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Cold Spring Village Board Examines Building Code Procedures
Water levels down to 70% in reservoirs, residents urged to conserve
by Kevin Foley
The details of governing rather than any drama over a particular issue were on display at the regular monthly meeting of the Cold Spring Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. The ninety-minute meeting, which was devoted to reports from different areas of governmental responsibility, moved relatively smoothly before an audience of only a few citizens.
During a report by Building Inspector George Tompkins involving routine inspections, issuance of building permits and one stop-work order, trustees and Mayor Anthony Phillips expressed their ongoing concern over general Village awareness of building codes and the appropriate enforcement of those codes. Tompkins said that the State had adopted the rules of 2006 International Code Council and that these new state building codes, which amend existing law, would be effective in the Village by January 1, 2008.
The Mayor said he had asked Tompkins to continue to look for ways the details of a planned project can be better delineated so residents and businesses can be more easily understand what approvals are needed.
A general discussion was held about the difficulties of discovering and acting on willful violations of the building codes. "We have to continue to look for ways to tighten the process," said Trustee Karen Dunn. The trustees and the Mayor urged Tompkins to find ways the public can become more aware of their obligations under the Village codes. Tompkins noted that inquiries regarding building rules had gone up in recent weeks.
Trustee Seth Gallagher referred to an application before the Architectural Review Board for the installation of solar panels at a residence, engendering discussion about the importance of encouraging new energy technologies as well as the pitfalls of allowing a single application before a review board to inadvertently become Village policy without a wider review by Board of Trustees.
A report from the Water Department underscored the effect of "an unusually hot and dry September that has taken its toll on our reservoirs." Submitted by Gregory Phillips, Superintendent of Water and Wastewater, the report indicated that with the reservoirs down to 70% of capacity, the fall hydrant flush would be cancelled in order to save 500,000 gallons of water. Village residents were urged to curb unnecessary use of water until further notice.
Trustee Seth Gallagher reported on a meeting with the Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce, which found the recent Harvest Festival a success with the largest attendance to date. Mayor Phillips said he was happy for the businesses but he thought the event "was a disaster for the Village," in terms of the traffic situation during the event. He said he asked the Police Department for a report on the day and that he thought the Village government would have to be more involved in the planning of next year's event.
A brief tense moment occurred during the report on Cold Spring Comprehensive Plan Special Board by its chair, Carol Casparian. She reported a Village office delay in forwarding correspondence from the New York Department of State to the Special Board regarding training seminars for Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRP). She said the delay almost resulted in board members not receiving the training necessary to continue working with the state on waterfront issues including the handling of grant money.
Mayor Phillips bristled at the implication that he wanted to discourage attendance at the seminars and said since the state had not been forthcoming with a grant agreement, including promised funds for training, he assumed it couldn't happen in the absence of Village funds. "The state has not been serious about working with us," he said.
Casparian pointed out that Special Board vice chair, Z.I. Sanchez had managed to get a deadline extension from the state and a deferral of fees allowing Sanchez and Trustee Karen Dunn to attend the seminars. Casparian said it was important state officials see Cold Spring as committed to the Comprehensive Plan/LWRP process to avoid any delays in the Special Board's work.
For his part, the Mayor apologized for the delay in forwarding the letter from the state and said, "it was never in my mind that you not attend the workshops."
In later remarks on the Comprehensive Plan, Trustee Dunn said "the volunteers are doing an exceptional job." She said that other communities who have retained consultants for gathering data have been dissatisfied with the work and were impressed by Cold Spring's approach.
The Special Board will be holding a special Saturday session on October 20, when they will meet with the community to give an update on their work and to solicit input from all residents, business owners and neighbors from the wider community. The forum will take place between 3 and 5 pm at the VFW Hall on Kemble Ave.
Trustee Gallagher introduced a recent New York Power Authority report indicating the Village could save on energy expenses by replacing aging motors in the Village wastewater treatment plant, increasing the insulation in the attic of the Village Hall, and changing the lighting in all Village facilities from incandescent to fluorescent. A discussion of the long-term merits of each proposal versus the immediate cost ensued.
Under new business, the Mayor announced the intent to post the legal notice on winter parking and sidewalk snow removal rules which go into effect on November 15 and run until April 15, 2008. The Mayor pointed out that this year the Village will add a second number to the call-in program allowing residents to check whether the seasonal off street parking is in effect for that evening. He emphasized residents will have to call before and after snowstorms, as snow removal can take time.
Mayor Phillips also announced the provisional promotion to sergeant for Officer Darrell Burris, head of the Cold Spring Police Department. The promotion is conditional on the successful completion of an exam to be administered by Putnam County.
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