Board addresses municipal business

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Town Board met Thursday, Sept. 20, for what town Supervisor Brian Coons later described as a “quiet meeting” with few members of the public in attendance. Coons said the board discussed its Community Development Block Grant application, which the board wants to use for sidewalk replacement and repair on East Church Street. Pine Plains is applying for the grant because the sidewalk needs repairs and a couple of things need replacement. If awarded, the block grant will also go toward adding some decorative lighting on South Main Street.A public hearing for the block grant proposal is set for Thursday, Oct. 4. “The board decided that’s where our applications should focus this year,” said Coons about the sidewalk project. “Then we hold public comment, then our decisions are forwarded and go to the county and hopefully are accepted.”Town Board tends to justice courtThe Town Board approved a grant idea suggested for repairs to the town justice court at its meeting as well. The two town justices put in a grant request through the Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP), which is a program that was established in 1999 to provide state assistance to town and village courts. The grant for the justice court would improve the facility, which is located in the bottom floor of the Town Hall. The board gave its approval for the project proposal on Sept. 20, allowing the justices time to submit the grant.The town’s accountant, Mike Tortia, spoke at the board meeting, advising the board on budgeting. The budget season has just begun for towns statewide. Tortia advised the board on trends in their budget over the years and some changes the board could make this year to save money and manpower.

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