Wallkill Valley Times Jun. 21 2017

T IMES WALLKILL VALLEY Vol. 35, No 25 3 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 3 ONE DOLLAR Chapel Field graduation Page 18 www .W allkill V alley T imes . net Road safety remains an issue in Crawford By RACHEL COLEMAN Road safety continues to be a concern in the town of Crawford, even as improvements are underway. During the regular meeting of the town board last week, residents expressed concern about various threats to public safety, ranging from overgrown bushes to speeding on Hill Avenue due to a traffic detour. The NYS Department of Transportation is working Hayes will not seek re-election on improvements on Route 302 and Town Supervisor Charles Carnes noted the residents’ concerns and promised to follow up with NYSDOT as well as the town’s highway department for the town roads. Carnes said later in the meeting that the number of motor vehicle accidents in the town is up by 25 over last year, with 100 accidents so far this year. “It seems to be going the wrong way now,” said Carnes. While the cause of the upswing was not given, the report added weight to the concerns of the residents. In other business, the town board approved a resolution to finalize the extension of Sewer District I. Supervisor Carnes said he hoped the move would attract business to Route 52. “I think it’s a good attraction to the town,” said Continued on page 4 Gardiner adopts revised solar law Odyssey Teams honored By RACHEL COLEMAN After a decade at the helm, Montgomery Town Supervisor Mike Hayes has decided not to run for re-election this fall. “I had intentions to run,” said Hayes. As the Republican incumbent, it raised eyebrows a couple weeks ago when the town’s Republican committee decided to endorse another candidate. Hayes found himself facing a solitary campaign and a “notoriously difficult” primary, but he hesitated to say goodbye after Mike Hayes five terms in office. “It has been a very challenging, rewarding and learning experience,” said Hayes. “To come into office at the start of the recession and try to find a balance between providing Continued on page 5 By NICHOLAS TANTILLO Photo courtesy Ulster BOCES The Pine Bush Board of Education honored its Odyssey of the Mind teams at a school board meeting last week. Shown is the team from Pine Bush Elementary School, came in second in their division at the World Finals, held from May 24 – 27. Story on page 3. With the moratorium deadline fast approaching, the Gardiner town board unanimously voted in favor of their revised solar law. The law is the culmination of several weeks of careful planning, discussion and reflection on how best to regulate solar energy systems in the town. The first draft was sent back to the drawing board after residents expressed their concern for two aspects of the law during the first of town public hearings. As it pertains to the town master plan, the newest version contains a revision that prohibits commercial solar arrays from SP districts one, two and three. The second revision adjusted the cost of the decommissioning bond, or money held by the town if it becomes responsible Continued on page 4 SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL