4
Southern Ulster Times , Wednesday , March 28 , 2018
Walkway welcomes spring visitors
With spring weather upon us , the Walkway Over the
Hudson reminds visitors of the following :
• Pavilions Open March 31 .
• Spring hours : 7 a . m . to Sunset .
• Flag Changing Ceremony April 15 .
• Moonwalk : April 27 , 8:00 – 10:00 p . m .
• The Walkway over the Hudson elevator remains closed due to prolonged winter conditions . The additional
Continued from page 1
She said there are about twenty items , mostly related to health and safety that need to be completed .
Superintendent Thomas Bongiovi said “ this is all about the kids at the end of the day and providing the best possible educational environment at a price the taxpayers can support and afford . We feel this project does accomplish that and will maintain our tax base so we ’ re not going up and down .” He likened this project to the upkeep of a home , saying “ If you ignore the maintenance on anything on your house or your car for many years you ’ re going to be hit with a big bill and you get a little bit of sticker shock .” He added that “ we get a healthy amount back from the state .”
Lynch said that if any of the 20 items on the list should break , the district then deems the item as an emergency repair “ and we pay 100 % of that cost through the General Fund budget and then there is no [ state ] aid .” She said typically the school board and then the voters approve a capital project “ and then the building aid follows , but if its not done in that manner , you lose the opportunity to receive the New York State revenue , which we refer to as building aid .” She estimated that building aid is usually at 70 percent of a project .
Barone said the board established a Capital Reserve Fund they have been contributing to for the past three years .
“ That money will also help offset the impact to the taxpayers ,” he said , adding that to use that money for a project requires approval from the public . In May , the public will be voting on this Capital project , which will include tapping $ 425,000 from this special reserve fund . If the overall project is approved by the public the balance will be in the form of a bond .
Barone said this project “ has been somewhat fasttracked but I think the timing is there , we have the needs and I think this is the appropriate time to move forward with this .”
Board member Mike Bakatsias pointed out that the district ’ s bond counsel advised them that this is an opportune time to do this Capital Project because instead of retiring the debt it can just be carried over , with “ minimum or very little ” impact upon the taxpayers .
District Facilities Manager , Pete Miller offered details on each of the items contained in the new $ 7.5 million Capital Project . A new heating and air regulation system is needed in Central Administration because this area was originally classrooms where the HVAC system was not of the best design or very efficient .
Re-keying of the interior and exterior lock system is needed to better control access to and within the work will include upgrades to improve performance and enhance reliability . The elevator is expected to open in late May following winter maintenance .
Please be aware that lanes are compressed due to the construction of the new Ulster Welcome Center . Cyclists are REQUIRED to dismount and adhere to the posted regulations in the construction zone to ensure the safety of all .
Highland proposes $ 7.5 million capital project
buildings . The fiber data lines between the Middle and
Elementary Schools are to be replaced .
Generators at the bus garage and also at the Middle School are needed to protect their refrigeration , phones and alarm systems .
Upgrades to the unit vents and heating system in the 1971 portion of the Elementary School , which are at the end of their lifespan . He said new codes mandate that fresh air be provided at levels that these failing units can no longer provide .
Upgrades to perimeter lighting at all three schools that will be mounted on the buildings to light up the exteriors of the buildings from dusk to dawn for safety and security . In addition , an upgrade to the emergency lighting is needed at the Middle School if the power were to fail in the building . Currently they are not up to code .
The original HVAC dampers and controls at the High School ( circa 1960 ) that maintain proper air flow in the gym , the auditorium and the cafeteria need to be replaced .
The Kal-Wall fiberglass composite above the library at the high school needs to be replaced , as they are deteriorating based on discoloration and flaking .
The basketball court at the Middle School by the field has to be resurfaced with either asphalt or a rubber compound ( to be determined ) along with a new backboard .
A sewer pump upgrade at the High School is needed , which has a large leech field type of septic system .
The stage curtains in the High School auditorium are due to be replaced as they are at the end of their lifespan . In addition , a projector and a 16 ’ x18 ’ screen are also needed .
An upgrade to the heat in the High School locker room storage for boys and girls sports equipment .
A bus loop in front of the High School will be installed so that all students enter into the same building portal instead of filtering in through multiple doorways .
The High School has to isolate a switch rack for new cameras and computer related equipment that is in a boiler room , which must be temperature controlled .
In the Middle School antiquated pneumatic HVAC controls will be replaced with electronic controls and sensor switches .
Miller described how they arrived at a list for this project , saying , “ We picked a number of things that we thought would fall within the number we are aiming for .” He said if they receive bids with totals that are lower than expected , the district could add more components to the project but only if they are related to items that have already been approved by the voters .
Police Blotter
TOWN OF LLOYD
Shyron N . Williams , 29 , of Poughkeepsie , was arrested March 22 and charged with felony Grand Larceny 3rd degree , Felony Criminal Possession of Stolen property 3rd degree , Felony Intimidating a Witness 3rd degree , Endangering the Welfare of a Child , Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana . He was found operating a reported stolen vehicle on Rte . 44 / 55 in Highland and was in the company of a 15 year old juvenile . Williams was arraigned before Town of Lloyd Judge Elia and remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail and is due back in Town Court March 27 .
Laura A . Duffy , 70 , of Woodstock , was arrested March 23 on an arrest warrant for Petit Larceny . She is accused of stealing approximately $ 15 worth of merchandise from the Bridgeview Mobil Convenience Store in Highland . She was arraigned before Town of Lloyd Judge Rizzo and released and is due back in Town Court April 12 .
Lisa M . Vasquez , 35 , of Kingston , was arrested March 21 and charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd degree and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana after the vehicle she was operating was stopped for traffic violations on Rte . 44 / 55 in Highland . She was released on an appearance ticket and is due in Town Court March 29 .
STATE POLICE On March 22 , 2018 , State Police Highland arrested Alyssa Pascion-Dikatis , 27 , of Hastings on the Hudson , NY for DWI . She was traveling on County Route 11 in the town of Lloyd when she was involved in a motor vehicle crash .
ULSTER COUNTY SHERIFF
Members of the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team ( URGENT ) report the arrest of a Plattekill man for drug sales and possession .
On March 23 , , members of URGENT arrested Ryan C . Coppola , 34 of Plattekill following an investigation of heroin sales in the Town of Plattekill and surrounding areas . Coppola had been wanted by members of URGENT since their recent warrant sweep . Through investigation his location was confirmed to be at the residence of his girlfriend ’ s grandmother in the Town of New Windsor . After a brief standoff with police he surrendered and was subsequently arrested on a warrant of arrest issued by the Town of Plattekill Justice Court .
He was charged with the felonies of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree .
The defendant was arraigned in the Town of Hurley Justice Court and was remanded to the Ulster County Jail with no bail . He is scheduled to appear in the Town of Plattekill Justice Court on a future date and time . URGENT was assisted by members of the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office , Town of New Windsor Police Department , Orange County Special Operations Group , and the U . S . Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force .
Members of the Ulster County Sheriff ’ s Office report the arrest of Michael S . Spiecker , 32 , of Highland . Spiecker was charged with the felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence and the misdemeanor of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree .
On March 20 , at approximately 6:45 p . m ., a sheriff ’ s K-9 unit stopped a vehicle operated by Spiecker on State Route 9W in the Town of Lloyd for several traffic infractions . During the course of the stop , Deputies said . Spiecker attempted to discard suspected narcotics he was in possession of . It was later discovered he was in possession of heroin and Oxycodone pills .
He was arraigned in the Town of Lloyd Court and remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $ 10,000 cash bail , to return on a later date .