Tree Commission to be formed

By Michael Turton

The recent cleaning and relining of Cold Spring’s water mains has resulted in a significant boost in water pressure – to the point that some residents may have to take precautions. Ron Gainer, Professional Engineer, conducted tests of Main Street fire hydrants after the project was completed.

His letter to the Village Board, part of its Tuesday (Nov. 12) monthly meeting, stated  “…fire flow deliveries… have increased by 39 percent to more than 100 percent greater than…prior to the cement lining project.” Gainer also pointed out that water quality has also increased considerably.

Trustee Matt Francisco suggested that residents be notified of the increased water pressure. He identified one Stone Street resident who installed a pressure reducing valve to deal with the increase. Cold Spring’s water system is gravity fed. Water flows down from reservoirs high above the village, and pressure increases as it works its way down, especially at the lower end of the system.

High water pressure can cause leaks, damage pipes and appliances and waste significant amounts of water. According to plumbingadvice.com, “While some might consider high water pressure a good thing, (if) too high it can cause annoying and expensive damage.” Francsico will contact Water and Sewer Superintendent Greg Phillips to discuss notifying residents.

Planning Board earns kudos

Francisco praised the Cold Spring Planning Board for its detailed review of a 13-page memo on the proposed Butterfield development. He said, “asking hard questions is sometimes seen as not being in favor” of a project. “It’s not … it’s the Planning Board doing its job … unfortunately it can be very time consuming.”

Planning Board Chairman Barney Molloy said that the Butterfield review is proceeding “at pace” and that the applicant, developer Paul Guillaro, is “being cooperative in seeing things our way,” including providing answers to very specific questions posed by the board. Molloy said that the board now requires applicants to submit necessary documents at least a week prior to a scheduled meeting in order to be considered at that time.

Grove RFP set to go

Village trustees are putting the old adage, “nothing is free” to the test. At the suggestion of Mike Bowman, a member of the Historic District Review Board, the Request for Proposals for the purchase and development of The Grove, will be publicized using free publicity available in publications rather than spending $1,600 on advertising. Proponents will have 90 days to respond. Tours of the site will be offered by appointment and photos of the historic building will be posted on the village website.

The Grove is located opposite Drug World above The Nest daycare. Built in the 1850s and designed by noted architect Richard Upjohn, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was acquired by the Village of Cold Spring in 2003 and has sat empty for years.

Boat club report

Commodore Mark Patinella presented the Cold Spring Boat Club’s annual report, stating that the club welcomed 923 guest dockings in 2013. “And those are just the people who signed in,” he said. He said that visitors totaled 3,454, most of whom indicated they had also shopped and dined in Cold Spring. Patinella said that membership has increased to nearly 500 including social members. He designated village trustees as “honorary boat club members” and invited them to visit the club to see its operations.

The boat club and Village Board are currently dealing with the pending cleanup of toxic coal tar on the boat club site by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Tending to village trees

The village is looking for volunteers to serve on a soon-to-be-formed tree advisory committee to help create a Tree Management Plan leading to the creation of a Cold Spring Tree Commission.  Trustee Stephanie Hawkins put forward a resolution, adopted unanimously, outlining the committee’s initial tasks including membership, goals, meeting schedule and activities.

The Tree Management Plan will include species selection, planting, pruning and preservation of Cold Spring’s street trees. Mayor Ralph Falloon said that trees planted 10 to 15 years ago have grown wild due to lack of proper pruning, and as a result are “hacked by Central Hudson” adding, “We don’t like Central Hudson touching our trees, but … we don’t maintain them.” A DEC forester will conduct a “Citizen Pruner” tutorial, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Village Hall.

Will Main Street light up over the holidays?

Main Street holiday lighting continues to be a struggle in 2013. Central Hudson previously vetoed Cold Spring’s traditional lighting. The old lights can be repurposed, but the village still must pay to remove the now illegal wiring.

The bottom line? The village needs about $10,000 to light only part of Main Street this year. It has $2,300 budgeted. “We have 98 percent of the answers – and 10 percent of the funding,” Mayor Falloon said.

The Chamber of Commerce purchased lights to decorate the trees on Main Street but Deputy Mayor Bruce Campbell reported that the village is waiting to hear from the utility regarding liability issues. Central Hudson owns the poles and the dual outlets recently installed on them. One strategy discussed was an email appeal to local residents to help raise funds for this year’s lights.

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Turton, who has been a reporter for The Current since its founding in 2010, moved to Philipstown from his native Ontario in 1998. Location: Cold Spring. Languages: English. Area of expertise: Cold Spring government, features

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