Watch out for Big Puddles - it could be a water main break
- wagmanml
- Jan 15
- 10 min read
In this day in which everything is being monitored through blue-tooth and wifi -- your health, your door locks, your HVAC systems, your car and your driving habits; when your financial company can send you a text or an email about a transaction before you have bagged the item ... apparently the Town of Wappinger municipal water system is relying on residents to notify the Town when they see a large puddle emerging.
The January 12, 2026 Town Board meeting agenda held numerous resolutions associated with the start of the year and Heather O'Dell, the newest member of the Town Board participated in her first meeting. It was during the Special Considerations/New Business section of the town, that it was noted that there had been a major water main break the previous week, which has been repaired, but also occured at the same time that a fire (electrical issues) was fought on Old Hopewell Road, causing some "let's go to Plan B" on the part of the fire fighters who braved cold weather to fight it (thankfully no injuries).
During this discussion, it was mentioned that large puddle had formed around the water main break and it not being noticed for a bit of time, caused the water pressure of the system to be reduced. And then, as if that wasn't startling enough, the Ward 4 Council Member chimed in with, - oh yes, that has happened before, the residents noticed water running down a street, but didn't think to call anyone to notify them. Oh my goodness... this gives new meaning to "if you see something, say something"
Also - please be aware that some Zoning Board Applicants and Planning Board Applicants are getting letters requesting additional payments... these are scams. NYS Police working on it - but please double check with Town Building Department before paying anything. The scams look very official.
So.. the agenda started out with a re-introduction for 2 local law resolutions - that were introduced in 2025, but because it is a new year/new board - they were reintroduced.
Local Law 1 - Enabling the Town Officials to determine if there is a winter weather emergency, which means -- don't part on the streets, so that they can be properly cleared and kept safe.
Local Law 2 - If there is a misunderstanding about when to apply for a building permit, one will still have to pay for the permit and any subsequent inspections - but the ability for the Town's building department to also levy fines has been curtailed. The first building permit required for "compliance" will have no fine/fee applied. The second ... or more times.. fees/fines will be applied.
Public Hearings followed (with no public input) and the resolutions were introduced and adopted by the Town Board.
The came the nearly inifinite number (kidding, it just seems like that when you hear them read) of resolutions getting the year started -- all approved.
Resolution Adopting the Rules of the Town Board
7 pages of when meetings will be held, how special meetings can be called, who can be notified when and that public comments are limited to 2 minutes -- and of course are still requested before the town board explains or discusses anything - unlike public hearings.
Resolution to Adjust TOW Mileage Reimbursement $.725/mile
Resolution Establishing Petty Cash Funds
Town Supervisor, Town Justice Court, and the Town Recreation Department not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for each such petty cash fund
Town Receiver of Taxes not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00)
Town Clerk is authorized not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00)
Code Enforcement Office not to exceed two hundred ($200.00)
Resolution Establishing the amount of Undertakings to be furnished by Officers, Clerks and Employees
Basically Town employees/officers are covered by insurance for their actions as town employees/officers
Resolution Authorizing the Submission of the Supervisor's Annual Report to the State Comptroller
Supervisor shall file the copy of the annual financial update document for the Town of Wappinger with the Town Clerk within 60 days after the close of the fiscal year, or within such additional time that is granted by the State Comptroller - so not sure what will be submitted, but it will be
Resolution Designating the Time and Place for Holding Town Board Meeting in 2026
January 1/12/2026 1/26/2026
February 2/9/2026 2/23/2026
March 3/9/2026 3/23/2026
April 4/13/2026 4/27/2026
May 5/11/2026 5/26/2026
June 6/8/2026 6/22/2026
July 7/6/2026
August 8/10/2026
September 9/14/2026 9/28/2026
October 10/13/2026 10/26/2026
November 11/9/2026
December 12/14/2026
Resolution Establishing Paid Holidays
New Year’s Day January 1st, 2026
Martin Luther King Day January 19th, 2026
President’s Day February 16th, 2026
Good Friday April 3rd, 2026
Memorial Day May 25th, 2026
Juneteenth June 19th, 2026
Independence Day July 4th, 2026 (Observed on July 3rd)
Labor Day September 7th, 2026
Columbus Day October 12th, 2026
Election Day November 3rd, 2026
Veteran’s Day November 11th, 2026
Thanksgiving Day November 26th, 2026
Thanksgiving Day Friday November 27th, 2026
Floating Holiday December 24th, 2026
Christmas Day December 25th, 2026
Highway Floating Holiday (Pending vote by CSEA Union)
Resolution Authorizing the use of a Mechanical Check Signing Device
The Autopen is ok in the Town of Wappinger
Resolution to authorize the Town Supervisor, Town Highway Superintendent and Town Board to execute the agreement for the expenditure of Highway Moneys
Something that is required for County Department of Public Works
Personnel Time Clock
Town Employees are required to use a time clock
Resolution Designating Banks as Official Depositories for TOW
Putnam County Savings Bank
M&T Bank
Tompkins Community Bank
Raymond James
Rhinebeck Bank
Citizens Bank
TD Bank North
JP Morgan Chase
Trustco Bank
Ulster Savings Bank
Resolution Designating Official Newspaper for TOW
Poughkeepsie Journal and Southern Dutchess News
Resolution Authorizing Attendance at the 2026 Association of Towns Meeting
Town Board hereby authorizes payment of related expenses for attendance at the conference as follows:
• Registration at the Conference;
• Overnight accommodations for a maximum of three (3) nights for all Town Board Members, Town Clerk and Justices;
• Advance expense payment on a “per diem” basis in accordance with the New York State office of the State Comptroller guideline
Town Supervisor, Members of the Town Board, Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerks, Four (4) Members of the Planning Board, Two (2) Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Town Assessor, Town Comptroller, Personnel Administrator, Receiver of Taxes, Director of Strategic Planning and Municipal Codes, Chief Clerk to the Justice Court, Clerks to the Justice, Town Justices, and Superintendent of Highways,
Let's hope they come back from their "retreat" energized and ready to help the Town with best practices and lessons learned from other Towns
Resolution Authorizing an Insurance Agent
Marshall and Sterling
Resolution Establishing Wages for employees not covered under Union Contract
Personnel Administrator | $82,400.00 | ||
Bookkeeper to the Supervisor | $28.30/hour | ||
Junior Accountant | $70,000.00 | ||
Secretary to the Supervisor | $55,432.00 | ||
Automotive Mechanic | $34.62/hour | ||
Supervisor, Buildings and Grounds | $90,000.00 | ||
Deputy Highway Superintendent | $72,100.00 | ||
Director of Strategic Planning & Municipal Codes | $98,214.00 | ||
Court Clerk | $73,938.00 | ||
Assessor | $123,855.60 (50/50 split with Town of Fishkill) | ||
Receiver of Taxes | $94,390.00 | ||
Deputy Tax Collector | $27.27/hour | ||
Recreation Director | $61,533.00 | ||
Town Comptroller | $133,900.00 | ||
Armed Court Officer $38.34/hour | |||
Deputy Fire Inspector - PT | $25.00/hour | ||
Solid Waste Attendant - PT | $15.10/hour | ||
Solid Waste Attendant - PT | $15.10/hour | ||
Resolution Establishing Salaries for Elected Officials in the Town of Wappinger
$15,000 Council member
$36,018 Town Justice
$36,018 Town Justice
$70,000 Supervisor
$77,828 Town Clerk
$105,341 Highway Superintendent
Resolution Establishing Pay Scale for Seasonal and Part Time Recreation Department Employees in the Town
Summer Camp Director | $22.50 | ||
New Head Counselor | $18.00 | ||
Returning Head Counselor | $18.50 | ||
New Certified Counselor | $16.50 | ||
Returning Certified Counselor | $17.00 | ||
New Un-Certified Counselor | $16.00 | ||
Returning Un-Certified Counselor | $16.50 | ||
Fishing Instructor | $25.00 | ||
Basketball Instructor | $25.00 | ||
Gymnastics Director | $40.50 | ||
Gymnastics Assistant Director | $20.50 | ||
New Gymnastics Counselors | $16.00 | ||
Returning Gymnastics Counselors | $16.50 | ||
Pickleball Instructor | $25.00 | ||
Indoor Soccer Instructor | $40.00 | ||
Sr Citizen Fitness Instructor | $60.00 | ||
Sr Citizen Art Instructor | $35.00 |
Resolution Establish Pay Scale for Season Interns for the Town of Wappinger (Huh? guess those $15,000/year salaries mean you don't have to read what you are voting on)
The Town Board hereby establishes the hourly wage for all seasonal student collegiate-level interns employed or to be employed by the Town of Wappinger for the calendar year 2026 at a rate of Sixteen Dollars ($17.00) per hour, to be paid weekly commencing with the first Friday following the start of employment.
Resolution Establishing Pay Scale for for Part-Time Town Patrol Personnel
Lt. Neil Stuart of the Dutchess County
y appointed the coordinator of the Town of Wappinger Vandalism
Patrol, and his annual salary is hereby set at $5,600
All deputy services providing vandalism patrol
services to the Town of Wappinger, shall be paid on an hourly basis in accordance with the contract between the Town of Wappinger and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, and said personnel shall be paid upon verified voucher as services are performed.
Resolution Establishing Remuneration for Water Meter Readers
An annual salary of $11,242.37
Resolution Employing Bond Counsel Services
Douglas E. Goodfriend of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP, with offices at 51 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019
Resolution Employoying Stormwater Management Consultant Services
Daniel G. Koehler, P.E. of Hudson Land Design
Resolutuion Approving IT Consultant Contract
Craig Roberts of Roberts IT Consulting, Inc
Resolution Appointing Dog Control Officer
Jerald Owen
Resolution Appinting Certified Public Accountants
RBT, Certified Public Accountants
Resolution Appointing Recreation Assistant
Dariel Komar
Resolution Appointing Town Historian
Supervisor Cavaccini is appointed as Town Historian of the Town of Wappinger for calendar year 2026 and that said Supervisor Cavaccini has volunteered his/her services and shall receive no salary for said appointment.
Resoluton Appointing Secretary to the Planning Board and the ZBA
Beatrice B. Ogunti
Resolution Appointing Member to the Planning Board
Markos Perakitos to the Planning Board for a seven (7) year term, which term will expire on December 31, 2032.
Paul Freno is hereby appointed as a Member of the Town of Wappinger Planning Board for a seven (7) year term commencing January 1, 2026, with the appointment terminating on December 31, 2032.
Resolution Appointing Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals
Chris A. Hernandez to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five (5) year term with the term expiring December 31, 2030; and
John Lorenzini as a Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five (5) year term with the term expiring on December 31, 2030.
Resolution Appointing Twon Attorney for Town Board
Hogan, Rossi, & Ligouri, LLP,
Resolution Appointing Prosecutor to Wappinger Justice Court
Paul Ackermann, Esq
Resolution Appointing Town Engineer
Lawrence J. Paggi
Resolution Employing Additional Consulting Services
Laberge Group, Labella Associates, MJ Engineering and Barton & Loguidice
Resolution Authoriaing Payment to the Poughhkeepsie Joint Landfill Operating Fund Replenishment - paying for the sins of our fathers
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger is a member municipality of the Poughkeepsie Joint Landfill Board of Governors, which oversees the former landfill site once located at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport in the Town of Wappinger; and
WHEREAS, said landfill was jointly owned and operated by the Towns of Wappinger, Poughkeepsie, and LaGrange, the Village of Wappingers Falls, and the City of Poughkeepsie until its closure in 1974; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger retains a responsibility ratio of 14.1728% for the closed landfill site; and
WHEREAS, the Poughkeepsie Joint Landfill Board of Governors approved an Operating Fund Replenishment on December 10, 2025, to support the continued regular maintenance, monitoring, and upkeep of the landfill site and landfill cap; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger’s proportionate share of said Operating Fund Replenishment is Seven Thousand Eighty-Six Dollars and Forty Cents ($7,086.40); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger hereby authorizes the payment of $7,086.40 from the B-Fund Balance to the Poughkeepsie Joint Landfill Board of Governors for the purpose of Operating Fund Replenishment, as approved by the Board of Governors on December 10, 2025; and be it further
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Town Comptroller Daniel O. Tucker is hereby authorized and directed to make said payment and take any and all actions necessary to effectuate this resolution.
Resolution Hiring Part Time Highway Employee
Michael Mitchell
Resolution Acknowledging the Termination of a Town of Wappinger Employee
Position elimination
The Non-consent Agenda -- which should have just been included in the Consent Agenda
Bruce Flower Appointed Chair of Planning Board, John Lorenzenit Appointed Chair of Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board approved a SEQR negative declaration for a United Wappingers Water District Water System Project which will enable them to apply for grants for an upgrade.
Then the "Free Period" where the Supervisor and Council Members can talk about things that pop into their head (some write notes and are focused, others prefer the stream of conscious approach.. which provides powerful insights into their psyches)
Congratulations to Heather O'Dell and promises for Kumbaya
Swearing in Service attracted about 150 people to Carnwath Chapel
TOW NYS Gold Certified in HR Systems (Big deal, required clean-up of 10 years of HR/Finance retirement record mess)
Internal Review of Insurance Policies -- still paying for properties that have been demolished or sold - cleaning that up
Recycle Center - will accept clothing (and if you want a pick-up of clothing, will provide to
residents free of charge) - electronic equipment will be accepted at recycle center and vendor will pay town for the debris
Community Center for all Ages - at Schlathaus Park
NYS DOT Region Director - new appointee
NYS State Police working with town because Zoning/Planning Board Applicants are getting notices attempting to Scam them.
The First Ward Council Member related his recent scamming experience (as potentional victim... not as a scammer), he will be 50 soon and celebrating his 20 years of being on Town Board. Old Hopewell Fire difficult because of water situation and illegal changes made to building which could have hindered rescues and Fire Personnel safety.
New Hackensack Fire Company helped with major Hyde Park fire which was a 2 day event.
Wappingers High school had a power outage at the same time a Leadership + Fire Tactic seminar was scheduled. Regrouped at Carnwath Chapel... where only access to the rest room was via stage and speaker.
Central Hudson looking into moving power lines that cross Sgt. Palmateer Park.
Second Ward Council Member thanked everyone for their welcome and asked that residents reach out to her with any concerns.
Third Ward Council Member - It's his 5th term and the town has a great videographer.
Fourth Ward Council Member - Thank you to Fourth Ward voters. Grand Opening of community center, sr. center updates - will be soon.Looking into having pond at Reese Park cleaned from growth... as has been done in other town parks.
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