Town Board Discusses Fall Festival and Street Fair

Here are some of the matters the town board members discussed during their short Tuesday, July 27, work session meeting:

The town board gave an update and review of the town's participation. The Fall Festival and Street Fair will be held on October 9, 2010 along commerce Street, Veterans Road and Jack DeVito Field.

Town board members discussed what streets would be closed and how many police officers they would need. They expressed their concern over the need for police services. Last year, there were 96 hours of police service overtime and Siegel said it had been brought to her attention that there was an excess of police. She said everybody is looking to cut back in cost.

"It's a police matter," Councilman Nick Bianco said. "I agree we should cut cost. We can't do this without the Chief being here."

"If we were going to be absorbing that cost, we would like to see if we need 96 hours of police service," Supervisor Susan Siegel said.

Councilman Vishnu Patel also addressed the importance of keeping the town clean and people picking up after themselves.

Chris Newhall presented the town board with an application of an excavation and wetland permit and gave a preliminary explanation. The gas line would run from Stony Street then go east to the Taconic State Parkway. He said they would need to install a grounding facility that would counteract natural corrosion. Siegel asked for additional paperwork and said the town board would review it.

Siegel said the law would be advertised during their August 3rd meeting.

The town is being offered to receive a land donation of a 1/3-acre land between New Road and Route 6 in Shrub Oak. Bianco said there is a "great purpose" in taking the wetland because it might have an environmental purpose. Councilman Jim Martorano said by taking on the "environmental piece" property they are gaining an insurance policy that nothing would happen to it. Acquiring the land would not cost the town any money, board members said. They voted on and approved to refer the matter to the Conservation Board and the Advisory Committee on Open Space.

The members officially added a phrase to the nepotism policy that would apply to new town hires. They expanded the definition to family members. Immediate family would be considered for work, but would not placed in the same department as another family member.

The town board also approved a police officer to attend a Benelli Armorer training course. 

Their next meeting is scheduled for August 3 at 6 p.m. at the Hilltop Hanover Farm.