by Thaddeus Flint
It was parks, speeding, snakes (mechanical), those zoning variances being “handed out like Halloween candy”, and the quality of life for Seniors at the monthly Board meeting in New Lebanon last week. [private]The new tennis courts, after years of discussion and then the tabling of these discussions for further discussions, are now officially open. At last Tuesday’s meeting, the final touches to the complete rebuild of the courts were discussed. The fencing, it turns out, had to be re-fenced with a special machine and so this slowed things down a bit as that had to go out to bid. The winning Bid of $1585, from AFSCO Fence and Deck, was significantly less than the other two bids received. AFSCO was also sub-contracted by the firm re-building the courts, HMA Contracting, to install the tennis nets, so work had apparently stopped while HMA waited to see if AFSCO would get the bid, something at least one Board member was not all that impressed with.
“They could have been installing the nets,” said Councilman Mark Baumli, who saw no reason for the work to stop while the companies waited to see who would get the fencing bid.
Councilman Kevin Smith, however, was more concerned with the patched outer edges of the courts. “I’m not happy,” he said. “It’s certainly not the work we should be paying tax dollars on.”
“I think they look great,” countered Councilman Dan Evans. Evans, by virtue of his engineering experience, found himself responsible for much of the court repair project. “I can’t wait to play on them.”
Worries that tennis refugees from across the border in the Berkshires would overrun the Town’s new court were discussed, but nobody was discussing building any walls as of yet.
Future repairs to Shatford Park, were, however, discussed in regard to upcoming budget planning for 2017. Town Supervisor Colleen Teal said that some of the possible projects would be repair of the pavilion, sidewalks, bathrooms, and the basketball court. The roof over the BBQ pit might also be looked at.
“We can only spend so much,” cautioned Baumli. Would it be possible to ask for “large signicant donations?”
Apparently that is not possible. If someone wanted to make a “large significant donation” to help spruce up the park, that would be fine, said Teal. However the Town is prohibited from seeking out such “large significant donations” by itself. Grants, though, are always an option, said Teal.
A significant amount of time was then devoted to the subject of the snaking of plumbing. Apparently, various clogs and obstructions in the Park’s pipes and toilets sometimes need to be snaked out. That snaking was adding up and Councilman Smith wondered if it might not be more prudent for New Lebanon to have its own snake.
“And who’s going to take care of it and feed the snake?” asked Highway Superintendent Jeff Winestock.
Speeding Residents worried about being run down by speeders speeding past homes on lazy back country thoroughfares have asked the Board to consider seeking speed limit changes on two roads.
Both Chair Factory Road and Canaan Road are “55 MPH by default,” said Teal, “and neither should be.”
The Board could ask the New York State Department of Transportation to re-evaluate the posted—or unposted—limits on roads it feels would be more prudently navigated at a lower speed. The problem, it seems, is that there is almost nobody to enforce those limits. New Lebanon lacks its own police force, its Town Constable can’t write speeding tickets, and the Town sits at the very limits of Columbia County, which makes it somewhat out of the way for Sheriff deputies based down in Hudson. The State Police do write tickets, and have a presence in the Town, but they more or less stick to the main roads.
“Putting up speed limit signs is not going to slow down people who are doing 90 MPH,” said Highway Superintendent Winestock.
Without enforcement, “it’s a waste of the taxpayers’ money,” said Smith. And before you know it, “every town road has a speed limit sign,” said Baumli. “I don’t think this is the way to go.” Apparently neither did the rest of the Board. The matter was tabled for a month until the Board could speak with the Resident Deputy from the Sheriff’s Department (“Does he know where New Lebanon is?” asked someone) to ascertain their thoughts on the matter and to see if increased enforcement might be possible on roads that had their speed limits limited.
Zoning Enforcement Enforcement of the Town’s zoning laws was also brought up. Resident Cynthia Creech said she had been at the Town Board meeting in July when Councilman Baumli made the statement that zoning variances were being “handed out like Halloween candy” by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Baumli also noted that almost nobody—the press includedreally went to ZBA meetings except those on the ZBA and those who wanted exemptions, so most people had no idea what was happing there. He advocated that the Board and townspeople go take a look.
“Foolishly, I did that,” said Creech.
Her findings? “I would agree with Mr. Baumli,” said Creech, who added that she was “disappointed” with what she had seen. “Perhaps they [the ZBA] don’t understand the task at hand.”
Baumli said he intends to pursue the matter further by going through past ZBA minutes to determine just how many variances are given out. “If you don’t want to adhere to the laws,” he said, “let’s just abolish zoning.”
Creech said she appreciated Baumli “being vocal” on the matter, something she would like to see more often. “I have sat here for five years looking at Board members being unconscious,” she added.
Baumli’s vocalisms were, however, criticized last month by Councilman Chuck Geraldi, who accused Baumli of “bad-mouthing” the ZBA. Geraldi was absent from the August meeting and so his thoughts on Creech’s findings are unknown.
The night ended with New Lebanon’s representative to the County Office for the Aging, Phyllis Hulbert, detailing her latest work. Right now she is working with a committee to provide area seniors with a “better quality of life.” This includes working to keep seniors in their own homes “instead of shipping them off.” Columbia County is also working on a new program to keep the homes of qualifying seniors “updated and safe free of charge,” said Hulbert.
“You get results, Phyllis!” said Councilman Smith.
Announcements: Sunday, August 28, the Uke and Brew Festival will be taking place at Shatford Park from 1 pm to 5 pm. Five ukulele bands will play while Cherry Plain’s Beer Diviner pours. Adults $15, Students $10, Kids under 12 are free. Friday, September 9, Community Forum on Solar at 10 am at the Town Hall. Wednesday, September 14, Community Forum on Solar, Part II, at 7 pm at the Town Hall. [/private]