From left, Chris Klingner, first lieutenant of the Rescue Squad, Dawn Marie Klingner, Rescue Squad captain, and Zachary Klingner, second lieutenant, and Chris and Marie’s son. The 100%-volunteer EMT squad operates within the Amenia Fire Company.
Story reprinted courtesy of The New Pine Plains Herald
POUGHKEEPSIE — “Over 400 times last year, an ambulance never got to the patient’s side; the patient had to get to the hospital another way,” said Dana Smith, commissioner of Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response (DCER). “What’s happening is unacceptable, and we need to do something about it.”
The critical state of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Dutchess County is sounding alarms among local and state officials. On March 7, Smith presented an eye-opening report before the county’s Public Safety Committee that indicated the crisis is part of a broader statewide issue. He reported that across New York, only half of the 70,000 certified EMS personnel are regularly available to answer calls, and that 30% of them plan to leave the force over the next three years due to the strenuous nature of the work and insufficient compensation.
County Legislator Chris Drago, who represents District 19 (Stanford, Pine Plains, Milan, Red Hook, North East and Millerton), is one of 12 members of the Public Safety Committee. Elected to his first term in November, he campaigned on EMS reform.
“Our EMS volunteers are doing incredible work; they’re asking for help, and that is hard for them to do,” said Drago. “We owe it to them to find solutions.”
A well-documented crisis
In his March 7 presentation titled “The EMS Crisis in Dutchess County,” Smith referred to three studies that analyzed EMS operations, documented failures and proposed fixes. “All the recommendations that we’re talking about, that we’ve done to date and our plans moving forward, come from these reports,” he said.
The 2017 Dutchess County EMS Task Forces, spearheaded by then-County Executive Marc Molinaro and a panel of 28 experts, produced a data-intensive report that established five benchmarks for the system: It must be “patient-centered, consistent, reliable, affordable and sustainable.” The task force recommended the formation of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on EMS to aid collaboration between towns and emergency service providers. The CAC, established in 2018, works closely with Smith, who said, “These are competent, capable people advising us; they know what they’re talking about.”
The 2021 Profile of Dutchess County EMS and Options for the Future is also rich with data, like 911 calls enumerated by town, season, month, week, day and hour. The study proposed incentives like tax credits and subsidized training to attract and keep EMS workers. It also advocated a regional approach to EMS in which towns would share costs of equipment and personnel, and the county — after obtaining a state-approved county Certificate of Need— would provide extra ambulances to fill in gaps.
The New York State 2023 Evidence Based EMS Agenda for Future made more than 20 key recommendations, including declaring EMS an essential service to assure dedicated state funding; adding 10,000 certified EMS providers in New York by 2025; and implementing measurable performance metrics that would be transparent to the public and standardized across the state.
“With the results of these studies and advice from the CAC, our plans are being made for the future,” Smith told the legislators. “The county has to come up with stopgap money right now. We’re looking at how to do that.”
Smith believes that the answer to fixing the county’s troubled EMS system lies in regional management. “It will help the taxpayer without putting small ambulance companies out of work and standardize the system so every town is doing the same thing,” Smith said. “It will give us time to figure out long-term funding.”
Two months ago, Smith distributed surveys to ambulance service providers in Dutchess County, seeking input about supplementing existing EMS coverage. “This way we’ll know where to place stopgap ambulances,” he said. Survey responses, due this month, will shape a formal proposal for extra ambulance service units under the direction of DCER.
“We’ve looked at Greene, Columbia and Montgomery counties,” said Smith, who is investigating different EMS models around New York. “We’ve seen Nassau County’s EMS: They spent a lot of money and they have a very fragmented system, I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Lawmakers beginning to act
With EMS stretched to its limits, elected officials, both at the county and state levels, are taking steps to help. The Public Safety Committee, DCER and Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino are working together on long-range regional EMS planning that would address each community’s needs.
Drago told the Herald, “In the short term, I’m advocating for county-staffed ambulances to be placed to supplement existing service, with one ideally placed in District 19. This will help alleviate the struggle that exists town by town and ensure we have a way of getting people to care faster.”
The 2024 Dutchess County budget includes a sales tax increase from 3.75% to 4%, in part to subsidize EMS. It has yet to be approved by the state.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation last year to make it easier for ambulance services to get paid: Reimbursement will go directly from the health insurance company to the EMS provider. Mark Browne, president and chief operating officer of Northern Dutchess Paramedics, said: “It used to be that payment went to the patient, making it more difficult for ambulance companies to get their money. It took a lot longer than it should have. Unfortunately, this change won’t even take effect until January of 2025.”
Hochul’s 2024-2025 proposed executive budget sets aside $8 million to revitalize the state’s EMS and $36 million toward improved Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance transport. It also grants Certificates of Need for county ambulance service, as recommended by the 2021 Dutchess County EMS study.
On Jan. 30, the New York state Legislature, in cooperation with EMS professionals and the New York State Association of Counties, released a package of bills called Rescue EMS, which contains seven proposals to revamp the system. “We are all aware that we need to help the emergency service [workers]” said Didi Barrett, assemblymember for New York’s 106th District, which includes parts of Dutchess and Columbia counties. “They put themselves in harm’s way every day. Finally, there’s enough critical mass in the legislature to get something done.”
Rescue EMS covers a wide variety of needs. The proposals are described by Barrett as “game changers.” One bill, if passed, would recognize EMS as an essential service, securing state and federal funding. It would also allow the creation of special tax districts to subsidize EMS services.
Barrett’s proposed legislation would allow volunteer firefighters and EMS workers to claim both state income and local property tax credits. “It will incentivize volunteer firefighter and EMS recruitment and retention,” Barrett said.
State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, who represents New York’s 41st District (which includes Northern Dutchess and Columbia counties, and portions of Ulster and Greene), is sponsoring a bill that provides Medicaid reimbursement for on-the-scene emergency care and ambulance transportation to non-hospital destinations, like urgent care centers and mental health facilities. It also would provide funding for telemedicine.
“Currently, EMS can only be reimbursed for treating Medicaid enrollees if they transport patients to a hospital ER, even if EMS has already provided the necessary care,” Hinchey told the Herald. “We cannot allow this status quo to continue.”
The remaining bills focus on funding and increasing the emergency workforce. Proposals include removing EMS from the property tax cap so towns can raise taxes more than 2% annually; increasing personal income tax credits for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers from $200 to $800 for individuals and $400 to $1,600 for joint filers; creating a way to increase the amount of Medicaid ambulance reimbursements paid; and dispensing with tolls for emergency transport on New York thruways.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are pushing for the Rescue EMS package to be included in the state budget, which is due April 1.
DCER supports the legislative package. “The bills address the major roadblocks faced by EMS; it’s a good start,” Smith said. “We still have a lot of asks, so we’ll just keep advocating. EMS needs recognition and support. We need to develop solutions that are patient-centered, consistent, reliable, affordable and sustainable for Dutchess County residents. It’s neighbors helping neighbors.”
This is the second article in The New Pine Plains Herald’s two-part exploration of the challenges facing local EMS systems, reprinted with permission of The New Pine Plains Herald. To see the first part in the series, visit www.newpineplainsherald.org
Troutbeck's sign at the intersection of Leedsville Road and Route 343 in Amenia.
AMENIA — Public hearings continued from the previous meeting concluded at the regular meeting of the Amenia Planning Board on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Having considered public comment, the board approved applications from Troutbeck for an indoor pool and from DaVinci Windows for a sign installation.
No public comment was heard in connection with the Troutbeck proposal to construct an outdoor pool as briefly described by project engineer Rich Rennia of Rennia Engineering of Dover Plains. The application is part of Phase 8 of Troutbeck’s adaptive reuse application, revised recently to reduce the environmental impact.
Plans call for renovation to the existing pool, the bathhouse and the snack bar — all contained within the wellness area — and construction of a new indoor pool inside the Amenity Barn, Rennia said, explaining that the wellness area will not expand in area, only configuration.
Planning Board attorney Paul Van Cott said that the Phase 8 plans remain consistent with previous planning board approvals and are consistent with the site plan. Board engineer John Andrews indicated that the application was in order and ready for planning board decision, clearing the way for the unanimous vote to approve.
Residents’ concerns about traffic safety were repeated during the continued public hearing to approve installation of a two by six sign at the Route 343 location of DaVinci Windows’ showroom. However, following discussion, the planning board voted unanimous approval of the sign permit, providing that a site plan be submitted showing details of the new sign.
Resident George Bistransin echoed neighbors’ concerns that the sign might pose a dangerous distraction for motorists negotiating a nearby highway curve. He also offered his opinion that conversion of a residential property into a commercial enterprise should have been subjected to further review.
Engineer Andrews reported on his visit to the site accompanied by town highway and building officials. Andrews said that the property is located in a mixed-use district and that the project renovates a single-family residence to add a commercial use.
Andrews added his findings that the sight lines would not be impacted by the sign’s location.
Atty. Van Cott advised that Andrews will need to sign off on the sign’s site plan, a plan that will show illumination details.
Board member Nina Peek suggested that approval be delayed until the site plan with sign details is submitted, but board member James Vitiello favored moving ahead with a vote to approve, pending receipt of the site plan.
The Planning Board heard a preliminary review of impending plans for a Cascade Road affordable housing development to be proposed by Hudson River Housing of Poughkeepsie.
Plans were introduced by Senior Planner Peter Sander of Rennia Engineering. The site would use the land for workforce housing, envisioning a potential layout of 28 small lots to hold single-family, 4-bedroom homes with on-site shared water and septic systems. Half of the land would be conserved, Sander said, asking the board to provide any preliminary comments to assist with preparing for the application process.
Engineer John Andrews asked for a detailed analysis of the conservation elements on the property and he said that the precise acreage needs to be determined.
Atty. Van Cott noted that the planning board is not going to be looking at the subdivision plans at the current early stage. Rather, the board will be considering the plot of land as a whole including the conservation value.
“The applicant’s job is to design around these land resources,” Van Cott added, indicating the presence of a stream corridor at the site.
Board member Vitiello asked about impact on any wildlife to which Van Cott responded that the applicant would need to acquire the services of a professional biologist who would define any habitats. An alternative, Van Cott noted, would be for the Planning Board to hire a biologist at the applicant’s expense.
Spotted salamander is present at the site, as noted by board member James Walsh who indicated that he has caught trout when fishing the site.
Water and septic concerns were of interest to board member Kenneth Topolsky, including water quality, wastewater treatment plans, and run-off from storm water and Cascade Creek and how it might affect surrounding properties.
MILLERTON — Calling the ongoing revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park “the largest project the village has taken on,” Mayor Jenn Najdek has disclosed additional funding has come through in support of its upgrade.
This past December, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation awarded the village a matching grant of up to $675,000 in support of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Swimming Pool Project. With these monies, funding for Phase II of the project, which stems largely from a NY SWIMS capital grant, is now at $7.56 million.
This most recent grant, which Najdek explained was the final one for which the village had applied, will go toward planned improvements for the park which include a new swimming pool and bathhouse, a community room and an on-site septic system. Additionally, all sections of the park will be accessible, making the venue ADA-compliant. The hope is to have complete and final designs of the project submitted over the next month or so. Completion of the project is expected by spring of 2026.
“It’s going to be great when it’s all done,” said Najdek, who acknowledged the need for quality outdoor recreation in Millerton, and who fondly recalled the swimming pool which was previously in place. “I’m excited,” she added.
The revitalization of Eddie Collins Memorial Park has been a work in progress for just under a decade, but strides have been made in recent years with the implementation of a soccer field, the recent installation of donated lights for the baseball field, and the paving of the parking lot as well as other revisions.
This 3 bedroom/2 bath renovated raised ranch at 7760 Main St. in Pine Plains sold for $590,000.
PINE PLAINS — From August through November there were 14 sales in Pine Plains with only one on Lake Road selling for over a million dollars and two homes for over $500,000 — a midcentury modern in town closing for $590,000 and a historic house on 8.5 acres for $660,000.
Since September 2021 the median price for publicly listed properties in Pine Plains has hovered at around $350,000. Properties listed in mid-January include seven residences ranging in price from $150,000 to $8.95 million, six pieces of land and Harvest Homestead Farm on 343 acres with a fully functioning distillery formerly associated with 1930’s mobster Dutch Schultz.
23 Willow St. — 2 bedroom/2 bath house sold for $362,500.
50 Meusel Road — 3 bedroom/2.5 bath house sold for $339,200.
7760 Main St. — 3 bedroom /2 bath renovated raised ranch sold for $590,000.
2812 Church St. — a mobile home on .69 acres sold for $107,000.
North Main St. (#414425) — 2.7 acre residential lot sold for $80,000 in a private sale.
4-8 Stissing Mountain Lane — 3 bedroom/1 bath house on 1 acre sold for $475,000 in a private sale.
62 Britton St. — 3 bedroom/1 bath house sold for $235,000 in a private sale.
3 Carla Terrace — 3 bedroom/1 bath house sold for $345,000.
30 Myrtle Ave. — 3 bedroom/2 bath house sold for $202,000.
3831 Route 199 — uninhabitable 2 bedroom/1bath house sold for $50,000 in a private sale.
Bean River Road (3307440) — 2.87 acre lot sold for $112,000.
243 Lake Road — 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home on 1.38 acres sold for $1,525,000.
421 Carpenter Hill Road — 2 bedroom/2 bath house on 1.13 acres sold privately for $214,000.
3327 Route 199 — 4 bedroom/2 bath house built in 1787 on 8.51 acres sold for $660,000.
* Town of Pine Plains real estate sales recorded between August 1, 2024, and November 30, 2024, sourced from Dutchess County Real Property Tax Service Agency. Information on active listings taken from First Key MLS which may understate available properties. Parcel numbers refer to parcel designation by Dutchess County and may be accessed on Dutchess Parcel Access. Only transfers with consideration are included. Compiled by Christine Bates, Real Estate Advisor with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Licensed in CT and NY
MILLERTON — Donald Francis “Frank” McNally Jr., passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Medical Center on Wednesday Jan. 8, 2025, after a short illness. Frank was a resident of Millerton since 1996. He was born on Jan. 27, 1955, in Cold Spring, New York, at Butterfield Hospital and was raised in Garrison, New York, where he enjoyed exploring and camping in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, participating in the Boy Scouts as a bugler, and competing as captain of his high school wrestling team.
He was a graduate of James I. O’Neill High School in Highland Falls class of ‘74 and SUNY Cobleskill class of ‘76 where he majored in animal husbandry, specializing in equine science. He then proudly volunteered for the United States Peace Corps where he accepted an assignment to his host country of the Philippines, where he met his wife. Frank would then pursue his lifelong passion for horses and horseback riding on several horse farms in Dutchess County. Later he would work for New York state where he would then retire, spending his time caring for animals, reading, fishing and taking photographs. Frank enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends, while also occasionally winning a game of RISK. Frank was an avid reader, often reading several books a week while in the constant company of his cat.
Frank is survived by his wife and best friend, Paz (Alpez) McNally who resides in Millerton, and two sons, Patrick A. McNally and Philipp F. McNally; his daughter in-law, Erin McNally and his beloved grandchildren, Jack and Lila who brought him immeasurable joy in his life. Frank is also survived by his sister, Mary R. (McNally) Gutierrez and her husband Victor and their son Juan, and his brother, Daniel McNally Sr., and his daughter Jacqueline and son Daniel Jr. He was predeceased by his father Donald F. McNally Sr. and his mother Jacqueline (Adams) McNally.
There are no calling hours. At Frank’s request, cremation has taken place at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie. A celebration of Frank’s life will take place in the spring. Memorial Contributions may be made to the NorthEast–Millerton Library, P.O. Box 786, Millerton, NY 12546 or to a local animal shelter of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546. To send an online condolence to the family or to plant a tree in Frank’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
