Amenia Town Board starts yearwith reorganizational meeting

AMENIA — At its first meeting of the New Year and in accordance with the results of the November election, the Town Board convened its traditional reorganizational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 2, administering the oath of office to a continuing council member and passing a significant number of resolutions necessary for the functioning of the town government.

The oath was administered to Nicole Ahearn who is continuing her service on the Town Board having been elected to a full-term seat. She had been completing the unexpired term of Leo Blackman when he was elected to serve as Town Supervisor.
Numerous organizational resolutions and motions were read aloud and passed by unanimous vote.

Briefly summarizing the town’s major goals for the coming year, Blackman included continued progress on infrastructure improvements such as the sidewalk construction project leading to Beekman Park, and improvements within the water district, as well as continued attention to the wastewater project proposal.

A focus will be on improving the appearance of the town’s Fountain Square, a project of the Enhancement Committee in cooperation with The Millbrook Bank’s landscape planning. Blackman reported the town’s responsibilities will be to improve the electrical and plumbing aspects of the central square.

Pedestrian safety in the town center along Routes 22 and 343 will also be a focus in partnership with the state Department of Transportation, Blackman reported, particularly near crosswalks where new signage could help.

Councilmember Rosanna Hamm mentioned the crosswalk at the corner of Mechanic Street and Route 343 as a significant pedestrian safety hazard in need of better lighting.

The Town Hall will be expecting some painting and electrical work, including exterior lighting, along with a new outdoor sign. A Community Kitchen will be restarted at the Town Hall and the farmer’s market will reopen in the parking lot this summer, Blackman said. And, there will be added emphasis on offering new programming through the Recreation Department.

Councilmember Paul Winters mentioned the need for “keeping local people local,” stressing the need for affordable housing, supporting the Hudson River Housing proposal to build 28 owner-occupied affordable homes on property near the Freshtown shopping center.

Blackman pointed to an additional need for affordable rental opportunities for the town.

Councilmember Brad Rebillard noted he would like to see the end of the Kent Hollow lawsuit in the coming year. In 1978, town zoning officials had designated the 83-acre mining property on South Amenia Road and its operations as a nonconforming use, a permit which expired in 1989. In 2019, the mine had sought to expand their acreage, an application which was denied by the Zoning Board of Appeals, giving rise to the current unresolved lawsuit.