Town Board
March 5, 2019
CLOSED SESSION
Litigation and negotiations: Town Comptroller, Town Attorney, Town Engineer
REGULAR SESSION
1. Enbridge/pipeline
Supervisor Gilbert announced that the company will be operating in Yorktown until at least thru September as it moves ahead with an alternate plan for crossing the Taconic Parkway. He added that the new plan involves cutting down more trees but he didn’t identify the location.
2. Informational web sites
burbio.com. Supervisor Gilbert announced that the town’s calendar is now available on burbio.com along with about 80 additional town organizations. Residents can sign up at burbio.com/
nixle.com. Residents are urged to sign up to receive notices about street closings, water main breaks, etc.
3. Granite Knolls
Parks & Rec Superintendent Orlowsi said that Granite Knolls is close to completion and that weather permitting, the site should be ready to open by April 15.
4. Upcoming events
Arbor Day: April 26 at the John C. Hart Library. Ann Kutter and Bill Kellner of the Arbor Day Committee reviewed past events and outlined activities for this year’s celebration.
Historic preservation. May 8, 8:30am-4:30pm at Hilltop Hanover. The Landmarks Preservation Commission is sponsoring an all day symposium on preserving the town’s history.
5. Courtesy of the floor
Reproductive Health Act/Holocaust. Miriam Messing was critical of statements made by former supervisor Grace at a recent board meeting linking the RHA to the Holocaust as well as his improperly referring to the Holocaust in 2015. In response to her comments, Supervisor Gilbert said it was not appropriate for the Town Board to take up the RHA issue as it would divide the town but Councilman Lachterman said that it was important to hear both sides of the RHA issue even if it inflamed people.
Mohegan Tire & Auto. Calling the board’s attention to the failure of the property owner to satisfy some the conditions of an approved site plan, such as landscaping, Mark Lieberman asked the board what follow up procedures were in place to assure compliance. In response, Councilman Diana said that the station owner was still negotiating with corporate Gulf over the details of the new monument sign and that if some of the shrubs that had been planted have died, they would have to be replaced,. Councilman Roker said that it was up to the building inspector to see that conditions of site plans were complied with.
Trees on Underhill Ave. While Supervisor Gilbert reported on Con Ed’s work removing trees on Underhill Avenue in a pre-emptive move to prevent outages due to fallen trees, Geri Schwalb noted that the company had just taken the tops off the trees to clear the power lines but had left the trunk of the tree which would die and inevitably fall into the road. Highway Superintendent Paganelli said that if Con Ed didn’t remove the remaining tree trunks, his department would do the work. He said Con Ed had taken down 50 trees.
Mohegan Lake. Ken Belfer, speaking for the Mohegan Lake Improvement District, advised the board that the lake would be treated with a chemical in late March/early April to prevent or slow the growth of algae bloom. The treatments will be part of a DEC pilot program.
6. Appointments
Steven Zanon was reappointed to the Board of Assessment Review.
7. Highway funds/state budget
Supervisor Gilbert and Highway Superintendent said they were both in touch with our state lawmakers to prevent any cutbacks in potential revenue to the town in the proposed state budget. Mr. Paganelli noted that this year the town is receiving $76,400 in “severe winter relief” and $86,000 for the last year of the Pave New York program. Together the funds could pave 1.5 miles of road.