Village of Millbrook: Bond for new fire vehicle, more talk about STRs

MILLBROOK — Mayor Tim Collopy opened the Village of Millbrook’s meeting Thursday, Nov. 9, by mentioning a request for a public assembly permit from St. Joseph Church and Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday, Dec.12, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. for a procession going up Franklin Avenue, down Merritt Avenue and back to the church, which was granted.

Collopy then discussed the need for taping off areas during the Parade of Lights set to take place Friday, Dec. 1, for safety of the children. Candy will be handed out, but should not be thrown from the floats and other vehicles. Volunteers are needed. He will see if the school can send out emails to the parents. He asked Chief Dominic Boscardin if the fire department will be delivering Santa; it will. Franklin Avenue will be shut down from 4:30 p.m. on for traffic. No inappropriate or political marchers will be allowed.

The village will be named the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) in acquiring a bond for $77,000 for the new fire chief vehicle.

Sgt. Jared Witt of the Millbrook Police Department said the problem with staffing is being addressed. The force has had its second training of the year in firearms and safety, and all officers passed. He is currently working on updating the policies manual, which has 500 pages. He is doing it in increments and should have some procedures completed by the end of the month.

Highway Superintendent Bob Collacola reported that Central Hudson is trimming trees and it isn’t the village’s decision. He also mentioned that many residents are abusing the services provided, and that he’d like to see fines being levied where needed. Some infractions involve leaf and brush removal, and parking during snowstorms. He’d like notices to go out noting infractions and fines, then actually follow through on them.

Collopy addressed the desire to reduce the speed limit throughout the village from 30 to 25 miles per hour. This would also reduce the number of signs needed, as the message would be uniform throughout. Millbrook resident Kevin McGrath mentioned that when Bennett Park is fully opened, it may be necessary to lower the speed limits in that area also. Collopy said he’ll go forward with what he has already started and if more changes are needed later, they’ll be dealt with.

Comments have been received from Dutchess County on the short-term rental (STR) documents submitted by the village for perusal. One change was made from October: lowering the number of occupants from eight to six, or two people per bedroom (adults). Village trustee Peter Doro has worked on this project for a long period of time; the board would like to vote on it during its December meeting and hold a public hearing in January.

There was still some dissension concerning the need for the owner to be on the property, or if a property manager will be allowed. One person, who rents from a property that’s been in her family since the 1930s felt she was being singled out because she doesn’t live on the property; she lives within 15 minutes, and her property manager lives next door. The question arose of whether or not she could be “grandfathered in.” The board does not like that term, although not all were against making an exception in her case. Some people feel that the village is putting in codes without really knowing all of the facts concerning the existing STRs.

One of the last items was the sale of a 2-acre piece of property: the old village dump site. Asked if it would have to go out to bid, Collopy was told no. The village is waiting on information and document from the state Department of Environmental Conservation and when it has them in hand, it will sell. Collopy said that may be through a public auction, but was reminded that, in that case it could go to almost anyone for any reason, and Doro stated that sometimes public interest should outweigh financial gain.

Collopy noted that in looking at the village financials, he saw some shares in a gold mine that the village could sell if it needed to; in the meantime, it can just keep an eye on their worth. He said that the village accrues about $27,000 per year from fees paid by utility taxes, cable and Central Hudson, and noted that the state gets over 2%. The village will look into raising the rate.