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Cold Spring Workshop Mulls Main Street Projects
Mayor Phillips wants construction to begin before 2010
by Mike Turton
Main Street Cold Spring will be getting a facelift thanks to a federal grant - although work won't begin for three years. The Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) has approved funding of $200,000 for improvements to lighting and landscaping along Main St. from Cedar St. to West St. The Village of Cold Spring will contribute an additional $51,000 to the project. At last Wednesday's Workshop, August 8, 2007, the Village Board responded to a request from the DOT asking the Village to confirm its participation in the project along with an indication of the source of its funding. There was general support for the project, although Mayor Anthony Phillips warned against anyone having "delusions of grandeur," pointing out that only about $178,000 would be devoted to actual construction costs - a relatively small amount of money given the length of Main St. The balance of funds will go to engineering, design and inspection costs. The New York State Department of Transportation will administer the project on behalf of the federal government.
The Village will inform DOT that it will fund its share of the project as part of its budget. Phillips indicated that a mechanism exists through which the Village can recoup up to 90 % of its contribution.
Some members of the audience members expressed concern over how much control the State would have over the project and whether or not the firm hired to complete the work would have to abide by the new Village Comprehensive Plan now being drafted. It is anticipated that that plan will be in place by the time the project gets underway. "We need to find out if there are major strings attached," commented Board Trustee Karen Dunn. "We want to get maximum benefit from the funds - (benefits) that go along with our Comprehensive Plan," she stated. Phillips indicated that the State would provide a list of approved design/engineering firms, but that once a company was hired, the Village would be able to provide direction regarding design details. At Phillips' suggestion the DOT will be requested to send a representative to a future Board meeting to answer questions and clarify how the project will be implemented.
A second potential DOT grant totals $820,000 and would go towards new pavement, curbs and sidewalks along portions of Main St., West St., Mountain Ave and New St. The Village share of that portion of the project will be $164,000. Commenting on the need for the work, Phillips emphatically stated, "We've got to do some work on Main St. We can't wait until 2010 to repair sidewalks."
In other business Phillips reported that the Village received $1,116 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for labor and equipment used to clear catch basins and other works carried out as result of the April nor'easter which caused widespread flooding in the region.
In a related item, referring to Margaret's Brook as "a disaster waiting to happen," Phillips also indicated that the State will be sending someone to Cold Spring to assess the watercourse and the flooding that often occurs along its banks. "I'm trying to get some help before it becomes a major problem" the mayor said.
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