 |
| May 05, 2024 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
General News: Mayor Gross Holds First Work Session
|
| is dated 1938 |
|
| The stone bridge under Route 218 |
April 10, 2007
True to his promise, Mayor Joe Gross held his first work session with the village board of trustees in an atmosphere where the public was invited to comment on issues as they arose. He also questioned budget practices and expenditures big and small.
The first item to get a thumbs down from the mayor and trustees was the fire department’s proposed new ladder truck that would cost the village $575,000. The trustees recognized that the need was not immediate and concluded It would be more economical to spend money on repairs for the truck the department currently has than to buy a new one.
It was thumbs up to the police department’s request for a new fence behind its offices to replace an old wood stockade. Trustee Pete Miller noted that “if we don’t fix things that need repair they start looking bad and the quality of life deteroriates.” The trustees also were unanimous in allowing local groups to hold car washes at the village hall, but will increase monitoring of an associated costs.
Mayor Joe Gross received no objections when he said he was considering putting one handicap-accessible port-a-potty at the riverfront at a cost to the village of $135 a month. “We’ll see how much it gets used,” Gross said
Gross also discussed the new gazebo at the riverfront, noting that requests have been coming to the village to hold parties and weddings at the picturesque locale.
Trustee William Fogarty questioned whether these parties would limit access for residents. “Will the people who want to watch the grass grow or watch another boat go by be excluded?” he asked. The board agreed that a policy will be drawn up as quickly as possible.
Mayor Gross also presented his plans to clean up the Pagenstecher Park area with the help of Boy Scouts and the Department of Public Works, which he has asked to improve the shoulder of Dock Hill Road for pedestrian access. Gross also mentioned his interest in repairing the stone bridge under Route 218 and re-activating a water pipe where people used to go to collect fresh water. He would also like to see the state road declared historic.
In the interest of public disclosure, the mayor released a letter from the Storm King Fire Engine Company that outlines the internal actions the company has taken following two incidents involving alcohol consumption at the firehouse late last year. “We need to be forthright and candid about events that happen,” Gross said, “so the public will be more forgiving.”
Gross also invited members of the public to speak. Susan Gagliardo, who came to her first meeting saying that she wants to get involved, spoke about traffic and parking issues on River Avenue, where she lives.
Local resident Brigid Flynn raised repeated questions about the budget, asking about salaries and where the money was going to come from for the port-a-potty and the new fence. “You need to be very concerned about spending and not take it lightly,” Flynn warned the board. “I’ll be watching and I’m going to be here at every meeting.”
Gross, who said that he was also concerned about efficiency and paying down the debt, told Flynn that she can keep coming and keep pushing them.
Comments:
No comments have been posted.
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
