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Water Levels in Cold Spring Reservoir Down to 70%, Village Asks for Voluntary Conservation Effort
Survey of Village residents for Special Board expected to be released in January
by Kevin Foley
The rising cost of Worker's Compensation insurance, the low level of the Village reservoir, citizens not reporting wrong-doing, how long a survey should take, when a public hearing is not a public hearing and who will clean up after the horses were among the issues addressed at the sparsely attended regular monthly meeting of the Cold Spring Board of Trustees on Tuesday November 13, 2007.
Barbara Rudolph, Village Treasurer, began the departmental reports by asking the trustees to approve moving various funds among budget lines to account for changing conditions. The item that generated the most concern was the need to move $9,000 from the highway and street repair line to pay for increase in the rate for Worker's Compensation coverage for Village employees. The state's decision on rates for this mandatory coverage are not in sync with the Village's budget cycle, hence the disruption to the approved budget, explained Rudolph. Although concerned about lessening money available for street repair, the trustees gave their assent.
Reports from the Building, Fire and Police Departments were all routine. The trustees did say they wanted to follow up on the problem of Halloween night arrests at their next workshop meeting on November 20.
The written submission from Greg Phillips, Water Superintendent, warned anew that the Village reservoir is at 70%, which he characterized as low for this time of year. He again urged residents to be mindful of conservation measures when using water.
Mayor Anthony Phillips interjected that a commercial truck had damaged a fire hydrant and it had taken eight hours for anyone to alert officials. "People aren't paying attention to matters that need attention around the Village. Hopefully people will start making calls on these things," said the Mayor who often expresses his exasperation with the lack of civic concern in the Village.
The Recreation Department reported that the Friends of Tots Park had communicated its concern about equipment in need of repair in the park facility. There was a brief discussion about the problem of vandalism at this locale and ways that people not using the park appropriately can be discouraged from being there. Also reported was that the Christmas tree lighting will take place at the bandstand by the river on Friday, December 7 beginning at 6:15pm. This year the Cold Spring Antiques Dealers Association will be providing the tree. They have donated the tree in the name of Cold Spring Police Sergeant Darrel Burris.
Carol Casparian, the chair of the Special Board developing a comprehensive plan for the Village next reported on the recent activities of the Board, including upcoming plans for an expected January 10, 2008 release of the results of the survey of Village residents first introduced last Spring.
The Mayor and Trustee Seth Gallagher pressed Casparian on the length of time for the production of the results. "It's been nine months," said the Mayor, "the community is anxious about the results after they took the trouble to fill out the questionnaire."
"We want to make sure it's complete," responded Casparian. "We have to verify for accuracy a lot of hand written comments."
Gallagher asked whether it would be better for some of the results to be released early so people could engage with the process. But Trustee Karen Dunn, liaison to the Special Board, said she thought that would be a mistake. "A lot of questions in the survey are interrelated section to section; to release some results early would skew it. The survey committee has been steadfast in their determination to get it right," she said
Casparian, who agreed the survey was taking a long time, pointed out the work was being done by part-time volunteers and that a consulting firm specializing in such work would be expensive.
The Trustees also discussed ways to make sure people were aware of upcoming Village meetings and committed themselves to create more visible notices at the front of the Village Hall for that purpose. A recent public hearing of the Historic District Review Board to discuss solar energy installations was seen as an example of a meeting that needed greater awareness.
Trustee Dunn also asked Board lawyer Stephen Gaba to review that hearing to determine if its conduct was consistent with the rules governing public hearings in that both a general policy issue was aired as well as the consideration of a specific resident application.
Under unfinished business the Trustees voted to approve amendments to Village law regarding the processing of applications for approval to erect or alter signage in the Historic District. The new language is intended to address first amendment constitutional issues raised by a federal court in a recent lawsuit. Copies of the amended law are available the Village Hall.
The Trustees also approved a request by the manager of Merritt Books, Eileen Charbonneau, to create a Main Street sidewalk chalk mystery as drawn by local artists as part of the Cold Spring by Candlelight celebration on Saturday, November 24.
Rand Bridget Otten, Director of Development for PARC, an organization supporting people with disabilities and the sponsor of Cold Spring by Candlelight, presented a proposal for a horse drawn carriage ride as part of the festivities. Otten reassured the Trustees about the reputation and insurance of the Black Knight Farm, which will operate the rides. "And the farm staff will clean up after the horses the same night and then will check again the next day," she added.
In response to concerns about traffic on a busy Village day, Otten said PARC would have volunteers to assist with traffic warnings on the route which will circle the Village area below the railroad tracks and offer historical insights as well as the ride. When Otten said the horse ride was a late idea for the event and didn't have business support, Tom Rolston volunteered the Depot Restaurant as a sponsor.
The Village Board meets in workshop format weekly on Tuesdays, except for the second Tuesday of the month when it holds its monthly meeting.
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