Comprehensive Plan committee moves to suspend meetings

Amenia Town Hall

Photo by John Coston

Comprehensive Plan committee moves to suspend meetings

AMENIA — After months of meetings to review and update the town’s comprehensive plan of 2007, the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee voted unanimously at its penultimate meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to suspend scheduled meetings until the services of a professional planner can be obtained.

The committee agreed to draft a letter to the Town Board and to approve that draft at a meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, their final meeting until a planner is found.

While the seven-member committee had edited the plan’s sections where editing was logical to update the work of existing entities, members agreed that the sections that would look to the town’s future development would need input from a town planner.

Initiating discussion about the work of the plan review committee, member Ken Topolsky recommended sending the newly edited sections on to the appropriate entities for their approval or amendment, rather than awaiting production of a fully completed draft. Topolsky felt that it would be important to keep the process moving ahead.

The forward-looking topics that the committee felt would need the advisory services of a professional planner included affordable housing, agriculture, short-term rentals, food trucks, topics that have different approaches in terms of modern planning.
“It’s not a good use of our time if we are not looking forward,” Topolsky said.

Committee member Nina Peek agreed. “To set goals for the next ten years, we should hold until a professional planner is on board. We are not making the progress we would like,” she said.

Asking what the original charge to the committee had specified, committee member Tony Robustelli and the committee recalled that town officials had suggested incorporating large-scale development such as Silo Ridge, food truck regulations, noise, smaller homes and sustainability, all areas that would benefit from a planner. It was noted, however, that topics such as noise and food trucks might better be addressed by changes to existing zoning regulations.

While some town funding is in place for planning services, necessary grant funding has not been secured to support the hiring of a professional planner.

During the public comment section, resident Sharon Kroeger spoke of a petition being circulated around town that would seek to protect the scenic vista view from DeLavergne Hill by placing the visible stretches of farmland into permanent conservation easement. She noted that the 2007 plan and earlier plans had specified that the view be protected.

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Pine Plains Bombers defeated at Section IX Regional

Giana Dormi, no. 3 of Pine Plains, and Michelle Blackburn, no. 12 of Pine Plains, put the pressure on Juliana Manginelli, no. 11 of Tuckahoe, as she tries to find a pass during the second round of the regional tournament at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. on Tuesday, March 11.

Photo by Nathan Miller

NEWBURGH, N.Y. — The Pine Plains Bombers were knocked out in second round of the Section IX regional tournament after a hard fought game against the Tuckahoe Tigers on Tuesday, March 11.

The Bombers won the tip and got off to an early lead, but the Tuckahoe Tigers outpaced them quickly and finished the game 59-25.

County comptroller releases special report on federal funding

Dan Aymar-Blair

Photo provided

POUGHKEEPSIE — Dutchess comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair released a special report early last week on federal monies and how they move through the county level, including the disbursement process in the county; how federal funding benefits Dutchess residents and whether any fiscal distribution issues have surfaced locally as a result of actions taken on behalf of the Trump administration.

According to Aymar-Blair’s report, federal programming represents roughly 10% of Dutchess expenditures, not including any COVID-19 assistance. As an illustration of federal- to county-level distribution and spending, in 2023, under the Biden administration, the county received approximately $65 million from the U.S. government with $25 million going toward direct aid in support of such programs as home energy assistance and food stamps. Federal monies were also disbursed — and continue to be directed — toward county-level agencies, programming and supports such as adoption, foster care and child care needs, emergency/disaster assistance, infrastructure development and maintenance, and workforce initiatives.

‘Selected Shorts’ comes to Stissing Center

The Stissing Center was bustling just before the show on Sunday, March 9.

Photo by Alec Linden

PINE PLAINS — The Stissing Center was packed on Sunday for an afternoon performance of podcast and NPR series “Selected Shorts.” The sold-out show, which was recorded for national broadcast at a later date, brought a lineup of four accomplished actors and storytellers to the Pine Plains stage to recite a selection of short stories from award-winning authors.

“Selected Shorts,” a product of Manhattan-based performing arts powerhouse Symphony Space, features prominent actors who recite works of short fiction. The full program usually revolves around a theme; Sunday afternoon’s focus was “transformations.”
Comedian, writer and actress Ophira Eisenberg — or “renaissance woman of storytelling,” as Stissing Center Executive Director Patrick Trettenero introduced her — assumed hosting duties, warming up the crowd with jokes about Brooklyn egg prices and doctors with self-esteem issues — “I want a megalomaniac with a god complex and no hobbies.”