PINE PLAINS — Affordable Housing Task Force Chairman Jack McQuade made a presentation to the Town Board at its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 16, to discuss the issue of “fee in lieu of,” an important concept to how Pine Plains may ultimately structure its affordable housing bylaws.“We’ve been trying to determine the ‘fee in lieu of’ issues as part of the affordable housing section of the new zoning law,” McQuade said. He used Monopoly game pieces and money to illustrate different scenarios of how the strategy could work.One example was laid out with a 10-unit subdivision, which would be required to have 10 percent affordable housing, meaning one unit would fall within that requirement. Therefore, there would be 11 homes, one of which would qualify as affordable.“With the ‘fee in lieu of’ it became very complicated, and we’ve been grappling with it for the past year,” McQuade said. “The way we’ve been interpreting it is that if the developer had a 10-unit subdivision and was required to provide affordable housing under the law, he could pay a ‘fee in lieu of’ [building the affordable housing] and then it would be the town’s responsibility to take that fee and use it somehow to develop affordable housing.”But there is an issue with the Task Force’s interpretation.“The contention was that the way we were reading it was even with the fee used by the developer he would still get a bonus unit,” McQuade said. “It was my feeling that a bonus should be a reward for doing more, not less, and that the way we saw it was if a fee was used there would be no bonus units. And so that’s what we’ve been going back and forth with planners and the town attorney over, to try to come to a consensus about how the law is written and what it means and how it fits in with our feelings.”The sentiment was shared by all members of the Task Force, according to its chair. Town Board members did not act on the issue at the Feb. 16 meeting or make their opinions publicly known. In fact, McQuade will have to return to give a formal presentation to the board and make recommendations on how to draft an affordable housing law for the town.“We’re waiting for the planners to supply us with the fee schedule and that’s being worked on,” McQuade said, adding that’s the next step in the process. He also said the Task Force will be meeting with Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky next week, to make it clear how the group feels about the bonus issue as well as to get feedback from Replansky on the matter.Tackling a complex issueWhile McQuade made the presentation to the Town Board last week, some members of the public rose from their chairs and approached the board table to witness the action taking place with the Monopoly pieces. It was the second time McQuade used the game pieces to make his point. In October of last year he did so for the previous Town Board; he said he thought it would be beneficial to do the same for the newly elected board members who took office at the start of the New Year.“I hope it helped,” he said. “It’s been a very complicated issue and we’ve been grappling with it for a long time. For the new board members I just hope it made them see things a little more clearly.”One of the most difficult ideas to express when dealing with the subject of affordable housing, according to McQuade, is that there are different methods of achieving affordable housing — the fee in lieu of is just one of those methods. It is up to the discretion of the Town Board whether it wants to accept the fee; the board can also tell the developer to build the units or not.“With the fees it’s a little complicated, because the fee is not what the whole affordable housing should cost, it’s just the difference between what it would cost to build an affordable house and what an eligible family would pay — the restricted sales price — and the difference between what the cost to build is and the restricted sales price would be,” McQuade said. “And the town would be getting the fee.”He added the town can hire nonprofit housing companies that have experience in creating affordable housing and would take the fee money and develop the project from start to finish. As the Task Force moves forward it will consider its options of working with consultants, planners and possibly with nonprofit developers. The ultimate goal is to see that affordable housing is built.Workforce housingMeanwhile, McQuade said there was one last point he wanted to stress: The town is pursuing affordable, workforce housing — not low-income housing (often called Section 8 housing).“We’ve had some comments from our survey [last year] where residents were uncomfortable thinking that we were trying to promote Section 8 housing and that it was going to ruin our town. That’s not what we’re talking about,” he said. “It’s medium-income housing, not low-income housing.“We want to find housing for EMTs, teachers, nurses and others in the workforce in our community,” the chairman added. “This is for people that we depend on so much, but who can’t afford to live here. It’s workforce housing that we’re trying to develop.”
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Marsala is eager to go home with you.
Tiffany Lemelin, shelter manager, brushing Marsala upon arrival.Provided
The Little Guild is an animal shelter at 285 Sharon-Goshen Turnpike in West Cornwall. Founded in 1957, the organization rescues animals from local surrenders and under-resourced shelters. When a rescue animal arrives at The Little Guild, staff begins a careful intake and transition process to ensure the animal is safe, healthy and ready for adoption.
New arrivals are quarantined in-house. Vaccinations are verified as up to date, and staff assesses each animal’s medical, behavioral and placement needs. Rescues receive medical care, daily support and behavioral training to ease shelter stress. Once a dog has finished quarantine and is ready for a home, its profile is published at littleguild.org.
Michael DeBarba, certified dog trainer working with Marsala.Jennifer Almquist
Prospective adopters fill out an online application with information about their household and veterinary and personal references.
The next step is for the prospective adopter and family members to meet the dog. If there is already a dog in the household, a meet-and-greet is scheduled so the dogs can get acquainted.
The animal care staff offers guidance based on its knowledge of each animal’s personality, needs and quirks to help families find the best fit.
Marsala wins a heart.Jennifer Almquist
Once a match is made, the adoption contract outlines aftercare. Adopters agree to return the animal to The Little Guild if the adoption doesn’t work out. The organization’s commitment continues after adoption, with six months of free training and follow-up from staff to answer questions or address concerns.
“Please don’t pass Marsala by,” Lemelin said. “He loves people and other dogs. He’s a lap dog who lives for snuggles, cuddles and face kisses. Marsala deserves a family, a soft bed and a lifetime of being chosen.”
To find out about Marsala and other rescue dogs and cats, visit littleguild.org
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Sampson, a playful and independent blind hound mix, explores the rescue’s large yard.
Though she takes in dogs of all ages, including some with disabilities — and one resident cat — the rescue’s motto is “Giving old dogs new lives.”
Sadie, center, a Carolina dog, plays with her friend Negra, a terrier mix. Bella Linda, the small poodle, has since been adopted.L. Tomaino
Sadie, a sweet Carolina dog, was the first to greet visitors.
“She could really use a home,” Meade said.
Then came Bonnie and Clyde, rat terriers; Negra, a small terrier mix; Sampson, a blind hound mix; and Jay Z, a terrier mix who was emaciated when Meade took him in and has since filled out, with fur regrowing over previously bald patches. Wesley, a young, shaggy mix whom Meade calls “a very good boy,” is also in need of a home.
Wesley, a young, exuberant mix, is looking for an active home.L. Tomaino
Meade began rescuing dogs after going to Waterbury to adopt one and learning that, by the end of the three-day weekend, the dogs she was looking at would be euthanized to make room for others.
She went home and started her rescue in New Preston, Connecticut. After five years there, she moved to California, where she rescued dogs from overcrowded pounds for 13 years.
Meade, a busload of dogs and her cat moved back to the Northeast a little more than a year ago.
Ninety-nine percent of the dogs at the rescue come from pounds, both locally and in California and New York City.
“We are more than happy to place dogs with older people, and we are also willing to give support after the adoption,” Meade said, noting that some rescues will not adopt to people over 60.
Bonnie and Clyde, an affectionate terrier pair.L. Tomaino
For those who cannot adopt, the rescue needs donations of old blankets, dog and cat food, cleaning supplies, puppy pads and dog treats. Monetary donations are also welcome and can be made through the rescue’s website. Meade also welcomes volunteers to help with the dogs.
Contact Meade at 805-239-4004, 860-866-7986 or 4dots@att.net to arrange a visit or drop off donations. For available dogs and more information, visit meadecaninerescue.org.
Newtown Veterinary Specialists
For Berkshire County residents, VCA All Caring Animal Hospital, 440 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, can be a nearby first call. The full-service hospital offers diagnostics and hospitalization and asks clients with an emergency or a pet requiring immediate attention to call rather than use its online contact form. It is not a 24-hour emergency hospital, however. Current hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. Call 413-528-8020.
Poughkeepsie also has several options for urgent care. Creature Comforts Animal Hospital, 64 Pine St., is a full-service veterinary hospital offering emergency and critical care during regular business hours. The hospital treats dogs and cats as well as birds, reptiles and other exotic pets. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday. For after-hours emergencies involving dogs and cats, the hospital refers patients to regional emergency facilities. Call 845-625-2474.
Community Animal Care, 269 Titusville Road, offers urgent and emergency care during operating hours and asks pet owners to call ahead. Regular hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Urgent care is available daily by calling ahead, with extended hours until 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The practice also offers after-hours veterinary triage by video to help owners determine whether a pet can safely wait or should be taken to a 24-hour facility. Call 845-471-7459.
When an animal needs care in the middle of the night, on a holiday or for a potentially life-threatening condition, the options become more limited.
Guardian Veterinary Specialists, 4 Hardscrabble Heights in Brewster, is a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital, open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Its emergency department is staffed around the clock, with on-site imaging and laboratory services. No appointment is necessary for an emergency, although calling ahead is encouraged when possible. Call 914-704-3400.
Provided
Newtown Veterinary Specialists, 52 Church Hill Road in Newtown, Connecticut, also provides emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. No appointment is required for emergency care, although the hospital recommends calling ahead when possible. Call 203-270-8387.
Pet owners should remember that emergency veterinary hospitals operate much like human emergency rooms in that patients are triaged according to the severity of their condition, so animals with less critical problems may have to wait.
The best preparation is simple. Keep the number of your regular veterinarian and at least one 24-hour emergency hospital in your phone, and know roughly how long it will take to get there. If circumstances allow, call before leaving home to confirm where your pet should be seen.
When something goes wrong at 10 p.m. on a Sunday, knowing where you’re headed can make a frightening situation a little less overwhelming.
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