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PV Town Board Agenda Slows After Democratic Primary
by Edward Paul Greiff
The first Putnam Valley Town Board meeting on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 after the September 18th Democratic Primary between Supervisor Sam Davis and Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel (which Whetsel won with 245 votes to Davis' 188) was a somber one with a limited main agenda of only 11 items. When Supervisor Davis made a motion to add a moratorium discussion to the agenda he did not receive a second, only dead silence. The meeting had all the indications of a "Lame Duck" Town Board being the mode of operation until the next administration takes office.
One thing everyone did agree upon was the outstanding success of Town Day. They said it was one of the best ever and also praised Mike Illison and the July-4-Ever company for a spectacular fireworks display.
The meeting started with an award being presented to Brian Monaco, a lifeguard at Lake Peekskill beach, for rescuing a man who had fallen out of his boat.
Legislator Sam Oliverio stood at the podium and fanned the approximately four inches of pages that made up County Executive Bob Bondi's 2008 Putnam County Budget. Oliverio said the budget called for a 40 percent increases in taxes and that it was outrageous and there is no way the legislature is going to approve it. Oliverio believes that they [the Legislature] can reduce the tax increase to around 25 percent. This would mean that a person whose house is assessed at $550,000 would pay approximately $125 a year more in taxes.
The other big item the County is working on, said Mr. Oliverio, is the Putnam County Golf Course. Of all the possible scenarios that can be done with the Golf Course he said the best one is to lease it to a reputable firm to run it. This would represent the best source of revenue for the County. So far they have received three credible responses to their RFP (Request For Proposal).
After a brief discussion a two-year contract was awarded to Triple AAA Carting for both the transfer station and district garbage pick up. The Town Board explained the basis for their decision was that not only was the Triple AAA bid less expensive than A&N Carting, but it was for two years instead of the three years proposed by A&N.
Town Attorney David Gordon has taken a job with the law firm of Nimkoff, Rosenfeld & Schecter, LLP and needed to have his contract with the Town amended to reflect the fact that he is a representative of this firm. Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel asked attorney Gordon why he couldn't remain as an independent contractor until December 31st, the expiration of his agreement with the Town. Gordon replied that he couldn't do that because he was now an employee with this litigation law firm.
Councilman Bob Tendy reminded the Board that attorney Gordon is on a month-to-month retainer with the Board.
Gordon said if this arrangement is not acceptable then he would have to terminate his agreement with the Town before December 31, 2007.
Since this issue is a contractual matter the Town Board will discuss it in Executive Session and make a decision.
The Town Board had previously disapproved an expenditure of some $3,600 to send the five members of the Planning Board and Peter Belefant from the Zoning Department to a three-day Planning Conference in Saratoga, NY. Under the new guidelines for planning volunteers, this type of training is mandatory. It wasn't the registration fee of $130 per person that the Board objected to but the hotel room rate of $500 per person. Planning Chairman Gene Yetter called Michael Rimaldi, who explained that the money was already appropriated and set aside in their budget for this express purpose. With that explanation and the money being encumbered, the Board voted four to one in favor of sending the volunteers to the conference. Tendy was the sole no vote.
Alex Kaspar spoke during the public comment portion of the agenda about the success of his first Grange meeting at the Grange building. Approximately forty people showed up for this first meeting he reported. He said they have set aside the first Wednesday, of each month as their meeting dates and will start the meetings at 6:45pm The public is invited to attend, join, and participate.
A public hearing date to hear comments regarding the Emerald Ridge Drainage District was set for October 10, 2007 starting at 6pm.
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