Amenia approves $6.3 million bond issue for town garage

AMENIA — Formalizing the resolution to move ahead on a bond issue for construction of a new Town Garage, the Town Board at its regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 5, voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

The bond issue in the amount of $6,333,449, formalized by resolution, will fund the construction of the new town garage and salt storage shed. The new town garage will be located east of Route 22 between Sinpatch Road and Tower Hill Road.

In a separate action, the Town Board approved the expenditure of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the amount of $150,000 for engineering services to be paid to CPL Architects continuing the design phase for the town garage.

Water District Improvements

Following a presentation by representatives from Delaware Engineering of Albany assessing the condition and suggesting repairs to systems within the town’s water district, the board voted unanimously to provide $68,277 in funding for a preliminary engineering report to be prepared by Delaware.

In separate action, the board voted unanimously to appropriate the funds required for the engineering report from unexpended ARPA funds.

Under the agreement, Delaware Engineering will prepare plans to upgrade the existing Lavelle Road pump house by installing a pre-packaged pump house as recommended in their presentation. The project will also rehabilitate the existing water storage tank. Planning also includes upgrades to the existing well fields at Washington Court and Lavelle Road.

During the presentation, Delaware Engineering partner Mary Beth Bianconi spoke of the extremely competitive nature of grant funding for the construction phase with one program due to expire in 2025, as an example. Success in grant applications can depend on how serious the situation is from a public health perspective, Bianconi said.

“If we start now, you would be looking at October of 2026 for the project,” Bianconi said, adding that the well house replacement would be the first step.

Having prepared a draft of a new local law that would govern the creation of advisory boards or committees, the town board delayed voting on the matter until minor revisions to the local law are in place, planning to vote on the drafted law at the next meeting.

A few appointments to boards and committees were made as the board voted unanimously to appoint Jeff Barnett-Winsby to the soon to be created Ethics Board, reappointing John Stefanopoulos to the Planning Board, reappointing Judy Moran to the Recreation Commission, and George Bistransin to the Board of Assessment Review.