Comp Plan update & Red Herrings

The March 10 Town Board Meeting dragged on and on while the town board members fell all over themselves in their performances to prove that they have childrens' safety as their top priority -- and to cover up the fact that they really didn't have the specific details at hand.

The Board Meeting began at 6:30 PM with an executive session where they interviewed an auditor -- something they have reguarly tabled in earlier meetings because they wanted a "report". Not sure why this had to be an executive session and not a public discussion - because shouldn't any "audit' reports be available to the public? and shouldn't vendors providing a service to the town (contrasted with an individual who will be on the town's payroll) be able to present a summary of their services to the public?

After a brief public portion, where a question about the 2010 Comprehensive Plan concept of a byway through Hughsonville was addressed by the Supervisor (no, there is no byway around Hughsonville to be implemented), Mr. Spencer from the Laberge group presented an assessment of the town's achievements against the 2010 Comprehensive Plan's goals. He reminded everyone that a comprehensive plan is a framework, it is not the policy, it isn't zoning and it isn't the law. He also explained that Zoning is a guard against unplanned surprises and good zoning code provides property owners with clear predicatability to hellp those when making a significant financial purchase (land, home etc) that they will understanding what will happen next door to their property and this help keep property values stable. Property owners should be able to rely on stable zoning code. (Those of us in the Hughsonville community can attest to the distruption when the zoning code is abrubtly changed -- which still needs correction, which the current town board declined to do when presented with the opportunity to fix previous missteps - so a special permit for a gasoline filling station can still be granted for properties next to residential areas in the Town). The full report from the Laberge group can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office, but in summary the Town has met many of the goals for a diversity in housing and encouraging locally based economic development, but he nicely pointed out that there are several anomonlies in the zoning code which enable more dense housing development as an unintended consequence - rather than as thoughtful development. He also cautioned that adding housing density without addressing the infrastructure needs - including emergency services, schooling, transportation, health care, roads, water capacity (including the ability to address emergency water needs) and sewer services.

The Consent Resolutions were approved with no discussion.

• Setting April 14th for a public hearing on updating a records retention law.

• Town Board of the Town of Wappinger supports the designation of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Scenic Byway which includes programs for stewardship and enhancement of the scenic byway and guidance to manage future activities along its corridor; and that the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger confirms that they will not approve any requests for new off-premise outdoor advertising signs along the designated Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Scenic Byway route; and that the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger will work in partnership with the other municipalities along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad New York Scenic Byway and local and regional stakeholders in order to support future Byway program development and collaborate with these interested entities to explore opportunities for cooperation and methods to advance the Scenic Byway.

• https://harriettubmancorridorny.com

• Acceptances of donations - Central Hudson has graciously donated one check totaling $7,500.00 toward Wappinger150 Summer Concert Series in 2025, and the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger does hereby accept the generous donation of $7,500.00 by Tyler Technologies toward Wappinger150 Summer Concert Series in 2025.

• The Town Board hereby regretfully accepts the resignation of Taryn Riley as Personnel Administrator for the Town Comptroller's Office effective March 12, 2025 and thanks her for her exemplary service and dedication to the employees of the Town of Wappinger.

• Town Board of the Town of Wappinger does hereby accept the generous donation of $250.00 by Tyler Technologies toward Wappinger150 events and programs in 2025.

• Town Board of the Town of Wappinger does hereby accept the generous donation of $1,000.00 by the Wappinger Ladies Auxiliary, Inc. for the purposes of offering reduced tuition rates for eligible residents of the Town of Wappinger facing financial hardship.

• The Town of Wappinger hereby agrees to the contract for Annual Maintenance Services for the Rockingham Park Pond with SOLITUDE LAKE MANAGEMENT, LLC in the amount of $4,386.00.

• The Town of Wappinger hereby agrees to the contract for Annual Maintenance Services for the Ye Olde Apple Orchard Pond with SOLITUDE LAKE MANAGEMENT, LLC in the amount of $ 3,750.00.

• Town Board, with the consent of the Town Justices, hires Michele Riccoboni to the position of Clerk to the Justice.

• Nihuche “Jay” Lopez is hereby appointed to the full-time civil service job title Groundskeeper, effective March 10, 2025.

• The Town Board hereby authorizes Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini to execute contractual agreements with the Rotary Club of Wappingers Falls and Riverview Companies, D.B.A. Aguado Landscaping to undertake the replacements and enhancements to the War Memorial at Brexel-Schlathaus Park, on the understanding that all improvements and enhancements will be undertaken at 50% of the total cost to the Town of Wappinger and 50% of the total cost to the Town of Wappinger War Memorial Trust. The Town Board hereby authorizes $8,576.81 to be funded out of B-Fund Balance for the purposes of completing this project.

• The Town of Wappinger Town Board hereby ratifies and confirms that actions taken through Executive Order 2025-1 and Executive Order 2025-2 requiring the demolition of the unsafe building located at 78 Marlorville Road.

• The Town Board retains Oicle Land Surveying, PC for the purposes of surveying the following Town owned easements for the purposes of abandonment:

  • Brannon Place – 50’ X 735’ (Off of Flintlock Road)

    Daisy Lane – 50’ x 100’                           

    Kretch Circle - 2 Strips of land – 50’ x 120’

    Martin Drive – 50’ x 178’x186’ 

    Quarry Drive - 50’ x 141’

    Sucich Place – 50’ x 145’

    Top O’ Hill Road – 50’ x 161’x 173’

    Moccasin View Road- 50’ X 1,300’

    Pine Ridge Drive – 50’ X 392’

    Dogwood Hill Road – 50’ X 238’

    Martin Blvd and Elm Place- Varied Size (Located at the end of Shady Brook Lane and off of Pine Ridge Drive)

    Thompson Terrace-2 Strips of land – 50’ X 635’

    The Town Board authorizes up to $15,000.00 to be funded out of B-Fund Balance for the purposes of surveying and investigating the abandonment of said easements.

    (a comment was provided that these easements costs the town in mowing/maintenance fees while not providing any benefit to the town, so the town is looking to work with adjoing property owners to add these easements to their properties).

• The Town Board wishes to enter into a Dog Control Housing Agreement with CARE/Mutts to shelter, water, feed and provide necessary veterinary services for dogs and other animals seized by the Town.

• Town of Wappinger is applying for the Local Government Management Improvement Act Fund grant issued through the New York State Archives and due by March 31, 2025, with a maximum award amount of $75,000 allocated to help support the goal of enhanced records management efficiency.

• The Correspondance log includes two letters from the Supervisor to the Planning Board reminding the planning board to ensure that clear cutting of mature trees is not desired and that site plans needs to includes information on tree removal plans with the objective of saving as many mature trees as possible - and remidning the planning Board that approving site plans with drainage easments puts a burden on the highway department - and that they need to include the Highway Superintendent when approving site plans that include turning easements over to the town.

Resolutions- non Consent- requiring discussion

• RBT, Certified Public Accountants, is hereby retained for the purposes of furnishing such accounting assistance and consultations as may be needed by the Town Supervisor, Town Accountant and Town Bookkeeping staff - Approved

• The policy of the Town of Wappinger that prior to any improvement to the buildings or grounds of the Town, that the department of the Town making said improvement shall obtain a permit from the Building Department to the extent that a building permit or other applicable permit is otherwise required for said work.    No fees shall be required to be paid for any such permit.  Following the completion of said work in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, the Building Department closeout said permit with a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance. (this is a duplicate of a state law) - Approved

• Appointment of Town Comptroller - Approved.

• Superintendent of Highways Michael J. Sheehan, Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini, and Councilman Christopher Phillips have recommended the purchase of one 2026 International HX620 6x4 Chasis Roll Off Truck for the purposes of hauling solid waste containers from the Town of Wappinger Recycle Center and Transfer Station to various waste collection sites, saving taxpayers an average of $97,000 per year. Approved - this is kind of hilarious -- a similar proposal was voted down several years ago by the same town board members -- but the town board members clapped themselves on their backs for how they are "innovative and conscious of costs savings for residents".... completely overlooking that there would have been more cost savings if they had done this when originally proposed.

• The Town Board hereby authorizes the purchase of a Tractor and associated attachments- for use by Town Highway Department - Approved after some discussion about if there was a capital plan that was being followed (hint... there is)

Up until this point, the public portion of the meeting took about 90 minutes..... here is how the town board then spent over an hour in discussion. First some background - Castle Point Park is a Recreation area -- in place for over 25 years. Replacement of old playground equipment was budgeted in 2024, and is in the process of being installed. A 2024 Summer Camp program was successfully run at the location. The Faclities include public restrooms and a pavillion. So this is a well established park.

Here's a summary of the resolution:

In the 2025 Final Budget the Town of Wappinger committed to the rehabilitation of Castle Point Park through additional programming and activities to happen there, and

in 2024, the Town Board funded a new playground to be constructed there replacing 30 year old equipment, and the Director of Recreation and the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds have obtained quotes to purchase and install a new pavilion and new parking area, and much of the labor and materials relating to the parking area, and assembling the pavilion is expected to be performed in-house to save on costs, and revenue is anticipated to be generated from pavilion rentals due to its viewshed of the Hudson River, and, a Capital Asset Line item within the B Fund called Castle Point Park Reconstruction Project as per the Comptroller’s Office’s recommendation, will be added, and that the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger establishes a budget of $97,861 from B-Fund Balance to complete the Castle Point Park Reconstruction Project.

• The Town board then questioned the quality of the water -- long discussion about whether Mike Tremper of Camo Polluition Control said he would drink the water or not - with the supervisor pointing out that there is a water filter installed on the system. The Board of Health has been involved, but the council members suddently seemed very conscious of public health concerns (remember these are the same people ok with gas stations in residential areas and in places where poeple congregate).

• Then long discussion about parking, and whether or not the parking area should be paved (the engineer advised no)

• Then out of the blue the council member of ward 1 reminded everyone that the park is built on top of a landfill, that has "candy cane" shaped vents that emit methane and this is "a bad look on social media" to have pictures of kids playing around the candy canes. The supervisor then reminded everyone that the emissions are checked quarterly, there has never been an issue, and that this process has been in place for nearly a quarter of a century. Then the first ward councilment, burnishing his environmental credentials, claimed that standards have changed (yes, but for this particular situation?).

• Then, the idea to improve the look the park by removing chainlink fence topped by barbed wired and replacing with split rail fence backed by chicken wire - was questioned - because kids are "fast" and may require more substatintial fencing.

• So... with all of these "red herrings" , because if these were truly issues (and at various times the council member from Ward 2 suggested that a field trip is necessary -- despite the fact the park is in her ward) -- seemingly designed to make the Supervisor look like he is uncaring about children -- these discussions should have a) Happened much ealier in the decision cycle b) find out the facts and done the research PRIOR to the meeting -- the discussion about spending $$ on the pavillion occured, with some concerns about if postponing would cause delays in getting ready for Summer Camp 2025. With those in attendance, and probably home viewers, exhausted by this point ... it was approved - with the provisions that the Board of Health provide information to the town board.

• The meeting ended with the Town Supervisor explaining that the town engineer will be working on grants to imporive the town sewer facilities and water district facilities.