Wallkill Valley Times Jul. 06 2016

TIMES Vol. 34, No 27 3 WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 WALLKILL VALLEY Summer on the Cape Seaweed art Page 37 Page 24 Battle for control After a period of instability within the leadership of its Highway Department, the Town of Shawangunk Board took the first steps this spring toward converting the Highway Superintendent post from an elected position to an appointed job. The board passed a local law on May 19 that confirmed the switch, pending a public referendum on the matter. Now the voters will make the final decision on Tuesday, July 19 when they head to the ballot box. The upcoming vote will not only decide the short-term fate of the highway agency, but will deal with the delicate balance of power between the town administration, department heads ONE DOLLAR www.WallkillValleyTimes.net Shawangunk braces for vote on future of highway dept. By TED REMSNYDER 3 and the taxpayers. The turbulence surrounding the department only deepened in recent weeks, as former Highway Superintendent Michael Eggelton was arrested on June 1 by New York State Police in Gardiner for allegedly misappropriating funds Continued on page 3 Montgomery teams win district crown Economic outlook brightens Maybrook gains county and local support By RACHEL COLEMAN Bond Brungard Piper Kaylor of Montgomery singled home the winning run in the eighth inning to win the district title for the 12-under All Stars. Story on page 40. Economic development efforts in the Village of Maybrook are gaining traction, with a special meeting held last week. Over the last few years, the mayor and village board have been working on infrastructure, including sewer lining and the construction of a multi-million dollar sewer treatment plant, all aimed at improving the current state of affairs in Maybrook. At the meeting, Village Trustee Robert Pritchard spoke briefly of the birth of Maybrook, where all seemed well until 1974 when “history kind of stopped.” The railroad that had been the heart of the village was gone and the village was tossed into a “state of disequilibrium.” A few years ago, after a long struggle, the Valley Central School District closed Maybrook Elementary School. Since then, village officials have been hard at work trying to give them a reason to reopen the school. “[There was] economic stagnation for 42 years,” said Pritchard. “It’s what we’re trying to turn around here.” Two years ago the Turner Miller Group was enlisted to come up with an economic development plan, which called for Continued on page 3 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL