A 5.5 Hour meeting with a Participation in Government Lesson, Xenophobia and a Fine from the DEC

October 11 Town Board Meeting - [disclaimer - this write-up is from my notes based on attendance at the Town Board meeting. These meetings are open to the public, are recorded and the videos of the meetings can be viewed on the Town’s website. My observations and comments are my own, and any mistakes or errors are mine.

http://wappingertownny.iqm2.com/citizens/Default.aspx?AgencyName=WappingerTownNY

The October 11 Town Board Meeting, held on a Tuesday because of the Monday holiday, was held at the same time as the scheduled Zoning Board Meeting, creating some confusion for town residents who were trying to understand what meeting was being held in which location.

The agenda was very full, with disconnected topics and comments, making the writing of a cohesive article nearly impossible, so bullet points with observations is provided:

- The Supervisor announced that he would NOT be making introductory comments on the 2023 tentative budget as stated on the agenda. So the discussions that followed, on the the budget, were done without the context of a larger picture or the Supervisor’s view.

- Sports Museum of Dutchess County. Joey Cavaccini, Sports Museum board member/curator/liaison to TOW government, introduced this topic and recounted some of the recent history which included that the museum has been a tenant at Carnwath since 2005, in 2016 there were major renovations done in the sports museum — but there were also major water leaks in the museum, meaning that it has been without heat, water or bathroom facilities since 2016 - the museum can only operate between April and October. In 2021 grants totaling $200,000 from Dutchess County were awarded to the Town of Wappinger to help create a community center at Carnwath. The Town has not yet used these funds or moved ahead to begin the process of initiating projects which would help achieve these objectives. [A question NOT answered in how long these funds will remain available to the Town of Wappinger and why the citizens are not benefiting from the use of these grants (aka their taxes).]

Bill and Barbara Ponte then spoke. They have been working with the Sports Museum since 1992. The early years were spent looking for a home - and the ribbon cutting with then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was held in 2005. The museum has an operating budget of approximately $13,000. Their fund raising efforts, for example the Hall of Fame Dinner, were curtailed because of the Covid Pandemic, but they hope to resume these activities and fundraisers. There are about 1000 visitors per season, 74% from the Town of Wappinger. They have requested that the Town include some funds for the Sports Museum in the upcoming 2023 budget.

Public Portion of the Meeting

In keeping with the rules of public speaking at Town Board events, the members of the public attending were advised they could only speak on topics listed on the Agenda headlined as “Budget Discussions” and “Resolutions” . Comments are solicited PRIOR to any information provided or discussed by the board, leading the public to view the agenda as a bit of an ink-blot test, projecting on it whatever their personal interpretation allows and whatever time they may have had to review the sparse documentation made available in the hours leading up to the meeting.

- The first member of the public, a teacher whose subject is “Participation in Government”, who went to the microphone, barely got words out of his mouth introducing himself, when he was cut off by the Town Supervisor, who said he had been in contact with the School Superintend and now was not the time to discuss the individual’s request. Given that the topic of “Recreation & Parks” was on the agenda, his request to speak seemed to be in keeping with the rules of the meeting, but polite discourse was shutdown and those in attendance left wondering what just happened and why a member of the public, who took his time to come to the meeting was not allowed to speak.

- The remaining members of the public were told they each have 2 minutes to speak, and all chose to speak on the Deer Ridge Proposal. What specific aspects of the Deer Ridge proposal, and why it was on the town board agenda were not made clear at this time, so the comments ranged from environmental, home values, water, questions about recreation facilities, traffic were expressed by members of the public who had been notified over the previous weekend that this topic had been placed on the agenda the Friday before the meeting. Several members of the public requested that this project be analyzed with the other two or three large projects that have recently discussed for this same area in the Town, and not as individual projects. Councilman Beale reminded everyone that this is democracy and how “the process” works — and that comments can be made via e-mail/letters.

“Budget” Discussions (as stated on the agenda - though some items were clearly not budget discussions).

- Chris Mauer who is a Boy Scout working on this Eagle Scout Project would like to work on a developing a trailhead/split rail fence in the upper parking lot at Carnwath. He was not in attendance and Joey Cavvaccini presented the project. The Town Board agreed that this was a wonderful project.

- Craig O’Donnell was then told that he had 10 minutes to discuss the Deer Ridge Proposal. He spent the time countering each of the previous speaker’s concerns. Three minutes of his time was given to his counsel (Mr. Alexander) who explained that the request is to rezone the area from R40 (residential) to RMF5 (Multi-family residence) and to have the property included in the Town’s Water & Sewer District. Mr. Alexander then explained that AFTER these changes were made to the Town of Wappinger Zoning Code, then his client could provide the specific site plans and details that the citizens were requesting and are part of the planing process. Mr. Alexander distinguished himself by referring to the Town of Wappinger Zoning Code as an “impediment to fair housing in the Town of Wappinger”, that “multifamily is a proxy for affordability, and that less than 10% of our acreage is devoted to multifamily housing.” He also stated that “xenophobia” exists here in the Town.

During the public comment period, citizens were asking what the process was, and since many of the them had also attended a similar meeting with the Town Planning Board, the process and their role in it is understandably confusing and being told that this is part of a “democratic” process when it is unclear who makes what decision when and the citizens’ role in the process is unclear is sure to create a tinderbox of emotions.

- The Fall Town Board Budget Workshop is scheduled for November 5 - 10 to 12:00 (hard stop).

- A representative from Camo then presented the town board with the Water and Sewer District budget for 2023, explaining the aging infrastructure, pump replacements and need for generators at 3 of the pumping stations in loquacious detail, clearly expressing his passion for his work and the Town of Wappinger water and sewer systems.

- No one discussed Drainage Districts in any meaningful fashion.

- Mike Sheehan updated the town board with his budget request, focusing in the changing prices of salt and his efforts to procure enough salt for the upcoming snow season.

- Steve Frazier presented his budget request for 2023, along with a detailed discussion of the need to replace aging (2009) lightweight pickup trucks with a full size pick-up truck to enable plowing/towing and help reduce the jockeying around of vehicles that is currently required to ensure his staff can match transportation/hauling needs with the available equipment. This required a discussion of NYS procurement processes — and the board agreed that Mr. Frazier could place a request for such a vehicle in the system that allows dealers to bid on the town’s requirement. They will need additional information before the ok is given for the purchase. Mr. Frazier also detailed all the upcoming projects and their prioritization - many involving supporting the recreation departments activities for the town’s citizens.

- Jessica Fulton then presented the town board with a program by program update of the Recreation, Parks and Senior Center programs and activities and where she will need budget increases. The Ward 1 Councilman then pointed out that since fees and other income more than overset any requested increases and that the programs are popular and self-sustaining that additional discussion would not be required.

Resolutions

- Resolution Adopting Certificate of Base Percentages,, Current Percentage, Current Base Proportions and Certification of Adjusted Base Promotions from the New York State Office of Real Property Service was passed, with the Town Board acknowledging that the state requires them to pass this resolution.

- Resolution Appling Recreation Assistant - Tabled with no discussion

- Resulting Granting Permission for the Town of Wappijng to apply for a Justice Court Assistance Grant - passed with no discussion.

- Resolution Authorizing Entering int an Order On Consent with Connection with Mid-Point Park Sewer Plant - passed.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Order on Consent, the Town shall be liable to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $25,200.00; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Order on Consent, $6,000.00 will be payable to NYS DEC upon execution of the Order on Consent with the remaining balance of $19,200.00 being suspended provided that the Town strictly adheres to the terms and conditions of the Order on Consent; and

WHEREAS, by compliance with the Order on Consent, the Town would satisfy the violations that are alleged by NYS DEC and the suspended penalty would be waived; and

WHEREAS, the Town Board Members have each read the Order on Consent and they collectively concur with the terms and conditions set forth therein, and further determine that it is in the best interest of the Town, especially the residents of the Royal Ridge development, to enter into and be bound by the Order on Consent.

- Resolution Authorizing Contract for Tennis Court Resurfacing - passed, to be done in the spring.

- Resolution Authorizing Contract for Appraisal Service for Potential Purchase of Real Estate - Tabled with NO Discussion/Explanation

Budget Transfer

A lengthy discussion was held regarding the Town comptroller’s request (who joined the meeting about 9:30, missing the majority of discussions on the budget) of moving funds to cover expenses that have been incurred, but not yet spent.

New. Business

Ambulance Service

Councilman Beale requested that the Ambulance District Budget be increased to help address the fact that the mutual aid system is not as dependable as it has been in the past.

Executive Session

The Town Board went into Executive Session around 11:00 PM to hold a discussion with the Town Planner and to discuss an HR topic. The Town Board returned at 12:10 a.m. with a statement that no actions were taken in Executive Session.