Water & Sewer

The February 10th Town Board meeting - wth 4 members present - was dominated by Water & Sewer discussions.

Discussion Topic #1 - Tri-Municipal Membership.

A bit of a history lesson - Tri-Muni was formed in 1991 - between Town of Poughkeepsie, Village of Wappingers and Town of Wappinger to provide Sewer Service to neighborhoods in each of those respective municipalities. The Town of Poughkeepsie and the Village of Wappingers have representatives on the board ... who have voting rights. The Town of Wappinger, because of an agreement made by the leaders of the Town at that time, and put before the voters -- clearly without a cogent explanation - does not have any voting rights. The Town of Wappinger pays 51% of the bills. The Sewer facility currently has an "I&I" (inflow and infiltration) issue -- meaning that it gets overwhelmed with Storm water, and is not able to handle the sewer flows properly. Three times since 1991, there is have been overflows -- affecting the Hudson River, which for lots of reasons is not a good thing and something the DEC (and others) are not happy about. Currently the facility is considered "at capacity" -- and is not accepting any more applications for additional connections. The Town of Poughkeepsie would like to expand the capacity of the facility, so that more development can take place in the areas serviced by Tri-Muni -- and they would like the Town of Wappinger to pay 51% of a $54 Million upgrade (of course any additional development in the Town of Poughkeepsie is going to have a quality of life impact on residents of the Town of Wappinger). After discussing this sorry mess, during which the council member of the first ward reminded us that he has this discussion repeatedly, the Town Board approved a resolution allowing the Town Supervisor to work with the Town Professionals (aka lawyer/engineer) to pursue getting voting membership for 2 Town of Wappinger Representatives. It will be interesting to see the reports on this negotiation.

Discussion Topic #2 - Some neighbors in the Osborne Hill area of the Town, where there is the Fleetwood sewer facility - would like water and sewer services to be extended to their properties. Currently the village of Fishkill provides water to a part of Osborne Hill Road. This would mean expanding the capbilities of the current facilities, in addition to the infrastructure extensions required to provide the service (and then individual homeowners would have to arrange for connections to their specific buildings). After some extravegant expectations on how far these potential services could be made available by the current ward 2 council member (did you notice town elections will be in a few months?) the town board authorized the engineers to prepare a proposal so that an engineering study of the requirement is understood and recommendations/alternatives will be sized - provided that the affected residents contribute (be taxed) to an escrow account to pay the engineering work.

Consent Agenda - (requiring no discussion because the board as "pre-approved")

• Resolution authorizing the naming of a private road for Myers Run - SHADOW COURT.

• Resolution appointing a Labor & Employment counsel to the Town - Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP - Nathaniel Nichols, Esq. primary contact - retainer of $23,040/year.

• Resolution Setting a Restoration Bond for CarMax Project - $52,500.

• Resolution authorizing the submission of a 2025 Community. Block Grant for continued improgements to Carnwath Farm/Reese Cultural Center Restrooms -

• Resolution Promoting a Seasonal Laborer to Full Time Maintenance Worker.

• The Correspondance Log contained information:

  • Resignation of a 17 year town employee

  • Good news from County - with Sales/Mortgage Tax receipts - over what the Town Budget anticipated

  • Note from contractor for Lake Oniad Lot Owners Association that in April or May f this year - they will be "treating" the Pond to control invasive Curely Leaf Pond Weed which will flow into Wappingers Creek. They will use some "board" to stem the flow, but water will leave the water body - and suggesting that no one swim or bath in the water for 3.1 miles south of Lake Oniad for 1 day. If you object, you can reach the DEC.

Non-Consent Agenda (requiring discussion)

• Resolution Appointing CPA to provide accounting and audit services to the town - Tabled until March 10 meeting so a representative can present a report to the Town Board

• Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Dock at Lower Wappinger Creek - at the Boat Ramp - Approved

• Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of a Launching System for the Chelsea Boat Launch - Approved

  • These two resolutions work to continue to improve the Wappinger Water Trail.

• Resolution for Town of Wappinger Policy for Improvements to Municipal Property - this was tabled without discussion -- but basically asks that any property improvements on Town Buildings/Property - go through the permitting process (though municipalities are not required to do this) -- so that the Building Inspectors can spend their time evaluating the work of other municipal employees who are working on building improvements. This becomes incredibly circular, and one wonders whether the tax paying public wants town resources to be used to have municipal workers oversee other municipal workers' quality of work and the role of department supervisors, unions and who is going to check the work of the people checking the work of people checking the work. Isn't the point of building inspectors to ensure public safety by ensuring building codes are explained and followed? Is this necessary for workers working on municipal buildings? Ins't a more collaborative atmosphere desired, where if there are questions about engineering/building codes - the teams work together if necessary?

The council member from Ward 3 then asked that an executive session be called for two personnel issues - but before excusing themselves for Executive Session - the council member from Ward 1 -in his role as acting director of Dutchess County Emergency Response provided his thanks for the heroic efforts of the Fire Department Members, Law Enforcement, Detectives and Investigators (several of whom are volunteers requiring they take time from their paid jobs to handle the investigation and answer subpeonas), highway team, code enforement teams to manage the tragic fire/untimely deaths of neighbors which occured on January 26.

The Board went to executive session at 8:08 PM and returned at 8:50 PM - approximately the same time as the public portion of the meeting, when they adjourned the meeting.