|
New Planning Firm Chosen for Philipstown
Funding resolution approved for new GVFD pumper
by Mike Turton
The public hearing at the Philipstown Town Hall on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 was scheduled to last just thirty minutes prior to the regular weekly Town Board meeting. Philipstown Supervisor Bill Mazzuca clarified at the outset that the sole purpose of the meeting was to consider the proposed funding method for a new pumper for the Garrison Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD). Instead, the hearing quickly turned into the latest, in what has been a series of protracted and at times nasty debates, mainly between members of the audience, regarding GVFD's overall budget, its ten-year plan for vehicle replacement and its fiscal management methods in general. Curt Heintz, Vice President of GVFD made a brief presentation stating that GVFD needed a resolution passed by the Town Board, which would enable the department to receive tax-free financing at an interest rate of 4.1% - saving taxpayers some $50,000. He indicated that if the Board did not pass the resolution, GVFD would still acquire the new pumper through a lease-purchase agreement but at higher cost to taxpayers. Garrison resident Joe Regele, who has attended a number of 2008 budget workshops and consistently questioned GVFD's fiscal management, criticized Heintz and the fire department for providing inconsistent information throughout the process. In particular he was critical of the GVFD for initially portraying the pumper acquisition as an outright purchase before switching to what is now termed a leasepurchase. Regele contended that the switch in acquisition methods will result in a cash windfall to the department, funded by taxpayers. Others joined in the debate, some supporting the GVFD, others questioning its financial methods. The argument went back and forth at length, with the same arguments repeated over and over by both sides. At times it resembled an old television beer commercial in which half the stadium repeatedly screams "More taste!" while the other half of the crowd responds "Less filling!" each time. Towards the end of the debate, Regele stated that the two sides were actually "within $1500 of each other" causing some heads to shake in disbelief. In the end, when the Town Board closed the public hearing and went into its regular meeting, it supported GVFD's request. A resolution was passed unanimously, authorizing Supervisor Mazzuca to sign the necessary section of the IRS code, enabling GVFD to qualify for tax free financing towards the acquisition of one 2007 Custom Marion 1,000 gallon pumper. GVFD had paid $187,000 in 2007 for the chassis of the new vehicle which is being built and paid for in phases. According to Heintz, another $280,923 will be paid out through the remainder of the lease-purchase agreement. The total GVFD budget for 2008 is $719,879.
The Town Board also passed a resolution approving the hiring of Stantek to assist the Town with planning and engineering work. The Board had interviewed four firms during the past several months. Stantek, which has offices in Newburgh and Pawling NY, will provide planning and engineering services and will work out of the Town offices on a part-time but regular basis. The firm will assist with such issues as implementation of new planning documents including the new comprehensive plan and open space protection plan as well as storm water management and code enforcement. Stantek will replace Tim Miller Associates of Cold Spring who had been the Town's planner for seventeen years.
The Town Board also authorized hiring attorney Richard Goldstein to initiate legal proceedings against Garrison Contracting, a used car business located on Route 9 across from the Stadium restaurant. The Town will request that a Supreme Court injunction be issued against the business which has never received site plan approval. Attempts to force compliance have failed and fines in the amount of $1400 per week have been levied since mid-summer of last year.
The Philipstown Town Board will hold its next regular monthly meeting on Thursday, February 7. The Board meets in workshop format most Wednesdays.
Providing local news, information and opinions from
Philipstown and Putnam Valley, NY
Encompassing the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville,
and the hamlet of Garrison, Putnam County, NY.
This site is a publication of The Putnam County News and Recorder, the source for news and information of the Philipstown
and Putnam Valley area. The PCN&R is 139
years old, published in hard copy every Wednesday, and circulated throughout Putnam
County, NY.
The PCN&R prints LEGAL NOTICES
for: Putnam County, The Town of Philipstown, The Town of Putnam Valley, Village of Cold Spring, Village of
Nelsonville, the Haldane Union Free School District and the Garrison Union Free School
District.
Deadline for printed press releases, advertisements and classifieds is Monday at noon for
Wednesday publication. This site is updated on an as-needed basis with a minimum update
weekly on Thursdays. For further information or to request a subscription to the paper, please
contact us with your name and mailing address at:
(845) 265-2468 PO Box 185, Cold Spring, NY 10516, or e-mail us at editor@pcnr.com
If you see an advertiser on line, tell them! | Click ads below
for larger version
System and Method for Display
Ads have a Patent Pending.
Click Here for More Information
|
