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Nelsonville Looks into Blasting Ordinance, Code Enforcement Regs
Resident of Moffat Road speak out against road widening
by Maria Theodore Leiter
The Village of Nelsonville is in the process of writing a new blasting ordinance. At the May 21, 2007 monthly village meeting, Trustee Anthony Merante explained that the measure would put in place guidelines as to the responsibilities of those who undertake blasting activity in connection with property development in the Village.
"This came to the fore because of one particular project," explained Merante. The Village will be using the law that was recently enacted by the Town of Philipstown as a guide to help them develop their own. The Village attorney is currently reviewing that document in order to recommend the proper modifications. The Village will hold a public hearing on the subject before the Board enacts it into law.
In addition to the blasting law, the Village will also need to enact a new law regarding Code Enforcement, advised Village Clerk Pauline Minners. This is as a result of requirements from the State. The law will outline the duties and responsibilities of the Code Enforcement officer. It too would require a public hearing, once the Village Board has approved the language.
In fact, there will likely be several additional public hearings set for the same day, said Nelsonville Trustee Tom Corless. The Village will also soon announce hearings to discuss regulations that could be put in place regarding road weight limits as well as picking up after dogs.
The Board, which on this evening consisted of Merante and Corless, with Mayor Merando being absent, voted to approve several end-of-year fund transfers at the request of Village Clerk Minners. Minners advised the Board that the Village's health insurance premium increased in the middle of the fiscal year.
Merante said that he had just concluded the annual audit of the Village finances. He said the Village Clerk walked him through the process and he found no irregularities. The Village is not required to hire an outside auditor, he explained. "It's a self-check." However, the Village is periodically audited by the State.
The Board approved a parade permit for the June 2 parade that will be held by People against Domestic Violence. The parade route, which will also go through Cold Spring Village, will include Pine and Parsonage Streets.
Following the meeting, Frances O'Neill of Moffat Road spoke out on behalf of residents of her road. "I would like Nelsonville to know that we are totally against the blasting and widening of the road. I think it is uncalled for. There's hardly any traffic [on the road]."
O'Neill's house lies within the village of Nelsonville, but the roadway in front of her house is in the Town of Philipstown. She explained that she and many of her neighbors have signed a petition against the proposed plans to widen the road, which are being put forth by the Town. She said that she was especially alarmed to recently learn that the widening will include blasting. "What I am afraid is happening is they will make the road something that is ghastly to look at… Does it really warrant the kind of money they want to spend there? It is not a dangerous road." She said that 90% of the people who live on the road are opposed to the project.
O'Neill explained that the road has been the same way for many years and that there has never been a problem in the past. She believed that Moffat came on the radar of the Town Highway department when one of her neighbors complained about runoff on his property. "There has been runoff there for 20 years. It is a natural flow." She and other residents of Moffat have met with the Town Board and the Highway Department, but she said the Town insists that the roadway is not safe.
"I don't know if there is anything we can do to change the situation," said Corless. "It's [the Town's] road to maintain." He said that he would speak to Highway Superintendent Roger Chirico about the plans for the road.
O'Neill also asked about the status of some utility poles within the Village. Merante said that the Town Supervisor sent a letter to Verizon about the terrible shape of some of their utility poles. "As I understand it, Verizon doesn't do anything unless they make money." He explained that the phone company was reluctant to upgrade land lines since their profits now revolve around cell phones and towers. It was a struggle to get the company to address issues with utility poles.
Donald Graham of Healy Road said that he would soon be putting paving stones at the foot of his driveway and wanted to know whether the village could take care of the blacktop in front of his driveway. Corless advised that his request could be added to the issues that would soon be looked into on Healy Road.
The next meeting of the Nelsonville Village Board will be held on the third Monday of the month, June 18 at 7:30 in the Village Hall.
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