Sidewalk Project Rears Its Head Again
by Thaddeus Flint
It’s a whole new world,” said one resident at the conclusion of the monthly New Lebanon Town Board meeting last Tuesday night.
And while that might be stretching the reality of the matter a bit, Board meetings like this one–where every discussion put to vote was agreed to unanimously—are certainly a calmer scene than they used to be. [/private]Gone are the days when grumpy people seemed to be coming out of the woodwork, possessed with an urge to come down to the Town Hall and offload that grumpiness, usually directing it at the previous Town Supervisor, Mike Benson.
Benson tried to get a lot done in a short time and in doing so broke a lot of eggs, as the idiom goes, making omelets that residents didn’t often want to eat.
One of those omelets, however, the sidewalk project which was put on a back burner after scores of residents filled meetings in opposition to the proposed plan, is about to return.
Town Supervisor Colleen Teal said that the sidewalk project was brought up during a recent meeting with representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation. While the general gist of the meeting was long term planning which might lead to “long term business growth,” the sidewalk project-that-never-was still must be addressed.
“We have to make a decision,” said Teal. If the Town does not, it is possible that Federal and State grants might have to be repaid. The total could be close to $90,000.
As Benson and the Board at the time of the sidewalk found out, any decision is not going to make everyone happy.
“There are real issues,” pointed out Teal. The biggest of which was the possibility of eminent domain being used to seize personal properties to make room for the sidewalks many residents don’t want to pay for. The DOT denied removing the center turn lane from the Routes 20 and 22 corridor where the sidewalk would partially run. The projected path of the paths was the western side of the road from Lover’s Lane to the High School. If that happens, the Library could lose the little parking it still has and EZ Mart could lose parking spaces as well. Private homes along the route would find privacy reduced with sidewalks now running though their front yards.
The touted benefits of the project were of a “if you build it they will come” kind of hope, that envisioned businesses coming to the Town because people might walk to them. An increase in small business might then encourage a supermarket to return to New Lebanon. At the very least the High School would be a pleasant walk from the bar at the Gallup Inn.
“We will figure it out, I have no doubt,” said Teal.
The only other downbeat news of the night was from New Lebanon’s representative to the County Office for the Aging, Phyllis Hulbert. “I am finding all sorts of lives in trouble in this Valley,” Hulbert said. Many residents, especially senior citizens, are finding it difficult to buy food and pay bills. Hulbert is even spending her own money helping others make ends meet, while at the same time doggedly pursuing many different programs the can help those most in need. “I am a force to be reckoned with,” Hulbert told the Board.
Something else the Board will have to reckon with is how to give employee raises. The Town Assessor, Kim Cammer, is suggesting a $1 an hour raise for her assistant. While nobody doubted the value of the work of the assistant, the Town Clerk, Tistrya Houghtling, did question the fairness of paying Cammer’s assistant more than Houghtling’s Deputy, when the Deputy Town Clerk has been working in the position longer.
“We have a budget for a reason,” added Councilman Kevin Smith. “We should stick to it.”
The matter was tabled for further discussion.
Pretty much everything else discussed during the night was, however, upbeat and agreed to in full. This included two new Town laws, one amending the Town Code in regard to Animals, and the other amending Town Code in regard to allowing for “Best Value” in contracts under the Town’s procurement policy. The new Backhoe refinancing passed, new policies for overtime and vacation were adopted, and a $100 limit for food at Jury Trials was also agreed to.
As the Town’s Bicentennial approaches in 2018, it was agreed that Grow The Valley, formerly the Lebanon Valley Business Association, will be the official “facilitator” of the event.
While planning begins for that event, New Lebanon’s Community Day is already almost here. “I want everyone to come,” said Teal. With Animal Control Officer, Wes Powell, roasting a pig, that might actually happen. The picnic will be held at Shatford Park on June 12 from noon to 6 pm. Town Clerk Houghtling asked that any organizations interested in having a booth at Community Day to contact her office.
Teal also wanted to see as many residents as possible at the installation of the new playground equipment in the park last weekend. However, if you missed that one, you are in luck as the Supervisor is expecting to continue the work this coming weekend, May 21 and 22. Interested parties should contact the Town Hall first to see what sort of skills and tools might be needed.
Announcements: the Lebanon Valley Protective Association will be hosting a Giffy’s Bar-B-Que on June 11 from 5 to 7 pm. Tickets are $12 and available from any LVPA member.
The third annual Town Cleanup Day will be held Saturday June 18 at the Highway Garage from 8 am to 2 pm.
The next regular meeting of the Town Board will be Tuesday June 14 at 7 pm at the Town Hall.[/private]