NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

ON PROPOSED LOCAL LAW

                PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there has been introduced before the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh in the County of Orange and State of New York on November 9, 2020, Introductory Local Law No.3 of the Year 2020 entitled " Solar Energy Pilot Law of the Town of Newburgh” pertaining to Payments in Lieu of Taxes, the purpose and effect of which is to promote the installation of solar energy generating equipment by allowing owners to continue to apply for real property tax exemptions for such installations and granting reduced costs to system developers and energy consumers, while providing a revenue stream to the entire community through payments-in-lieu-taxes (PILOT’s).  The Local Law includes definitions for “A/C”, “Annual Payment”, “Annual Payment Date”, “Capacity”, “Owner”, “Residential Solar Energy System”, “SBL Number, “Solar Energy Equipment” and “Solar Energy System.” The Local Law requires the owner of a property on which a Solar Energy System is located or installed to enter into a PILOT Agreement with the Town consistent with the terms of the Local Law, with the following exceptions:  (1)  Residential Solar Energy Systems,  (2)  Solar Energy Systems with a capacity of 0.5 megawatts (MWs) or less; and (3) Solar Energy Systems that do not seek or qualify for an exemption from real property taxes pursuant to Real Property Tax Law. The Local Law imposes notification requirements with regard to intent to construct Solar Energy Systems and the PILOT requirements, and sets forth the required contents of the PILOT agreements including provisions for an initial Annual Payment for Solar Energy Systems of $3,600.00 per MW of Capacity above 0.5 MW, pro-rated for fractional MW’s, with annual increases of 3 percent and late fees of 5 percent.

            PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that pursuant to Section Twenty of the Municipal Home Rule Law, q public hearing will be held on the aforesaid proposed Local Law before the Town Board of the Town of Newburgh on December 14, 2020 at 7:15 p.m.at which time all interested parties will be heard. 

Due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, the Town Board will NOT be conducting the continued public hearing in person.  In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 202 and the subsequent Executive Orders continuing the suspensions and modifications of law, the December 14, 2020 Town Board public hearings will be held via videoconference and a transcript will be posted on the Town’s website at a later date.  The public will have the opportunity to see and hear the public hearing live and provide comments either during the public hearing verbally or in writing by mail or email up to ten (10) days following the posting of the transcript on the Town’s website.

The public can watch the public hearing via Zoom.  The Zoom app must first be downloaded and installed on smartphones, tablets or computers from www.zoom.us.

Zoom videoconference meeting link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82360022353?pwd=SUdYM0h2aWc5L3dvTk5tblJXaEtlUT09

Telephone dial in only:  1 646 876 9923 # US (New York)

Meeting ID:  823 6002 2353

Online meeting/public hearing materials:  http://www.townofnewburgh.org/cn/meetings/

Comments may be sent by mail to the following address:  Town of Newburgh Town Clerk, 1496 Route 300, Newburgh, NY 12550, or preferably by email to townclerk@townofnewburgh.org.  Comments must be received no later than ten (10) days following the posting of the transcript on the Town’s website.

Dated: November 24, 2020                

                                                                        Joseph P. Pedi

                                                                        Town Clerk, Town of Newburgh