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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Maybrook trustees adopt 2019 budget
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
The Maybrook board of trustees approved the budget
at a special meeting on April 29 that was originally
rejected just one week before at the board meeting on
April 23.
The new 2019-20 tax rate for a Town of Montgomery
resident will be $15.43 per $1,000 assessed, up from
$14.17 last year. The new 2019-20 tax rate for a Town of
Hamptonburg resident, which has a small contingency in
Maybrook, is $10.03 per $1,000 assessed.
The 9 percent increase will help restore the village’s
zero fund balance, which caused the village to be listed as
moderately stressed for fiscal year ending in 2018 by the
Office of the State Comptroller.
“I think everyone on the board is aware the 9 percent
increase is a lot, but the board is going to diligently work
on staying within the budget and still get progress done
in the village at the same time,” Maybrook Mayor Dennis
Leahy said.
Leahy said the village has undertaxed its residents
in past years and taken money from the fund balance
in an attempt to keep taxes low while still completing
infrastructure projects in the village.
Trustee James Barnett, Daryl Capozzoli, and Kevin
Greany voted against the proposed budget on April 23,
while Mayor Dennis Leahy and Deputy Mayor Robert
Pritchard voted for the proposed budget.
Capozzoli said he originally voted against the budget
because he did not know until the special meeting that he
could defer his 2 percent raise. Greany said he had not
gone through the budget line by line before April 23.
The board unanimously voted to approve the budget
at the April 29 meeting.
“To find fluff in here is really hard to do,” Capozzoli
said. “It seems to be as true a budget as I’ve ever seen.”
Capozzoli and Greany deferred their 2 percent raise, or
about $140 each.
Wallkill Riverkeeper Sweep
Continued from page 1
Riverkeeper.
“It’s just a great day to feel good, make some new
friends and get involved,” Carucci said.
Last year, 24 volunteers at four Gardiner land sites
and an area of river along Farmer’s Turnpike Fishing
Access removed 2,285 pounds and 17 tires from the river.
Sweep volunteers are asked to wear sturdy shoes,
boots, clothing they can get dirty, hats and work gloves.
Volunteers are also asked to bring a reusable water
bottle and snacks.
Volunteers get a free drink voucher (including non-
alcoholic beverages) to be used at meet ups at Hudson
Valley breweries, cideries and restaurants. Locations
include Angry Orchard in Walden, the Hoot Owl in Pine
Bush, the Yard Owl Craft Brewery in Gardiner and the
Newburgh Brewing Company.
To see a full list of locations or register, visit
riverkeeper.org/news-events/events/rvk-events/8th-
annual-riverkeeper-sweep/. Volunteers meet at sites at
9 a.m. Some sites are suitable for children with adult
supervision; check each location to learn more.
A rea B riefs
Beer World location
proposed in Crawford
Beer World, a commercial alcohol chain in the Hudson
Valley, has been proposed in the Town of Crawford.
Located at the corner of Boniface Drive and Route
52 in the hamlet of Pine Bush, the project will add 5,400
square feet to an existing building on the property, for a
total of 10,000 square feet.
When presented with plans at the planning board
meeting on April 24, the planning board had concerns
about the large size of the building’s overhang and sign.
“It’s looking quite top-heavy and not quite as
hometown-y,” planning board chair Linda Zwart said.
Zachary Peters, Principal Engineer with MNTM, said
the sign and building could be modified.
Beer World has six locations in the Hudson Valley,
according to its website.
The public hearing for Beer World will be at 7 p.m. on
May 22 at Crawford town hall.
Crawford receives sidewalk grant
The Town of Crawford recently received a $1.9 million
grant from New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) for a sidewalk project on the outer edges of
the hamlet.
Crawford received the grant from NYSDOT’s
Transportation Alternative Program for a pedestrian
safety project on Route 52.
The project includes 650 feet of sidewalk in front of
the strip mall on Route 52 to the corner of Boniface Drive;
Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps; and
an automated crosswalk crossing Route 52 to Boniface
Drive.
Town of Crawford Director of Safety and Security
Dan McCann said the project will connect with sidewalks
in the hamlet, giving pedestrians a safe walking route
from the shops at the outer reaches of the hamlet to
businesses on Main Street.
“People can walk into the hamlet area and to all the
shops and businesses,” McCann said.
The total project cost is a projected $2.28 million, of
which the town will pay $380,000.
Town Supervisor Charles Carnes said the project is
currently pending before NYSDOT.
“As soon as the DOT says go we’re starting,” Carnes
said.
Shawangunk Yard Sale is Saturday
The annual Town Wide Yard Sale in the Town
of Shawangunk will be Saturday May 4. The list of
participating addresses will be posted Thursday evening
May 2 on Vision of Wallkill’s Facebook page. If you want
to have your yard sale listed, message your address to
VOW FB asap.
For more info, visit the Facebook page or call Donna
at 851-8105.
The ‘Basin’ – How did
Wallkill evolve as a hamlet?
The Town of Shawangunk Historical Society will
meet Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Historical Society
Meeting Hall 5 Main Street in Wallkill.
This month’s presentation is entitled: The ‘Basin’ –
How did Wallkill evolve as a hamlet?
The early environment, people and industries will be
explored as to why Wallkill grew to become the center of
business even though it was not the largest. Water power,
saw mills, grist mills, railroads, Paper Mill and the Hat
Factory are some of the major industries investigated.
The Bruyn and Borden names played an important role.
Admission is free. Contact Harold Van Aken at 895-
3321 for more information.
Bereavement Group for parents
who have lost a child
In the light of a number of children passing away
this past couple of months in our area, a bereavement
group will start on Tuesday, May 7, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
It will be held at 127 Rte. 302 in Pine Bush.
For more information, call Tina McGuffey Gordon at
(845) 800-4875.
P olice B lotter
TOWN OF CRAWFORD
Ernest Sloat, 50, of Bullville was charged on
April 27 with criminal mischief 4th and harassment
2nd. The defendant was arraigned in town court and
remanded to Orange County Jail on no bail pending
further court appearance.
Nekia Figueroa, 24, of Pine Bush was charged on
April 26 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a
motor vehicle and suspended vehicle registration.
The defendant was released to appear in town court
on June 4.
Michael Reineke, 36, of Middletown was charged
on April 26 with aggravated unlicensed operation
of a motor vehicle. The defendant was released to
appear in town court on May 6.
VILLAGE OF MONTGOMERY
Vincent Anderson, 26, of Walden was charged on
April 17 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd,
suspended registration and no insurance.
Kiam Gory, 29, of Middletown was charged on
April 20 with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd.
Vickilynn Mulford, 32, of Monticello was charged
on April 23 with aggravated unlicensed operation
3rd.