Reseeding of Soccer Fields and Weight Limit Changes

The May 12th Town Board Meeting was straightforward (as straightforward as meetings can be when a few members are in love with their pronouncements and observations).

It began with updates to the printed agenda, moving some resolutions from the Consent part of the agenda to the Non-Consent or Executive Session.

During the public portion of the meeting, two residents spoke on the resolution to hold a public hearing on May 27 on the subject of new weight limits (lower) on Smithtown Road and Old Troy Road. Both are very old roads, built for horses and carts - not large vehicles requiring a CLD license to drive and Old Troy Road is also part of the Greenway Trails in the Town, meaning there is a fair amount of recreational use.

Consent Agenda - All Approved

• Resolution to Declare the Town of Wappinger Town Board as the lead agency Proposed Comprehensive Plan Updates and Chapter 240 Zoning Law Amendments. This is prep work for the anticipated zoning code changes that will come later in the year.

• Resolution Accepting Resignation of a Town of Wappinger Employee - a junior accountant submitted a resignation letter.

• Resolution Declaring May as "Mental Health Month" in the Town

Non Consent Agenda

• Resolution approving the reseeding of Soccer Fields at Rockngham Park Soccer Complex - Approved a bid of $7535 for the work

  • This triggered a conversation about rain, wet fields, Airport Drive fields, roadways, drainage, the possiblity of using millings to fill in holes, the potential for paving the roads to be included in next year's budget, the potential that such paving could have unintended consequences in how water flows -- all based on observations the first ward council person has as a result of now having children participate in recreation programs.

• Resolution Confirming hiring of Personnel Assistant - Tabled and will be discussed in Executive Session

• Resolution to hold a public hearing on May 27 on the matter of reducing the weight limits on Old Troy Road and Smithtown Road, the strain of large vehicles on the roads is causing excessive wear and unsafe conditions - Approved

  • There is conversation with Fishkill re: the part of the road that is in the Town of Fishkill

  • Enforcement will be key

Items for Special Consideration/ New Business

• Carnwath State of the Town Address scheduled for May 14th

• May 17th - beginning at noon, in Schlathaus Park Community Day

• May 20th - Mill Street in the Village - reenactment of Town of Wappinger inauguration

• May 20th - Church Bells will ring at 1:50 pm - recognizing Wappinger's 150 Years

• May 20th - School Board elections,Election on School Budget etc.

• Water & Sewage - Midpoint/Wildwood -- only 73 out of 400 letters regarding sump pumps draining into sewage have been returned. If this does not get corrected, the updates required to the Sewage plants to handle the overflow will be significantly larger

• Highway Dept is 1/2 way through the 2025 road paving projects

• Assessments have been sent out by Assessor's office. First Ward Council Person stunned at the increase in value of Town of Wappinger properties. A reminder by the Supervisor that Town Taxes represent only 8% of the property tax bill.

• The Second ward Council Person congratulated the First Ward Council person on his presentation to the legislature - in his role as County EMS coordinator.

• Third Ward Council Person is happy with the number of projects getting completed in the town.

• The Fourth Ward Council Person commented on the new signs at Schlathaus park and that the height of the signs may need to be adjusted. Reinforced message about sump pumps being used in Midpoint and Wildwood Sewer districts.

The Town Board Members then went into executive session to discuss litigation and personnel matters. (shouldn't residents know what litigation issues? clearly the legal strategy shouldn't be openly discussed - but the residents should have a clear understanding of the ltitigation and the current status of such litigation).