Millerton adopts budget, approves Eddie Collins Park revitalization component

MILLERTON — The Millerton Village board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed 2024-2025 budget of $780,152 on Monday, April 15, at a regular session.

The budget increased by $60,420, or 8.4%, over last year. This was due largely to payments for the bonds bought for the project of replacing Millerton’s streetlights with LED lights, and the change of the village treasurer position from part time to full time, said Village clerk Lisa Cope.

Nevertheless, noted Trustee Dave Sherman and Village Mayor Jenn Najdek in a brief discussion, tax rates will go down, because the village’s property assessment rule went up.

The only items discussed in detail were in regards to the latest developments taking place at Eddie Collins Park: namely, the design and initial engineering for the bathhouse, and a question of night-lighting for the Little League field.

Jeanne Vanecko, Eddie Collins Park project manager, presented an agreement with LaBella Associates for the design and the initial engineering of the bathhouse, part of the second phase of the Eddie Collins Park Revitalization Project.

She noted that an estimated budget of $116,000 had been raised in its entirety by the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee.

The board approved of the agreement unanimously, enabling the Committee to put a package out for bids.

The lighting of the Little League field will be donated by a group of private citizens. It is a turn-key gift, noted Vanecko, meaning that said citizens will handle the installation of the lights from start to finish, then donate them to the Village.

The labor will be donated by Berlinghoff Electric of Pine Plains.

According to the current plan, the lights will be LED lights and very inexpensive to run — more or less $200 per season, Vanecko said.

In response to questions from the board, she noted that the lights would not be on not every night, but only when in use. The lights will create less ambient light than traditional models, she said, “as close to dark sky as you can get,” though the field itself will reflect the light upwards, so “100% dark sky isn’t possible.”

Stephen Waite, chairman of the Eddie Collins Memorial Park Revitalization Committee, noted that the lights could easily be put on timers.

“It’s a nice piece to add to the park because it adds versatility,” he said.

The motion to approve the lighting plan passed unanimously.

At about 6:30 p.m., Najdek said, “I’m 99% sure we’ve concluded our business for the month. Motion to cancel our scheduled meeting on the 22nd?”

The motion was proposed, seconded and passed unanimously.