Village Board of Trustees discuss changes to pool project, request for new highway equipment

AMENIA — The Village of Millerton’s Board of Trustees met on Monday, Nov. 18 to discuss two items – changes to the pool project at Eddie Collins Memorial Park and requests for new equipment for the highway department.

According to Kevin Hasselwander, an architect at Labella Associates, an amendment was needed regarding the pool and pool house.

“All we’re doing is adding the DOH (Department of Health) and Army Corps to the list of involved agencies,” Hasselwander said. “And we are going to change the numbers, like the disturbed acreage, just a little bit.”

Hasselwander asserted the amendment will not cause significant delays to the project, saying, “We don’t have to go through the 30-day approval process. What we’ll do is we’ll set a date, and you and I can talk about it… as to when it’ll get the negative declaration. That way, if there are any comments from the agencies, they’ll know when to see it by.”

He went on to say the biggest challenge for the project will be the septic system in the park. A small section in the corner of Eddie Collins Memorial Park caught the contractors’ attention, prompting them to take action sooner rather than later.

“Right now, it [the wetlands] would be considered Army Corps regulated, but come January, all wetlands will be DC [Delineation Concurrence],” said Hasselwander. “It will no longer be Army Corps. We may not have to do anything with it, but in the case that we do because of the septic system, there needs to be separation. If we do need to permit and have it filled in, it’ll be much easier if we go through Army Corps.”

Despite the concern for wetlands within the park, the Village of Millerton and Labella are working with many different agencies to ensure the safety of the community. “The Dutchess County Department of Health will ensure that we have the proper separation of background water to the high groundwater market,” Hasselwander said. “We’ve done so much soil testing within the park from all different times of the year.”

The second item on the evening’s agenda centered on equipment needs for the highway department. According to Peter Dellaghelfa, the Superintendent of Public Works, new trucks to plow and clear snow for the upcoming winter season are very much a necessity.

“Right now one of the front pistons is leaking, so that is losing pressure,” Dellaghelfa said. “Now the other pistons, I’m just waiting for that to start leaking because I’m putting more strain on it. It’s going to keep getting worse and worse.”

The department is considering the option of trading in their old trucks or keeping them to use for less intensive purposes. “I think it would be worth it to keep it [old trucks],” said Dellaghelfa. “It’s good to put one of the guys in who has no experience. You don’t want to put them in the brand-new truck and have it break. I think it can be used as a training tool.” Dellaghelfa is in possession of price estimates from John Deere and Caterpillar, but would like to look into Batco or alternate options.

Getting new equipment could take weeks for a truck and up to six months for a Batco. According to Jenn Najdek, mayor of the village, she would need to put together a spreadsheet to figure out the rates and loan payments and have more information set out to have this plan working if they choose before winter comes.

Latest News

Back to school
Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.


Keep ReadingShow less
Millerton’s Demitasse shutters Main Street storefront, goes digital

Demitasse owner Hayden McIntosh Geer said she is excited by the shift to online sales.

Photo by Hayden McIntosh Geer

MILLERTON — Some might have argued that launching an in-person retail business during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t advisable. But against all odds, Demitasse in Millerton managed not only to build a thriving, mission-based brand in a small storefront on Main Street, it developed a loyal customer base and provided a welcoming space for visitors. Last week, Demitasse announced it is closing-up shop and moving fully online.

“We are excited,” said owner Hayden McIntosh Geer, who opened Demitasse with her husband, Richard, in 2020. “Though we will miss our customers and the camaraderie on Main Street, it feels right and there was no second guessing.”

Keep ReadingShow less
New Millerton police cruisers arrive to replace fire-ravaged vehicles

Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik shows off the new gear. Brand new police cruisers arrived last week.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Millerton Police Department has received two new patrol cars to replace vehicles destroyed in the February 2025 fire at the Village Water and Highway Department.

The new Ford Interceptors are custom-built for law enforcement. “They’re more rugged than a Ford Explorer,” said Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik, noting the all-wheel drive, heavy-duty suspension and larger tires and engine. “They call it the ‘Police Package.’”

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia back in court over Kent Hollow mine

The main entrance to Kent Hollow Mine at 341 South Amenia Road in Amenia.

Photo by Nathan Miller

AMENIA — Amenia residents and a Wassaic business have filed suit against the Town Board and Kent Hollow Inc., alleging a settlement between the town and the mine amounts to illegal contract zoning that allows the circumvention of environmental review.

Petitioners Laurence Levin, Theodore Schiffman and Clark Hill LLC filed the suit on Aug. 22. Town officials were served with documents for the case last week and took first steps in organizing a response to the suit at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Keep ReadingShow less