Timing is Everything....

May 6

4 min read

The April 27 Town Board meeting got a bit fiesty at one point, because the third ward council member decided that he needed "more of a plan" for the Cranberry Hills purchase.

The board was discussing the resolution to pursue issuing bonds which will fund the purchase of the land in the event that the DEC grant being pursued is not successful.

The council member said that he was not in favor of pursuing the necessary funding until he saw "more of a plan" - without being able to specify what details would satisfy this request. The Town Supervisior countered that he had presented a plan for a passive recreation park to the Town Board and attending public at a March town board meeting. This is the same Town Board meeting, where the council member agreed, with the rest of the board, to authorize the purchase of over 300 acres of land known as Cranberry Hills.

The board approved a resolution, in March, enabling the Town Supervisor to sign a letter of intent, indicating the Town's willingness to purchase the land. This purchase has been widely celebrated by the residents, not only to have a large public park, but because it eliminates the posibility of a large housing development impacting the community in what is perceived as only negative ways - from additional traffic, additional burden on schools and emergency services etc.

So this was NOT the momement to have cold feet. If there were concerns about the purchase, or a requirement for additional details, the March Town Board meeting would have been the time to ask the questions. AND, if questions were being asked, one must have a defined criteria of what would satisfy the request.

The rest of the meeting was Business as Usual --

There were two Public Hearings on the Agenda

1) Public Hearing regarding a resolution declaring Local Law # 1 of 2020 as void, because it was not properly enacted was adjourned to the June 8th board meeting.

2) Public Hearing regarding a Local Law addressing parking regulations on Myers Corners Road - no public comments - the hearing was closed.

Public Portion of the Agenda

A resident of Sucich Place indicated her support for the rezone to include land behind Sucich place to require 5 acre lots - commenting on concerns about density, a change in quality of life for Sucich place residents if the rezone did not occur and that the town is currently overstretched in public services as it is.

Consent Agenda - approved

Resolution establishing an escrow account for the Myers Corner LLC (Degarmo Hill Plaza) associated with their application to connect to the United Wappinger Sewer District.
Resolution acknowledging promotion of employee to head maintenance mechanic in Buildings and Grounds Department. - Branden Dingee.
Resolution declaring that NYS Environmental Quality Review on the proposed acquisition of Cranberry Hills is non-significant (meaning that there is no negative environmental impact as a result of the purchase).

Resolutions

Resolution Approving Settlement of MidHudson Development Corp and MidHudson Holdings LLC vs. Town of Wappinger. - Approved
- This is a result of a plan, begun under a previous administration, to build a large number of homes in the Ceder Hill area of the town. New administration --> new rules. The Developer sued the town. This is an agreement between the town and the developer that the cap will be 39 single family homes on a parcel of 139 acres. (By the way.... this is the settlement that the planning board was so "hush-hush" about -- for unknown reasons).
Resolution to declare Local Law #1 of 2020 void - Tabled until June 8
Resolution to amend the Town Zoning Map to identify areas rezoned to 5 acre one family lots - Tabled
Resolution Authorizing the issuance of $2,754,000 Bonds to purchase Cranberry Hills -- this is where the fireworks happened... Passed with 4 votes and one abstention.
Resolution Authorizing a 2026 Budget Amendment - balancing some fo the funds among departments - Approved
Resolution Adopting new parking regulations on Myers Corner Road - Approved

New Business/Updates

Town Supervisor and Ward 1 Council Member - commented on the Governor's proposal to change SEQR laws - basically enabling developers to fast path reviews, which would diminish home rule, and weaken the hard-fought environmental reviews/protections enacted in the past decades. Both are strongly opposed to this change.

Tri-Muni Sewer - NYS DEC in agreement that $$ better spent on pipes/infrastructure updates rather than studies (as proposed by Town of Poughkeepsie leaders).

Water Districts - Radios installed enabling real-time information re: water usage/tracking for those in water districts.

2 Neighborhoods have their paving projects completed by Highway Department.

Earth Day Clean-ups - Thank you to the Participants!

Drug collection- over 100 pounds of unneeded drugs dropped off.

Maple Syrup candy making workshop held at Castle Point - Thank you to the Kolbs

New Reese Park bridge to be installed - currently on site.

May 9 Ribbon cutting

Marz Field improvements have begun.

Comptroller doing a good job.

Community Day is May 16th.

Veterans Signs - many replaced with no cost to the families -- still a few more to go.

May 17 - DAV 5K run

American Doll Tea Party at Carnwath - May 3

Tim Lafflin passed away - leader in several fire companies.

Many volunteer fire company members took a week off their "paying jobs" to train in Indiana.

Fire at Kendell farms - no injuries.

First Ward Council Member now 50 years old.