 |
|
Town Board Notes 3/24/04 A somewhat poorly attended Town Board meeting started off with articulate comments from the floor -- and repeated requests to table a bond resolution, which was not heeded by the Town Board. Most of the comments were directed against the $474,803 bond to finance 3 new police cars and "various town improvements" according to the resolution; $300,000 going to parks and rec [a personal aside: is this a sneaky way to finance the new library? or stem the cost over-runs from the ice-skating rink? or slip in more improvements to the astronomically expensive town hall?] Some residents' complaints against the bond: why weren't these items included in the budget process? And why are we allocating hundreds of thousands to parks and rec, when the over-worked building inspector's office can't even get normal staff expenditures taken care of? More pithy comments from citizens regarding the transfer station -- and a request made to the Town Board, "let's see the figures." "Revenue and expenditures should be made public" [let's hope we'll see the costs breakdown in the next Saugerties Times]. According to one resident, the transfer station is clearing $230 a ton above expenses, although the transfer station "should not be a revenue source," but a service. The Sad, the Glad, and the Ugly The Sad news: the formidable Cliff Steen died -- there is a fine obituary in the Daily Freeman today. But Cliff must have been in a good word for us up there, because on the very day he died, his dream for Saugerties came true -- a historic preservation law [see below]. Great news: the oft-delayed Historic Preservation Ordinance [Local Law #3] was finally passed, to a rousing round of applause. Congratulations to all -- and to the members of the first Historic Preservation Committee: Barry Benepe, William Trumpbor, Clay Trumpbor, Michael Sullivan Smith, and Elizabeth Shafer. Their hard-working liaison Leeanne Thornton asked for community volunteers to help survey historical properties in the town [note: the survey is for educational purposes only, and is not related to landmark allocation]. Not great news: The bond was passed unanimously [can this be done so easily?? no need for a public referendum?] The Town Board members all said it had been a difficult decision for them. MORE NEWS: Lisa Stanley's department will be handling planning board and zoning board fees [I think that's what I heard]. New forms will be available soon. New software is helping the building dept. -- all building permits since 2000 have been entered, and almost all planning board documentation. The surplus sale in the warehouse raised over $5,000. Town Board Notes -- March 10, 2004 A well-attended meeting, chiefly due to concern about the the rising fees at the transfer station [and one comment mysteriously alluding to a whopping fine that the Town has to pay...More about that in the newspapers, certainly]... $$$$$$$: Cash will no longer be allowed at the transfer station (one disgruntled citizen asked, What's wrong with good ole American currency), and small bags will go from 1$ to 2$; large bags from 2$ to 3$. One citizen pointed out that fees have risen 400% in the past 4 years. Complaints about HITS from a former councilman, who chided the Board for not taking its Lead Agency duties seriously, by not following through with DEC citations, building violations, clear-cutting of trees, etc. He wondered about rumors that the Town and Village might want to promote the HITS site for concerts and other uses? He had other complaints about HITS, all well-founded, yes [aside: I couldn't help traveling down memory lane and seeing this same councilman sneering at those of us who worried about the environmental impact of the Besicorp/Empire power plant. I guess being a "NIMBY" can have its uses, eh?] To see him, and another ally from his party -- one complaining about environmental violations, the other criticizing the Town Board for its "evolving veil of secrecy" and misuse of executive sessions... you wonder what's happening in this town, when everyone starts sounding like Ralph Nader. Susan Bolitzer spoke to the Board and audience about the Esopus Creek Conservancy, which will soon be taking over the stewardship of the former Kaser land from the Catskill Center. MOTIONS: Unfortunately, the long-awaited, heroic ordeal to install bicycle trail signs has been short-circuited: it seems someone forgot to ask NYS to approve the signs. So the motion was tabled, for now, to put up the signs. In memory of Amy Johnson, a tree and plaque will be placed at the Women's Softball Field. Susan Bolitzer has been appointed to the Comprehensive Plan Committee. Lastly: The Historic Preservation Ordinance will be voted on at the next Town Board meeting, Wednesday March 24, 2004. If this law is passed, this is a precedent-breaking move for Saugerties. Kudos to us all. Town Board Meeting 2/18/04 I'm sorry I missed some of the comment period, but I did arrive on time to hear some interesting speakers. This is always my favorite time, the open-mike half-hour before the Board meeting begins. The enthusiastic owner of the old Wynkoop House urged the Town Board to pass the Historic Preservation Ordinance, with no more delay, so that the moratorium is lifted [more on that below]. He is eager to open his espresso/internet cafe in time for the debut of HITS this spring. A well-known attorney expressed his concern for the safety of thousands of residents in Saugerties who live near the railroad -- in light of the horrible railroad accident in Iran: he questioned the Town Board - - Do we have any idea if the trains running through Saugerties are carrying chemicals, flammable liquids, etc.? Before the meeting began, Greg Helsmoortel announced that there will be 3 new bike routes posted in the town/ village by mid-June. Gil Hales and Mike Harkavy have been working on them. [ Kudos to those gentleman for taking the initiative] Mr. Helsmoortel also explained to those present that he is not anti-business, but the request by Unity to gain Empire Zone status [tax breaks] will not be granted, probably. [It was due to be voted on by the full board-- see below] Resolutions: The moratorium on building permits, demolition permits and site plan review involving National or State registers of historic places has been extended until August 30, 2004. [Presumably, the moratorium will be lifted as soon as the preservation ordinance is passed.] All Board members voted aye except Phil Tucker. Unity Creations was denied its request for Empire Zone status. Phil Tucker was the only dissenter. Unity Creations, as Greg Helsmoortel explained, is a tire-recycling outfit that had two previous such outfits in Saugerties, and apparently without happy results. There was also some significant Shott Mine news -- CARES is best at explaining that. Town Board Meeting, 2/4/2004
The meeting began quietly and ended with a little bit of a rumble.
About 15 citizens in attendance, along with Town employees, including
the Chief of Police, whose report to the Board gave this onlooker
the uneasy impression that Saugertitians are a grouchy bunch. 381
complaints in the Town -- (was this in January?) 88 in the Village.
No wonder the police clocked in 12,000 miles of patrolling. 39 burglaries.
34 of which were false alarms. Keep that neighborhood watch goin'!
Kathy Longyear to fill in as temp. court clerk at $9 per hr. Joseph Kochetta to fill in as substitute Court Officer where needed at $10 per hr. To designate Feb 24 as "Spay Day" -- to encourage Saugertisians to neuter or spay their cats and dogs. Then the little tempest: Town Board went into executive
session at 7:50 without explanation. But presumbably to discuss
the last 2 controversial motions on the agenda To increase the salary
of Municipal Code Officer Alvah Weeks to $33,150 To appoint full-time
(instead of part-time) Claudette Zinkow a clerk in charge of coordinating
building, planning and zoning at annual salary of $25,000. As a
result of the unexplained executive session, both motions were removed
from the agenda denying both the raise for Weeks and fulltime position
for Zinkrow. (It is noted that both Weeks and Zinkrow were in attendance.)
|