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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, April 10, 2019
B riefs
Village of Montgomery approves
1.8 percent tax increase
Village of Montgomery taxpayers will see a minimal
increase of 1.8 percent in their tax rate for the 2019-20
budget.
The tax rate increased from $15.48 per $1,000 home
valuation to $15.76 this year. Ronald Clum, CPA, said the
budget increase is under the 2 percent village tax cap.
The balance of appropriation to be raised by the real
estate tax levy increased by $70,000, from $2.85 million in
2018-19 to $2.92 million in 19-20.
The trustees saw a minimal increase in salaries from
$38,061 between the four trustees in 2018-19 to $39,06 in
2019-20.
Mayor Stephen Brescia welcomes an increase of 16
percent, for his part-time position, from $12,485 in 2018-
19 to $14,485 in 2019-20. Brescia also receives $49,684 in
2019 as chairman of the Orange County Legislature.
Town of Montgomery buys
trailer for highway garage
The Montgomery town board approved an office
trailer for highway department employees to use after
a report from Anderson Design Group concluded the
highway garage was structurally unsafe.
The board approved a trailer for $506 a month from
Versatile Office Trailers for a one-year lease at the
meeting on April 4. Superintendent of Highways Charles
Woznick said the trailer will serve as a breakroom while
the board determines what to do with the highway
garage.
“It’s an insurance policy just in case you do need it, it
will be there,” Woznick said.
As of April 8, the highway department was still using
a portion of the garage for storage of vehicles. Mechanics
were still entering that portion, which Woznick said is
safe.
“We never put anybody’s life in jeopardy at all,”
Woznick said.
The highway department does not have to leave the
building until the town building inspector condemns it,
Woznick said.
Board member Cindy Voss suggested seeking a second
structural engineering report from a different engineer,
but the board ultimately decided to table the suggestion
until Voss could do more research on the issue.
Town Supervisor Rodney Winchell said action needed
to be taken soon on the issue.
“To leave men in harm’s way, I don’t think it’s wise,”
Winchell said.
The next board meeting will be a work session at town
hall on April 17 at 6 p.m.
Montgomery town board approves
bids for town hall roof replacement
The Montgomery town board approved bids for a roof
replacement on town hall at the meeting on April 4.
The board approved a bid from Anko General
Contracting for $424,500 for the replacement of roofs on
building 110 and 112.
P olice B lotter
Town supervisor Rodney Winchell said if the board
moves quickly, the roof and steel support upgrades could
be done over the summer while employees still occupy
the building.
“It can be done before winter if we move,” Winchell
said.
Board member Mark Hoyt voiced his concern that
completing roof work before upgrading the building’s
steel structure to support the new roof would create a
compliance issue.
Winchell said if the board makes a good faith effort,
the steel work and other renovations can be done before
the roof is completed to avoid the compliance issue.
Pine Bush Board President
apologizes for comment
Lloyd Greer, Jr., Pine Bush board president, apologized
for his remark during a discussion on the addition of
seventh grade Spanish.
During a 2019-20 budget presentation, Greer and board
vice president Gretchen Meier opposed adding seventh
grade Spanish as a curriculum option in 2019-20. They
said while foreign language is not unimportant, the
district’s and students’ resources and time would be
better served by more technology classes. During the
discussion, which was held at the March 12 meeting,
Greer made a comment that angered members of the
community.
“I’m an American; I think that everybody here should
speak English,” Greer said.
At a meeting on March 26, Greer apologized for his
comment, saying sometimes one says things they don’t
mean.
“I made a comment that I didn’t mean. It wasn’t
meant to be racist. Sometimes I say things in the wrong
context and that was one night I did,” Greer said. “So, I
apologize if I offended anybody, but it definitely wasn’t
meant to harm anybody. Sometimes I take this job a little
seriously, and it comes out the wrong way.”
Threat at Circleville Middle
School deemed not credible
Authorities debunked rumors of a potential violent
event at Circleville Middle School that circulated on
social media last Thursday.
Upon further investigation, the Pine Bush school
administrators and Town of Wallkill Police determined
no credible threat existed.
Several people used the school district’s SpeakUp
application, which allows students, staff and parents to
send anonymous tips to alert the district to problems
requiring their attention.
“We thank those individuals who understood how
important it is to alert authorities when they think bad
things might happen,” a joint statement from Pine Bush
Superintendent Tim Mains and Wallkill Police Chief
Robert Hertman said.
SpeakUp is monitored 24/7, and will alert school
officials. If the threat is serious enough, police personnel
will post to it. For more information on SpeakUp, visit
the district’s homepage at pinebushschools.org.
VILLAGE OF WALDEN
Robert Wilson, 36, of Walden was charged
on Feb. 26 with criminal contempt 2nd. He was
scheduled to appear in village court on March 27.
Carmella Riley-Thomas, 53, of Poughkeepsie
was charged on Feb. 27 with harassment 2nd. She
was scheduled to appear in village court on March
13.
Michael Parise, 34, of Norwalk, CT was charged
on March 3 with petit larceny and criminal
mischief 4th. He was scheduled to appear in
village court on March 27.
Angel Lahoz, 29, of Walden was charged
on March 13 with criminal mischief 4th and
preventing an emergency call. He was arraigned
in village court.
Jessica Cruz, 28, of Newburgh was charged on
March 13 with grand larceny and assault 3rd. She
was arraigned in village court.
Ryazard Kiec, 46, of Cornwall was charged on
March 14 with aggravated unlicensed operation
3rd and operating a motor vehicle without
inspection. He is scheduled to appear in village
court on April 24.
Valerie Petito, 32, of New Windsor was charged
on March 16 with aggravated unlicensed operation
2nd and criminal possession of a controlled
substance 7th. She was scheduled to appear in
village court on March 27.
James Dudley, 27, of Walden was arrested on
March 23 on an arrest warrant out of the Town
of Ramapo. He was turned over to the Town of
Ramapo Police.
Dennis Pratt, 45, of Walden was charged on
March 25 with petit larceny. He is scheduled to
appear in village court on April 24.
Kylie Villa, 24, of Montgomery was charged on
March 31 with unlawful possession of marihuana.
She is scheduled to appear in village court on
April 24.
Tasha Purdy, 25, of Walden was charged on
April 2 with aggravated unlicensed operation
2nd, fail to return drivers license, operate a motor
vehicle without inspection, operate a motor
vehicle without insurance and operate a motor
vehicle with a suspended registration. She is
scheduled to appear in village court on April 24.
VILLAGE OF MONTGOMERY
Allycia McNiel, 31, of Maybrook was charged on
Feb. 19 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd.
Shane Riley, 37, of Middletown was charged on
Feb. 21 with ability impaired by drugs.
Jessica Lellek, 24, of Pine Bush was charged on
Feb. 22 with criminal contempt 2nd.
Reese Haerrmann, 24, of Montgomery was
charged on March 16 with assault 2nd and
endangering the welfare of a child.
Carlos Gonzalez, 50, of Middletown was charged
on March 26 with suspended registration.