This article appeared in the Townsman, August 14 2008 edition
During a long and largely productive meeting the Woodstock town board took another step toward the possibility of consolidating the Town offices, including police, dispatch and courts currently located in the Town Hall, and all the other municipal agencies with the possible exception of the maintenance department currently located in the Comeau town offices in the Elna Ferrite building on route 212 on the Bearsville Flats. In a 4-1 vote, councilwoman Liz Simonson the lone dissenter, the board authorized architect Robert Young for a fee of $2000 to draw up and provide the Elna Ferrite owner, Diane Legier, a floor plan describing the various departments' needs. Under the scheme proposed by supervisor Jeff Moran, Legier will study the plan and then give a price for sale of the building renovated to suit the Town. According to Moran it would cost considerably less for a private entity to do the work than it would if performed by a municipality.
With the Legier price for a built-to-order facility the Town officials could then compare its value to the estimated $2,000,000 cost of implementing the Town Hall renovation as originally conceived and approved by voters in a referendum at the end of 2007, however for a maximum expenditure of 1.65 million. In April of this year bids far exceeded the authorized amount, and at the same time the availability of the Elna Ferrite building, a 17,000 square foot former manufacturing facility, became known.
"This authorization [for Robert Young's services] will help us get a firm idea of what the cost will be for housing all Town departments in a single facility with ample parking," said Moran. "It does not commit us to the purchase of Elna. All it will do is tell us if Elna is a viable alternative for meeting the Town's needs."
There was considerable discussion about how the Town Hall and the Comeau house will be used if vacated by the Town. Councilwoman Terrie Rosenblum and Councilman Chris Collins both discussed their meeting with representatives of Our Town, an ad hoc group that facilitates discussions of town issues. Both felt Our Town would provide a good forum for a community discussion on the merits or demerits of the Elna Ferrite proposal. "But we need solid figures," argued Rosenblum. "The public will have to know what the relative costs are in order to help us with a decision." Collins also promoted Our Town as the proper forum for discussion on what to do with the Town Hall and Comeau house if they were to be vacated.
A previous expenditure of $2700 paid to Young for initial inspection and analysis of the Elna Ferrite building irritated board members, who felt the supervisor should have gotten authorization for it. Moran apologized, explaining that he interpreted the board's wish for more information at their last meeting in July as giving him the authorization.
The meeting began with Moran's announcement that due to other commitments Sam Magarelli would be unable to coordinate the fourth annual Volunteers Day, which had coincided with the annual fireworks display at Andy Lee Field. This year the August 16 celebration will include Rene Cantine's Guitar Festival and the annual presentation of the Alf Evers Award to an individual for his or her service to the community. The town board and two-dozen attendees were then delighted by the presentation of Girl Scouts Elise De Santis and Lyndsey Meyer, who for their Gold Award project are staging a concert from 5:00 to 7:00 pm the day of the fireworks, proceeds to benefit the Woodstock Youth Program. Both young ladies thanked Mr. Cantine for his generous assistance in their endeavor.
Ulster County legislator Don Gregorius updated the board on the County's "Heating Summit," a gathering of state of local officials at the behest of County administrator Michael Hein and Ulster County legislature chairman David Donaldson to address the impact of steep home heating costs in the region. Gregorius recited a number of steps the county is taking, with a final report of recommendations due out in September. People with limited financial resources were encouraged by Tammy Cooper of Family of Woodstock to contact her agency for assistance in filling out forms required for heat subsidies.
Judith Chase was appointed by the board to lead a task force whose mission will be to "submit appropriate designs for the Jane Van De Bogart memorial on the village green." Last month it had been announced that Assemblyman Kevin Cahill secured a $4000 grant for such purpose.
Councilman Collins created a stir with his announcement of a fund-raiser to memorialize John Ernst, a Woodstock artist who died some years ago and is buried in Massachusetts. Under questioning it was disclosed the event's sponsor was the Committee For Woodstock's Future, a shadowy political organization that shares a PO Box with the Woodstock Journal, a defunct publication, and which last year made political contributions of $1000 each to councilman Jay Wenk, David Lewis and Craig Barber. No details of the committee were disclosed, causing councilwoman Rosenblum to openly distance herself from the organization with "a cloud over it."
Wenk complained about traffic he encountered the previous Saturday afternoon.
Town Clerk Jackie Earley announced that South Peak Veterinary donated their $260 fee for providing and administering rabies vaccine at the annual Rabies Clinic to the Town's spay and neuter fund. A letter of thanks will be sent from the Town.
Moran reported a spate of vandalism on Town properties, and there was a discussion on how to address it, with suggestions ranging from establishing a curfew on Town properties to increasing police patrol. No action was taken.
Some stretches of the Comeau trails were described as potentially hazardous because of the installation of pallets meant to prevent erosion and protect tree roots. It was decided to get the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation involved in a discussion of how to improve the trails' safety and protect the ecology at the same time.
The town will engage the services of an engineer to study and recommend steps to improve the hazardous sidewalk that passes in front of the Woodstock Cemetery on Rock City Road.
Moran discussed the possibility of closing either the Community Center or the meeting room portion of the Town Hall to save on heating costs this winter. Simonson, expressing her wish for a more "holistic approach" thought the Town should consider going to a four day week if it really wanted to save money. David Boyle rose from the audience to volunteer to insulate the vents of the Community Center to help keep down heating costs.
The board unanimously agreed to incur costs for engineering plans for lighting and drainage for the upper Comeau parking lot.
The Town will advertise for a new animal control officer.
Signage will be installed on Pine Grove Street to create a safer egress from the CVS drugstore.
Edith Le Fevre, representing the Performing Arts of Woodstock, along with Ann Washington made a fervent plea for lower fees for use of the Town Hall. "Ideally," said Ms Washington, "it would be great if you would take Sam Mercer's suggestion and just give the use of the building to us as a grant," but went on to say they would be grateful for any break on the fee. Both attendees and the board appeared very sympathetic to their request, and the board may at their next meeting reduce the fee, taking into account PAW's donation of tickets to performances and other factors.
The board agreed to most of the recommendation from the Ulster County Planning Board with respect to the proposed codification of the zoning law, with the exception of its wording respecting affordable housing. Rosenblum would prefer the Town explore "artists housing" as alternative language.
The sale of the California Quarry to the Open Space Institute will likely proceed, the Town prevailing in its wish to maintain access to the quarry rubble to be used for emergency road repairs.
At the request of the owners of the buildings in the Bearsville development that formally housed Simulaids, the Town will send a letter expressing its support for maintaining the viability of the light industrial zone the buildings are located in.
Responding to concerns of some attendees, the board established a policy of requiring insurance from uses of Town buildings, but created a process where entities could seek waivers if their activities did not appear to present a danger to themselves or the property.
A resolution pertaining to bookkeeping was unanimously adopted, and the board adjourned at approximately 12:10 AM.
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