This article appeared in the May 15, 2008 edition of the Townsman
Woodstock, May 13 2008
The meeting of the Woodstock Town Board began at 6:30 pm in the supervisor’s cottage, where the possible “demotion, discipline, dismissal or removal” of Dara Trahan, the Town’s Planning Specialist, was discussed. Rumors had circulated for some time that friction existed between Ms Trahan and the new Woodstock planning board chairman, Mark Peritz. Only the town board knows what actually was said, but the session ended with no action taken. Councilwoman Liz Simonson, when asked about the matter, claimed that she was “surprised and not in support” of the discussion, although it was disclosed that the motion was unanimous to enter into the executive session for this specific purpose. It was not disclosed whether Ms Traha or Mr Peritz attended the meeting. This paper went to print before comment was available from either of them.
The public session in the Community Center began at 7:45 pm with a statement from supervisor Jeff Moran noting the May 9 passing of Ruth Simpson, long time library board trustee and community activist. A memorial service for Ms Simpson will be held at Lasher’s Funeral Home on Friday, May 16 at 2:00 pm.
The supervisor read a letter of thanks from the Onteora Babe Ruth League for the Town’s $2000 contribution to help cover costs of infield dirt delivered to Davis Park in the Town of Olive.
Sealed bids for the Town Hall renovation project are delayed until 3:00 pm, May 20, when they will be opened at a special meeting of the town board.
The town board agreed to be partly responsible for the cost of removing trash generated by the farmers market [see related story elsewhere in this paper], but balked at covering expenses for grounds maintenance. Town contributions to pay for services, including policing, to the farmers market are expected to be about $6000.
Dave Minch, an architect representing PhotoSensuals, a business moving from a previous location in town to the former Not Fade Away building located on Rock City Road, asked the board to sign off on an agreement giving the business a right-of-way through the town parking lot on the north end of the property. There was some discussion concerning problems with traffic and parking in that area, and in the end the board agreed to grant the right-of-way provided the issues raised were addressed, to which Mr Minch agreed.
George (“Jerry”) Washington, who is party to a lawsuit against the Town over the California Quarry cell tower, and Glenn Kreisberg, who identified himself as an employee of Nextel, gave a power point presentation that appeared to support the Nextel application for the installation of cell phone service on the so-called RNN tower, which most people know as the tower with the flashing red light on top of Overlook Mountain. Both Washington and Kreisberg serve on councilwoman Liz Simonson’s cell tower siting committee.
The supervisor recommended altering one of the trails on the Comeau property in order to avoid a vernal pool and also to direct walkers and their dogs further away from the soccer field. Recreation Commission member Gordon Wemp answered questions on the matter. Councilman Chris Collins asked if Dave Holden, self-appointed “trail master” had been consulted, and Wemp said the matter had been discussed with him. Collins was not mollified and the supervisor asked why Holden was considered important. Collins replied, “Holden is basically managing the property.”
Mr Holden resigned from his seats on the recreation commission and the Woodstock Environmental Commission two years ago. It was decided by the board to put off a decision on moving the trail.
The Comeau property raised more contention when the supervisor introduced a resolution to authorize the removal of several large white pines that endanger a nearby residence. Mr Collins said that removing the trees could jinx the conservation easement voted for in a 2003 referendum, and snagged in court proceedings ever since. Councilman Jay Wenk finally went along with the resolution saying “although my heart is in my mouth.” Threaded into the discussion was criticism of the supervisor for authorizing a split rail fence costing slightly less than a $1000 which, in his opinion, enhances public safety and protects the lawn adjacent the upper parking lot from being ruined by vehicles driving on it. The tree removal passed despite Collins’ lone nay vote.
A resolution calling upon the Onteora school board to suspend its latest initiatives for creation of a grade 5-8 middle school and the closure of an additional elementary school passed with no discussion.
The purchase of highway equipment totaling just under $43,000 was authorized, and the highway superintendent was given the job of improving a small section of the parking lot behind the public bathrooms.
A resolution to increase fees for the rental of Town owned buildings passed narrowly, with councilman Collins voting against it because the ‘Town has an obligation to the people who use the buildings.” Wenk also voted no.
A resolution to require renters to purchase insurance for use of Town buildings ended with the supervisor agreeing to look further into the matter.
A Wenk resolution to have the Town kick in $250 toward the cost of renting a public address system for the Veterans For Peace annual gathering on the village green on Memorial Day was withdrawn by Wenk after questions about the high rental cost. The supervisor also expressed his concern that the Town would be “gifting” the organization. Wenk’s resolution to upgrade the Community Center hot water system with an energy-efficient on-demand water heater was tabled for lack of details.
There was another long monologue by Collins concerning the rules of order adopted by the town board. With some exasperation the supervisor asked Collins what issues he had with the existing rules. Collins’ response, “I don’t want to change them, I want to discuss them,” and his repeated criticism of the supervisor’s manner of ending a previous meeting more than a month ago dragged the meeting past eleven pm. Finally the supervisor agreed to put the rules of order on the town board’s next agenda and quickly the meeting was adjourned.
The meeting of the Woodstock Town Board began at 6:30 pm in the supervisor’s cottage, where the possible “demotion, discipline, dismissal or removal” of Dara Trahan, the Town’s Planning Specialist, was discussed. Rumors had circulated for some time that friction existed between Ms Trahan and the new Woodstock planning board chairman, Mark Peritz. Only the town board knows what actually was said, but the session ended with no action taken. Councilwoman Liz Simonson, when asked about the matter, claimed that she was “surprised and not in support” of the discussion, although it was disclosed that the motion was unanimous to enter into the executive session for this specific purpose. It was not disclosed whether Ms Traha or Mr Peritz attended the meeting. This paper went to print before comment was available from either of them.
The public session in the Community Center began at 7:45 pm with a statement from supervisor Jeff Moran noting the May 9 passing of Ruth Simpson, long time library board trustee and community activist. A memorial service for Ms Simpson will be held at Lasher’s Funeral Home on Friday, May 16 at 2:00 pm.
The supervisor read a letter of thanks from the Onteora Babe Ruth League for the Town’s $2000 contribution to help cover costs of infield dirt delivered to Davis Park in the Town of Olive.
Sealed bids for the Town Hall renovation project are delayed until 3:00 pm, May 20, when they will be opened at a special meeting of the town board.
The town board agreed to be partly responsible for the cost of removing trash generated by the farmers market [see related story elsewhere in this paper], but balked at covering expenses for grounds maintenance. Town contributions to pay for services, including policing, to the farmers market are expected to be about $6000.
Dave Minch, an architect representing PhotoSensuals, a business moving from a previous location in town to the former Not Fade Away building located on Rock City Road, asked the board to sign off on an agreement giving the business a right-of-way through the town parking lot on the north end of the property. There was some discussion concerning problems with traffic and parking in that area, and in the end the board agreed to grant the right-of-way provided the issues raised were addressed, to which Mr Minch agreed.
George (“Jerry”) Washington, who is party to a lawsuit against the Town over the California Quarry cell tower, and Glenn Kreisberg, who identified himself as an employee of Nextel, gave a power point presentation that appeared to support the Nextel application for the installation of cell phone service on the so-called RNN tower, which most people know as the tower with the flashing red light on top of Overlook Mountain. Both Washington and Kreisberg serve on councilwoman Liz Simonson’s cell tower siting committee.
The supervisor recommended altering one of the trails on the Comeau property in order to avoid a vernal pool and also to direct walkers and their dogs further away from the soccer field. Recreation Commission member Gordon Wemp answered questions on the matter. Councilman Chris Collins asked if Dave Holden, self-appointed “trail master” had been consulted, and Wemp said the matter had been discussed with him. Collins was not mollified and the supervisor asked why Holden was considered important. Collins replied, “Holden is basically managing the property.”
Mr Holden resigned from his seats on the recreation commission and the Woodstock Environmental Commission two years ago. It was decided by the board to put off a decision on moving the trail.
The Comeau property raised more contention when the supervisor introduced a resolution to authorize the removal of several large white pines that endanger a nearby residence. Mr Collins said that removing the trees could jinx the conservation easement voted for in a 2003 referendum, and snagged in court proceedings ever since. Councilman Jay Wenk finally went along with the resolution saying “although my heart is in my mouth.” Threaded into the discussion was criticism of the supervisor for authorizing a split rail fence costing slightly less than a $1000 which, in his opinion, enhances public safety and protects the lawn adjacent the upper parking lot from being ruined by vehicles driving on it. The tree removal passed despite Collins’ lone nay vote.
A resolution calling upon the Onteora school board to suspend its latest initiatives for creation of a grade 5-8 middle school and the closure of an additional elementary school passed with no discussion.
The purchase of highway equipment totaling just under $43,000 was authorized, and the highway superintendent was given the job of improving a small section of the parking lot behind the public bathrooms.
A resolution to increase fees for the rental of Town owned buildings passed narrowly, with councilman Collins voting against it because the ‘Town has an obligation to the people who use the buildings.” Wenk also voted no.
A resolution to require renters to purchase insurance for use of Town buildings ended with the supervisor agreeing to look further into the matter.
A Wenk resolution to have the Town kick in $250 toward the cost of renting a public address system for the Veterans For Peace annual gathering on the village green on Memorial Day was withdrawn by Wenk after questions about the high rental cost. The supervisor also expressed his concern that the Town would be “gifting” the organization. Wenk’s resolution to upgrade the Community Center hot water system with an energy-efficient on-demand water heater was tabled for lack of details.
There was another long monologue by Collins concerning the rules of order adopted by the town board. With some exasperation the supervisor asked Collins what issues he had with the existing rules. Collins’ response, “I don’t want to change them, I want to discuss them,” and his repeated criticism of the supervisor’s manner of ending a previous meeting more than a month ago dragged the meeting past eleven pm. Finally the supervisor agreed to put the rules of order on the town board’s next agenda and quickly the meeting was adjourned.
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