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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Gardiner sees increase in estimated budget
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
The town of Gardiner presented their
first tentative 2019 budget last Friday,
predicting a large increase.
The general, highway and dependent
districts are estimated to have a 16
percent increase, and the budget could
be pushed slightly higher once fire and
library budgets are calculated.
Town supervisor Marybeth Majestic
stressed that this is only an estimated
budget, and tax increases will probably
decrease once the town board explores
bonding options this week. Bonds finance
projects over a longer period of time,
reducing financial strain.
However, Majestic said it’s unlikely
that the budget will be under the tax cap.
Majestic said the town is operating
on a bare bones budget, which is
unsustainable and leaves needs in the
town unmet. The town is understaffed
and there are projects that need to be
completed which are difficult to complete
without proper funding or staff.
“By way of my front row seat as
Town Supervisor, I see needs unmet and
continuing to emerge,” Majestic said in a
letter to the board. “Like a leaky roof, the
longer you put off the needed investment
the more soggy and expensive the repairs
and restoration become.”
One of the largest items includes
a $50,000 line for the renovation and
expansion of the Hamlet Sewer District.
The 2004 Master Plan notes that the sewer
district needs to be expanded to allow
economic development and growth in the
hamlet.
“Expansion or creation of a central
hamlet must be accompanied by
expansion of the capacity of the sewer
district and creation of a public water
supply,” the Master Plan states. “Unless
this is accomplished, it will be very
difficult to direct significant amounts
of growth toward the designated central
hamlet.”
The 2004 plan concluded that an
increase in 21 houses would put the sewer
district at maximum capacity. While it’s
not known how many houses have been
built since then, Majestic said the district
is nearing capacity and has no financial
reserves.
The budget also includes $20,000 for a
bookkeeper’s assistant and $25,000 for a
bookkeeping system. The addition of an
assistant would allow the town to have
a segregation of duties in its financial
transactions, increasing qu ality control.
The Office of the New York State
Comptroller
Local
Government
Management Guide recommends that
one person shouldn’t have access to both
assets and the transactions controlling
those assets, protecting against fraud or
negligence. A 2013 State Comptroller of
Gardiner audit states the bookkeeper’s
cash receipts and disbursement duties
were not separated.
“We still don’t have a segregation of
duties,” Majestic said. “We still have the
person that’s writing the checks balancing
the checkbook.”
The estimated budget also includes
$10,000 for a financial audit. The last audit
was the 2013 State Comptroller internal
control audit. A financial audit would
track specific transactions to ensure
finances are handled properly.
It also includes the addition of a full-
time deputy clerk, a position that would
help reduce the workload for the town
clerk Michelle Mosher. She said she can
barely perform her duties as it is now.
“I haven’t been able to keep up with
my workload,” Mosher said. “I don’t have
enough help. I put many things to the side
because I can’t get my daily duties done.”
The budget also includes an additional
10 hours of work for the Building
Inspector/CEO, $8,000 for a scale at
the transfer station, $50,000 for a new
plow truck, an 11 percent increase in
health insurance premiums, 25 hours for
a supervisor’s assistant and 3 percent
salary increases.
CTE program gives high school students hands-on learning opportunities
By LAURA FITZGERALD
[email protected]
Pine Bush School District recently introduced Polaris
University, a new Career Technical Education (CTE)
program that gives students the opportunity to receive
hands-on training with real motorcycles and vehicles.
The program was made possible by a partnership
with Polaris Industries and their donation of two Indian
motorcycles, two ATVs and motors for students to
practice on. Pine Bush is only one of four high schools in
the country to have a Polaris University program.
First, students earn their bronze level certification by
learning the steps of dealing with equipment. Students
go through computer modules at their own pace after
school. Then, students receive their silver certification
through hands-on learning with a specific vehicle, such
as a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, or more.
Social Studies teacher Neil Lisberg said hopefully
students can earn high school credit by the end of the
school year.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math
(STEAM) coach Ken Marshall said they hope to have
students receive their bronze certification by December
and their silver by June. Since the program is open to 9
through 12 grade, underclassmen can receive multiple
certifications before they graduate.
The program teaches students skills they can apply
directly to the work force or college, Lisberg said. Some
students who don’t go to college can enter the work
force directly. It also gives students who go to college an
advantage in their course work.
“You’ve worked with these vehicles so much that you
now have a leg up when you do get to college because
Photo provided
Polaris, an American producer of snowmobiles, ATVs and
Victory and Indian motorcycles, donated two motorcycles,
two four-wheelers, several motors and mechanical parts to
the high school for the program. Students who go through
the program can graduate with a silver level certification
in maintaining Polaris vehicles, allowing them to get jobs
working for Indian motorcycles or any Polaris affiliate.
you understand what it is that you’re designing,” Lisberg
said. “And if you don’t wanna go to college you can make
a decent living right out of school.”
The program is also open to every high school student,
bringing together all levels of students.
“With our programs here it’s not just your higher-
end kid. It’s every single kid that gets exposure to us,”
Marshall said. “From our at-risk kids in our STARS
academy to our honors kids in the engineering academy.”
Lisberg said 65 students who are excited to learn signed
up for the program already.
“When I gave the presentation the other day our
students were kind of blown away with the amount of
opportunity they’re gonna have and I really like that,”
Lisberg said. “I left the meeting with a whole bunch of
kids fired up with smiles on their faces.”
The new program is one of several CTE programs that
Pine Bush offers. The engineering program began five
years ago in a tiny room that is now Marshall’s office.
CTE programs often have teachers from multiple
disciplines work together so students can work on
cross-curricular projects. Some teachers even teach
outside their subject area, such as Lisberg, who teaches
technology and engineering programs.
For example, Lisberg once led a Shark Tank project
in which students created a product and presented it
to a panel of judges who decided if they would invest
in the product. Students learned design, engineering,
production, technology, marketing and economics
through the creation and marketing of their product.
In 2014, students from the Pine Bush Helping With
Horsepower Academy designed and built a Victory
motorcycle that set a land speed record. Marshall said he
hopes to eventually do the same with Polaris University
students and an Indian motorcycle.
Students can learn more about Polaris University
and other CTE programs though the Hudson Valley
Manufacturing Exploration Night on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.
Visitors can tour the Pine Bush Innovation Center, learn
about the STEAM program and meet industry leaders
and college and trade school representatives. Hosted
at Pine Bush High School, the night will be the perfect
opportunity for students who want to know more about
STEAM and manufacturing careers.