Congressional budget omits Millerton wastewater grants

Congressional budget omits Millerton wastewater grants
North East Town Hall on Maple Avenue in the Village of Millerton.
Archive photo

MILLERTON — Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan had some bad news to share at a regular Town of North East Board meeting on Thursday, March 13 — $3.2 million in wastewater grants were dropped from the continuing resolution Congress was considering.

The next day, the Senate passed the stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown.

The Village of Millerton and the Town of North East had been anticipating the earmarked funds that weresupported by Sens. Chuck Schumer, D- NY, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY. U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, D-Kingston, had secured $1 million, a grant that Kennan said was intact.

“It’s certainly not good news for the community,” Kennan said at the meeting.

In an interview Kennan said that the Village and the Town would continue to work toward a final design for the project, which has been estimated to cost approximately $13.9 million.

“We’ve got to find that $3 million,” he said.

At last week’s meeting, Kennan also had some good news to report, noting that two proposed projects have been advancing at the Planning Board: One is a much anticipated grocery to be located at the Millerton Square Plaza and a second is a proposed new healthy fast-food eatery in the former McDonald’s location.

Kennan also commented on a proposed racquet-sports facility to be located close to the state line on Route 44. That project was introduced to the Planning Board recently.

Kennan also announced that the Town will hold Bulk Trash Day on May 10 in the morning at the old Town Garage on South Center Street.

Responding to noise complaints about gunfire at The Millerton Gun Club on Route 22, Kennan said that he and Mayor Jenn Najdek had scheduled a meeting with the group to discuss a change that would end shooting after 5 p.m. and on Sunday.

“Hopefully we’re going to see some results from that,” Kennan said.

Work on the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses building on Route 22 that is planned to serve as the new Town Hall has been focused on resolving an issue with Suburban Propane, Kennan said. Suburban Propane is requesting that the town purchase the buried tanks, and Kennan asked Town Attorney Warren Replansky to inquire about proof of ownership of the tanks.

Kennan also discussed plans to replace a 2006 highway plow truck with a 2026 truck. Highway Superintendent Robert Stevens said as part of the replacement planning, the purchase would have no effect on the budget and the truck should be delivered by the end of 2025.

Mayor Najdek addressed the Board with a request to lease the old Town Garage on South Center Street as an interim way to solve a storage problem created by the fire that destroyed the Village Water Department building in early February.

Board members discussed the long-term goal of sharing space with the Village at the new Town Garage on Route 22 that opened last year.

“This is an immediate need,” Najdek said, noting that the Village ‘State of Emergency’ could extend to mid-summer.

There appeared to be consensus that the Town would accommodate the Village, and Town Attorney Replansky was asked to revise a resolution to be considered at the Board’s next meeting.

Latest News

Back to school
Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.


Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton’s Demitasse shutters Main Street storefront, goes digital

Demitasse owner Hayden McIntosh Geer said she is excited by the shift to online sales.

Photo by Hayden McIntosh Geer

MILLERTON — Some might have argued that launching an in-person retail business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t advisable. But against all odds, Demitasse in Millerton managed not only to build a thriving, mission-based brand in a small storefront on Main Street, it developed a loyal customer base and provided a welcoming space for visitors. Last week, Demitasse announced it is closing-up shop and moving fully online.

“We are excited,” said owner Hayden McIntosh Geer, who opened Demitasse with her husband, Richard, in 2020. “Though we will miss our customers and the camaraderie on Main Street, it feels right and there was no second guessing.”

Keep ReadingShow less
New Millerton police cruisers arrive to replace fire-ravaged vehicles

Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik shows off the new gear. Brand new police cruisers arrived last week.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Millerton Police Department has received two new patrol cars to replace vehicles destroyed in the February 2025 fire at the Village Water and Highway Department.

The new Ford Interceptors are custom-built for law enforcement. “They’re more rugged than a Ford Explorer,” said Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik, noting the all-wheel drive, heavy-duty suspension and larger tires and engine. “They call it the ‘Police Package.’”

Keep ReadingShow less
Fashion Feeds on track to raise $100,000 for Food of Life Food Pantry

Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLBROOK – In a time when optimism and unity can feel elusive, sometimes a walk down Franklin Avenue is enough to feed the soul. With Millbrook Community Day just around the corner, one highlight will be Fashion Feeds, a community effort led by Millbrook native Erin Rollins, whose mission is to fight local hunger.

The concept is simple. People donate new or gently used designer fashion, which is sold at affordable prices, and all proceeds benefit The Food of Life/Comida de Vida Pantry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia.

Keep ReadingShow less