Town talks water rates, beach house and back pay

PINE PLAINS — The Town Board gathered for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15, at Town Hall. At that time a variety of miscellaneous issues were addressed.Vivian Walsh was reappointed as a library trustee, for a term running from February 2015 until February 2016.The town’s bills were approved.There were no public comments.Zoning changes were discussed. Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky handed the board a resolution and a Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF), part one, regarding the changes. (Look for future coverage of those zoning amendments in The Millerton News.)The building inspector gave his monthly report. Inspector Drew Weaver told the board he wants to remind residents about the local snow removal law that requires snow to be removed from streets and sidewalks within 24 hours after falling.A motion was made to accept the contract with Equitable Assessments, the company that conducted the town-wide property revaluation recently, to update the roll. That contract will be OK’d once attorney Replansky makes the required corrections. Once that’s done, the supervisor is authorized to sign it.The police department report was submitted, as was the water department report.A motion was made by town Councilman Gary Cooper and seconded by Councilman George Keeler, passing 5 to 0, to approve the water rate increase from $40.50 to $41.50 for up to 9,000 gallons, and from $4 to $5 per 1,000 gallons over 9,000 as further set forth in the schedule on file with the town clerk. The board also approved a hydrant fee change. A rate of $5,500 will be charged to the fire department in order for it to have access to all of the hydrants in town. The fire department must pay the board that amount; it did not do so in 2013 or in 2014.There will be a meeting with Fire Chief Brian Walsh, Town Engineer and Water Department Deputy Consultant Ray Jurkowski, Fire Department Liaison and town Councilman Richard Brenner and one other representative from the Town Board on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to discuss the fire department’s arrangements with the town and its water department.Jurkowski gave a report on the town beach house. Plans are about 80 percent complete; Dutchess County planning department will have to approve those plans before they go out to bid for the work to be done. The town hopes to begin construction by April. There will be two phases: the first will be for the bathroom and storage area; the second will be for a new office and concession stand.The engineer also discussed the water main replacement projects for West Church Street, South Main Street and East Main Street. He will be working with accountant Mike Torcia, town Supervisor Brian Coons and Councilman Cooper to discuss the matter.Recreation Director Catherine Prentice was authorized to purchase a new batting cage for $1,740. She also noted that seven wrestlers from town went to John Jay High School for a “take-down tournament.”Recreation Committee member Jessica Silva spoke about a bus trip to Cranx, located in Syracuse, on Sunday, Feb. 15. Cranx is an indoor/outdoor bike and sports park; tickets will be $55, not including rentals. The bus will leave at 7 a.m. and return at 11 p.m. The board approved budgeting a maximum of $500 to help sponsor the trip.The highway department also submitted a report. The 550 truck has been ordered though it will be a couple of months before it’s ready and the body is added on.The board then went into an executive session to discuss personnel and salaries. It returned to approve the salary and wage schedule.The board also made a motion to pay Highway Superintendent Heather Wilson back vacation pay from when she was secretary to the assessor and highway department. Wilson was reimbursed $1,591.60.The board then adjourned.