At its April 21 meeting, the Milan Town Board discussed ways to recover more than $554,000 in unpaid traffic fines — a backlog that has grown substantially in recent years.
The accumulation dates back to 2019, when the New York State Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act limited the grounds for suspending licenses over unpaid violations. Board member Chris Pike reviewed the records and told the board that most of the outstanding fines had accrued since the law took effect.
After corresponding with the Dutchess County District Attorney, Pike said the town can still pursue unpaid fines with help from Town Attorney Angela J. Maier-Lore by offering drivers payment plans or sending cases to collections.
“We have to make a payment plan, but we can still go after them,” said Pike. “We can’t take the licenses, but we can still pursue it through the town attorney. That’s the only remedy, but does Angela have the time for that?”
In other business, the board reviewed proposals for the upgrading of lighting outside the Milan Town Hall. They received a bid from CDE Electric in Cairo for $77,000, and another from Stilsing Electric in Rensselaer for $78,200.
“I knew it was going to be bad but I didn’t think it was going to be that bad,” said Town Supervisor Al Lo Brutto, who recommended the board speak with the town architect to discuss cheaper alternatives.
The board accepted a bid of $17,240 from Hardiman Co. & Associates Inc. for the geotechnical boring of two culverts, one on Torre Rock Road, and the other on Battenfeld Road. The culverts are being repaired and upgraded following recent DEC culvert design recommendations. The boring allows the engineers to identify the type of bedrock and soil they are working with, and can then design the footing of the culvert accordingly.
Highway Superintendent Glenn Butler, present at the meeting, was authorized to seek a proposal from KC Engineering for the repair of Rock City Bridge, the smaller of two bridges on Rock City Road that runs over the protected Saw Kill. The bridge was damaged during Hurricane Irene and has suffered scour and erosion since then, mostly from water runoff.
“We’re going to kick around some ideas on how to repair that erosion and then get the permit because it is a protected stream,” said Butler.
The board also moved $6,000 in their budget to pay for the furnishing of the former assessor’s office at the Milan Town Hall, which will be expanded and turned into two offices.
The next Milan Town Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 19.