Supervisor Shares 2007 Goals With Public

"Even though members of the Town Board have sometimes disagreed with each other, I think we have worked together well to deal with the issues we face as a town," Reagon said.

One of Reagon’s goals last year was making Town Hall more high-tech by installing new computers and activating a server system so employees could communicate electronically.

Misfortune struck last July when a car smashed into Town Hall, causing massive structural damage. The Town Clerk’s office was severely damaged by the accident. However, no town data was lost because the server was up and running a few weeks before.

"We were able to recover in about a week," said Reagon, who also praised Town Hall employees for putting in many extra hours to make Town Hall operational. "They went above and beyond, as I have discovered is their normal way of functioning, even without a crisis to deal with. I would like to publicly thank them."

Last April, the board voted to change the number of voters in Amenia’s voting districts to make Election Day 2006 run more smoothly than the year before.

"No voter had to wait very long in line ... I’m proud of the steps we took," Reagon said.

When Reagon took office last January, she said one of her main goals was to clean up the old Amenia Landfill, a site that was shut down by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) late last decade because it contained toxic sediment.

The town of Amenia signed a settlement with the DEC, as well as the Amenia Landfill Group, an alliance formed between the other nine organizations and municipalities that used the landfill in the past. The town of Amenia now owns the landfill property, which lies on 26 acres.

Another provision of the document is that all members of the group agreed not to sue each other, "protecting Amenia against long, expensive lawsuits," Reagon said.

Finally, the town of Amenia will

use the funds of the other members of the landfill group (also known as generators) before it has to spend a dime on the cleanup process.

"This is a precedent-setting settlement, unique in the history of landfill cleanups in the state," Reagon said.

Kimberlea Rea, the town’s landfill attorney, will attend the board’s Jan. 18 meeting in order to brief the board on landfill issues and take questions and comments from the public.

Another one of Reagon’s concerns is the shortage of fire and rescue squad volunteers in Amenia and the hamlet of Wassaic.

Late last year, Wassaic Fire Chief Robert Boyles said the town and hamlet may have to switch to a paid rescue service because of the lack of volunteers.

"One of my goals is to work towards a regional solution ... I will be scheduling a meeting with my counterparts in nearby towns ... I also plan to work with some of our elected representatives to address some of the concerns of our volunteers," Reagon said.

Last year, the Recreation Commission, as well as the Amenia Lions Club, improved town recreation space at Beekman Park with a new pavilion and new baseball dugouts and infield.

Reagon commended both organizations for their hard work and said the town has similar plans for Wassaic Park, a hamlet space that abuts the Pawling Rubber Corporation.

Reagon hopes that Amenia’s Community Day, which takes place on Sept. 15, can be held at the soon-to-be renovated park.

"My goal is that all the citizens of Amenia will be able to enjoy new and improved recreation facilities in Wassaic," said Reagon, who added that she, as well as other members of the board, hope to extend the Harlem Valley Rail Trail from the Wassaic Metro North Train Station to the heart of the hamlet.

Reagon’s "top priority" in the next year is the adoption of a revised town zoning law and comprehensive plan, documents that the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee (CPIC) is currently drafting.

A public hearing for the documents, which are almost complete, will be held early next month.

"I believe that it is critical the plan be adopted and the zoning law implemented, so we can have good planning and smart growth in Amenia. It will serve as a blueprint for the future," Reagon said of the revised plan and law. "We need to continue to work with developers to benefit the town, as well as the applicant."

Reagon ended her speech with these words:

"Amenia’s greatest strength is in its citizens and sense of community. I believe I have a responsibility to all people and I will continue to operate that way. I’m very grateful that I have this job. We have the privilege of living in one of the most beautiful towns in the country; let’s work together for the benefit of all."

"This is a precedent-setting settlement, unique in the history of landfill cleanups in the state," Reagon said.

Kimberlea Rea, the town’s landfill attorney, will attend the board’s Jan. 18 meeting in order to brief the board on landfill issues and take questions and comments from the public.

Another one of Reagon’s concerns is the shortage of fire and rescue squad volunteers in Amenia and the hamlet of Wassaic.

Late last year, Wassaic Fire Chief Robert Boyles said the town and hamlet may have to switch to a paid rescue service because of the lack of volunteers.

"One of my goals is to work towards a regional solution ... I will be scheduling a meeting with my counterparts in nearby towns ... I also plan to work with some of our elected representatives to address some of the concerns of our volunteers," Reagon said.

Last year, the Recreation Commission, as well as the Amenia Lions Club, improved town recreation space at Beekman Park with a new pavilion and new baseball dugouts and infield.

Reagon commended both organizations for their hard work and said the town has similar plans for Wassaic Park, a hamlet space that abuts the Pawling Rubber Corporation.

Reagon hopes that Amenia’s Community Day, which takes place on Sept. 15, can be held at the soon-to-be renovated park.

"My goal is that all the citizens of Amenia will be able to enjoy new and improved recreation facilities in Wassaic," said Reagon, who added that she, as well as other members of the board, hope to extend the Harlem Valley Rail Trail from the Wassaic Metro North Train Station to the heart of the hamlet.

Reagon’s "top priority" in the next year is the adoption of a revised town zoning law and comprehensive plan, documents that the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee (CPIC) is currently drafting.

A public hearing for the documents, which are almost complete, will be held early next month.

"I believe that it is critical the plan be adopted and the zoning law implemented, so we can have good planning and smart growth in Amenia. It will serve as a blueprint for the future," Reagon said of the revised plan and law. "We need to continue to work with developers to benefit the town, as well as the applicant."

Reagon ended her speech with these words:

"Amenia’s greatest strength is in its citizens and sense of community. I believe I have a responsibility to all people and I will continue to operate that way. I’m very grateful that I have this job. We have the privilege of living in one of the most beautiful towns in the country; let’s work together for the benefit of all."