Cold Spring Holds Firm on Dockside Fees

Also, electricity program to begin July 1

By Michael Turton

Cold Spring’s newly adopted fee schedule to rent Dockside Park faced its first test at the May 7 meeting of the Village Board.

Trustees voted down a request from Brian Grahn of Hudson River Expeditions to reduce the $2,500 charge for a two-night campout during the Hudson River Paddle in early July, when as many as 40 kayakers and canoeists would stop during a five-day trip from Poughkeepsie to New York City.

Hudson River Expeditions, which is based in Cold Spring, handles logistics for the trip on behalf of the Hudson River Valley Greenway, a state agency that promotes preservation and recreational use of resources along the river.

Last year, before management of Dockside passed from the state (which owns the 6-acre parcel) to the village, The Hudson River Paddle camped there at no charge. The village, which as part of its agreement with the state can charge fees, adopted a schedule at its April 23 meeting (see below).

At Tuesday’s meeting, after Grahn told the board the event could not afford $2,500, a motion to reduce the cost to $1,000 was defeated. The board then voted 4-1 to charge the full fee, with Trustee Steve Voloto casting the “no” vote.

“This is a for-profit event,” Mayor Dave Merandy said just before the vote, adding that the fee is part of the “cost of doing business.”

For Rent: Beautiful Riverfront Setting
Dockside Park now available for private events

The Dockside Park User Guide details permitted and prohibited activities as well as how to rent the site for weddings, graduations and other private events. It includes application forms and will be available at coldspringny.gov and at Village Hall at 85 Main St. Some highlights from the policy appear below.

Private Events

Events must be approved in advance by the Village Board. The area used will be roped off, with the park remaining open to the public. Alcoholic beverages are permitted only with a state permit.

The guide includes details on parking, insurance requirements, security deposits, tents, caterers, vendors, music, portable toilets, trash removal, set up and breakdown.

Private Event Fees

Wedding Ceremony: $300 for the first hour, $200 each additional
Wedding Ceremony and Reception: $1,200 for 12 hours; $250 each additional hour
Ticketed events: $1,200 per 12-hour day
Other events: $250 per hour
Police (if required): $38 per hour, per officer

Other Fees

Commercial filming, photography: Permit required; fees vary depending on scope of project.

Boating

Carry-in kayaks, rowboats, canoes and similar craft are permitted but motorized boats cannot be launched. A permit is required for a trailer drop.

Earlier in the meeting the mayor pointed out that the village receives no financial assistance for maintaining Dockside and that any improvements made there would have to be funded by user fees.

Grahn said he had no comment on the board’s decision. Participants in The Hudson River Paddle pay $1,000 each to participate in the event, which is billed as “all inclusive,” including food served from a mobile kitchen, campsites, equipment, transportation and guides.

In other business …

• As part of its membership in Hudson Valley Energy’s Community Choice Aggregation partnership, the village signed an agreement with Direct Energy to provide electricity to all residents and small businesses starting July 1. Voloto said Direct Energy will supply the electricity from renewable sources for 6.3 cents per kilowatt-hour, slightly less than what Central Hudson charges. Residents are automatically enrolled and do not need to take any action. A letter explaining the program will be mailed to all residents.
• The village will solicit new bids for repairing 130 feet of the stone wall along the north side of Main Street east of Morris Avenue. The board rejected the initial bids, which ranged from $127,000 to $440,000. Merandy noted that a second round of bids for repairing the firehouse roof resulted in a lower project cost.
• Trustees postponed consideration of a request by Cold Spring resident Tara Vamos for a board resolution opposing the expansion of a gas-fired electrical plant on the Hudson just north of Newburgh. Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper and other environmental organizations oppose the project.
• Trustees took no action on a letter from Putnam County Legislator Paul Jonke (R-Southwest) asking the village to adopt false-alarm fees for repeat offenders. Deputy Mayor Marie Early said the village code already addresses the issue.