MILLBROOK — Mayor Tim Collopy announced at the Wednesday, Feb. 10, Village Board meeting that Buffy Arborgast has been appointed as the new trustee to fill his seat for the remainder of 2021.
Collopy was a trustee before running for the top spot in the village; Arborgast will have to run in the November election if she wants to continue in that post. She has been active in local politics for a number of years. She served on the Town of Washington Planning Board in 2017, and was a board member of the Millbrook Business Association.
The Feb. 10 meeting was held via Zoom due to the pandemic; all members of the board were present.
The Millbrook Fire Department’s January report was given by Fire Chief Ted Bownas and Fire Department President Matt Rochfort.
Police Sgt. Jared Witt gave the Police Department’s January report, including a total of 110 incidents, with 36 tickets.
Witt and Trustee Mike Herzog both participated on the Dutchess County Police Reform Committee. They said that a number of local citizens who participated were amazed at the amount of calls and incidents the Millbrook Police Department handles each year. The yearly reports for both the village’s fire and the police departments can be found on the village’s website, www.villageofmillbrookny.com.
The pair also attended meetings in January and February, and said they found about 14 recommendations that they will send to the Village Board to review and then return in two weeks. Then the pair will work on the village’s police reform plan, share that with the public to then vote on sometime in March, to send it to Albany by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s April 1 deadline.
Public Works Supervisor Bob Collacola reported that snow removal was a major portion of the Highway Department’s work last month, as there was a total of 44 inches of snow since December 2020. The storm on Feb. 1 and 2 delivered 18” of snow and required major cleanup work, he reported. Village crews spent the next six days salting roads covered in black ice, removing snow piles, cleaning village trucks and making repairs to equipment.
The board discussed a proposed fee increase for village sewer rates, of a potential 20% in fiscal year 2021-22 and a possible additional increase of 10% in fiscal year 2022-23. Also the board discussed a sewer “SBA” increase of $10,000 in fiscal year 2021-22. Most of the treatment facility is more than 45 years old and the collection system is even older. Upgrades were made in 1996, a new aeration system was put in 2009 and in 2012 a (Dechlor and ORF) metering system was installed. Certain components now need repair or replacement due to age and usage, according to Collacola. Water fees were increased 50% in January 2019 to help with the filtration upgrade.
Reports from the trustees included plans to seek grants for sidewalk repairs and other infrastructure improvements, including to lights on Franklin Avenue that must be replaced. Trustee Vickie Contino suggested devising a capital improvement plan. Herzog is working on a Pandemics Operation Plan, which has to be completed by April 1. Arborgast will work on the Police Reform project and Trustee Kevin McGrane and Herzog are pursuing the village being a part of the Tree City U.S.A. program again this year, which Millbrook has been part of for 25 years. Work is continuing on the upcoming budget as well.
The next meeting, which will again be held via Zoom, is planned for Wednesday, March 10, at 6 p.m. To participate, email clerk@villageofmillbrookny.com.
