All hazards mitigation grant discussed

MILLERTON — Dover Town Board member Katie Palmer-House made an appearance at the Village Board’s meeting last Monday to talk about an all hazards mitigation grant with the Millerton board and the North East Town Board.

Palmer-House is attempting to bring together a number of municipalities to garner grant dollars. The town of Dover is the lead agency in pursuing the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) grant. The town is asking neighboring towns to join the grant application, which consists of a two-year project with nine participating communities. The purpose of the grant is to assess what the region’s hazard risks are.

"The bigger goal, in order for communities to do bigger projects, can be very costly," Palmer-House said. "By having this all hazards mitigation plan, it not only assesses the risk, but it makes us eligible for FEMA funding."

The aid is to help communities deal with natural, not man-made, disasters. Once a mitigation plan is designed, it will be updated every five years, although it will be revisited annually.

The grant is for up to $200,000; $150,000 would be from FEMA, while 25 percent could be submitted as in-kind services or matching funds. Consultants would then be hired to see what hazard risks exist in participating communities.

"Whatever the amount is of the final proposal, 75 percent will be covered by the grant," Palmer-House told the two boards, adding that the cost among the communities to split part of the intermunicipal agreement would be between $10,000 and $15,000. "Each community can identify a project that would start it off. Rather than working at each individual community, we have the opportunity to solve regional problems.

"It’s a very smart way to try to work toward the future, to try to prevent natural hazards that can affect all of us," she added.

It was suggested that participating municipalities have a liaison to provide information about the risk history of their community, and what the national impact is thereof. Subsequent documents would allow the municipalities to apply for preventative funding from FEMA.

"In terms of intermunicipal agreements, how does it work?" asked Mayor John Scutieri.

Palmer-House said she, as the go-to person, would spearhead the project.

"I offered because I knew it can be complicated to know how nine communities can get together," she said. "It is a big project. I’m a councilwoman and I’m willing to help this happen."

"I’m concerned about which part of the budget this comes out of," said Village Attorney Michele Haab. "It seems like the town of North East and the town of Pawling are getting hit twice."

Both of those two towns would be charged $30,000 to join into the agreement, rather than $15,000 like other participating municipalities, because they have villages within their boundaries.

"We all have equal opportunities to participate in the grants," Palmer-House said. "Could we have thought about it, and have done it by land, and square miles? I don’t think so."

"Whenever the village is brought into something like this, we work with a much smaller budget," Scutieri said. "Sometimes we feel the village shouldn’t be paying the same percentage amount [as other municipalities]."

"Everyone has equal access to the funds they are looking for," Palmer-House responded.

"I don’t think it’s fair the town of North East, or the village of Millerton, with very small populations, pay the same as Dover or Amenia," said resident David Shufelt.

Village Trustee Marty Markonic agreed.

"For me it’s the fact we’re paying double," he said. "We’re asked to pay another $15,000 for the village when other towns with more people are paying just $15,000."

Both boards agreed they would wait to read the proposed intermunicipal agreement before making any kind of commitment to the project.