Town reviews Trail to Trail, service bids, chimney repairs

AMENIA — The Town Board focused its attention on handling the latest town business at its meeting on Thursday, April 16. Given the public health and safety concerns associated with the coronavirus pandemic, it was live streamed on YouTube and broadcast on Channel 22. The board organized its meeting via telephone conference to maintain social distancing, and the only people present at Town Hall during the meeting were town Supervisor Victoria Perotti, Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner and videographer Michael Flint.

The board authorized a change order to the contract between the town and A. Colarusso & Son Inc., for the construction of a bicycle trail path extending from the hamlet of Wassaic to the Wassaic Metro-North Train Station, a project known as the Trail to Train project. 

Due to “unexpected circumstances, not previously known to exist, relating to the ground and sub-surface conditions underneath the proposed pedestrian boardwalk,” the board acknowledged that the plans and specifications for the boardwalk’s construction had to be modified. A. Colarusso & Son submitted a change order representing the design changes for the board’s consideration on Thursday, March 12. The proposed change order was then reviewed and approved by Amenia Project Manager John Kosma and engineer Daniel Briar, P.E. of WSP USA. Before approving the resolution, the board recognized that the change order would only modify the plans and specifications for the pedestrian boardwalk and wouldn’t increase the project’s total contract amount.

After advertising for bids for lawn mowing services, the board received a $22,320 bid from Kindred Property Care, LLC, and a $60,000 bid from Pellch Caretaking. The board determined that Kindred Property Care, LLC, was the lowest responsible bidder and approved its proposal to provide mowing services for the town.

Next, the board awarded the contract for professional engineering services to Rennia Engineering Design, PLLC, for the Bank Stabilization Project on Deep Hollow Road. Deep Hollow Road was described in the resolution as “a scenic and picturesque road, which runs along the Wassaic Creek within the Town of Amenia.”

Regarding this project, the board discussed its desire to “take all erosion and sediment control measures to maintain the bank along the creek in an area located approximately 1,200 feet from the intersection of Deep Hollow Road and Route 22 to preserve the road and the pristine beauty of the Wassaic Creek.” 

The board wanted to retain a qualified engineer to prepare a project design to develop a construction plan to stabilize an approximately 136-foot section of the bank along Deep Hollow Road. 

In response to the request for proposals for the project, the board received a $33,000 bid from Fusco Engineering & Land Surveying, P.C., and a $15,650 bid from Rennia Engineering Design, PLLC. As the lowest bidder, Rennia Engineering Design, PLLC, was awarded the contract for the project.

The board discussed the field search of the Amenia Town Hall building that was conducted on Wednesday, March 18, by Precision Roofing Inc. and Amenia Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Michael Segelken. As part of the search, Precision Roofing and Segelken found deteriorating brick and mortar falling from the building’s chimney as well as serious defects in the chimney’s structural integrity. Understanding that corrective measures must be undertaken immediately to fix the hazardous condition linked to the deteriorating chimney, Segelken and Precision Roofing President Nick DeMatteo recommended to Perotti that emergency measures be taken to secure the chimney and prevent further erosion. 

Seeing as the town has sufficient funds to pay for the chimney’s emergency repairs and waterproofing, the board authorized the payment for the repairs from its building maintenance budget line in accordance with Precision Roofing’s proposal. Perotti reported on a later date that the total amount for the repairs and waterproofing came to $9,500.

Moving forward with another town project, the board discussed its desire to revitalize Fountain Square in the center of town through a project that would include removing the existing plantings and stumps; extending the existing beds; repairing the brick walkways; installing new soil in the square; regrading and leveling; and planting a colorful variety of perennial flowers and flowering trees. With the total estimated cost calculated at $36,000, $18,000 — half of the total amount has been requested from the Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program while another $18,000 will be matched with local monies and in-kind services. Putting forth a unanimous vote of approval, the board authorized the application for the Greenway Grant for the Fountain Square Replanting and Beautification Project.