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Southern Ulster Times , Wednesday , January 18 , 2017
IN THIS ISSUE
Calendar .......................................... 12 Craig McKinney ................................ 9 Classifieds ...................................... 30 Crossword ...................................... 32 Highland ......................................... 25 Letters to the Editor ........................ 9 Marlboro ........................................ 24 Obituaries ...................................... 23 Opinion ............................................. 8 Police Blotter ................................... 4 School News ................................... 26 Service Directory ........................... 34 Sports ............................................ 40
PUBLIC AGENDA
WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 18
Lloyd Town Board , 7pm . Lloyd Town Hall , 12 Church St ., Highland Plattekill Town Board , 7pm , Plattekill Town Hall1915 Rte . 44 / 55 , Modena
THURSDAY , JANUARY 19
Marlboro School Board , 7:30pm , Marlborough Town Hall , 21 Milton Tnpk , Milton Lloyd Planning Board Workshop , 5:30pm , Lloyd Town Hall , 12 Church St ., Highland
MONDAY , JANUARY 23
Marlborough Town Board , 7pm , Marlborough Town Hall , 21 Milton Tnpk , Milton
TUESDAY , JANUARY 24
Plattekill Planning Board , 7:30pm , Plattekill Town Hall , 1915 Rte . 44 / 55 , Plattekill
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The Southern Ulster Times , ( USPS 022-586 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Southern Ulster Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550
Plattekill requests copy of library appraisal
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DePew believes the proposed transfer of the property to the library would be “ advantageous ” to both sides .
“ We feel very positive about it [ and ] I honestly think it ’ s a great , great thing ,” he said .
DePew said he felt left out of the “ loop .”
“ I kind of find that disrespectful and if there was no urgency to have that done [ appraisal ] I feel the board should have collectively , at the very least , put something in writing and corresponded back and forth on your intentions to move forward ,” he said .
Ridgeway said the appraisal was done in order to move ahead with the present library property . At the Oct . 13 , 2016 meeting the library board approved a resolution to have an appraisal done and that they would pay for the entire cost . Trustee Farrell pointed out that when the vote was taken to proceed , many on the library board understood that the results would be shared with the town .
“ I was under the impression , as some other board members were , that the whole idea of doing it was that a week later you would have gotten the appraisal ,” Farrell replied to DePew .
Farrell said the library board did not know last October that the intent was to withhold it from the Town Board .
The library minutes of December 8 confirms that the board was divided on this issue ; Trustees Joe Egan , William
A wide spectrum of citizens from communities in the Mid-Hudson Valley packed into the New Paltz Community Center on Sunday , January 15 to develop action plans to counter many of President-elect Trump ’ s agenda items . The event was one of hundreds across the nation , encouraged by the national organization , MoveOn . org .
The group divided into six focus areas : health care , immigration , environmental concerns , women ’ s access and health , campaign finance reform , and the new cabinet and other appointees . The groups ’ presentations included plans of actions that will be disseminated to all attendees . Some included meeting with political representatives , local , state and federal .
After the meeting adjourned , the animated crowd continued conversations
Farrell and David Padilla voted in favor of sharing the appraisal while Ridgeway and Valerie Smith voted no and Luz Ledesma abstained . Trustee Karen Adamson was absent . The motion failed because 4 yes votes are needed for a motion to pass regardless if there is an absent member , according to NYS Library Law .
Ridgeway told DePew that she would further discuss the release of the appraisal to the town with her board . She told DePew that no disrespect was intended . Library Director John Georghiou concurred , saying no discourtesy was meant “ or we would have been apologetic from the beginning .” He suggested that the attorneys for the library and the town should confer “ about what exactly we need to do ” concerning the proposed acquisition .
Trustee Adamson commented on previous reporting by the Southern Ulster Times on the actions of the library board .
“ I feel disrespected that things have been in the paper indicating that some of us do not want this property . That ’ s not true at all .” Trustee Farrell quickly disputed Adamson ’ s claim at the meeting and subsequently backed up his assertion . He pointed out that during the public session of the May 12 , 2016 library board meeting , President Ridgeway spoke directly to visiting guest , Highland Library Director Julie Kelsall- Dempsey , telling her , within earshot of the full board , that “ the town is trying to shove this property down our throats .”
and plans for future gatherings to develop additional strategies and actions .
Farrell said Ridgeway further stated that she was not in favor of purchasing the present library property . When it came time to approve the May minutes at their June 2016 meeting , Farrell insisted that Ridgeway ’ s comments be included in the minutes , with Ridgeway saying she would get down on her knees and beg for forgiveness , implying that she did not want her comments put in the public record .
When the Southern Ulster Times asked Ridgeway why her statements were missing , she said only motions are required by law to be in the record “ and not everything gets into the minutes ,” however , a review of two years of library board minutes shows they also contain board discussions , comments and other significant information . When pressed further on whether her comments at the May meeting were important enough and should have been in the minutes , Ridgeway responded “ I said no .” Adamson said she did not understand the media interest in this matter , adding that board members all have opinions but if comments are not part of a motion then they are not included .
Ridgeway concluded by saying she had no idea why her comments were not in the minutes but pointed out that every board member , prior to approving the minutes , receives a draft copy .
“ They are free to make comments and changes at the next board meeting before the minutes get approved ,” she said .
Local activists challenge Trump agenda
Local activists gathered Sunday in New Paltz .
Photo provided
For more information , contact : tomsusand @ gmail . com .