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Putnam Legislature Acts to Redress Cold War Veterans' Benefits' Oversight
Cold Spring Receives Legislative Support for Two Grants
by Margaret Sternberg
Although the December 4, 2007 meeting of the County Legislature was one of the shortest of the year, it was more than enough time for the Legislature to rectify a tax exemption that had been denied to "Cold War" veterans, as well as to signify support for two Preserve America grants to Cold Spring.
In a unanimous vote, the legislature amended County Code so that residential real property owned by veterans who were in the military during the "Cold War" will be exempt from some County taxation. The maximum exemption will be 10 percent of the property's assessment. The County law takes effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State, but villages and towns must also pass their own versions of the law before veterans can file for the exemptions. Veterans have until 5pm March 1, 2008 to apply to their assessor for the exemption.
The law also includes a provision for surviving spouses who have not remarried. George Michaud, Director of Real Property Services, said that the expected financial impact of the law would be "insignificant, about 1 percent of 1 percent," based upon figures accumulated in Greene County, where the resolution originated.
The exemption would cover veterans who served between September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991.
Legislator Mary Ellen Odell called the recognition of the veterans "long overdue," while Legislator Vinny Tamagna called it an "important piece of legislation for veterans."
Legislator Tamagna later introduced two resolutions, both unanimously passed, for two grant applications for Preserve America funds that would be used in the Village of Cold Spring. One application, for up to $30,000 would be to assist in the completion of a Preserve the Grove project.
The other application was for $150,000 in Preserve America funds to be used in a project promoting Heritage Tourism in Cold Spring. The grant would be administered by the Putnam County Historical Society and Foundry School Museum and the Chapel of Our Lady Restoration and is part of the marketing associated with the Quadricentennial celebration of Henry Hudson sailing up the eponymous river.
In other actions that evening, the Legislature approved a resolution that will require that all appointments by the County Executive be made in writing and filed in the office of the Clerk of the County Legislature within ten days after the appointment has been made or, in the case of an incumbent appointee, within ten days of the County Executive's new term. Until passage of this resolution incumbents have served virtually continuously under the current County Executive without the formality of reappointment; the resolution establishes terms, running concurrent to and ending with the County Executive's term of office.
The County Code was amended to change the procurement policy in accordance with a scathing report issued by the NYS Comptroller's Office that was harshly critical of lax procedures and inefficiently documented purchases that it said had taken place at the Putnam National Golf Club.
Also approved were two resolutions that allowed both the Commissioner of Highways and Facilities and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Emergency Services to each appoint a Deputy Commissioner to act for the Commissioner of the respective department should he or she should be out of the County or unable to perform the duties of the office held.
The January 2008 meeting of the Putnam County Legislature will be posted on the PCN&R's website as soon as it becomes available. There will also be a year-end Legislative meeting Thursday, December 20, at 7pm in the County Courthouse in Carmel.
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