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Proposed James Pond Relocation Draws Community Ire at Nelsonville Meeting
Pond would be moved to accommodate track & field
by Dean Howell
Controversy over plans to build the Haldane track and field over the present location of James Pond made for a spirited debate at the Village of Nelsonville’s monthly meeting on August 4, as residents turned out in force to voice their objections to the current proposal.
Before a packed house at the new meeting room in the Fish & Fur Club, Town Clerk Josephine Doherty read aloud the minutes from a previous meeting which included the Nelsonville Board, Haldane Superintendent Dr. John DiNatale and Norman Gardner from the architectural firm of Clark Patterson Associates, who will be constructing the track: "Gardner pointed out that the track could not be constructed on the parcel with the present configuration of James Pond. The District proposes to re-locate James Pond to an area behind the proposed track."
Residents reacted to the suggested relocation with anger, suspicion and pointed advice for the Board. One attendee accused Haldane of incorrectly portraying the Proposition for the track before it was voted on. "That proposal was presented to people based on false facts," he told the Board, adding that Superintendent DiNatale had indicated that James Pond would not be affected by the track prior to the vote. "It invalidates the whole vote."
Other attendees agreed, with several suggesting that the vote be held again now that the facts had been brought to light. Others urged a letter-writing campaign to the PCNR, while some called for legal action against the plan.
Members of the Board assured the crowd that they had jurisdiction over part of the process and may have to approve an exception to the wetlands rules for the construction to take place. The Village has authority over the School District under "home rule" laws and will ultimately make any decision according to the local wetlands laws if those are being compromised in any way.
"We won’t give up our jurisdiction over this property," Trustee Steve Marino told the crowd. "The School can’t do anything to James Pond until they get clearance from us."
Trustee Marino displayed a map of the pond area showing where one corner of the proposed track would overlap the pond, as well as a map showing where they are planning on relocating the pond. The new location would still be close to the track, just slightly further up from where it is now.
"It’s not going to be a woodlands pond anymore," one resident complained upon seeing the plans, noting that it would now be surrounded by mulch and benches, and be subjected to runoff from the track. She also criticized the initial referendum process. "Why wasn’t that information revealed before we voted?"
"Clearly, it won’t be the same pond anymore," Marino agreed. "For one, there is going to be a track there now."
Mayor Mitch Dul said that the Board would contact the Village’s legal counsel and arrange a meeting with him, the School and the architectural firm "to see if we can work some of these details out." He also expressed appreciation for the wetlands expertise of Trustee Marino in this circumstance, calling him "a real asset to this Board."
There was also discussion of parking problems that could result from the new track and field. There are only 28 spaces allotted in the current plan, which the Mayor said could cause traffic problems and result in parking spilling out onto Cedar Street and into the Village during track meets and other events.
When pressed by several attendees to address the manner in which the school referendum was conducted, Trustee Marino responded that "we’re not a referendum committee."
"Our job is to look at a wetlands application and make a decision on the parking situation," explained. "There is still a lot of information that we don’t have." Mayor Dul encouraged everyone to attend the School Board meetings regarding the issue.
The Board also followed up on two drainage problems in the Village that had been discussed previously, on the corner of Route 301 and Fishkill Road, and on Wood Avenue. Mayor Dul said that a representative from the Department of Transportation had taken photos of the area in question on 301 and Fishkill Road, and that they were considering solutions to the problem.
Trustee Marino said that he had looked at the problem on Wood Avenue and found that both a catch basin and corrugated pipe there were filled with sand. "Whatever drainage was there no longer exists," he said. He recommended consulting a professional to get costs on repairs that would restore proper drainage.
Mayor Dul also told residents to be aware of a community needs survey that was being conducted for the Butterfield Hospital property. "It’s not clear yet what is going to be happening with that property," he said, adding that a random sample of residents would be surveyed to help determine how best to use the facility.
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