Amenia Town Board authorizes Water District grant application

AMENIA — In support of the town’s efforts to repair and upgrade its water district infrastructure, the Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 4, to move forward with an application for grant funding from the New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

If the application is successful, the grant could fund up to 70% of the project’s costs, estimated at $3,902,850. Because the grant would require that the town match any funding, the potential match amount estimated at $1,170,855, the Town Board agreed to pursue possible resources for the match, including the town’s general fund, other state or federal programs, or a state loan program.

Critically needed upgrades would improve the Lavelle Road pump house, the existing water storage tank, the Lavelle Road well field and the Washington Court well field. Water mains needing replacement are included in the project.

Landfill biofilter

Following up on a presentation at its previous meeting, the Town Board unanimously approved a memo of understanding with the non-profit Hudson Valley Regional Council, seeking to reduce emissions from small towns’ closed municipal landfills. Many communities in the mid-Hudson region have been determined to be eligible for installation of biofilter systems to curb harmful emissions, according to the Mid-Hudson Biofilters program representatives.

Closed landfills are sources of hidden methane emissions that are often responsible for increased levels of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

In November 2024, the HVRC received $3.06 million in federal funding to implement the landfill biofilters project.
Meeting date changes

Because the next scheduled meeting of the Town Board would occur on a holiday, the board voted unanimously to change the date of its next meeting to Friday, Oct. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. Also to avoid meeting on a holiday, the next meeting of the Planning Board will be held on Thursday, Sept. 25.

A lapse in decorum

The meeting spiraled into incivility during the public comment portion when the public is invited to comment on any concern not included on the agenda. At issue was a Tuesday, July 15, episode involving activist and protestor Kimberley Travis and resident Jamie Deines who is a candidate for the Town Board in the November election.

Travis spoke first, reading a prepared statement detailing a public episode that occurred at Fountain Square, the site of Travis’ continuing series of political protest activities, now familiar to passers-by. Her statement was repeatedly interrupted by councilmember Brad Rebillard on a point-of-order, questioning its relevance as town business, his concern to be over-ruled by Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, who cleared the way for Travis to read her statement for the three minutes allotted.

Next to approach the podium was Deines, who had been heard twice during public comment sessions at a previous meeting, leading Blackman to suggest that she had already been heard. However, he yielded to audience protests that she should be allowed to speak.

Deines’s statement included strands of content found on Travis’s social media accounts including profanities and vulgarities, bringing an interruption by Blackman who indicated that profanity was neither tolerated nor appropriate at a Town Board meeting. When Deines continued despite the caution, Blackman sought the counsel of Board Attorney Ian Lindars, who advised that Blackman had the authority to shut down the meeting and clear the room.

The Town Board entered Executive Session to receive further legal advice that lasted for a few minutes.

Decorum restored, the meeting then continued to hear the remainder of public comment, including comments from Charlie Miller, Finance Officer; and Ken Topolsky, organizer of the town’s first annual Harvest Festival scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 18.

The meeting can be viewed in its entirety on the town website: www.ameniany.gov.