Town Board votes to opt-in to permit cannabis retail sales

Town Hall on Route 22 in Amenia.
Photo by Nathan Miller
Town Hall on Route 22 in Amenia.
AMENIA — By vote of 4-1, the Town Board voted to “opt in” to state regulations and allow cannabis retail dispensaries within the town at their regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6. The decision followed a public hearing that was held open since the previous Town Board meeting held on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Explaining her negative vote on the measure, Councilmember Rosanna Hamm said that she was uncomfortable with opting in before there is a local zoning law in place to regulate the change.
By the vote, the Town board reversed a 2022 decision to opt out of permitting cannabis dispensaries. Residents who opposed the reversal raised concerns about adverse health effects from cannabis use and parental concerns, although some could approve availability to patients whose health needs prescribe its use.
Others who supported the change in local law to opt in spoke of medicinal benefits and potential revenue for the town where the town could receive three quarters of the revenue from the 4% sales tax.
Several residents favored scheduling a town-wide referendum to give all residents a chance to vote on the cannabis issue, feeling that recent social media polling was not a representative sampling.
Councilmember Paul Winters noted that the issue has been discussed for more than a year.
“It’s about giving cannabis dignity. It was never about the potential income,” Winters said, opposing the idea of a town-wide referendum.
Related to the first, the second public hearing would amend the zoning laws to permit a cannabis dispensary. Included in the record but not publicly summarized at the meeting were comments received from the Planning Board and the County Planning Board, relative to zoning regulations and location of any dispensary.
Discussion included concern about the sequence of action. Councilperson Rosanna Hamm asked whether an action to reverse the law and opt in to state regulations would be wise without having a local law in place to govern the implementation.
A public hearing was convened to select a project to be the subject of a funding application in the form of a Community Development Block Grant during the current application season.
Town Supervisor Leo Blackman explained that the grant offers funding distributed by Dutchess County to towns for projects that will benefit the entire community.
Finance Director Charlie Miller said that grants are offered to three categories of projects, including housing, public facilities, and drinking water/wastewater. For this year’s application season, Miller suggested applying for $200,000 to fund repairs to the town water district, noting that the program allows the town to apply for another $200,000 for the following year.
Bill Flood, chairman of the Water Board, supported the proposal. Resident Judy Moran supported the idea, but as a member of the Recreation Commission, pointed to a need to purchase new playground equipment for Beekman Park. Discussion determined that grant application deadlines and paperwork requirements could not accommodate the play equipment.
During discussion, Winters defended the playground idea and urged focus on acquiring new equipment in the coming year. Councilman Brad Rebillard asked for details on the timeline for the grant application.
Having agreed to seek to extend the term of office for the Town Supervisor from two to four years, the Town Board voted 4-1 to schedule a public hearing for Thursday, March 6, to hear comments from residents. The hearing will begin at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. Councilmember Hamm cast the negative vote, recalling that the change was included on the ballot in 2016 and had been rejected by voters. Winters responded that he felt that the community has changed in the interim.
Seeking to limit the number of consecutive terms served by the office of Town Supervisor, Winters proposed a limit of 12 years — 3 consecutive four-year terms — that could be followed by a single year off, before becoming a candidate again. The proposal passed by a vote of 3-2. Voting in favor of the proposal were Rebillard, Winters and Councilmember Nicole Ahearn. Opposed were Blackman and Hamm. Hamm said that she would prefer to leave the matter to the voters to decide whether an incumbent has served long enough.
During public comment, Ken Topolsky, chairman of the Economic Development Committee and member of the Comprehensive Plan Review Board reported that both groups are engaging in conversation about the town’s future, focusing on determining a “brand” for the community. Noting that the Town Board is working on updating the town’s logo, he suggested a delay in the logo redesign until the two committees complete their efforts.
During the Supervisor’s Reporting segment, Blackman responded to ongoing federal actions targeting immigrants throughout the U.S. “Know Your Rights” pamphlets have been printed by active human rights advocacy organizations. They are available for pick-up from a variety of public-facing locations within the town. To request an electronic copy of the pamphlet, email lblackman@ameniany.gov.
Councilman Rebillard added a cautionary note directed to the board that efforts to assist immigrants or resist enforcement could result in a charge of Obstruction of Justice.
Anticipating upgrades to the Water District and the application for a Community Development Block Grant in support of the project, the Town Board scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, March 6, to review plans for the project expected to cost $3.9 million. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.
This is a developing story. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.
MILLERTON — Northern Dutchess Paramedics, the private emergency medical service provider contracted by North East, Amenia and Dover, is set to be acquired by Empress EMS, Town Supervisor Chris Kennan said at a special workshop meeting of the town board on Tuesday evening, Aug. 26.
Kennan shared what he called “breaking news” shortly after calling the meeting to order.
“We just learned that Northern Dutchess Paramedics has entered into a sales agreement with Empress, which serves most of Dutchess County,” he announced at the start of the meeting, which was originally scheduled to fine-tune zoning language for the town's commercial district.
Empress EMS is part of PatientCare EMS Solutions, a provider of emergency medical services that operates throughout the country under several brands, including Sunstar Paramedics, Med Fleet Ambulance, FleetPlus and School of EMS. PatientCare is owned by A+M Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, which provides the company with financial backing and corporate oversight.
Kennan said he received a call from NDP owner Ed Murray with the news on Friday.
In a phone call with The News on Wednesday morning, Aug. 27, NDP Chief Operating Officer Mark Browne confirmed that while the acquisition “is on-schedule to happen,” the paperwork is not yet final.
While a potential shift in ownership could bring a variety of changes to North East and Millerton, including EMS response time, cost and the health and safety of the community, Supervisor Kennan said he received a verbal indication that Empress would honor the town’s existing contract with NDP, which was renewed for three years in December.
In 2025, the town is paying $511,558 for contracted services with NDP and the cost is expected to increase to $746,345 by 2027.
“In the short term, we should not be impacted by this change,” Kennan said. He added that the current contract with NDP has a stipulation that any new owner must honor the existing contract.
The news comes after Kennan and other towns have criticized the high costs of emergency medical services, which makes up a sizable chunk of the town’s budget and burdens taxpayers. Along with the Association of Towns, Kennan has urged New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that has passed in the Senate and the Assembly and would exempt EMS services from the state’s property tax cap, giving local governments more flexibility to manage costs and sustain their EMS programs.
The bill would allow municipalities to better respond to EMS price hikes in their budgets, but it otherwise does not address those rising costs or poorer-than-typical service in rural communities like North East, Amenia and Dover.
Based in Yonkers, Empress EMS has a hub in Poughkeepsie and operates in Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, Ulster, Putnam, Sullivan and Orange counties, as well as the Bronx. The company’s acquisition of NDP marks its continued expansion north – in 2021 Empress purchased EMStar and Mobile Life, pushing its way deeper into the Hudson Valley.
In January, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced that Empress won the bid to become the primary provider of supplemental EMS services, a move made by the county in an effort to address long wait times for 911 calls. While successful in more densely populated areas, rural areas like North East, Amenia and Dover saw no visits from the supplemental services in quarter two of 2025.
According to the 2025 second quarter EMS report published by Dutchess County, all but one town in the county is serviced by either NDP or Empress. The merger would make Empress the sole EMS provider in the county except for the City of Beacon.
While there is no confirmed timeframe for the transition of ownership, Kennan said NDP owner Ed Murray indicated it was “moving quickly.”
While playing outside in the early post-pandemic days, Berkshire Busk! founder Eugene Carr had an epiphany: why not expand the idea of performing on the street (aka busking)into a full-fledged festival in Great Barrington?
As an entrepreneur and cellist, Carr envisioned a well-organized jamboree featuring regional talent, including musicians, acrobats, storytellers, fire-eaters, and more. He formed a team, connected with local businesses and the town of Great Barrington, and launched Berkshire Busk! in 2021. Since then, Berkshire Busk! has grown into a summer staple for Great Barrington.
In the summer of 2024, over 25,000 people experienced Berkshire Busk!. The festival is free to the public, provides a big boost to local businesses, and spectators can tip performers.
Busking takes place all over the world, either organized by individual performers or via busking festivals. Artists like The Roots, Tracy Chapman, Phoebe Bridgers, and Old Crow Medicine Show have all cut their teeth performing on the street.
General Manager Carli Scolforo is a Berkshire native with a love of music and writing. She can often be seen roaming the streets of Great Barrington, making sure everything’s in order, and serves as the festival’s face on social media.
“This year is the fifth anniversary of Berkshire Busk!, and it’s been an amazing summer,” said Scolforo. “We were able to welcome back a lot of our favorite performers, and bring in some new experiences as well. After getting rained out last year, we were able to host our first outdoor movie night in partnership with The Triplex Cinema and the Boondocks Film Society.”
Scolforo added, “This summer, we also introduced our first Open Mic Night, hosted by local recording artist and music producer Jackson Whalan. We were really pleased with the turnout of talent. The sheer amount of talent that’s hidden within an hour or so drive of Great Barrington always astounds us.”
Local businesses sponsor various busking spots, like the Berkshire Money Management Stage in the parking lot between the Triplex Cinema and Mama Lo’s BBQ. Typically, buskers bring their own amplification, while there are few spots — such as Berkshire Mountain Distillery in Sheffield — provide power.
Berkshire Busk! will end its season with a fireworks display on its last night on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Berkshire Busk! is endorsed by the Select Board of the Town of Great Barrington and is entirely supported by sponsorship fees from companies and organizations, as well as philanthropic donations from granting organizations, individuals and the Town of Great Barrington.
It operates under a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and participates in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program — in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations — by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier.
For more information, visit: berkshirebusk.com
What if the dog onstage was played by a person? That’s the delightful twist in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” opening at the Sharon Playhouse on Aug. 29. In this clever and heartfelt comedy, the title character — a stray pup who disrupts the lives of a married couple — is portrayed not in costume but by an actor who brings insight, charm, and chaos to the role.
Stepping into Sylvia’s paws is Jen Cody, who is returning to the Sharon Playhouse in a starring role for her third year in a row, ready to bring this spirited dog to life. She’s joined by Jonathan Walker as Greg, the middle-aged man smitten with his new four-legged friend, and Jennifer Van Dyck as Kate, his wife, whose patience and identity are tested by Sylvia’s sudden presence in their home.
Directed by Colin Hanlon, this production balances elements of comedy and emotional depth. Gurney’s script may be filled with laughs but at its core, “Sylvia” explores loyalty, companionship, and how love sometimes arrives in unexpected forms. The play premiered Off-Broadway in 1995 and has since become an audience favorite for its wit, warmth, and originality.
Rounding out the cast is Sienna Brann, taking on a trio of roles that highlight the play’s comic versatility. The design team includes Christopher and Justin Swader (scenic), Kathleen DeAngelis (costumes), Bobbie Zlotnik (wigs), Wheeler Moon (lighting), and Graham Stone (sound), ensuring the story is grounded in a fully realized world, albeit one occasionally seen from a dog’s point of view.
Performances run through Sept. 7 at the Sharon Playhouse. For tickets and more information, visit sharonplayhouse.org.