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Amenia to split rail trail maintenance with county

Amenia to split rail trail maintenance with county
Amenia Town Hall on Route 22.
Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — The Town of Amenia has approved a shared maintenance agreement for the Harlem Valley Rail Trail with Dutchess County and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association.

Town Board members accepted the agreement by unanimous vote at the regular meeting of the Town Board on Thursday, May 21.

Under the five-year renewable agreement, the county and the town will each engage in monthly inspections. The county will trim trailside vegetation at least twice a year or as needed, and the town will assist with light trimming at trailheads, road crossings and parking lots.

The town agrees to maintain the parking areas and may install and service trash cans at trailheads, as well as winter clearing of the parking lots, including the areas surrounding electric vehicle charging stations.

The annual costs in connection with the EV charging station services are to be borne by the town, including electricity costs, software and hardware maintenance and upgrades.

For its part, the county will mow the trailsides at least four times each year when the trail is open between April and November. The county will also remove any graffiti, but the town would need to report the graffiti to the county. The county will also be fully responsible for portable toilet facilities and their servicing.

During public comment, resident Judy Moran asked the board which entity is to be responsible for trash pickup along the trail, as well as the town’s estimated costs associated with the agreement as they are to be included in the town budget.

The Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association is to provide insurances for the trail including Workers’ Compensation, general liability, commercial liability and commercial umbrella.

In other action, the Town Board voted unanimously to allow the Parks and Recreation Commission to suspend its park rules against alcohol consumption, but only for the hours during the Summer Music Series concerts.

Board members gave Judy Westfall a consulting position to the offices of the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals. Westfall will assist and advise in office duties on an as-needed basis. The move comes after Westfall chose to retire from her position as Planning Board secretary.

Leila Hawken
government

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