Reports from Town Departments now included in Town Board Agenda

In the Town Board Agenda, there is a line item "Correspondance Log" which is approved during the "Consent Agenda" portion of the meeting. This is very rarely discussed, and usually contains updates from the Town Justices and a few misc. items. In the February 23rd Agenda, reports from Town Departments were filed, and while initially it may seem to be dry reading, over time this will provide powerful insights to where the town departments are spending time and resources. A welcome addition.

The February 23rd Town Board meeting occured just after a large snowfall ... a "No notice event" in the words of the First Ward Councilmember .. and while the snowfalls didn't reach some of the estimates, it was still substantial, closing roads, schools etc. The Town Supervisor, in addition to thanking the Highway Department and the Buildings & Grounds Department, thanked the residents who did a good job of not parking on the roads and not throwing snow in the streets. This enabled faster clean-up and safer roads. Thank you everyone.

The meeting began with a public hearing for a new town law, which was approved later in the evening, which clarified a current town law disallowing the parking of commercial vehicles on town roads overnight. The new law will enable easier enforcement of the law.

Consent Agenda - all approved

• Appointment of Michael Fontecchio as an employee in Buildings and Grounds

• Authorizing the town to apply for a grant to assist with records management process (up to $75,000)

Non-Consent Agenda - approved, with discussions

• Authorization of application for a Community Developement Grant for the addition of crosswalks and sidewalk improvements in the Village of Wappingers

  • There have been significant pedestrian accidents in the village in recent years

  • By submitting a joint applcation of 2 municipalities can increase the grant amount to $350,000. The village will be responsible for the $$ outlay, but then would be reimbursed, through the county for the HUD grant, having zero impact on town/village financial resources.

• Passed local law #6 - re: Commercial Vehicles (see above)

• Transferred funds to enable additional improvements to the Senior Center, adding to the $75,000 county grant.

• Transferred funds ($18K) to license software to scan and digitize documents in the Code Enforcement Office and Clerk's office, enabling faster retreival and access.

• Approve an update to the United Water Tenecacy Agreement with Nature Preserve, ensuring that two additional units are accounted for in the "buy-in" agreement and assigning responsibility for water bills to the owners of the units.

  • 1/2 of the units are owner occupied, 1/2 of the units are owned by a landlord and leased to the occupants.

Updates

• Snowstorm

• S'More Fest on February 21 at Carnwath attracted about 500 people -- very successful.

• Vow Renewal service popular

  • Thank you Rec Dept.

• Association of Towns Meeting very informative and helpful

• Town's insurance co. has offered Project Management Software as part of insurance premium... town will take advantage of it.

• Councilmember Beale attended emergency services conference earlier in the month

• Councilmembers Cassella and Phillips working with a vendor to provide Paint Recycling at Town Recycling center - no charge to town and helps environment to remove old paint in a responsible fashion.