Tuesday June 8, 2004
7:30pm
Town of Red Hook Regular Monthly Meeting
A regular monthly meeting of the Red Hook Town Board was held Tuesday June 8, 2004 at the Town Hall with the following in attendance:
Supervisor – Marirose Blum Bump
Councilman – James Ross
Councilwoman – Sue Crane
Councilwoman – Jean Bordewich
Councilman – Harold Ramsey
Town Clerk – Margaret E. Doty
Absent: Highway Superintendent Hildenbrand who was attending Highway School.
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge
Allegiance to the Flag.
Supervisor Blum Bump read the Supervisor’s Report for May.
Motion by Councilman Ross, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich and carried
approving the Supervisor’s Report as read.
RESOLUTION 2004 #19
RE – Budget Adjustments and Transfers
Resolution was offered by Councilman James Ross, seconded by Councilwoman Jean
Bordewich and carried authorizing the Supervisor to make the necessary Budget
Adjustments and Transfers. Copy Attached
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Councilwoman Crane, seconded by Councilman Ramsey and carried
unanimously dispensing with the reading of the May meeting.
At this time Supervisor Blum Bump opened the floor for the Public Comment
Period.
Emily Houpt 1 West Bard Avenue asked if the Board was able to respond to her
request she had made in a letter about closing Kelly Road at Route 9 G.
According to the State and the County that I have spoken to the town has the
authority to close that road.
For thirty years people are getting wiped out, so we can save lives.
Maralyne Fleischman 99 Kelly Road – I have been in my home for 3 years. Very
busy road and I live directly across from Aspinwall so I have to listen and
look before pulling out. Even though it reads 35 miles per hour people speed
through on Kelly Road. Hope you do something about this problem.
Harriet Thompson 5 West Bard Ave.- a new resident of three months on Bard Ave
but prior to that I lived on the Bard Campus for 15 years. I know accidents
happen at that intersection almost on a weekly basis, friends and neighbors.
This is a very dangerous intersection and we should take a step forward as
something has to be done putting a light there or closing the intersection.
Jane Heidcamp 53 Kelly Road a resident for three and a half years. People go
55 miles per hour on Kelly Road as they are usually on their way to work. Have
spoken to the Sheriff’s Department who claim there is no way they can patrol
the road. I work at home so I hear the traffic going all day, so I don’t think
we have any other choice but to close the road, no way for them to put a light
there so the only alternative is close the road.
Councilwoman Bordewich questioned why the Sheriff couldn’t patrol the road and
the reason given was that there was no shoulder or pull over on Kelly Road for
the Sheriff to pull on to.
David Houpt 1 West Bard Ave said he has lived here two years and have had
several close calls turning from Kelly Road to Route 9G.
Monday through Friday is non stop traffic from 7-9:00 a.m. they are on their
way to the school. These people keep our kids safe all day long but they don’t
think about it when they drive down Kelly Road.
Wendy Wilson 10 West Bard third turn from the corner off of Kelly and have
lived there for 10 years. Corner isn’t getting any better with the added
construction, people moving in and the school enlarging. These accidents are
increasing and only going to get worse, think we should correct it now. I
don’t have the answer it is a big problem and only getting bigger.
There is no margin of error on that corner. We are here to make you aware and
hope there is a solution.
If the road was closed and there was a need for emergency vehicle they would
just drive over these yellow poles and have easy access.
Emily Houpt said the other point she wanted to make if you closed that
intersection that would increase the next one north. That intersection also
has problems, but I think it could be easily solved.
Supervisor Blum Bump asked if you were on 9G would there be a problem going
into Kelly Road. They felt there was a problem going either right or left.
People come too fast to stop when you are turning onto Kelly Road.
State and County have both said the Route 9G in that area has been graded to
the best possible limit.
Councilman Ramsey said he has responded to many accidents at that intersection
so he knows what concerns they have.
Supervisor Blum Bump said we have a history of trying to deal with that
corner.
Councilwoman Bordewich said my daughter has been injured twice at the corner
so I know where you are coming from. When I first come into office 6 years ago
a resident of the road has a petition with two hundred signatures so we did
take it seriously. It took several years to get the state to put up the
flashing beacon light. A stop light was not put in because the state felt it
was not a safe place for one. Straightening out the curve is not going to
happen as it would be too expensive to do that according to the state.
Emily Houpt said the State, County and the Town don’t have a comprehensive way
of tracking accidents though they think they do.
Councilwoman Bordewich said we should be getting reports of accidents in our
town on a regular basis since we do have State, County and Town roads.
Emily Houpt said one other consideration I would like to place on the town.
When you have a dangerous intersection and you do nothing about it the
liability falls back on the Town.
Councilwoman Bordewich said we should have our Roads and Traffic safety
Committee look at this problem before we could think of closing the road we
would have to contact the State and also have a public hearing on it to get
the public comment.
The alternative route, Whalesback Road also comes out on Route 9G so again the
state would be involved.
Emily Houpt questioned Councilwoman Bordewich if she would take the consensus
of the town people whether or not to close the road.
Councilwoman Bordewich said she listens to the input of the public but have to
make up my own mind on how I vote based on my understanding of the issue.
June 21st 6:30 p.m. will be meeting of the Roads and Safety Committee. Kelly
Road and Route 9G will be on the agenda. The other issue will be Whalesback
Road.
Steve Heidcamp 53 Kelly Road questioned are we going to wait until someone
else is killed before to do anything. On the Taconic it took the date of a
mother and child before they closed those roads.
Councilwoman Bordewich asked Mr. Heidcamp if he would be willing to serve on
the Road and Safety Committee as they could use someone with his passion for
the project. He consented to serve.
Councilwoman Crane said my experience have been that if local official partner
with County Officials and elected officials go to bat for you it will happen,
but it takes that kind of persistence.
Emily Houpt speaking to Senator Saland and Assemblyman Pat Manning said it
really makes a difference if the town board is behind you.
Councilwoman Bordewich said to find out the statistics at that intersection we
could probably go to 911 which would be better than going to the state.
Supervisor Blum Bump thanked everyone for coming and said we will work on this
at our next workshop.
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey and carried
closing the public comment period.
This Sunday June 13th they will be celebrating Flag Day with a parade from
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. ending at the Elks Club.
Letter from Attorney Albert Trezza informing the board that Cingular Wireless
is very much interested in taking the fourth position on our tower.
There was some discussion about the rent, and feel that Cingular should pay
the same as the other tower users.
Would like the authority to finalize this lease.
Motion by Councilwoman Crane, seconded by Councilwoman Ramsey and carried
authorizing Attorney Albert Trezza to finalize the lease with Cingular
Wireless at the same rent of the other tower users.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich and carried
appointing Erica Brown, John Douglas, Dave Michitsch and Kevin Mowry to the
Disaster Preparedness Committee.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Councilwoman Crane said the Senior Housing Committee met today and talked
about having an expo at the firehouse in September cosponsored by the Red Hook
Chamber of Commerce.
One of the discussions was not to discontinue the Dial-A-Ride Service. We will
have to market that program will need to get a plan of action.
The Expo could very well be a yearly event for the seniors.
Agricultural Advisory Committee:
Councilwoman Crane gave a report on the Agricultural Committee from Chairman
Robert McKeon requesting assistance from Dutchess County Planning with
exploration of a TDR in Red Hook, transfer development right in Red Hook
(specifically appropriate areas).
They are also requesting to survey large landowners with respect to their
interest in land preservation and their awareness of the PDR program.
Have decided to come up with a list with respect to FPC with approves PDR
Application.
This would be very good helpful to the Town.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Crane appointing John
Douglas as Chairman of the Disaster Preparedness Committee.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilman Ramsey appointing for
one year appointment 2004 (one year and two year rotating 2005 and 2006). Jeff
Ackerly, Tom LeGrand, Ryan McCann, Brad Mitchell, Doug Moat, Darryl Mosher,
Linda Page, Art Smith Jr., Mary Bayer and Theresa Haney.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Recreation Park:
Councilman Ramsey reported that the Rec. Park Commission will be meeting next
Monday. Summer programs are all set up the next sign up is Saturday the 12th
here at the Town Hall.
They are looking to the roller hockey rink that is in need of repairs.
They are concerned with unleashed dogs in the park and are looking into this
with new signs.
Water Department:
Councilwoman Crane gave a report on the Water Board. Well level is normal, up
a bit pumping 91,000 a day. Filter system is up and running. Pump house work
which Ted Kudzy is checking into for price and schedule.
Tank inspected will be June 28th.
Hydrant Flushing done on May 20th no calls on “dirty water”.
Purchasing Department:
Supervisor Blum Bump read the report for Purchasing Activity May 12-June 7,
2004.
36 Purchase orders issued in the amount of $22,141. Largest being Expanded
Supply for culvert pipe $3,106.
Looking into alternatives to install hydrants at Rec. Park.
Orders have been placed for summer’s rec. programs.
Going out for quotes on the well site building.
Recycle Center:
Supervisor Blum Bmp read the report from TJ Hackett on the Recycle Center. He
would like to thank the Highway Department for installing the two new signs.
The mowing and weed whacking has been done requiring extra hours.
Organizing the refrigerators and A.C. units and have 30 of them.
They would like to have water out at the center.
There is a problem with someone dumping the garbage after the gate has been
closed.
TJ wanted to thank the Town Board for putting their trust in him.
Dog Control:
Councilwoman Bordewich said the dog control did not pick up any dogs this
month.
Working on dog licensing with Margaret.
Councilman Ramsey said the highway department is laying pipe so Kelly Road and
Whalesback will be shut down June 10th.
Councilwoman Bordewich said now that the County has finished paving Linden
Ave. she said a letter should be sent thanking them for putting down the
yellow lines.
Supervisor Blum Bump told Paul Telesca from Forest Park, if the signs he wants
up are enforceable signs and if they can be put up on Red Hook property than
we would go ahead in good faith if we can do that.
Councilman Ross said the Zoning Board of Appeals met Wednesday night with two
public hearings scheduled, Red Hook Boat Club and an area variance.
Workshop June 15th 7:30 p.m. and the public is welcome.
Motion by Councilman Ross, seconded by Councilwoman Crane and carried auditing
and approving for payment bills from the General Fund and the Highway Fund
bill nos. to in the amount of $
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich and carried
the meeting adjourned 9:12 p.m.
Town Clerk
Margaret E. Doty