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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , May 24 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

TUESDAY , MAY 30

Town of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery .

THURSDAY , JUNE 1 Montgomery Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery . Shawangunk Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 14 Central Ave ., Wallkill

EARLY DEADLINE

The office of the Walkill Valley Times will be closed Monday , May 29 in observance of Memorial Day . Deadlines for all classified and legal advertising for the May 31 edition is Friday , May 26 at 3 p . m . All other deadlines remain the same .

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The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

By RACHEL COLEMAN

The Town of Crawford Police Department has a new sergeant , after the formal promotion of Officer James Johnson on Thursday during the regular meeting of the town board .

“ I think he has held every position ,” said Police Chief Dominick Blasko .

Blasko said Johnson has been a police officer for 17 years , noting his time as the town ’ s SRO and DARE officer , his involvement in the Leadership and Law Academy with the Pine Bush High School , and his leadership within the police department in their “ time of need ” over the last 18 months .

“ He ’ s been a great ambassador to the community for our department ,” said Chief Blasko . “ He has the respect of a lot of community members .”

The town board voted unanimously to promote Johnson to the rank of sergeant .

In other business , Supervisor Charles Carnes advised the public that Todd B . Westhuis , the regional director of the NYS Department of Transportation , had responded to his letter about safety concerns on Route 302 at the intersection with Ulsterville and Blackhawk Roads and work will be done to make improvements .

The NYSDOT plans to extend the 30 mph speed zone south on Route 302 approximately 550 feet ; add warning signs for the new speed limit , obstructed view and approaching intersection ; and remove some roadside vegetation .

“ The proposed signage improvements are designed and intended to encourage drivers to reduce their speed to 30 mph well before they reach the crest of the hill ,” said Westhuis .

Westhuis explained that the DOT will evaluate the need for a project to increase sight distance on Route 302 south of the intersection with Ulsterville Road after completion of the improvements and enhanced speed enforcement .

That project would include lowering the crest of the hill about 3 feet and raising the pavement in the sag at the bottom of the hill by about 1.5 feet , all of which would require property acquisitions .

“ Hopefully , in the future , if needed , they ’ ll do the grades ,” said Carnes .

Meanwhile , the town voted to accept a donation of land along Route 52 that will enable another safety project to move forward .

“ We ’ re now allowed to put the sidewalks in , once we take the donation of these two little pieces ,” said Carnes .

The property in question lies in front of the Valley Supreme Shopping Center

Officer James Johnson transitions to sergeant as his wife affixes his new badge .

on Route 52 and was donated by the Moriano Trust . The project was stalled until the path of the sidewalk no longer crossed private property .

The town board voted to move forward with installing approximately 100 yards of sidewalk and a crosswalk across to McDonalds . The project is currently with the town ’ s engineer before being sent out to bid .

Another project heading out to bid after Thursday ’ s meeting is a new walking trail , utilizing the abandoned town road known as Ward Avenue . The first phase is 1.25 miles . Supervisor Carnes stated after the meeting that the town is working on an agreement with Orange County to possibly extend the trail next year , with the hope of a gazebo in the future at the top of the trail , affording visitors beautiful views of the town .

In the meantime , Carnes said this first phase of the trail should be ready to open to the public within the next 30-45 days .

The town board also adopted their 2017 Comprehensive Master Plan , with the supervisor pointing out that Orange County agreed with “ almost everything ” and the plan was completed at half the usual cost through the efforts of Councilman Rob Sassi and Pattern for Progress .

Sassi also took the opportunity during the meeting to unveil one of the signs that will soon be appearing around town ,

which features the slogan : “ Help Keep Crawford Clean .”

Sassi reflected on issues the town has been having with litter and trash falling from garbage trucks . He commended some conscientious residents on their efforts to pick up the litter , and asked that more residents join their ranks .

“ Hopefully with something like this we ’ ll build community pride , get clean and keep it clean ,” said Sassi .

In other business , the board appointed Catherine Dougherty to the Board of Assessment Review .

Councilman Rob Sassi unveils one of the signs that will soon be appearing around town .