Town Board discusses Amenia Green concept plan

AMENIA — Seeking to clarify the status of the proposed Amenia Green project, still in the concept stage, the Amenia Town Board discussed the matter at its regular meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17.

If approved, the first Amenia Green phase would improve the Town Hall grounds, correcting drainage problems to enhance a variety of possible recreational uses. Discussion in recent months has resulted in inclusion of new playground equipment at Beekman Park in the Amenia Green grant application process.

“We have a concept plan, but no budget or funding source plan,” said Town Supervisor Victoria Perotti, which, for her, is a major stumbling block.

Councilman Leo Blackman asked about the status of the portion of the project that would lead to recreational enhancements in Wassaic.

Because the Wassaic aspect of the project plan involves deed research to determine the various owners of the land involved, Councilman Damian Gutierrez noted that the Amenia Recreation Commission had decided to move ahead on planning for the Town Hall portion, where ownership is not at issue, the grounds clearly belonging to the town.

Councilwoman Vicky Doyle emphasized that Beekman Park playground equipment replacement is to be included in the grant application along with the first phase.

Perotti favored including the Amenia Green project on the agenda for the next meeting for more discussion, although she added that the town board would need to receive cost estimates in order to move forward.

“We only have a concept plan,” Perotti said.

Gutierrez recalled that the recreation commission had asked only for a letter of support in which the town board would state its preliminary approval of the concept plan developed by the landscape architect. Following the concept plan, the project needs the services of an engineering professional. At that point, cost estimates can be developed more accurately, a prerequisite of any grant application process.

Moving ahead on a proposal from the Housatonic Valley Association offering a surface water monitoring study, the town board approved the expense of $10,000 from the wastewater account to fund the study.

Gutierrez indicated that the project would do selective testing.

Wastewater Committee Chairman Charlie Miller said that surface water testing sites would likely be found in the vicinity of Cumberland Farms and Lavelle Road and other standing water sites.

Blackman clarified that testing must be done while the weather is warm enough to measure accurately the presence of bacteria.

Miller commented that one of the five testing criteria is to measure any contamination of existing water bodies, noting that testing for levels of nitrogen in standing water, for example, could be the result of agricultural runoff.

The next meeting of the town board will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7, beginning at 7 p.m.