Town Board of New Castle Work Session & Meeting 8/11/26

The Town Board of New Castle held a work session and meeting on August 11, 2026, which included a detailed review of the town's 2025 audit and annual comprehensive financial report presented by the auditing firm Okconor and Davies. The report highlighted the town's strong financial position, including a clean audit opinion, positive budget variances, and a healthy fund balance. The board also discussed the renewal of the town's liability insurance, noting a 7% increase in premiums due to past claims but maintaining coverage levels. Several procurement-related actions were approved, including authorization to advertise bids for chemicals for the Milwood water treatment plant, approval of change orders for infrastructure projects, and awarding an on-call surveying services contract to three firms to streamline future surveying needs. Additionally, the board approved a $50,000 settlement with ELQ Industries to resolve a retainage dispute related to the Chapa Streetscape and Infrastructure Project. Other administrative approvals included hiring various staff positions and authorizing use of town property for community events. The meeting concluded with the approval of claims payments and adjournment.