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Architectural rendering of market’s proposed entrance.
MILLERTON — The Town of North East Planning Board approved the site plan for the Town Gourmet Market, a new food market to be located in the Millerton Square Plaza at 122 Route 44.
The plan to bring a food market to Millerton has been in the works since Kim and Chris Choe of Sharon, Connecticut, reached agreement with Skip Trotta to purchase the four separate parcels totaling 10.2 acres in May 2023.
In November, when the sale was completed after complying with state and county regulations, veteran grocer Trotta issued a statement noting the long and complicated process to complete the sale.
“We had other proposals for a different use, but we always felt the real need was for a large, clean, remodeled, and competitive market for the sake of the town and the folks that live in the area who deserve just that,” Trotta added.
The Choes own the Sharon Farm Market in the shopping center in Sharon where they have operated for 15 years. Nearly three years ago they expanded by purchasing a farm on Route 44 in East Canaan.
The Choes have presented their plans for the market at recent Planning Board meetings.
Ray Nelson of Earthwise Architecture of Millerton described the features planned for the Town Gourmet Market, including a cafe out front, a greenhouse, a parking lot for 85 vehicles with an EV charger, along with changes to the facade of the building and added green space.
Millerton has been a food desert that stretches from Copake to Dover for half a decade since a Grand Union closed. The Choes plan to offer a wide selection of products, including a full-service meat, deli, seafood, sushi, bakery, and produce departments supplied by C&S Wholesale Grocers, the nation’s largest coast-to-coast distributor to independent grocery stores.
MILLERTON — Town Supervisor Christopher Kennan began the Thursday, April 10, Town Board meeting with the “good news” of the approved merger of Nuvance Health, owner of Sharon Hospital, with Northwell Health, the largest health system in New York.
“This is great, great news for our community,” Kennan said. “More than half of the patients at Sharon Hospital come from New York.”
The financial struggles faced by the hospital have dragged out for years, leading to a proposed effort to end labor and delivery services that encountered strong opposition from the community and political leaders.
Last spring, Nuvance Health announced its intent to combine with Northwell.
Kennan also reported to the board that Board Member Lana Morrison, who was absent from the meeting due to an accident, had communicated that her treatment experience at Sharon Hospital was positive.
Town Hall renovation
Kennan also informed the board that the town is moving forward on the renovation at the new Town Hall location on Route 22.
The current Town Hall on North Maple Avenue dates to the early 20th century and no longer meets needs. The town purchased the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses south of Millerton.
Town Attorney Warren Replansky has been working with Suburban Propane to complete the purchase of an existing propane tank so that the HVAC units can be turned on allowing renovation work to move forward.
Wastewater grant
Kennan also said the Town and the Village of Millerton have been encouraged to reapply for $3.2 million in federal wastewater grants that last month congressmen dropped — along with other earmarked funding provisions — from a continuing resolution.
Kennan said he received a call from Sen. Chuck Schumer’s, D-NY, office indicating that the grant was “very likely to be approved” if resubmitted. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, both supported the original application.
The Village and the Town have continued to work on the design for the $13.9 million project.
“This is a key building block for us in terms of more retail and housing, and we have been working on it for years,” he said.
Board members also received news that the Town Planning Board had given site approval for a food market to be opened at Millerton Square Plaza by the owners of the Sharon Farm Market, and that a new restaurant would be opening at the site of the former McDonalds on Route 44.
Agri-business proposal
An attorney for owners of 36 acres of vacant land located at Route 44/Route 22 and Smithfield Road presented a petition to the Board seeking a zoning amendment to permit hospitality uses in an agricultural district.
John and Kristen King envision an “agri-immersive” experience by including a winery with up to 24 rooms for overnight guests. Weddings and other events would take place at the property and it would feature a restaurant and workforce housing.
Attorney Joshua Mackey, of Mackey Butts & Whalen, in describing his client’s petition, noted that a zoning amendment would apply to all properties within the Town’s Agricultural District, and would support farmers both farming and hospitality operations.
Mackey said he would attend an April 15 Town Board meeting when the petition could be accepted for consideration.
EMS meeting
Kennan reported that he recently met with Town Supervisors from Amenia and Dover along with fire chiefs from those towns and North East and County Executive Sue Serino and A. Gregg Pulver, assistant county executive, to discuss what can be done to address the current Emergency Medical Services cost crisis.
Kennan said the county recently purchased two ambulances to supplement services, especially in high demand areas, which typically are the ones with denser populations and those along the Route 9 corridor. North East experiences less than one call per day. Last year the budgets of the three towns — Amenia, Dover and North East — were impacted by sharply rising EMS costs.
The Board approved the rollover of a Bond Anticipation Note in the amount of $3,568,274 at an interest rate of 3.25% offered by the Bank of Millbrook, which offered the lowest rate of four banks.
The funds are for the new highway garage, which opened last year.
Cell tower discussion
Sandra Oberhollenzer, of White House Crossing Road in North East, spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting about a planned 150-foot cellphone tower to be located on the east side of Route 22 just north of the intersection with Cattalino Road in Ancram.
Oberhollenzer, who had attended a March 27 Planning Board meeting to raise awareness of the project, noted that the tower, in Ancram’s Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone, is expected to be visible by North East residents.
Oberhollenzer was critical of the plan, commenting on what she described as a lack of needs assessment, issues related to the coverage map and a lack of a technology assessment.
Homeland Towers LLC’s balloon test has been postponed due to windy conditions since it was first planned on Feb. 22.
To a question about whether North East would have any standing in the matter before another town, Town Attorney Replansky noted that adjoining municipalities have standing in certain circumstances under New York state law.
According to the Ancram Planning Board, the balloon shall be flown from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Millerton Village offices on Route 22.
MILLERTON — Village Trustees approved an $838,820 general budget for the coming fiscal year, reflecting higher expenses, an increase in assessment property values and higher tax receipts.
Following a public hearing held on Monday, April 14, the Board approved the 2025-26 budget that calls for an increase in the mill rate to 4.27936, up from the current rate of 4.22.
The assessed value of all property in the Village rose to $122,207,680, compared to $116,592,038 in the previous year. Tax-receipt revenues will increase in the new budget to $522,971 from $492,308 in the 2024-25 year.
Trustees also approved a 2025-26 water budget in the amount of $386,529.
Only one resident appeared during the budget public hearing as trustees discussed a few line items, which they had been poring over in previous budget workshops.
Trustee Dave Sherman inquired about the 9% overall increase in the Police Department budget, which includes $55,000 in salaries in the department’s $106,000 budget.
In fiscal year 2022-23, the Village stopped receiving payments from the Town of North East of approximately $36,000. Village Police no longer are relied upon to respond to calls in the Town. Those calls are instead referred to the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.
Trustee Matt Soleau noted that the Village is still making adjustments given the withdrawal of Town support on this front, and the Board expressed consensus that the department “was working better.”
Besides granting all employees small pay increases, the Trustees also increased their own salaries. Mayor Jenn Najdek’s salary rose to $10,000, up from $9,000. Deputy Mayor Matt Hartzog’s salary rose to $5,500 from $4,000, and other Trustees were raised to $4,000 from $3,500.
Village Trustees did not receive an increase in last year’s budget.
Easter egg hunt
Mayor Najdek reminded everyone that the Fire Department will be hosting an Easter egg hunt on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eddie Collins Park.
Hay rides are offered, starting at 10:30 a.m. at the Fire Department on Century Boulevard.
The egg hunt starts at 11 a.m. at the park.
Children’s Tea to debut at library
Having grown from a novelty to a tradition, the Amenia Library Tea Society met on Saturday, April 12, to enjoy teas and finger foods from Japan. The April meeting featured green tea and Senoha, served along with Dango, Moohi, Onigiri rice balls, melon seed cookies, and more. The May meeting will feature the fare of South Korea. Everyone is welcome to attend.
AMENIA — Building on the success of the monthly Library Tea Society, the Amenia Free Library is inviting children to dress up and attend the first-ever Children’s Tea Party on Saturday, April 19, at noon.
Children of ages 3 through 8 are invited to dress up in their best outfits to enjoy a fun tea party. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
As there are only 8 spots available, registration in advance is required. To register, call 845-373-8273 or email programs@amenialibrary.org.
Program assistant Hope Bruzzi will host the event in the library children’s area.
