Does the Town Board need a calendar? and a Miracle at Robinson Lane

The June 26th Town Board Meeting began with a resident bringing to the board's attention that residents contribute a great deal of their time and energy to volunteer projects which improve the town - and that when Parks and other Town Property is vandalized, and the culprits are recorded on camera- it is disrespectful to the volunteers, the residents and the users of the parks (especially those parks that are designed for children with disabilities) and sponsors of the parks - to not hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions in a meaningful way.

The HOA president of the Nature Preserve neighborhood in Hughsonville thanked the town board and the Camao representative for their support in providing a temporary fix to their failed water system.

The discussion period of the board meeting then began with a request to approve Pest Control Services for the Sports Museum. The cost was not covered in the budgeted line item, but "pests" of furry and flying types have been noticed in the sports museum. Unfortunately. the person responsible for buildings did not bring the details of the estimate with him to the meeting, so the Board was left with estimating the costs. They settled on approving one month's service, with a request that several pest control companies be contacted to ask for an estimate for on-going service and that the information be brought to the next Town Board Meeting.

Then the agenda suggested that "Final Approval of Fees and Fines" be discussed - after having discussed a new schedule of Building Department Fees and Fines for the past several meetings, including a workshop, with the stated intention that the new schedule be implemented July 1. Well... something got crossed in that .... because it was then discovered that the appropriate processes for introducing a new resolution was not followed, that the code for Animal Control also needs to be updated ... and a new public hearing needs to be scheduled, and even though members of the board don't like it, could the resolution be voted on during the only Board Meeting scheduled for July, which is July 24th. The tangled conversation between the Board, Supervisor and the Town Attorney was head-ache inducing. There are very clear processes of how new legislation is to be introduced, involve the public (in a serious fashion), and a finalized resolution to be presented and voted on. Somehow the basics of staring at a calendar and blocking out what step needs to happen when seemed beyond those involved. Maybe we'll have a new Fees and Fines schedule soon. (And we were reminded once again, these charges are to cover the costs of the Building Staff doing their work, "it is NOT a money grab.")

(The point of only one meeting in July was highlighted by a councilman relating that he has shown up for meetings that weren't on the schedule in the past ... which sounds dutiful and conscientious, until one realizes that small details and paying attention to things like agendas, details in resolutions don't seem to be top of mind - and the need for a calendar).

The tenancy agreement for the Nature Preserve neighborhood was discussed -- with clarifications between "temporary" and "permanent", the need for a "Buy-In" Fee (which seems to have been overlooked with other tenancy agreements for water, especially in Hughsonville) and the appropriate metering of the water. The current water district needs to be extended to include this neighborhood - and it was finally decided that the agreement would be with the HOA, not with individual homeowners, with the HOA taking responsibility for diving up the bills. The agreement was also amended to include language that if the town requires an easement for extending the water line through the Nature Preserve property to provide water to Town Hall and the EMS buildings, that the HOA will cooperate with the town.

The position for Assistant Recreation Director was posted with no applicants, so the Town Board authorized moving ahead with approving the applicant who was interviewed at the last board meeting.

Then.... with the boating season well underway for several months... a discussion of the Chelsea Boat Ramp began. Apparently this discussion began "before COVID" about the unsafe conditions at the Chelsea Boat Ramp and a retaining wall. Some confusion about property lines still needs to be sorted with the yacht club. Grants have been applied for, but not issued. The Sheriff's department needs the ramp for emergency services access to the river. Perhaps the Highway Department can put some asphalt down at low tide, perhaps the buildings and grounds department needs to make more regular visits to assess the situation. Perhaps there is a short term solution while a long term solution is pursued. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps....it is respectfully noted that the end of June is not a great time to discuss boat ramp improvements and funding - a calendar would indicate that planning work would best start in the winter months, with the work done in the early spring -- enabling a full boating season. Still not sure how COVID impacted the planning, engineering, grant writing work, the legal work required to get to a reasonable resolution.

Vandalism at Spook HIll and Rockingham Parks were discussed with differing views on what "holding a juvenile accountable" means - with an agreement to discuss in Executive Session (why could this not be discussed in an open meeting?)

The correspondence log was accepted without any comments.

Items for special consideration - After much to and fro-ing by the Buildings department lead and the town supervisor, the Fourth Ward Councilman pulled off the miracle of getting wi-fi installed at the Robinson Lane park. Altice donated their work and supplies enabling this to be accomplished and a Town IP phone will be installed in the park building. Having this connection, in addition to the safety and convenience of people using the park, will enable the Park to be considered for NY State Championship Games. This is a significant accomplishment, and given the roadblocks and issues that were continually mentioned in the many months before the councilman got involved, is nothing short of miraculous. Also the Pickle-Ball court a Martz field will be resurfaced - and the sports fields portable toilets will be cleaned twice a week with an additional facility provided a Martz field.

The Executive Session began at 8:33 and ended at 9:12 with the pronouncement from the Town Attorney "that nothing had been decided" -- which provides great comfort to the voting public that our town board members are actually doing the work they were elected to do.