Town Board discusses Recreation Department move, zoning, solar field at Cary Institute

WASHINGTON —  Town Supervisor Gary Ciferri called a virtual Zoom meeting to order at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, and roll call was called by Town Clerk Mary Alex. The Washington Town Board met virtually to follow social distancing rules in the days of the coronavirus pandemic, per the governor’s orders.

John Penny, the Dutchess County chair of the Complete Count Committee, spoke on the need for correct and inclusive Census counts in regard to fulfilling community needs for grants, funding, aid and various programs. Incomplete counts can cost communities in many ways, but especially in acquiring funding and support for programs. Penny assured the public that information is not shared with other entities, and that the Census is completely confidential.

It was announced that the Town of Washington Recreation Department is now located in Town Hall rather than in Village Hall, where it has long resided. 

There were some department reports that were given to the town clerk and will be reflected in the official minutes of the meeting, which will be posted on the town website at a later date.

An e-mail from resident Susan Nestle was read by Ciferri regarding poor internet service in the area; there was a request to send the e-mail to the cable franchise and to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Task Force.

A COVID-19 update included information that the Highway Department and Transfer Station are considered essential services and the employees are working from their base locations.

The Town Hall is still closed to the public but town workers are providing services via phone, e-mail and are arranging licenses and permits to be picked up outside. Employees are working rotating shifts in the office and are also working from home.

Ciferri noted that the reopening of the town of Washington will have a phase two: service and professional businesses, on or about June 1, with limited assigned staff and hours, and continued limited access to Town Hall.

Tax collection ends June 1, then the reconciliation with the county will occur.

Councilman Al DeBonis reported on the May 5 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Boards. He said Millbrook Winery, Inc. is asking for a special permit to erect a temporary modular housing unit to house employees of the vineyard from April through November. The permit request needs to be filled in more completely and a few questions need to be answered but DeBonis said it will be temporary and will not be seen from the road.

Also, DeBonis reported on the Keller LLC-Michael DeBartolo line revision, which will convey two lots of 9.5 acres to DeBartolo, who will combine 9.5 acres with two lots he already owns. The property is zoned in the R-5 District.

DeBonis then reported on a sign issue. Global Self Storage reportedly has three signs erected on its property, but the sign law limits two. However, the councilman said one sign is temporary and is there just for the business’ grand opening in June; it will be removed after that. A second sign is over-sized. The business said it is willing to re-size the sign to the proper dimensions; the third sign, which contains the business’ logo, will be allowed because when the grand opening sign is removed the sign with the logo will remain as one of the two allowable signs.

Resident Maryann Hegel asked for a wetlands permit to create a pond on the lower front corner of her property in an existing field that has been maintained and surrounded with new tree plantings. The property is in the R-10 Zone. If the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) allows it, the town is fine with it, agreed the board. A neighbor has a similar pond on their property.

Oak Summit Farm LLC and Millprop I LLC and Millprop III LLC are asking for lot line revisions. They are proposing to convey from the 93.33 acres of vacant land owned by the first party located on Altamont Road and Oak Summit Road a 24.55 acre parcel that will be joined with lands of Millprop III LLC. Millprop III LLC has a 9.58 acre parcel that will become part and parcel of land of Millprop I LLC. Also, Millprop I LLC is proposing to convey a 4.36 acre parcel from their 108.8 acre parcel that will be merged with the 20.90 acre parcel of Oak Summit. This was brought to the committee by Brian Houston, L.S. The committee felt the land assessor should be dispatched to check the properties against land cards, but the deal would enable a driveway to occur, which is pending. No public hearing would need to be called, agreed the board.

Finally, DeBonis talked about the solar field erected by YSG across the highway from and by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies on Route 44. Originally in the proposal YSG, which is working with the Cary and supplying Cary with energy, would build a berm, plant trees and hide the solar panels from view of the road. The initial tree plantings have yielded small trees thus far, and several of those have died. The panels are very visible from the road, and DeBonis and others want this rectified. Further research will be conducted, and the Town Board will be in touch with both the Cary and YSG; the initial agreement for the panels and solar panel use covers a 20-year time period, and it is not known how and/or when these panels will be removed or reach the end of their “life.” 

The meeting ended at about 8:50 p.m. to allow for an attorney-privileged meeting. The next meeting is expected to be held on Thursday, June 11.