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Cold Spring Village Board, Despite Frustrations, Expresses Support for Comprehensive Plan Special Board Work
Budget strains surface again during monthly meeting
by Kevin Foley
Pressures on the budget, frustration with the state government's snail's pace and the ongoing tensions over the work of the Comprehensive Special Plan Board were the preoccupations of the Cold Spring Village Trustees at their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at the Village Hall.
While reports from the various village government departments were routine they did reveal the strains on the finances and operations that occur during the year. During Treasurer Barbara Rudolph's report the trustees discussed how gasoline usage by village employees was down compared to last year's budget but that street cleaning expenses were significantly higher mainly because more residents apparently push leaves to the street rather than rake them up.
During the Buildings and Fire Department reports Mayor Anthony Phillips directed the Fire Inspector (also assistant Building Inspector) J. Ralph Falloon to take the lead in assembling all village records on fire alarm installations and coordinate with the police department to insure all information was up to date.
The Water and Sewer Department reported the village reservoir at 100% capacity but that the village had spent over $5,000 removing grease from the waste water system, which was forcing that department over budget. At previous workshop meetings trustees have discussed raising fines on commercial establishments for failure to maintain clean grease traps.
Village Clerk Mary Saari reported the written objection of developer Paul Guillaro, the new owner of the old Butterfield Hospital property, to paying the property's current water and sewer bill. The charges, which Hudson Valley Hospital, the previous owner, paid for 15 years based on the number of rooms with plumbing fixtures in order to maintain the right to operate a medical facility, are no longer valid given there is no usage claimed Guillaro. Falloon confirmed that after a recent inspection no fixtures were currently in use.
After a brief board discussion of the future billing possibilities for the site given the trustees ongoing consideration of changes in charges for water and sewer use the Mayor said: "They need to pay the current bill unless we receive a letter stating there has been a change in plans for the property." He also said he would ask the village attorney to look at the issue.
The trustees approved a Recreation Department report that scheduled several June graduation parties on village parkland. They also agreed they were likely to approve the Lion's Club Easter parade once more details for that event were forthcoming.
Carol Casparian, chair of the Comprehensive Plan Special Board, reported that the entire village survey, including all 2,500 resident comments on various subjects, was on CD and available at the Butterfield Library and the Village Hall. She said the various board working groups were continuing their activities analyzing village information although it was slowed by the absence of funds to bring in consulting experts.
Trustee Karen Dunn, liaison to the Special Board, then said: "There is a feeling among from some of the Special Board members that we are not behind them. I'd like to find out where we stand." Dunn made specific reference to an interview Mayor Phillips gave to the PCN&R (January 8) as the main source of unease on the Special Board.
In that article the Mayor expressed impatience with the pace of the Special Board deliberations and the scope of their inquiry as well as some skepticism as to the ultimate impact of the effort. In the same interview he also said he very much appreciated the spirit of volunteerism as well as the professionalism on the board.
Dunn proceeded to ask each of the trustees to declare their perspective on the Special Board. Each of them expressed enthusiastic support for the volunteer efforts and the significance for the village. "The very idea of a Comprehensive Plan is important so people can go to it for zoning changes and changes to the code," said John Teagle. "I have been very impressed by the expertise you see on the working groups," said Edward Mancari.
Each them also said they had experienced their own frustration with the board process to one degree or another. "Everybody gets a little frustrated. I think it will be relieved when the grant money comes through. I thought that was the Mayor's frustration in the article," said Seth Gallagher.
The Mayor, who Dunn asked last, said "I have been a proponent of the board since inception. Sometimes I am unhappy and you can always count on me to say so. Sometimes I get the feeling egos take over in the process. But I am behind you 100%," said the Mayor, looking toward Carol Casparian.
The grant money referred to by Gallagher continued the Special Board discussion among trustees and audience members. The state Department of State awarded Cold Spring a $50,000 grant to facilitate its comprehensive plan in October of 2006 but has yet to actually forward the money.
Former trustee Phil Heffernan asked if there had been recent dialogue with the state and whether the money could be counted on or might be rescinded. Special Board vice chair Z. I. Sanchez said she had met with Department of State officials who had reiterated their support for Cold Spring efforts and that "we're at the top of the list for the money." She explained she was told that the Department of State was under going a reorganization that caused delays in funding.
"Only in the state bureaucracy can everything stop while they change assignments and they still all receive their paychecks," quipped Trustee Mancari.
Heffernan inquired about the possibility of the village finding a way to provide funding for the Special Board either through an allocation or a loan until the grant money appeared. Karen Dunn spoke for a budget-constrained board when she declared, "we can't do it, we have a tough year coming up."
Mayor Phillips then reported he had directed the Building Department to examine the existing building code to make sure resident applicants go before the various village boards better prepared. This move was in response to concerns raised by Dunn and Gallagher over complaints about uneven treatment of applicants by the boards and the possible need for a uniform application.
The Mayor pointed out the code already identified eight specific areas applicants need to address but that these requirements sometimes get obscured by the unique qualities of individual projects which result additional questions from the boards. Dunn and Gallagher seemed satisfied with the Mayor's response.
In other business the board voted to officially approve George Kane the temporary Officer in Charge of the Police Department.
Seth Gallagher reported that Putnam County officials had invited towns but not village representatives to a meeting on recycling. "We have a better program than anything they're contemplating,' said the Mayor.
The Mayor and trustees also agreed with a suggestion from Phil Heffernan that the board hold a forum soon on possible uses of the Grove restoration project in anticipation of its acceptance into the National Historic register. Earlier the Mayor had reported that nine contractors had bid on the contract to replace the building's roof and remove asbestos.
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