Town Board addresses emergency roof repair, Verizon lease, Trail to Train costs

AMENIA — In addition to adopting the 2021 budget, the Town Board adopted several resolutions, from authorizing emergency roof cleaning and repair at Town Hall to entering an information technology services agreement with Dutchess County at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The entire Town Board met, along with Attorney to the Town Ian Lindars, via videoconference due to the coronavirus pandemic; it can now be viewed online at the “AmeniaTV” YouTube channel.

Town Hall leaky roof

Following the adoption of the 2021 budget, town Supervisor Victoria Perotti read aloud a resolution ratifying emergency cleaning and repair for the roof of the  Town Hall. Perotti acknowledged that the town “has recently undergone various maintenance and rehabilitation projects to repair the aging Town Hall structure,” and that a leak in the roof was recently discovered during an inspection by Perotti and Precision Roofing, Inc. 

Because the leak was letting water get into the building, it was advised that corrective measures be taken immediately to repair the roof and prevent any further damage to Town Hall. 

Perotti said Precision Roofing President Nick DeMatteo recommended emergency repairs to prevent further water damage. Included in the resolution, Perotti, along with Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Michael Segelken, Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner and Lindars, were directed to take whatever steps were needed to coordinate whatever repair work would be required.

Before the resolution was put to a vote, Councilman Damian Gutierrez asked about the total cost of the repair work. Perotti said it would cost $4,800 and includes all of the repairs, such as repairing the flashing and removing all of the debris from the gutters. Councilwoman Vicki Doyle inquired as to where they were in terms of doing an overall assessment of the roof and what the next emergency might be, “so we can move in a more calculated way toward preventing these before they cause damage.” 

Perotti said Precision Roofing could do a “total review” of the roof, adding the last estimate to redo the roof was $100,000.

“I think we need to know if the entire roof needs to be replaced, what state of affairs it’s in and if it’s at all possible while they’re getting in there making the repairs,” Doyle said. “It seems like a good time to start giving us an overall assessment and I think the sooner we do it, the better.”

The board authorized payment for the roof repairs from the building maintenance budget line, according to Precision Roofing’s proposal. The town’s procurement policy was suspended to pay for the emergency repairs, purchases and expenditures in order to address all potential code violations and dangerous conditions associated with the damaged roof.

Cell tower lease

The board then passed a resolution to authorize a second amendment to the cell tower lease agreement with Orange County-Poughkeepsie Limited Partnership doing business as (d/b/a) Verizon Wireless. 

Reading aloud from the resolution, Perotti explained that the town and Verizon Wireless entered into a lease agreement in October 2004, where Verizon “leased a portion of the cellular tower and the land owned by the town at 12 Washington Ct. for the purpose of transmitting wireless signals and maintaining an equipment shelter.” In April 2011, JNS Enterprises, Inc. — the company with whom the town entered into a master management agreement to develop, construct and manage a municipal cell tower in Amenia — entered into an asset purchase agreement with Crown Communications, LLC, where Crown agreed to accept and assume JNS’ obligations under the master management agreement, which the town agreed to in a resolution. In March 2012, Crown and Verizon entered into a first amendment to the town lease agreement where Verizon was allowed to substitute antennas on the cell tower without any fee increases as long as the number of antennas didn’t exceed 12 and the maximum allowable surface area didn’t exceed 10,140 square feet.

At this time, Verizon and the town is looking to enter into a second amendment to the cell tower lease agreement to modify certain terms of both the agreement and first amendment. Gutierrez asked if the town has a revenue sharing agreement or a fixed lease payment with the cell tower operator. Lindars explained that the town has a management agreement with JNS (now Crown), where Crown negotiates these agreements and there’s a fee split with the agreement with the town. In response to Gutierrez’s follow-up question, Lindars said it was a percentage split, and Gutierrez contemplated if the town would see a benefit of percentage increase.

Trail to Train project costs

Next, the board approved a resolution to authorize the town to pay in the first instance 100% of the federal and non-federal share of the costs of additional construction, construction support and construction inspection work for its Trail to the Train project. Perotti said the resolution permits the state’s Department of Transportation’s (DOT) supplemental agreement funding for the project to go toward the town in the amount of an additional $26,250.

Celebration of Lights

Lastly, the Amenia Fire Company is inviting residents to decorate their vehicles for its 9th annual Celebration of Lights on Friday, Dec. 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Participating floats and decorated vehicles can line up at 6 p.m. at the traffic light near the basketball courts; overflow parking will be on Mechanic Street and Route 343. Floats will be parked for all to admire; social distancing guidelines must be followed and face masks must be worn. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for socially distant photos with children. Parking will be at Town Hall on Route 22. The snow date is Sunday, Dec. 6. For details, call 845-559-4797.