The Board That Can't Plan Straight

Is it too much to ask that published Planning Board Agendas, especially when published nearly the day of the meeting, actually be followed?

The April 6 Planning Board meeting was billed as a workshop staring at 6:30 (sometimes they start at 6:00, depending on the amount of items on the agenda), with the actual meetings, which are broadcast and recorded starting at 7:00. The meeting was billed as a "special meeting" to discuss two article 78 law suits - 1) Mid-Hudson Development Corp and Mid-Hudson Holdings, LLC ... and 2) 1336 Route 9 LLC (Citgo).

Here's what happend: the ZBA Lawyer Kyle Barnett from VanDeWater & Van DeWater scooted in about 6:33 PM and declared that an "attorney/client" meeting needed to be held ... and it would have to be "closed" to the public, though the staff supporting the planning board remained in the room, with assurances that the public meeting -- and broadcast - would begin at 7:00. Did he not read the agenda ahead of time? If he had concerns, why weren't they discussed ahead of time and the agenda modified accordingly?

At 7:36 PM (meaning that if the workshop had begun at 6:00... the regular meeting could have started nearly on time)... those waiting to attend the meeting and learn -- how the Planning Board was going to represent Town of Wappinger Citizens in two law suits, were admitted back in the meeting room and the Broadcast started. The Pledge of Allegiance took longer than the rest of the meeting. The first discussion was postponed until April 21 -- and the second - the board voted to approve a motion allowing the legal counsel to write a resolution. The Resolution was never articulated or expressed (wink, wink, nod, nod). And the meeting was adjourned.

If one can't plan and manage to an agenda for one meeting.... what other basic planning skills are missing?