Little League, Parking, Tax Exemptions, Massage and a plea for a speed limit reduction
The September 14 Wappinger Town Board meeting's agenda included a potpourri of items -- praise for community groups, proposed resolution regarding parking regulations that apparently surprised the first ward council member, declarations on Naming September a special month and an attempt to get the state to reduce the speed limit on County Route 92.
So first up were comments from Jeff Tomlins, the retiring Little League President expressing his gratitude to the town board for their support of the Little League Program. The Board then individually congratulated Mr. Tomlins and thanked him for his 26 years of service. The partnership between the town and the organizaton has led to an excellent program and excellent fields.
A public hearing regarding the Resolution that would enable the Town Board, at the yearly reorganization meeting, to determine parking policy for town parks/assets - depending on the anticipated needs for the coming calendar year was then held. Two members of the Chelsea Yacht club, while acknowleding that they are not town residents, but as a member of the club - which pays property taxes - expressed their concerns about how the law would impact their ability to park on town roads as non-residents. They were not in favor of the proposed resolution. This led to a discussion during the non-Consent part of the agenda, where it was clear that the ability for each Town Board, at the beginning of the year, could craft the parking policy for the coming year was not understood by the first ward council member, who worried that there would be unintended consequenses if the resolution was passed, and asked that the resolutuion be tabled so he could review it -- ignoring that the resolution was first proposed on August 10. It would have been more appropriate to acknowledge that the public hearing may have brought forth some issues that he hadn't considered during his month long study of the resolution and invite some discussion/clarification/dialogue from the other board members rather than jumping to the suggestion of tabling the resolution. This new stance of reflective decision making is certainly startling.
The Consent Agenda - (all approved)
Appointing Alex Bergeron as seasonal laborer in the Buildings and Grounds Department.
Resolution Supporting the US EPAs Proposed Remediation of the Wappinger Creek Superfund Site (https://www.hughsonvilleandwheelerhill.org/post/notes-from-july-30-epa-meeting-re-wappingers-creek-cleanup)
Accepting resignation of R. Santiago, Seasonal Laborer in Buildings and Grounds Department
Resolution Requesting that NYS Department of Transportation Authorize the Reduction of Speed Limit on Chelsea Road, Broadway Avenue and Market Street (County Route 92) - State Law prohibits Towns from reducing speed limits without authorization of DOT.
Proclaim September as Suicide Prevention Month, National Recovery Month, National Preparedness Month and Little League Month
Appointing Susan Rose as temporary clerk in the code enforcement department.
The correspondance log - which includes a financial audit report for the Hughsonville Fire Department.
Resolutions
Resolution to set public hearing for September 28 to update the code regulating Massage Therapy Establishments - passed
Resolution to set public hearing for September 28th to update Hamlet Mixed Use Zoning District Codes - passed
Resolution to set public hearing for September 28th to provide real property tax exemption for Surviving Spouses of Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty - passed
Resolution to set public hearing for September 28th to provide real property tax exemption for Permanently and Totally Disabled Miliatry Veterans - passed
Resolution re: Parking (see discussion above) - tabled
Resolution re: Budget Amendment - Passed
Then came the long litany of activities that happened (all good) and are happening (all good) in the town - with some concerns about the Electric Vehicle Charging Stations installed in Hannaford Parking area (basically, the town had no say).