PV Debates Quality of Life Resolutions

Putnam Valley’s Town Supervisor Sam Davis is making up for lost time by holding a three and a half-hour Town Board meeting and public hearing on February 15, 2006.

During this meeting Supervisor Davis appointed J. Robert Folchetti & Associates from Somers to provide professional Town Engineering service for Putnam Valley.

Bruce Barber of Yorktown was appointed as the Wetlands Inspector, and Jacqueline Lynfield as Chairperson of the Architect Review Board.

A figure that has positive and negative connotations attached to it is the PV Volunteer Ambulance Corps: 79 response calls for the month of January 2006. That’s an average of 2 ½ calls per day. It’s wonderful to know that our volunteers are handling all the calls they get but you can’t help but wonder why the continual record number of requests?

Discussions about quality of life resolutions dominated most of the evening.

Putnam Valley joins with other communities in identifying high property taxes as one of the highest priority issues of greatest concern to them and desires to pass a Resolution appealing to New York State public officials to implement new measures for financing public education, including the following suggested actions:

- Ensure equity in a formula for funding public education based on the taxpayer’s ability to pay;

- Decrease the revenue raised from tax sources based on the value of dwellings;

- Refrain from imposing state mandated requirements upon school systems without corresponding state funding;

- Adjust the formulas on revenues earmarked as aid to education from state lottery and other future gaming activities so that the annual percentage is substantially increased from current levels;

- Maintain the enhanced STAR exemptions for the town’s neediest citizens, but also increase the STAR exemption for senior citizens specifically al all income levels;

- Regain lost tax revenue from the above actions through income tax.

A public hearing is set to discuss this proposed Resolution for March 15, at 6:00 pm prior to the Town Board meeting.

Immediately following there will be another public hearing to discuss a proposed Resolution whereby the Town elects to participate in a New York State Civil Service Employee Benefits Division program that will extend eligibility for coverage to the Domestic Partners of its employees, and retirees.

Putnam Valley has joined with other local communities in passing a Resolution opposing the re-licensing of Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3. Initial licensing was based on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations promulgated over 30 years ago. The basis for not granting a license would be based upon current standards and regulations specifically prohibiting the location of nuclear power plants in densely populated areas and because this area is a prime target for an act of terrorism. In addition there are newer energy options available today.

One of the biggest objections to the plant continues to be the realization that in the event of an explosion or severe accident there is no escape route.

Continuing along the theme of working with other communities, Putnam Valley passed a Resolution to participate in the "Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant Program." This is a coordinated approach being taken by participating communities to develop the means to comply with New York State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit GP-02-02 as it applies to regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). In addition there are "heightened" standards requiring the ability to provide greater protection of water quality within the New York City drinking water supply watershed. Supervisor Sam Davis is the authorized representative of the Town and participant in this project. Each community shares in the cost of the project in an amount equal to ten percent but not to exceed a maximum of $2,500.

A Resolution was passed consenting to the transfer of television assets from Carmel Cable Television Inc. a subsidiary of Susquehanna Cable Co. to Comcast of Danbury a subsidiary of Comcast of New York.

The Putnam Valley Businessmen’s Association will be meeting on February 28, 2006 at 7 pm at the PV High School library.

PV Arts next meeting is March 7, 2006 at the Camp Combe YMCA starting at 7 pm.

The next Town Board meeting is Wednesday, March 15, 2006 starting at 6 pm with two public hearings.