW Commissioner’s assistants because Van Wormer wants to take a look at how they plow the roads in Esperance before the Winter. The goal of the meeting will be to come up with the most economical plowing plan for the County and the Town; both Van Wormer and Brust already have some ideas they want to present during the meeting.
Van Wormer is still seeking anyone interested in joining the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Van Wormer explained during July’s meeting that every town is supposed to have a comprehensive plan to base zoning regulations on, and he will choose 5-7 diverse volunteers. To be added to the Committee volunteer list, no prior Town meeting involvement is required; call the Town Hall at 518-875-6109, or message Van Wormer at supervisor@esperancetown-ny.gov.
Brust also updated during the meeting that Lape road cold mix paving is scheduled for the week of August 24th, before Landis Arboretum’s September 5th members-only Fall Plant Sale Preview Party, and the Landis 2025 Signature Fall Plant, Book, and Bake Sale with free parking for members and non-members & donations accepted, starting at 10 AM September 6th and 7th.
This month’s meeting ended with closing to the public for the Board to discuss the 2026 budget in an Executive Session.
Esperance Town Board meetings offer a chance to view the Correspondence Folder (this month it included the SCCA Newsletter and announcements from The Gathering Place, Munibit, Stillwater Recovery, LLC, & FEMA), and both Town & Village meetings offer the opportunity to share thoughts, concerns, and questions during Privilege of the Floor.
Esperance Town Board Meetings are every 3rd Thursday of the month; 7:00 PM at the Town Hall, located at 104 Charleston Street.
RV and Camping Regulations will be discussed with Mike West during the September 18th Town Board meeting. That meeting on the 18th will also include a, “Public Hearing for Local Law #1-2025 Increasing the Maximum Income Eligibility Level for Persons Sixty-Five Years of Age and Older Pursuant to Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law.”
Esperance Village Meetings are every 2nd Monday at the Village Hall at 7:00 PM, next being on September 8th.
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