Month of April...
Tusten Town Board meeting 4, 14, 2008
Present: Board members/supv. Carol Wingert, Eileen Falk, Lisa Dowling, Ben Johnson, Kathy Michelle, Barbara Buckman, Lew Meckle and also George Kinch, Highway Department, Scott Birney, Water and Sewer Dept, Dave Sparling, Code Enforcement.
There were many items on the agenda, most routine stuff, ie Fourth of July celebrations, Town Yard Sale 5/24/08, Litterpluck, 5/10/08, and Town Clean Up day , 5/17/08. Hours for clean up day will be only from 10:00 to 2:00PM and you will need coupons, or proof you are a Tusten Resident, and a limit of two truckloads per family.
The creation of a Country Market, ie Farmers Market was authorized. It will be set up in the Library Parking lot Sat 3:00 to 6:30 PM, from the third Sat in June to Columbus Day.
Most important, and most discussed was the proposed merger of the Highway Department and the Water/Sewer Department into one Department of Public Works, run by an appointed, NOT ELECTED, Superintendent The plan is to eliminate the elected office of Highway Superintendent, currently George Kinch, and appoint Scott Birney, head of Water and Sewer Dept. overall head of the DPW, with George to serve as his assistant. See Fritz Mayers article in 4/17 River Reporter, for a very balanced objective view.
The Town Supervisor's position is that this arrangement is more efficient, and is supposed to save money by eliminating the risk of having some other Highway guy elected who would not go along with the long term maintenance program they have now in place, presumably due to the efforts of George Kinch. It was stated many times that both departments are being run efficiently and are sharing resources as we speak.
Audience response ranged from Chris's comment "What's wrong with democracy?" and Kevin McDonagh noting that the Highway budget is over a million dollars a year, and serves all of us, while the water/ sewer budget is approx $450,000. and serves only Downtown, and the Flats...so how does Scott wind up head of the new Department? The rest of the audience seemed very sceptical. People generally were saying they were happy with the status quo. My comment was about accountability. I have watched people come to the Town Board meeting and question George directly on money spent, or roads that need work. What I see is there will be two layers of authority to go through before getting an answer about road issues. It gives a lot more power to the Town Board.
The Boards response varied. Carol Wingert was totally in favor of it, on the grounds of fiscal benefits. (No evidence has yet been presented to show that other towns have done this and saved money). Other Board members were skeptical,, pointing out lack of information. Ben was looking for a second to his motion to authorize him to have the town attorney draw up a referendum question, and for a while, no one seconded ...
SHOULD BE NOTED It is state law that a referendum take place any time an elected position is being eliminated. So its not about how wonderful and democratic the Board is...they must do it this way.
Also, there are two issues here...1. merging the departments, and 2. eliminating the elected position. why do we need the second action to achieve more efficiency?
WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE: On May 12, 2008 at 7:00PM the referendum question will be presented, and there will be a vote by the Board as to whether to put it on the ballot in November. Public comment can be made in writing between now and then, and also at the May 12 meeting. If the Board votes to allow the referendum on the ballot, there will be a huge effort by the Town Supervisor to convince voters to approve it in November. If you have strong feelings about this, I would write a letter to the Board and/or attend the meeting. Letters of comment must be read into the minutes. If there is enough opposition, the whole thing could die on May 12.
By Major Chaos
Planning Board Meeting 4/21/08
Present: Michael Eury, George Strumpfler, Georgia Campfield, Ed Jackson, Ned Lang, Ken Baim
fter the minutes were read, Jane Luchsinger applied for a special use permit to use a portion of her home for a B&B. There will be a public hearing regarding the granting of this permit at next meeting, May 19, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Mr. Sklar and his attorney brought maps of the 240 acre Sklar property on Cackletown Road, meant to show how Mr. Sklar wants to subdivide the existing home close to the RR tracks and 14 acres, and sell it, and retain the remaining acreage, which he says is in foreclosure. The Board showed him that the existing road went through a wetland, and over a Corp of Engineers stream. The property is also reported to be a place where endangered timber rattlesnakes den. The Board recommended another location for the road, and told the owner he would need to have the wetlands mapped, and the maps he presented redrawn. Mr. Sklar is to return to the next Board meeting with the above material, and possibly a public hearing will be scheduled, in June or July. The DEC is also involved.
By Major Chaos