Town of Red Hook Town Board
Workshop Meeting
April 29, 2005
A workshop was held Tuesday May 3, 2005 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
Also present: Deputy Supervisor William O'Neill
Supervisor Blum Bump opened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. with the Pledge Allegiance
to the Flag.
Supervisor Blum Bump than opened the floor for a 15 minute comment period.
Rosemarie Zengen representing "Save Our Town"... we are opposed to the spending
of 3 million dollars for the purchase of Central Hudson or anything close to
that would be outrageous, with the reval going on and the new garage also at
9:00 p.m. when you go into Executive Session we want this thing with Kathy
Steward cleared up as a month has passed by and nothing has been resolved.
On the Conservation Easement I have been getting the feed back that people are
opposed to it. I don't know where Mr. McKeon comes off saying everyone is for
it. I have spoken to many people who are opposed because they did not want to
pick up the slack on these properties.
Lou Dondero said as far as that easement goes I feel it is a slap in the face
for the people. On my road alone there is 100 acre parcel that breaks up to
three people they are part of this undeveloped land. Now I have 9 acres where do
I come in as you need 10 acres to qualify. When you read the paper you think
everyone was in favor and they are not. Same way with Central Hudson land I can
see trails going up and down Red Hook, here you are inviting people in and over
here you want to stop development you have to have an equal balance.
Resident Linda Keeling said she wanted to thank Sue McCann for helping out with
"Village Greens" who planted 12 trees including one at the Town Hall. Right now
we are up to 70 trees having been planted in the Village. 4H group helped with
mulching the trees.
Supervisor Blum Bump closed the comment period.
Assessor Richard Trotti was present to answer the Boards questions concerning
"Senior Exemptions". The public hearing on this exemption will be held May 10,
2005 at 7:15 p.m.
Councilwoman Bordewich said she had spoken to Richard and he said as of 4/14/05
there are 137 Senior Exemptions of these only 24 would not be eligible with a
new sliding scale they will receive town only 113 will receive Town and School.
Councilman Ramsey said we are with this new law it will be up to $29,700.
Councilwoman Crane said that with $29,700 we will match the county levels and
percentage.
Assessor Trotti said of the 137 people 113 will qualify and receive the County
and Town at least a percentage.
For those who have forgotten to file the office will call and remind them.
Deputy Supervisor O'Neill reported on the Working Group looking for June 6, 2005
first meeting of the Task Force. Tivoli has already chosen their members and I
ask tonight the Board consider their membership. The schools resolution
designates the school an interested agency under SEQA. The school will tell us
what they will review and comment on potential impacts of proposed developments.
Remember there is a two hour workshop under SEQA June 22nd at 7:30 p.m. - fourth
Wednesday.
Supervisor Blum Bump, Deputy Supervisor O'Neill and Greenplan have been meeting
with Doctors Migliorelli and Leone on their property off Linden Ave. Right now
they are down to considerable less in the development they are down to maybe 15
lots. They also proposed to give to the Town the central part of the parcel
which is almost 60 acres for a park. We are still working on it.
We have been meeting also for the special project - the Highway Garage. The
Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor and Highway Superintendent met with Morris
Associates- looking at bids going out this fall. The price has now gone up
according to Morris Associates so we have asked them to take the original plans
and maybe revise them. With respect to the water in the South East corridor
Anderson Commons we have been meeting with the Village of Red Hook on its
proposal to extend the water to the Town from the Village of Red Hook, another
meeting with the Village officials is May 16th.
We received a letter from Greenplan regarding the roads and street widths. One
of the things that is being studied engineered and surveyed is the road running
from Hannaford through Hardscrabble Place to Metzger Road and around property
here to connect up with and than out to 199.
The Dutchess County Planning came up with different types of roadways.
The Town of Red Hook roads are a wider road 26 ft. Greenplan came up with a
narrower road for Anderson Commons. In the future we will sit down with Highway
Superintendent and discuss this.
Councilman Ramsey said our highway specifications say 26 ft. and if we were to
follow along with this type of Village streets in this development we would have
to change the highway law.
Councilwoman Bordewich said if we are going to have sidewalks in these
developments than maybe we don't have to have such wide roads. We can talk to
Wayne regarding the width of roads.
On the Conservation Easement SEQRA requirement the Town Board will act as Lead
Agency.
Councilman Ramsey said it would be nice if we had all of land easements
compacted so we would know the impact the Conservation Easement will have on the
Town.
Robert McKeon said he is working on it.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she would check into whether or not the SEQRA would be
a short or long form.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she would like to see a substantial raise in the
amount for Rec. Park Fees.
Councilman Ross said this is the Rec. fee on a new lot in a subdivision. We have
been at $900 of a few years so we should increase it but $5,000 is much too
much.
Councilwoman Crane said we are not Southern Dutchess so we should think like
them as our land value isn't as high as LaGrange for instance.
After much discussing $3,000 was agreed upon by 3 Board members with review
again at each budget time whether or not to increase it.
Village of Red Hook Planning Board will act as Lead Agency for Anderson Commons
and Old Soap Factory.
Councilman Ramsey said he will send his comments to the Ethics Committee before
we have the public hearing. We will set the public hearing at the June meeting.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed and sent up to the State of New York
Real Property Services.
Winnakee Land Trust - discussed involvement Anderson Commons and or future
conservation easement land.
Rosemarie Zengen questioned what a workshop was and what a business meeting was.
Supervisor Blum Bump said we announced in the beginning of the year and on the
bulletin board the 1st and 3rd Tuesday and 4th Wednesday would be when we
discuss topics and the 2nd Tuesday designation as Town Board meeting when we
take action.
Rosemarie Zengen said than why on Kathy Stewarts website says one thing and our
website saying something different about the meeting. I just wanted to know who
created the problem on the website for tonight.
Councilwoman Bordewich said that our website is an outside contractor so they
may or may not understand the information.
Supervisor Blum Bump thanked Mrs. Zengen and said she would look into it.
Supervisor Blum Bump asked if anyone of the Board members had names to recommend
for the Inter-municipal Planning.
Karen Schneller-McDonald, Carole Little and James Simmons were the recommended
names.
Supervisor Blum Bump will call and ask if they would serve.
The Board was given a copy of the State Environmental Quality Review "Negative
Declaration" for a Special Use Permit of the Devereux Alternative Care Facility.
The Planning Board is acting as Lead Agency.
Councilman Ramsey said the Highway Department would like to go out to bid for a
new truck as he has not been given authorization to go out to state bid.
Supervisor Blum Bump said she would like a copy of the Highway Superintendent
Memo on his request for the truck so she could put it in her file.
Councilman Ramsey said the Hardscrabble Meeting would be held here May 7th and
also the committee would like to know if the Town wants to be involved for
financial support for this. The Village of Tivoli put money in their budget for
community events.
Resident Paul Fredrick's said many years ago when he chaired such event the Town
and Villages took it over as a community project and put money in. If you make
this a Town and Villages holiday you will get a lot more continued support.
Councilman Ramsey this is how we are now proceeding. For the
future we hope to establish a non-profit organization Hardscrabble Community
Association of Red Hook to be able to raise money so we don't impact the Town
and Villages in future years.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump that we go into Executive Session to discuss
Central Hudson as it is 9:00 p.m.
Councilman Ross said he would like to add to that motion that we discuss the
other subject at hand the personnel matter.
Motion by Supervisor Blum Bump, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich that when we
go into Executive Session we discuss Central Hudson and the personnel issue.
Supervisor Blum Bump - Yes
Councilman Ross - Yes
Councilwoman Crane - Yes
Councilwoman Bordewich - Yes
Councilman Ramsey - Yes
Supervisor Blum Bump announced that there would be two public hearings on May
10th 7:15 p.m. Senior Citizen Exemption and at 7:30 p.m. the Conservation
Easement.
Motion by Councilwoman Bordewich, seconded by Councilman Ramsey that we resume
the meeting at 10:55 p.m.
Supervisor Blum Bump said on the subject of Central Hudson we will continue our
negotiations.
Councilwoman Bordewich said on the discussion of the personnel issue no action
was taken.
Rosemarie Zengen asked if she could know how each voted and Councilwoman
Bordewich said no it was done in closed session.
Motion by Councilwoman Crane, seconded by Councilwoman Bordewich the meeting
adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Town Clerk,
Margaret E. Doty