Talked about several important issues
The Town Board made a change to its employee handbook (all non-union employees must have overtime approved by Supervisor Bob Livsey, as opposed to their department head); did not take any action on a resolution given to them by a group of citizens looking for support to have the state’s voter rolls audited; and approved the spending of $250 on a community Family Fun Day scheduled for June.
Livsey proposed the $250 and his board agreed unanimously, as a handful of community teens (Aspasia Fatsis, Katie Dorsch and Georgie Moreno) again lobbied them for some funding help. The teens, representing the Highlands United Youth, have been at the last three meetings of the board, and at the Village Board meetings, to update the board on where they stand preparing for their event.
Livsey told the youngsters that as they begin planning for 2024 events to stop by a town budget meeting in late summer/early fall “to get on our radar”.
In other matters from the meeting, board members and department heads gave several community updates:
— Livsey said that the town is working on resolving an issue with one of the mobile home parks in the town which currently owes about $150,000 in overdue water bills.
— Councilman Dean Jaeger noted that the Town of Highlands Ambulance Corps was able to respond to 44 of 45 calls for service in April, “a big step in the right direction”.
— Councilman Joe DeWitt encouraged senior citizens to join the Highlanders. The senior citizens group elections were held this week.
— Councilman Tyrone King reminded residents that the annual Juneteenth march is planned for Saturday, June 17, starting at 10 a.m.
— Deputy Supervisor Richard Sullivan thanked those who volunteered at a cleanup at the Patriot Garden last weekend, coordinated by Doris Lent, with help from Beth Feldman, Karen Diaz and Bob Corigliano.
— Police Chief Frank Basile reported that his officers responded to nine motor vehicle accidents in April, three domestic violence incidents, a misdemeanor sex crime, a larceny, and 147 calls from the public. Basile also said he met that day with Senator James Skoufis and representatives of the Department of Transportation regarding the purchase and installation of speed cameras on Storm King Mountain. He said he has also spoken with representatives of Assemblyman Chris Eachus for financial assistance for that type of thing.
— Highway Superintendent Gary Boyce asked Fort Montgomery residents to watch for tags on their door asking them to call the Highway Department so that a new water meter reading system can be installed in their home. The no-charge meters take about 15 minutes to be installed, Boyce said, and the town will make appointments at the homeowner’s convenience.
— Also, the board acknowledged the paying of $258,426 worth of bills, including: $3339 to Orange & Rockland for utilities; $9457 to Rider, Weiner & Frankel in legal fees; $14,126 to Rockland County Solid Waste; $3959 to Slack Chemical for chlorine for the sewer plant; $4487 to the Office of State Comptroller in collected court fines and fees; and $196,422 to Village of Highland Falls for the town’s collective water bill.
