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Amenia reviews past planning ideas
AMENIA — Seeking to review the contents and positive potential of past town planning proposals, the Town Board heard a presentation by one of the early professional planners at their regular meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, rather than their usual Thursday meeting date.
The change in date meant that a quorum could be present. Councilmember Nicole Ahearn was absent.
Reviewing the highlights of past planning proposals was landscape architect Mark Morrison, who has maintained a studio in Wassaic since 2007. His initial planning study was undertaken in 2002, graphically describing the then-current landscape and introducing possibilities for improvement for public access and aesthetics.
Morrison noted that the playground in Wassaic was created in 2007 and 2008, although the area has suffered from lack of maintenance since.
Morrison reviewed 2004 plan drawings for both Wassaic and Amenia town center, particularly East Main Street — Route 343 — and Mechanic Street. He went on to review 2024 streetscape sketches created by architect and Town Supervisor Leo Blackman.
“The plans were simple treatments,” Morrison said, indicating that Dutchess County had indicated a favorable climate for grant applications at the time.
“A major goal had been introducing plantings that would tie the areas together,” Morrison said.
The Amenia Green Master Plan, divided into four phases, was also summarized as having stalled after reaching the point where a design team would need to be hired.
Any plan would require a design team to create actual surveys of property lines and drainage, hold public meetings to incorporate residents’ input and support the town with grant applications along with providing guidance toward other forms of funding.
“It’s time that we move forward,” said councilmember Rosanna Hamm, reporting that the Comprehensive Plan review committee will soon hold community planning meetings. She recommended that relevant committee heads continue to meet regularly.
Councilman Brad Rebillard said the presentation provided valuable information about past efforts and he reiterated the need for creating parking, both in Wassaic and Amenia.
Blackman agreed that a parking plan is needed, particularly on Main Street and Mechanic Street.
“Some of these things are simple and should be addressed,” Blackman said.
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A landscaping truck got stuck in West Cornwall’s covered bridge Thursday, April 3.
CORNWALL, Conn. — Another truck got stuck in West Cornwall’s covered bridge this month, prompting the town selectmen to discuss solutions at a meeting of the Board April 15.
The bridge, located over the Housatonic River on Route 128, is maintained by Connecticut Department of Transportation.
“Luckily, it was not damaged heavily,” said First Selectman Gordon Ridgway. “I have contacted our liaison with the state about trying to get something better, or different anyway, warning motorists.”
He explained the bridge is tallest at the entrances and structural supports in the middle can snag trucks halfway through.
Suggestions to the state included better signage, laser beam height detectors, flashing lights, sound triggers and metal beam rails.
Ridgway said solutions may be somewhat restricted because the bridge is listed on the state’s historic registry.
Selectman Rocco Botto proposed a sensor prior to the bridge that can warn and redirect drivers of vehicles exceeding the height limit.
“They call it an ‘over height warning system,’” said Botto.
Selectman Jennifer Markow encouraged residents to submit letters of support or suggestion to Town Hall.
SALISBURY, Conn. — Raised Bill No. 7174 was proposed earlier this year in Hartford as a series of amendments to the state’s existing laws surrounding protections of wetlands, rivers and streams. It has since passed through the state’s Environmental Committee and currently awaits a General Assembly vote.
Salisbury resident Bruce Palmer warned the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission (IWWC) during its April 14 meeting to familiarize itself with the bill, suggesting it could significantly affect the commission by altering its jurisdiction on property adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, known as the upland review area.
“It might warrant us that we could be pioneers, like we should be,” said Palmer, suggesting that Salisbury should seek to be an example in ecological governance in a state that is “well behind most states in New England on just about everything, including upland review.”
The bill’s stated purpose is “to establish protections for riparian buffer zones, protect fishways along certain water passages and require certain insurance surcharge fees for environmental measures,” according to the draft language. The bill defines a riparian buffer zone as the area surrounding a wetland or watercourse for “a distance of not less than 100 feet.”
Land Use Administrator Abby Conroy said that the bill may pose jurisdiction issues with municipal IWWC commissions. She explained that it began as a bill to establish protective vegetative buffer zones around waterways but morphed into the implementation of a 100-foot minimum upland review area that could be regulated without specific reference to the actual site.
Conroy told the Commission that if the bill is adopted, it would alter the IWWC’s governance of the review area.
Commission alternate Russel Conklin speculated that regulations could be enacted without any basis in the actual impact on the site — “that seems like trouble,” he said.
The IWWC has already faced difficulty surrounding upland review areas in recent months, with debates over altering the regulated zone for Salisbury’s major lakes — Wononscopomuc, Wononpakook, Washining, and Washinee — proving a major roadblock in developing new local regulations.
As the current regulations draft stands, each lake has a 75-foot upland review area, which is substantially lower than the upland review areas designated for other watercourses and waterbodies in town.
The regulations have been sent out to the state Department of Energy and the Environment for review and are expected to see a public hearing on May 12.
IWWC Chair Vivian Garfein said lake associations that wish to extend or change the upland review area may petition the Commission to do so after the public hearing closes. “It shouldn’t be a difficult thing to accomplish,” she said.
As for Raised Bill 7174, Garfein maintained that while she was aware of the proposed legislation, the Commission will address it when and if the time comes: “When it’s law, I’ll worry about it.”
Bertha M. Moody
FALLS VILLAGE — Bertha M. (Davis) Moody, 87, of 45 Facchin St. went home to the Lord on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Canaan, surrounded by her loving family. Bertha was the wife of the late Charles Moody. Bertha was born on July 25, 1937, in Dunn, North Carolina. She was the last surviving child of the late Milton and Daisy (Gould) Davis.
Bertha worked at Becton Dickinson in Canaan until retirement. Bertha was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Great Barrington where she sang in the choir for many years. Bertha’s greatest love was spending time with family, especially her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Most importantly, she was a faithful servant of God. She also enjoyed watching sports, tending to her garden, and cooking.
Bertha is survived by her children; Dwayne Moody of Falls Village, Robin Williams Standburry and her husband Herbert of Torrington, Steven Moody and his fiancé Emily Vitale Aronow of Canaan. Bertha was predeceased by her daughter, Tonia Moody of Falls Village. Her grandchildren; Sade Williams and her companion Eric Blalock of Waterbury, Donyell Williams and his wife Theresa of Westfield, Massachusetts, and Aaron Vitale Moody of Canaan. Her great-grandchildren; Jayden, Emi, and Kamari along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday April 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. in the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home 118 Main St. Canaan, CT 06018. Calling hours will precede the funeral service on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Burial will follow in Lower City Cemetery Undermountain Road, Falls Village.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated first responders and the compassionate medical professionals at Sharon Hospital, Sharon Rehabilitation Center, Danbury Hospital, and Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the loving care they provided to their mother.
Memorial donations may be sent to Macedonia Baptist Church 9 Rosseter St. Great Barrington, MA 01230.
