Amenia: Public apology, better process

AMENIA — What was billed as a public apology to be offered during a special meeting of the Town Board on Tuesday, July 9, once delivered, led to fruitful discussion between the Town Board and the Recreation Commission, leading to a better understanding of the expenditure process.

Having scheduled its special meeting immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Recreation Commission, the Town Board gathered to resolve a funding allocation issue in regard to the Town Hall gym floor renovation project. At issue was the handling of the funds released due to cancellation of the town’s summer camp program this year.

Acknowledging an error in failing to notify the Recreation Commission and Recreation Director Katie Sterk-Grassi, Town Supervisor Leo Blackman had moved to approve the drafting of a resolution to use half of unexpended summer camp funding in support of a project that will correct the condition of the Town Hall Gym floor, long in need of repair.

“It was my mistake,” Blackman said, with general agreement that the gym floor project is necessary and that the gym floor is used primarily for recreation activities.

“This was being worked on by former Town Supervisor Victoria Perotti,” councilman Paul Winters said, adding that in those years the understanding was that gym floor repairs would come from the General Fund. With the cancellation of Summer Camp over the past two years, related funding was used to improve and maintain Beekman Park, including new fencing, a pitching machine, and general maintenance.

Discussion focused on what constitutes a capital improvement project as opposed to maintenance, and how the town regulations can be clarified to arrive at a clear process for assigning funding while promoting better communication between town offices and recreation officials.

General agreement was reached that the gym floor would be treated as a capital expense, as would be the upcoming septic repairs at Beekman Park.

Acknowledging confusion about the process and satisfied that the town attorney would create a clarifying resolution, Sterk-Grassi offered apology for her comments at a recent meeting of the Town Board.

Financial Officer Charlie Miller indicated that $29,500 remains unspent in summer camp funding.

Latest News

Stanford home market sees nine sales in July and August

Built in 1820, 1168 Bangall Amenia Road sold for $875,000 on July 31 with the transfer recorded in August. It has a Millbrook post office and is located in the Webutuck school district.

Christine Bates

STANFORD — The Town of Stanford with nine transfers in two months reached a median price in August of $573,000 for single family homes, still below Stanford’s all-time median high in August 2024 of $640,000.

At the beginning of October there is a large inventory of single-family homes listed for sale with only six of the 18 homes listed for below the median price of $573,000 and seven above $1 million.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Report
Village of Millerton offices on Route 22
John Coston

Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Harlem Valley area activity reportSept. 18 to Sept. 30.

Sept. 23 — Deputies responded to 1542 State Route 292 in the Town of Pawling for the report of a suspicious vehicle at that location. Investigation resulted in the arrest of Sebastian Quiroga, age 26, for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Quiroga to appear in the Town of Pawling court at a later date.

Keep ReadingShow less
Out on the trail
Nathan Miller

Hunt club members and friends gathered near Pugsley Hill at the historic Wethersfield Estate and Gardens in Amenia for the opening meet of the 2025-2026 Millbrook Hunt Club season on Saturday, Oct. 4. Foxhunters took off from Wethersfield’s hilltop gardens just after 8 a.m. for a hunting jaunt around Amenia’s countryside.

Millbrook Library dedicates pollinator pathway garden

Joining in the fun at the dedication of the new pollinator pathway garden at The Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4, local expert gardener Maryanne Snow Pitts provides information about a planting to Lorraine Mirabella of Poughkeepsie.

Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Participating in a patchwork of libraries that have planted pollinator pathway gardens to attract insects and birds to their native plantings was one of the accomplishments being celebrated at the dedication of a new pollinator garden at the Millbrook Library on Saturday, Oct. 4.

“A lot of work went into it,” said Emma Sweeney, past President of the Millbrook Garden Club, who started the local library’s initiative two years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less