A Leap Day Town Board Meeting - Court Behavior discussed - Pickleball Court

The TOW Town Board took advantage of the "extra" day this February to hold the town board meeting -- with all Town Board Members in attendance - on February 29.

After an invocation by Fr. Alex Herasimtschuk of Zion Episcopal Church which included prayers for a beloved resident Frank Coluccio, the Agenda was amended to include 3 additional resolutions for the non-consent agenda 2 dealing with the resignation/hiring of a new personnel director and the authorization of paying an attorney's fee - as ordered by a court. (more on that later).

The first item on the discussion portion of the agenda was listed as "640 Wheeler Hill Road" - but the true nature of the discussion was Council Member Beale's pronouncement that the town needs a plan to discuss how the NYC DEP water infrastructure (now that it is no longer required for the DEP construction project) will be managed in the Town of Wappinger. Some "emergency connections" (Guess a Gas Station in Hughsonville constitutes an "emergency") have been provided through tenancy agreements, but a more holistic, transparent approach is needed - along with an understanding of the Town's well capacity and projected growth needs. The Town Attorney is to work along with the Town's Director of Strategic Planning and prepare a draft policy and procedure for the board to consider.

The second topic of discussion was a review of a draft of Parks and Recreation Fees -acknowledging that some fo the requests to use TOW Parks can get complicated, involving several departments - like Buildings & Grounds, the Fire Inspector etc. and that the fees should reflect a level of effort. Comparisons of fees charged in nearby towns was provided, discussions about the fees charged for Summer (keep them flat -- meaning that any deficit will be picked up by the residents through their taxes). The Board had some editing and format requests -- and the Recreation Program Director will provide them an updated version by e-mail.

The Board then moved to the "consent agenda" - and approved the following resolutions:

• Resolution Appointing a Traffic Prosecutor to the TOW Traffic Court - Paul Ackermann, Esq. or his designated associate.

• Resolution Appointing Town Engineer to the TOW and Town Departments - Lawrence J. Paggi

• Resolution Appointing a Full Time Maintenance Mechanic in the Buildings & Grounds Department - Miguel Rosello

• Resolution Promoting Groundskeeper to Full Time Maintenance Mechanic in the Buildings & Grounds Department - Steaphan Lewis

• Resolution Employing Additional Consulting Services to the TOW -

  • Laberge Group, be and hereby is employed and retained for the purpose of furnishing to the Town Board, its Officers and Agencies, such professional engineering, planning, grant writing, grant administration advice and services

  • MJ Engineering, be and hereby is employed and retained for the purpose of furnishing to the Town Board, its Officers and Agencies, such professional engineering, advice and services as may be required

  • Barton & Loguidice, be and hereby is employed and retained for the purpose of furnishing to the Town Board, its Officers and Agencies, such professional engineering, advice and services

• Resolution Authorizing Revocable License for Community Garden

  • Carnwath Farms - Courtney & Brian Kolb

• Resolution Accepting Resignation of Motor Equipment Operator in the Highway Department

• Acceptance of the Correspondence Log
  

The "Non-Consent Resolutions"

• Resolution accepting Undertaking Security by Decommissioning Bond in Connection with the Old Myers NY LLC - TABLED

  • This discussion is about the amount of a bond required by the owners of the farm on which solar panels are being installed - and if the $$ amount of the bond is appropriate. The farm owner explained that the Town Engineer came up with the amount -- but of course the town now has a new engineer - so this project will be directed to the new engineer for their evaluation - and the agreement will also be reviewed by the new town attorney.

• Resolution Introducing Local Law 1 of 2024 and providing for a Public Notice and Hearing.

  • A Local Law Regulating For An Interim Period, The Receipt, Processing And Approval Of Applications For Subdivisions Greater Than Three Lots And Applications For Multi-Family Residential Development Within The Town Of Wappinger” (“Interim Development Law”) which will, for a period of eighteen (18) months, prohibit the receipt, processing and approval of applications for residential subdivisions greater than three lots and applications for multifamily housing for an interim period while the Town Board reviews its existing comprehensive plan for amendments, updates, and revisions, and potential revisions to the zoning code related thereto.

  • The Public Hearing is set for March 11, 2024 - (be there!)

• A resolution accepting the resignation of a Personnel Director in the Comptroller's Office

• A resolution appointing a Personnel Director in the Comptroller's office

• A resolution approving payment of attorney's fees as directed by the court

  • The Town lost a court case involving violations of the Open Meeting Law and the timing of Zoning Code Changes. As part of the decision, the court directed the town reimburse the plaintiff a portion of the attorney's fees.

Items for Special Consideration/New Business

• The Buildings & Grounds Supervisor provided an updated project list - eliciting plaudits from the board for the amount of progress demonstrated since the last meeting.... but the discussion also included the status of several out of commission vehicles that seem to be forever lurking around - where do these things come from?

• Empress Ambulance will be housing additional ambulances at the Emergency Services Building - requiring a doubling of their foot print - that expansion will be provided for by Empress Ambulance.

• And now for Pickleball Court Action -- apparently, for those of you who aren't Pickleball Court aficionados -TOW Pickleball Courts are highly sought after..... and have made it to Social Media ..... meaning that there is increased competition for Pickleball Court time... which has led to some less than desirable behavior. This becomes particularly problematic when the issues involve non-residents, not that we don't want to be welcoming to non-residents, but rather we want to ensure that residents do get to use a resource that their taxes are supporting. SO.... there will be 13 New Signs made .... to help manage the Pickleball Courts. Perhaps we can license a "Real Pickleball Players of Wappinger" franchise for cable.....seriously though, players of all capabilities should be able to go to the courts and anticipate an enjoyable experience -- not have to be prepared for squabbles and skirmishes. Let's hope the signs work.

• Parade in this village this Saturday (March 2) along with First Saturday activities.

• April 13 Veterans Walk/Run.

The Board adjourned to executive session - to get legal advice ... and given the number of court actions currently involving the town... they will need dollops of it. That being said, the advice the newly appointed town attorney is providing during the time that the public can participate in the Town Board meeting - is cogent, succinct ...... and a huge breath of fresh air given the challenges the town is facing - and is what the residents deserve.