Town of Washington organizes for 2021, seeks board member

WASHINGTON — The annual Town of Washington (TOW) re-organization meeting was followed by its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 14;  Town Supervisor Gary Ciferri presided at the Zoom meeting held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Councilmembers Stephen Turletes, Robert Audia and Michael Murphy were in attendance as was Town Clerk Mary Alex.

Reorg details

Meetings for 2021 will take place on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. and will be available on Zoom only until further notice. The link for Zoom and the dates can be found on the TOW website, www.washingtonny.org.

A blanket resolution of 13 items was adopted, including appointments: Deputy Supervisor is Councilman Turletes; Lois Petrone is bookkeeper to the supervisor; Christine Briggs is both Justice Court clerk and clerk to the assessor; Chelsea Edson is recreation director; Kelly Cassinelli, formerly with the Recreation Department has moved to become Building Department clerk; Nancy Patrick remains zoning administrator; James Finley is building inspector; Nikki Caul is secretary to the Planning Board; constables are Louis Spagnola II and James Bownas; Anthony DeBonis remains dog control officer.

A resolution for the appointments of volunteers named the following: Edward Jorgensen to the Planning Board with a term ending Dec. 31, 2027; Fletcher Coddington to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), with a term ending Dec. 31, 2025; David Greenwood as both town historian and chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC); both terms expire Dec. 21 of this year.

On the recommendation of the Recreation Commission a resolution was made to appoint Aaron Kelly to the commission through Dec. 31, 2025.

The Board of Assessment Review has three positions available, which expire on Sept. 30 of 2021, 2023 and 2025. 

The Bank of Millbrook will be the official depository of town funds; the firm of Van De Water and Van De Water will be the attorney for the town. Councilman Audia disclosed he serves on the board of the Bank of Millbrook. The supervisor was authorized to invest town funds in time or authorized investments as approved by the Town Board.

The official rate of mileage for reimbursement to employees and elected officials while on official town business is the IRS rate of .56 cents per mile.

Two newspapers were designated as the official papers of the town: The Poughkeepsie Journal as a daily paper and The Millerton News as the weekly paper. Legal notices will be published upon publication needs.

In the absence of the town supervisor, the interim officers will be: first, Councilman Turletes, second Councilman Audia and third, Councilman Murphy. 

A final resolution scheduled a special meeting to interview candidates for the vacancy left by the death of the late Councilman Al De Bonis last year and any other business that may arise on Wednesday, Jan. 27, or Thursday, Jan. 28.

   Regular business 

Department reports followed. Highway Superintendent Joseph Spagnola submitted his expense report. He wants to extend work previously done from Deep Hollow Road to Tower Hill Road and asked for financial support. Some Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) money may be available for that, he said.

Bookkeeper Petrone asked for an extension to give the Annual Report, until possibly April. The board agreed. 

Alex reported that tax bills were being prepared and should be in the mail by Friday, Jan. 15, or Tuesday, Jan. 19. The request that the annual audit be done at a meeting with a majority of the Town Board present to audit the records of the town clerk, the town bookkeeper and court clerk will be honored at a meeting on Jan. 27 or 28. Justices Elizabeth Shequine and Jeff Feigelson requested an outside, independent audit of their accounts. The annual request will be done at a cost of $3,500.

Turletes and Recreation Director Edson reported that while COVID-19 has greatly limited what programs are available, those that have been offered have been full. A Kid’s Yoga program is to begin in February. 

Edson reported that the new thermostat at Guertin Gym is working well and she is satisfied with its performance and her ability to utilize it. The Recreation Department is looking to begin a program for toddlers this spring at the Town Park.

A route for the marathon being planned by the Eastern Dutchess Road Runners Club originally included a stretch along Wild Wood Road; Spagnola and Alex now feel it could be hazardous and plan to be in touch with the marathon organizers to ask them to plan another route.

The supervisor would like to establish a committee of Town Board members and town staff to deal with particular zoning matters. It will include the supervisor, Councilman Murphy and the town clerk. 

There were no public comments. The board went into an executive session and the meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.

The next regular meeting is set for Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m., on Zoom. Access the website for more information at www.washingtonny.org.