Credit: Suzanne C. Ouellette
They had to bring in more chairs. Present were the Pine Plains Town Supervisor, board members, Town Clerk, Town Attorney and the heads of town departments. Nineteen community members, including six students from the high school’s 12th grade Participation in Government class, attended. Because of their participation in parent-teacher meetings at the high school, members of the Recreation Department, Mike Cooper and Jen Chase, had to give their report at the end of the meeting. That report was celebratory and unexpectedly sad.
After approval of the Town Clerk report, minutes, and bills, the meeting was opened for public comments. Nancy Sullivan, representing the Pine Plains Garden Club, announced that club members (most over 75 years old) could no longer maintain the watering of the town’s 22 barrels of flowering plants. The club requests that the town take over this responsibility. Also, during the public comment period, Board Member Sarah Jones asked where the review of our town’s current solar law stood. Town Attorney Warren Replansky responded that the town’s Zoning Review Committee would be taking it up.
The board then held a public hearing on the proposed new law amending the Senior Taxation Exemption. The change involves an increase in the income level to qualify for the exemption. The only comment offered was a question from Sullivan about the actual numbers involved. Replansky read the full list of numbers beginning with the increase from $29,000 or less to $39,000 or less to qualify for a 50% exemption from taxation of assessed valuation. The motion to adopt the new law was approved.
The animal control report by Rich Prentice, Jr., the town Dog Control Officer, was discussed at length. Pine Plains Veterinary Hospital will not renew its contract with the town for the kenneling/sheltering of dogs. Not having found an alternative shelter site in his extensive research, Prentice proposes that the town erect its own shelter for placement in a Highway Department garage. He submitted information on shelter kennels that could be purchased and easily installed. Following his review, Board Member Matt Zick said he will bring this issue up again at the board’s October meeting.
New business included four items. Zick raised the possibility of a town tax on short term rentals. He pointed out that these short-term rentals take off the market what could be long term rental space. Replansky responded that a tax would require that the town have a short-term rentals law. Replansky will look into different examples of such a law and report back to the board. Zick suggested that a workshop meeting be held in November on this issue. Jones raised a second item having to do with housing: Governor Kathy Hochul is encouraging residential developments in a new executive order for a Pro-Housing Community Program. Having Pine Plains certified as a Pro-Housing Community by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal would make us eligible for grants supporting downtown renewal, Jones said. For a third new business item, Supervisor Brian Walsh announced that Crown Gas submitted the lowest propane bid and all approved the continuing contract for 2024. Finally, a proposal was brought up by Walsh for the payment of $1,100 to Down to Earth Landscaping for fall maintenance of the park by the traffic light. This was approved.
Old business included two items. Zick raised the issue of the flea market that the town is sponsoring with Willow Roots. He pointed out that the board had approved the holding of two such markets but more than that have been held and markets into next year have been posted. He asked about apparent changes in the fee structure that had been agreed upon by Willow Roots and the town. Board Member Don Bartles suggested that a workshop meeting be held on the flea market and that a more formal agreement be set with Willow Roots. Jones added that the flea market should be put on the meeting agenda for October and that Willow Roots be asked to give a report. A second old business item involved the Pine Plains policing agreement with the Town of Stanford. Jones raised a concern about the “all calls” language in the draft contract that would allow Pine Plains Police to patrol and respond to emergencies in Stanford. Replansky said he would review the language and send his comments to the board.
The meeting closed with reports from the Recreation Department. Jen Chase, director of the summer camp, reported on this year’s “amazing summer.” It was a very positive report on how well things went for the 130 kids per week who attended, with no problems at the beach or with the Dutchess County Health Department. Her survey of parents revealed satisfaction and a request for longer hours. Chase thanked all of the members of the Pine Plains community who made the summer a success. “This town is amazingly supportive,” she said. Then, the tone of Chase’s report changed. She shifted to an announcement of her resignation. She resigns after 18 years of work on the summer camp, taking it from serving 20 kids to 130 kids a week, seeing it through the height of COVID when all other nearby camps closed, and watching former campers become counselors. She “begged” the Town Board to reconsider the $1,000 cut in the camp director’s salary. She called the decision to reduce a program that brings in thousands of dollars to the town “a shame.” She encouraged the board to reconsider the cut because of her concern for the new director who will replace her. The work for next year’s camp starts in February. At the close of her report, the room applauded Chase.
Based on this meeting, here is a list of items to which Town Board will return:
- Garden Club request that the town take responsibility for watering of barrels of decorative plants
- Zoning committee’s review of Town’s Solar Law
- Decision on Town’s setting up its own dog shelter
- Possible Town tax on short term rentals
- Flea Market agreement with Willow Roots
- Shared Police services with Stanford