Positive news for town on grants, projects

AMENIA — The Town Board received positive updates on the Old Amenia landfill project, Borden Park and grants coming into the town during its meeting July 12.

Landfill update

In an update on the Old Amenia Landfill project, town Supervisor Janet Reagon said the town now officially owns two acres of the landfill that was previously owned by Carl Saliter, who operated a propane business on the land.

“We are gratified we got the land because there was a possibility that if we didn’t, it would have held the project up,� Reagon said. “There are still gas tanks from the property that need to be removed, but afterwards the town will be able to prove to the Department of Environmental Conservation that we own this property.�

The town plans to take the 29-acre landfill, which has been closed since the 1990s, and convert it into an environmental education center.

Town grants

In an update of town grants, Reagon said the town received a $3,000 grant from the environmental group Trout Unlimited to improve the fishing habitat and access at Wassaic Creek.

She said the town would meet with the environmental group on how to best use the grant.

According to a list provided by the town, the town has received  a total of $256,490 this year, $111,093 worth of ongoing grants, and has a total of $210,000 worth of grants pending.

The board approved the construction and purchase of two 36-by-42- foot historical information signs for Borden Park for $1,207 each.

The signs are part of the improvement project for Borden Park, funded by a $10,000 legislative initiative grant that was awarded last year through state Sen. Vincent Leibell’s office.

Enhancement Committee member Andy Durbridge said plans for the park also include planting a new variety of Hawthorne trees and installing two new benches donated by resident Linda Goidiell.

“This began as a $10,000 grant, and the interesting thing is that we will be maximizing the return for the site,� Durbridge said. “It’s a very small location but it’s extremely important to visitors.�

After the meeting, he said the maintenance costs for the park for the next few years will be about the same as it is right now, although he could not give an exact figure.

“It will simply be the same mowing costs as it is now, but it will be easier because the ground will be flat, the benches will be on gravel so it won’t even need to be weed-whacked,� he said. “That area isn’t even mowed by the town, it’s mowed by the Pawling Corporation.�

The park is named for Gail Borden, who opened his condensed milk factory in Wassiac in 1861. The factory closed in the 1920s.

Shed dread

During public comments, resident Katherine Finkel complained to the board about a 10-by-16-foot pre-built shed that was put next door to her home, on the property of Calsi’s General Store, which is owned by Sharon Kroeger.

Finkel said she asked several people, including the truck driver delivering the shed, and the building and zoning inspectors, who all told her Kroeger did not have a permit.

“Are they trying to sneak this in before all these laws are going through or what?� Finkel said. “Suppose I wasn’t there when the building was put there? You just can’t pop up somewhere and put up a shed.�

She continued for several minutes to accuse Kroeger of building violations and accused Mark Doyle, husband of Councilwoman Vicki Doyle, of conflict of interest violations because he was at the store during the time the shed was delivered.

After the meeting, town Building Inspector Michael Segleken said that Kroeger did not have a permit for the shed.

“She was in the process of obtaining it, but she ordered a shed she liked and they delivered it to her the next day,� Singleton said. “She moved the shed to her residential property on Leedsville Road, and because the property is in an agricultural district, she’s allowed to put it there.�

In an e-mail interview, Kroeger said Finkel’s comments amounted to slander.

“First, there was a dishonest and inaccurate summary about events related to my new storage shed, which was not delivered on Main Street according to plan,â€� Kroeger said.  “Second, there was an unrelated set of statements about me, personally, which included gossip, misinformation and slander. Several times among these comments, Cathy mentioned an earlier civic position I had taken about ‘ethics’ and voting, so it appears that this tirade was reprisal for such comments.â€�

Unsubstantiated accusations

Resident Tom Warner accused the Town Board of misappropriating money within the town budget, and referred to Chapter Five of town law which states that town money must be within every provision made within town budget.

However, when Reagon questioned Warner, he could not say which expenditures were misappropriated.

“I think you need to come in and talk with me and we can go through [the budget] line by line, item by item,� she said. “To my knowledge, there is not an item that is [misappropriated].�

In other business...

In her report, Town Clerk Gail Hermosilla said the town received a Department of Environmental and Conservation computer that issues hunting and fishing licenses, and encouraged residents to apply.

After interviewing six candidates for more than two hours, James Fraleigh was appointed as the town’s new transfer station attendant. Fraleigh will replace longtime attendant Jack Rooney, who resigned earlier in the month.

A retirement reception for Rooney will be held tonight at 6 p.m., right before the Town Board meeting.

The board approved a motion to advertise for a per diem security guard for its court. Interviews for the position will be held in the next few weeks.

The board accepted the retirement of town historian Ken Hoadley, and commended him for the work he has done for the town.

Councilman Wayne Euvrard was not present at the meeting.