The Village of Rhinebeck board voted to adopt a resolution authorizing staff to transmit a complete building‑permit package to the Town of Rhinebeck after hearing a presentation on upgrades at the village water treatment plant.

Anthony Menendez, the project’s professional engineer, told the board the plant faces fluctuating raw water quality because it draws surface water from the Hudson River. He said the project adds pretreatment units to reduce turbidity and introduces ultraviolet disinfection to lessen reliance on gaseous chlorine, and that the existing treatment units — about 30 years old — also need rehabilitation. “The solution to this was to enhance treatment by providing pretreatment units to bring the water level, turbidity lower to where it would be manageable for the existing systems,” Menendez said.

Village attorney Rich Olsen reviewed the legal steps. He said New York State requires the village to obtain a building permit from the town where the parcel sits but that the board could make a Monroe balancing‑test determination to avoid the town’s site‑plan requirements. “You are required to obtain a building permit because that’s a New York State requirement,” Olsen said, adding that the Monroe case requires a balancing test when a municipal function crosses into another jurisdiction.

After questions about notice and whether the resolution explicitly enumerated the nine Monroe factors, the board voted to adopt the attorney’s resolution and directed staff to forward the completed drawings, specifications and contract documents to the town building department so the town can issue the permit or respond as appropriate.

The resolution does not change New York State building requirements; it is intended to document the village’s determination and provide the town the materials it needs to issue a permit. The board recorded the motion and adopted it during the meeting. Staff said the engineers will transmit the resolution and permit package to the Town of Rhinebeck as the next step.