Letters to the Editor 10-15-15

Let’s start over and get it right

Many town residents are just now learning about the project and bond authorization referendum to increase town debt by $3.15 million, which will appear on the town of North East’s Nov. 3rd ballot. Voting yes will authorize town taxpayers’ bond expenditure of $197,398 every year for the next 25 years. (Go to www.townofnortheastny.gov and look under the projects tab for more information.)

Everyone agrees that we need a new town garage in an appropriate location, but many informed residents intend to vote no because of increased taxes, overpaying $1.75 million for two properties currently assessed at $1.1 million, plus the additional expenses of relocating and renovating a new Town Hall — totaling $3,150,000. A new highway garage should be the top priority, not an oversized, unattractive Town Hall distant from the village business center.

If this bond is voted down it’s important to consider how to proceed with a new supervisor and Town Board to relocate the town garage. We should avoid the mistakes that have resulted in this currently proposed costly investment.

Start by determining what we actually need in a new highway garage — in terms of ideal structure, location and land. Establish a budget that taxpayers can afford. Publicly announce the town’s intention to acquire land and/or a facility in the town that meets the criteria. Hold public meetings during the process to inform the public and solicit input and ideas. Evaluate alternatives and make a recommendation. Hold a special election to vote on a bond issue that taxpayers can afford. A small working group including the supervisor, a highway department representative and local town and village volunteers with expertise in real estate and construction can do this work in less than 12 months. The entire process should be transparent.

The town of Ancram spent less than $500,000 to build their new 6,720-square-foot garage complete with radiant heat in 2010 and the town of North East Fire Department is now soliciting bids for $750,000 for their sizable new facility in the village. We can build a great highway garage that we can afford. 

Let’s start over, get it right and do it out in the open.

Christine Bates

Millerton Village Trustee

Blalock needed in County Legislature

During my almost four years on the Pine Plains Town Board I have had direct experience with Debra Blalock, our former county legislator, and our current county legislator, Gregg Pulver (R-19). The differences are striking and consequential. 

For decades, this district has been short-changed by the county Legislature. Taxes flow out and very little trickles back, leaving our towns to fight each other over the scraps. But in her one short year as our county legislator, Ms. Blalock made tremendous strides in turning that around. We finally had an advocate and a trusted moderator who brought our towns together for mutual benefits. By every action she undertook upon winning election, she helped to improve our district, improve our access to county resources and ensured local issues were heard at the county level.

Our current county legislator, on the other hand, is surprisingly indifferent. In his position as county legislator, he has been to only one Pine Plains town meeting in two years. He has neither informed the Town Board or community nor asked us of our thoughts on proposed legislation. Also, most importantly, we wonder what is going on with the North Main Street bridge? 

Debra Blalock, as our county legislator, had and will represent the diverse interests of our towns and families without political overtones. Our current representative has done little for our town but supported the priorities of the leadership in Poughkeepsie.

James R. Jackson

Pine Plains Town Councilman

Pine Plains

 Molinaro helps everyone

It doesn’t matter what political party you belong to when you talk to County Executive Marc Molinaro. He doesn’t first ask what party  you belong to before sitting down with you to hear your ideas about programs and services in Dutchess County. He doesn’t act like he is above you and doesn’t brush you off when you want to tell him your concerns and ideas. 

He is a smart, honest guy who has the best interest of the county at heart and doesn’t play party politics and one-upmanship. He brings everyone to the table regardless of party or agenda and talks in a calm way to work through ideas and how something might work. 

I will be voting for Marc Molinaro for county executive because he is a great leader willing to listen and consider all ideas without prejudice.

Janet Silvestri

Poughkeepsie

Making amends for behavior

I would like to start off by conveying my sincerest and heartfelt apologies for my conduct as an Amenia town councilman. I ask the residents of the town of Amenia to forgive me for my actions. I was just as obstinate and belligerent as the other board members during the meetings.

I don’t write this for political expediency or to change people’s minds about me. I write this because my behavior was wrong and Amenia deserves better from all of us!

To show I mean what I say effective immediately I am donating my monthly salary for October, November and December to sponsor children of Amenia residents who can’t afford our summer program for the 2016 summer recreation season.

I ran for this position to try to help this community. I am sorry I allowed the negativity to get the better of me. I will try to finish out my term the way I started it, with idealism and enthusiasm for issues important to all Amenia residents.

Stephen D. Perotti

Amenia Town Councilman

Amenia

Gipson committed to area

I am writing to commend former state Sen. Terry Gipson for remaining committed to Dutchess and Putnam counties even after his term has ended. For those of us who are also active members of our community, it is wonderful to see that Terry Gipson’s hard work continues.

Unfortunately, in the past few months some have chosen to spew negativity and attack him for attending events, nearly all of which are public and can be attended by anyone. It’s hard to imagine someone as dedicated to his community, who was a local volunteer and village trustee before becoming a state senator, would choose not to continue to be part of the community he has dedicated so much time to.

By attending public community events and meetings, meeting with stakeholders to stay up to date on important community issues and speaking up when appropriate to hold our local officials at all levels of government accountable, Terry Gipson has shown how deep his affection for his fellow Hudson Valley residents is.

In fact, it seems that we can find Terry Gipson in more places and engaged in more projects than many of those currently holding elected office. While I understand why Sen. Sue Serino’s hometown Republicans are concerned with her poor first year as state senator, Gipson can teach us all a lesson on persevering through the negativity and finding the time to do what’s right. We should all strive to take part in the future of the region. 

Franc Palaia

Rhinebeck

Blalock gets my support

It’s time for a change (back). I urge the voters of District 19 (Pine Plains, Milan, North East and Stanford) to vote for Debra Blalock for our county legislator. Debra held this position in 2013. She has the energy, commitment and — perhaps most important — loyalty to the residents of our four towns that we need in our representative to the County Legislature.                   

It is disappointing to discover (Duchess County Legislature minutes) that every single vote cast by our current legislator, Gregg Pulver, has followed the party line handed down by his leadership. That sort of loyalty, while commendable with family and friends, is questionable when you were elected to represent a part of the county whose interests may at times differ from Poughkeepsie’s. 

This is in sharp contrast to the way Debra voted when she was legislator; she voted in accordance with the needs of the towns, regardless of the position taken by her party. She then took the time and expended the energy necessary to harmonize the interests of our four towns and improve the standing and benefits for all. 

I note that despite the claims of the county executive that the tax rate is the lowest in eight years, I believe that for most people taxes actually increased even as services have been cut.  The current  Legislature continues to rubber stamp questionable policies. The consequence is that short-​sighted or ill-​considered bills, like the tax on heating oil or the holding back of funds our towns counted on to keep their budgets balanced, get passed.

Isn’t it time to put Debra back in office so that we have a county legislator who will vote in the interests of the residents of the district rather than the leadership in Poughkeepsie?   

Amy Rothstein

Pine Plains