Highlands Town Board was busy on Monday
What do the above three things — electricity, streetlights and COVID-19 vaccines — have in common? All were among the topics of discussion at Monday evening’s Highlands Town Board meeting.
Here’s the rundown:
Community Choice Aggregation: After opening and closing a public hearing on the town adopting Local Law #1 of 2021, the Board unanimously approved creating a CCA program. The next step, Supervisor Bob Livsey said, will be appointing an administrator to the program. It will allow all residents of the town (outside the village at this point, until the Highland Falls Village Board passes a law to adopt CCA) to purchase electricity at a lower rate. The law is written, Livsey said, giving electric customers the opportunity to ‘opt out’ of the program.
Streetlights: Fort Montgomery’s Deborah Kopald was on hand to talk with the board members about where they stand on replacing old mercury vapor and sodium vapor streetlights in Fort Montgomery with LED lights, which are more energy efficient and expected to save the town considerable money. Kopald currently has a court case against the town in regard to their plan to switch to the LED lights; she is not in favor of strong lights in neighborhoods. The board members could not answer many of her questions at the meeting, however, because since August there has been a ‘stop work’ order on the project as part of Kopald’s suit. After the regular meeting the board went into executive session with Attorney Justin Rider to talk about the matter.
Vaccines: Councilman Tyrone King updated the community on efforts to get a ‘pop up’ vaccination site in Highlands, noting it does not look as if that will happen. He did, however, say that as other area vaccination sites open, he will work to see if the town can help provide transportation to those sites for Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery residents.
In other vaccine related news, Supervisor Livsey, King and Councilmen Richard Parry and Jim Modlin all noted they have already received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Japanese Knotweed: Councilman Richard Sullivan said the board soon needs to talk about treatment of the overgrowth of Japanese Knotweed — which spreads rapidly like bamboo — in Garrison’s Pond. “It is getting out of hand all the way around the lake,” he said, noting that he has asked Highway Superintendent Pat Patterson to look into treatments.
Fire Inspections: Sullivan also spoke to this, as part of his Building Department report, saying that overdue fire inspections will be happening soon throughout the community. The delay has been due to the transition from a full-time building inspector to the use of the town’s engineering firm for services. “Both fire chiefs have expressed concern over this,” Sullivan said. “Business owners will soon be contacted to set up appointments.”
Police Reform: THPD Chief Frank Pierri said his Police Reform Committee has met once and had another meeting this week, and that the 25-page report is nearing completion. A meeting for the public will be held next week; to submit questions for that meeting visit the town’s website (www.highlands-ny.gov). Once the committee finishes its work, the Town Board will need to adopt the plan and it will be sent to Albany. as part of the governor’s mandate on police reform throughout the state.
Garbage Collection: Supervisor Livsey had a few comments about the “good, hard work” that the town’s Sanitation Department does, but also noted that they do not need residents to add to their work.
“I’ve made it clear to them that if people have messes, they don’t have to clean them up,” he said, citing animals getting into garbage cans, or people who leave large piles of garbage on the sidewalk. He also noted they are not required to shovel snow in order to get to a garbage can or dumpster. “That is the responsibility of the property owner,” he said.
Livsey reminds all who have bulk items to put out for collection that they must first call the Sanitation Department at 446-3800 and make an appointment for that pickup.
