Millbrook considers police computer upgrade

MILLBROOK — At Millbrook’s monthly Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 14, Police Chief Keith Dworkin followed up on last month’s planned upgrades to the police department’s infrastructure, including computers and computer servers.

Chief Dworkin said the department’s platforms are out of compliance with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Chief Dworkin plans on prioritizing these changes to the department’s infrastructure with help from the board.

Fire Department President Matt Rochfort reminded the board that the Frank Jenks Junior Golf Tournament will be held on Sept. 23. Similarly, bingo and other raffles and fundraisers will begin again in October at the firehouse.

Mayor Tim Callopy reminded village residents that brush pickup will happen on Sept. 9. One pile of 10 feet by 6 feet by 4 feet will be accepted. Mayor Callopy also announced to the board that the DOT rejected the request to lower the speed limit to 25 mph on Franklin Avenue. However, 25 mph will be the new speed limit on roads leading into the village and elsewhere in the village.

Later on in the meeting the public hearing for the proposed local law No. 7 of 2024 Imposing a Temporary Six-Month Moratorium on Certain Land Developments in the RLD Zoning District, was held and approved by Trustee Doro and other board members.

In new business, Trustee Contino proposed a resolution to update Village codes regarding litter. The proposed resolution would require landlords to provide and maintain a trash receptacle for tenants; The motion was approved. Deputy Mayor Murphy also proposed updates to village codes surrounding the use of skateboards, E-scooters, and E-bikes. Currently, the village abides by New York state regulations. The board elected to publicize a bulletin with the current guidelines to remind residents what these entail. Lastly, Deputy Mayor Murphy updated the board on the current activity to repaint the Village Hall exterior. The board is looking to secure funding, as well as put bids out for contractors. The next meeting will be held Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. at the firehouse.

Latest News

Millerton Police Dept. rebuilds after fire; new cruisers on the way

The borrowed Pine Plains cruiser parked on Main Street in front of the Millerton Inn during the Millerton Street Fair on Saturday, June 28.

Photo by Aly Morrissy

MILLERTON — After receiving substantial state grant funding in July 2024 and beginning to roll out new equipment that fall, the Millerton Police Department suffered a setback when the February fire at the Village Water and Highway Department building destroyed much of its newly acquired gear — including patrol vehicles outfitted with cutting-edge technology.

Thanks to full-value insurance coverage and swift support from the Town of Pine Plains — which loaned the department a vehicle — Millerton officers were able to remain active in the community. Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik said two custom-built, four-wheel-drive Ford Interceptor cruisers are now in production and are expected to arrive by the end of the summer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Uncertainty looms over Millerton community pool timeline

Groundbreaking of the new pool planned for Eddie Collins Park has been delayed after the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation intervened to determine the status of wetlands in the proposed building site.

Archive photo

MILLERTON — The long-awaited groundbreaking for a new community pool at Eddie Collins Memorial Park — once expected this past April — now faces significant delays with no definitive timeline in sight, Mayor Jenn Najdek said.

The primary setback stems from a still-pending permitting process, as the village awaits final approvals from the Dutchess County Board of Health and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regarding septic placement and wetland buffers. A patch of wetlands on the site — roughly five feet by five feet, Najdek said — requires a protective buffer, which could range anywhere from 5 to 100 feet. That determination will dictate whether the current pool design needs to be altered or moved altogether.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East town records brought into the digital age

Chris Virtuoso reorganized parcel records in the North East Town Hall basement by parcel number during the process of scanning and digitizing the documents.

Photo by Grace DeMarco

MILLERTON — Within the walls of the two-story Victorian housing the North East Town Hall lies a room-full of town records dating back to the late 19th century. Stored in labeled cardboard boxes and protected by dehumidifiers, the records are in the process of being dated, organized, and scanned into categorized online programs.

As the Town Hall works to relocate to 5603 Route 22 at the former Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, the consolidation and digitalization of records, as well as the disposal of those unneeded, is a time-sensitive project. Marcy Wheatley, the Deputy Town Clerk, emphasized their current heavy focus on organizing and scanning. “Now, when we move, we can get rid of a lot,” Wheatley stated.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fun, food and facts bring crowds to downtown Millerton

Nora Garcia, 6, of Millerton, bottom right, gets a face painting treatment from Maddy Rowe, a Webutuck High School senior. Nora’s sister, Juliana, 8, top right, is decorated by Giana Kall, a Webutuck senior. The program was sponsored by the Webutuck PTA.

Photo by John Coston

Locals and visitors packed into downtown Millerton Saturday, June 28, for the first ever Millerton Street Fair hosted by the Millerton News, the Millerton Business Alliance and Townscape. Representatives from local nonprofits, businesses along Main Street, Bee Bee the Clown and face painters from Webutuck High School drew in crowds all afternoon.

Festivities officially opened at 10 a.m., and a steady stream of visitors soon followed. Volunteer firefighters hosted a bouncy castle, a duck pool, a “put out the fire” ring toss game, and the “touch a truck” event at the fire department’s garage.

Keep ReadingShow less