Also, contract awarded for repairs to village dams
By Michael Turton
The Cold Spring Board of Trustees has approved the final revisions to a new law enabling the installation of a pay station in the municipal parking lot on Fair Street. The move came at the March 29 meeting of the board. The pay station will be the first metered parking on village-owned property.
The revisions included a shift in the overnight winter hours when no fees will be collected. Parking in the lot will be free from November 15 to April 15 from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. The previous draft had set the hours as 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. The wording also was changed to allow the installation of more than one pay station, should that become necessary.
Discussed but not included in the law was the possibility of the village issuing a limited number of parking passes. The idea was set aside when village attorney John Furst advised the board that such a change would be considered “substantial” and would require a second public hearing.
The law must be approved by the new village board, which will meet for the first time on April 5. It will take effect one week later, and Deputy Mayor Marie Early said the pay station should be in place by mid-May. Mayor Dave Merandy told The Current he will continue to work with parking committee chair Anthony Phillips and the Spring Brook Condominium Association to resolve parking issues raised by residents who have used the lot.
Trustees also approved a recommendation by Superintendent of Water and Sewers Greg Phillips that Tectonic Engineering be contracted to complete engineering and design work for the rehabilitation of village dams on Lake Surprise Road. O’Brien and Gere Engineering had also bid on the project.
The fact that Tectonic has worked on Cold Spring’s dams in the past and is familiar with their construction and condition tipped the scales their favor. The firm has an office in Newburgh. On the advice of Bart Clark, a consulting engineer for the village, the project will be divided into three phases, which Phillips said will give the village greater flexibility in completing the work. The board will now negotiate the terms of the agreement with Tectonic.
A public hearing on the 2016-17 village budget will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, at village hall. The tentative budget includes a total of $1,571,444 to be raised through taxes, an increase of $1,883, an amount that is within the tax cap mandated by the State of New York. Annual salaries for members of the village board included in the proposed budget are Mayor, $12,662; Deputy Mayor, $8,262; Trustees, $7,221 and Budget Officer (Mayor), $2,500.
In other business…
- The board approved the purchase of a 2016 Ford F350 dump truck at a cost of $39,068.58.
- The board acknowledged a letter from Katherine Diggs, a resident of Locust Ridge, expressing concern over traffic and parking issues in the Mountain Avenue, Cedar Street and Locust Ridge area. Diggs complained of excessive speeding by Haldane faculty, staff and students as well as illegal parking, including the frequent blocking of her driveway.
- Tuesday’s meeting marked the end of Cathryn Fadde’s and Michael Bowman’s term as village trustees. Both were elected in March 2014. Newly elected board members Steve Voloto and Lynn Miller will be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 4, at village hall.
