Millerton village board delays environmental review for Veterans Park upgrades

MILLERTON — Millerton’s Board of Trustees postponed again an environmental review of planned upgrades to Veterans Park at a regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The village is awaiting final designs from the engineer based on recent minor feedback from the county. Once those revisions are complete, Mayor Jenn Najdek said the project will be “ready to roll” and can go out for bid, adding that she hopes it won’t push back the targeted completion by Memorial Day.

Trustees spent a significant portion of the meeting discussing a proposed local law that would formally establish a new tree committee and allow Millerton to pursue national recognition as a Tree City USA. Village legal counsel attended the meeting to outline the requirements of the program.

Under the proposal, the village would be required to pass a local law designating responsibility for all public trees, adopt a formal tree management plan, set aside at least $2 per capita annually in the budget, and hold an Arbor Day observance each year.

The committee would consist of five volunteers appointed by the village board, with potential oversight from the town board or a town employee. Members would likely be able to join from throughout Dutchess County, though the hope would be to limit members to the village and town. Once the committee is established, the village could then apply for various funding and grants.

Joe Olenik, who serves both as Chief of Police and Public Works Superintendent, shared highway and police department reports. Trustees expressed thanks to the short-staffed highway crew, which continues to operate without its full fleet of vehicles. The department has been working with the Town of North East to borrow equipment as needed.

“Bob Stevens has been fantastic,” Olenik said of the town’s highway superintendent.

The board voted to amend its fee schedule for fire inspections, doubling the cost for commercial properties from $50 to $100, a change that Najdek said aligns with other municipalities.

Village budget discussions are expected to be held through February, following the circulation of an initial draft to trustees by Lisa Cope, village clerk and treasurer.

The village is also expected to submit a letter of intent to apply for this year’s federal Community Development Block Grant funding prior to the March 3 deadline. Trustees said the most likely use of the funding would be to complete additional sidewalk work, possibly on North Center Street.