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Emotional Farewells at Year End Town Board Meeting Highlight PV's Unique Town Spirit
by Edward Paul Greiff
Putnam Valley Town Supervisor Sam Davis opened the December 19, 2007 Town Board meeting with an emotional and tearful farewell as he thanked his colleagues, the townspeople, and the many committee volunteers who made it possible for him to complete the Comprehensive Master Plan and other "sorely needed legislation." He especially wanted to thank Dawn Powell who he said suffered more abuse than she should have had to, but never stopped providing the professional assistance he required to administer the Town of Putnam Valley. And he singled out Karin Greenfield-Sanders and thanked her for providing a vital leadership role in making sure the Comprehensive Plan and its subsequent Zoning Code changes become a reality.
At the other end of the board meeting, after the public comments section, retiring Putnam Valley Councilman Dan Ricci also provided an emotional and tearful farewell address that covered Ricci's eight year relationship with former Supervisor Carmelo Santos and councilpeople Peter Kennedy, Harry Jadoonauth, Steve Johnson, Fred Finger, Bob Cesar, Bob Tendy, Wendy Whetsel, Priscilla Keresey, and others. At the end of his from-the-heart impromptu speech the audience rose to their feet and provided him with a standing ovation.
In between these farewells the Board conducted business.
The Town Board adopted two new MS4 Laws (Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Systems) after conducting a Public Hearing earlier in the evening. They also adopted unanimously Local Laws numbers 9-2007 and 10-2007. Attorney Bill Zutt explained that under the SPDES permit #GP-02-02 for MS4 systems the Town was required to adopt these two Laws by January 8, 2008 or the Town would suffer penalties for not being in compliance.
Local Law #9-2007 prohibits illicit connections, activities, and discharges to the MS4 (Municipal Separate Stormwater, Sewer Systems), establishes legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance, and monitoring procedures necessary to ensure compliance with the law. It also promotes public awareness of the hazards involved in the improper discharge of trash, yard waste, lawn chemicals, pet waste, wastewater, grease, oil, petroleum products, cleaning products, paint products, hazardous waste, sediment and other pollutants into the system.
Local Law #10-2007 for Stormwater Management and Erosion & Sediment Control has as one of its objectives to minimize increases in stormwater runoff from land development activities in order to reduce pollution, flooding, silt buildup, increases in stream temperature, and stream bank erosion and maintain the integrity of stream channels.
On a lighter side PV Arts Chairperson Ann Spoonhour spoke about PV Arts' plans for 2008. Their first meeting in the new year, scheduled for the first Tuesday in February, will finalize their plan for starting the year off with two "Open Mike Nights" - one in March and another in May. Putnam Valley Town Hall may become a stage for a concert or perhaps staged readings and other artistic endeavors. Also on tap is an art contest cosponsored by the Putnam Valley Grange. Spoonhour concluded by saying they are always looking for new artists and invited them to attend the PV Arts meetings.
Kathleen McLaughlin relayed how successful the PV Library's gingerbread house festivity was. She said that the kids built 137 gingerbread houses, some of which are still on display at the library. She also called attention to the Library's free online services such as the Rosetta Stone Language Learning Center where you can learn a language online, all you need is your library card.
A public hearing was set for the next Town Board meeting on January 16, 2008 at 7pm to review a proposed "Cold War Veterans Tax Exemption" that provides a twelve percent assessed property value tax exemption, up to a maximum of $12,000. This is for veterans that are not disabled. If a veteran is disabled the tax exemption could be fifty percent of assessed property value up to a maximum of a $40,000. Also on that evening a public hearing was set for a review of a proposed law to regulate "outdoor wood boiler stoves."
A public hearing was set for February 13, 2008 at 7pm to review the proposed Zoning Code changes that would implement the Comprehensive Master Plan. The lengthy advance notice is to allow sufficient time to review and prepare for an educated discussion on this critically important topic.
Parks & Recreation Director Frank DiMarco is taking a proactive approach based on the continued success and growth of the Town's recreation programs. Through the use of a new bond issue, which would be paid for out of the revenue Parks & Recreation generates from its programs, not out of taxpayer money, he is proposing three new projects for 2008. First is a Little League ball field to accommodate the 400 to 500 kids now participating in the program. The site he is looking at is the sixteen acre Marinelli property adjacent to the PV Ambulance Corps property.
A second project is to erect a band shell by the soccer field for outdoor concerts and to preserve the soccer field. A third project being considered is an indoor facility that could be used for kids basketball as well as the introduction of other adult recreation activities.
When it came time for public comment Alex Kaspar displayed a sign he was putting up on Cimarron Road that was approved by Walt Thompson. It read "Putnam County Adopt a Road Valley View Organics Inc." Kaspar also mentioned how he has observed others stopping their cars and picking up littler along the road.
The next Board meeting is Wednesday, January 2, 2008 which will be the Annual Reorganization meeting at Town Hall. This will occur after the swearing in ceremony at Town Hall of newly elected officials; it's scheduled for 6pm.
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