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Cold Spring Board Discusses Fire House Situation
Parade permit issued for celebration of Robert Fulton's Steamboat 200th Anniversary
by Michelle Woods
There were initial discussions about the possible location of a new firehouse for the Village's Fire Department at the Cold Spring Board of Trustees' Monthly Meeting on July 10, 2007. The debate surrounds whether to demolish the present building and construct a new firehouse in its present location or whether to move it to another site, possibly the Butterfield site if it became available.
Trustee John Teagle opened the discussion asserting that "a lot of people in the Fire Department would like it to stay there." While Ralph J. Falloon, the Fire Inspector, agreed, he noted that the Village's firefighters also suspected that in terms of cost, "the most effective plan would be [constructing on] virgin soil" adding that the firefighters "want the best deal for everybody." Mayor Anthony Phillips said that the cost of placing a new firehouse in the present location would be higher because the old building would need to be demolished first and that issues such as asbestos abatement would need to be considered. He asked Mr. Falloon and the firefighters to wait an extra month before further discussions, in which time he hoped there would be some resolution as to the future of the Butterfield site. Meanwhile, Mr. Falloon said he would contact local architect James Hartford to put forward a possible proposal in order to "get some numbers" and a "ballpark estimate" for a new building at the present site. The Mayor agreed but stressed that the eventual planning and construction of a new firehouse would have to go out to bid. Trustee Karen Dunn noted that "we've been talking about [a new firehouse] for a couple of months" and the Trustees said they would return to the issue promptly.
Mr. Teagle also brought up the idea of an "expanded fire district" in order to double the amount of people who might potentially pay for the new firehouse; the Village's Fire Department already contracts out to local areas not covered by the Garrison and North Highland Departments, but Mayor Phillips said that "I don't think you can change the fire company." Trustee Ed Mancari noted that Cold Spring's Fire Department was unusual in the state because it was one of "only three" Departments still run by a municipality rather than by the state.
In other issues, Trustee Seth Gallagher said that, in response to a workshop last month on the extension of voting hours, the Village would be seeking more volunteers as poll workers so as to have "a larger group to pick from."
He also reported on the New York Power Authority's Energy Audit of the Village, saying that a representative from the NYPA, from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and an engineer "toured different buildings the Village has and gave ideas on how to save on electric bills." For instance, they suggested replacing thirty-year-old blower motors in the sewage treatment plant and putting in variable speed ones. Mr. Gallagher noted that "money spent in financing it would be paid back in lower energy bills."
In recreation news, Trustee Gallagher noted that the Chamber of Commerce reported a sold-out Annual Moonlight Cruise and that the first concert (featuring local band Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams as well as the Cold Spring Pipe and Drums Band) in the Summer Waterfront Concert Series attracted record crowds. He also noted however that garbage bins overflowed at the event and suggested that "it would be a good idea to increase the number of containers, and/or empty them earlier in the day, as well as increase the number of recycling containers so that each trash can is accompanied by a recycling container." He noted that Trustee Teagle obtained trash bags and cleared some of the trash cans at the event to try and prevent the overflow.
The Board approved a parade on August 4th celebrating the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton's Steamboat as well as historical displays on Main Street. Trustee Mancari noted this was the same day as the Fire Department's Block Party and firework display at Mayor's Park, and asked, "will that impact it?" Trustee Teagle said "hopefully one will be ending as the other starting"; Trustee Gallagher, in general agreement with the Board, suggested "it'll help" induce people to go to the Block Party.
Finally, Mayor Phillips read a request from Good Housekeeping magazine requesting permission to do a shoot for a fashion story on Main Street on July 24th for a 6-page spread in the November issue and offered the requisite $500 donation. The Trustees felt this was "a good thing all round" although Trustee Dunn added that "we want to make sure Cold Spring is identified in the article" in order to promote the Village.
The Cold Spring Board meets in weekly workshop every Tuesday at 7:30pm except on the second Tuesday of every month, which is their regularly scheduled monthly meeting. The next Monthly Meeting will be on August 14.
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