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Water Issues Dominate Cold Spring Board Workshop
Hydrants, water erosion and boat trailer parking discussed
by Michelle Woods
At the May 1, 2007 meeting of the Cold Spring Board of Trustees a delegation from the Springbrook Condominium Complex Board presented a statement read by Springbrook Board member Fran O'Toole, that expressed "grave concerns" about brook erosion at the complex, compounded by flooding after last month's nor'easter. Springbrook asked the Village Board to "help us stop the erosion of the brook" that flows through the property.
Mayor Anthony Phillips noted that while the "majority of water" comes down from Bull Hill via Margaret's Brook, there is now "additional water you didn't have" from the new construction at Haldane School, adding that there was "50% more than" previously coming from Haldane. He told the Springbrook Board members that the Board hasn't had "an ongoing dialogue" with the school in the last six months because of a past lack of response from the school and he said that the school "never addressed the water problem when they built the new building."
The Springbrook Board members said they were "not looking to stop the water but to stop the erosion" and said that with the strength of water flow coming down into the complex "we could have white-water rafting in there." The Mayor and Trustees acknowledged the problem, but the Mayor noted the difficulty in getting appropriate equipment into the complex to fix the banks of the brook because of space limitations. He said that the Village would "get someone in here from State or County and get their recommendation" on how to move forward with strengthening the banks of the brook. The Village Board agreed that the Village should provide some help as the Village's storm water goes through the complex and as residents there are Village taxpayers. Trustees Karen Dunn and Seth Gallagher agreed to visit the property to take view of the problem.
Mayor Phillips also brought up the issue of two fire hydrants at the complex in need of repair, which he said were effectively "useless" because they were placed too close to the buildings and were inaccessible to the Fire Department. He suggested that new hydrants should be placed on Fair Street for both the Springbrook residents and residents of the street and that the two hydrants in disrepair should be removed.
In another water issue, Village resident Mike Casparian asked the Board's advice about a water line he built along Kemble Avenue; specifically whether he could ask future proposed developments on Kemble Avenue for costs if they chose to use the water line in order to "recoup the cost." The Board felt it was currently impossible to ascertain how many lots will eventually be developed on both sides of Kemble Avenue, Mayor Phillips saying that future development was a "matter of years not six months." Trustee Dunn said that it was a question of "how to make [the costs] fair and equitable when we don't know the numbers."
Trustee Ed Mancari asked Mr. Casparian and the Board if "we would charge the potential hookups?" as each lot was developed and the Board seemed to reach a consensus that it may be a solution to give Mr. Casparian "the tapping cost as it goes along." Mayor Phillips noted that although Mr. Casparian built the water line, the line is on Village property and is maintained by the Village.
The question of boat trailer parking was discussed; the Mayor asked the Board if they would agree to parking restrictions along New Street for non-residents and non-Boat Club members. He noted that the new development at the riverside and new sidewalks on West and New St, which are nearly complete, meant that there was less space for parking, and that cars with boat trailers often took up two parking spaces. Trustee Dunn also said that boat-trailer parking was "never a four-hour thing - they sit for a day." Mayor Phillips felt that this was because "99%" of the parked trailers are non-residents and because there is "no other place in Putnam County to go into the river." The Village is talking to MetroNorth to see about possibilities for boat-trailer parking on the weekends at the MetroNorth parking lot.
In other business, Karen Dunn confirmed that work was progressing on the development of the Village's new website. The Village Board meets in a weekly workshop every Tuesday at 7:30pm, except on the second Tuesday of the month when they meet at 7:30pm for their monthly meeting.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
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Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
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This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
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