Credit: YoutTube/Town of Pine Plains
The Pine Plains Town Board appointed five new members to the Conservation Advisory Council at its May 16 meeting. It also authorized hiring more than a dozen part-time employees, announced the receipt of a state grant to repair sidewalks and began discussions about developing work-force housing.
After removing all former members of the CAC last month, except for Joan Franzone, the board appointed Margaret Adams, Kimberly Denardis, Carl Baden, and Lauren Kaplin as new members and Gail Mellow as the new chair.
The CAC’s webpage on the town website includes two newly added documents detailing the creation and responsibilities of the council. Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of each month.
During public comments, former CAC member Jayelle Hoffman told the board that they had already resigned before receiving a certified letter stating they’d been removed. Hoffman said they felt wronged because their name was included in the resolution despite their resignation. Town attorney Warren Replansky clarified the process: “When you resign from a board or committee, a resignation is typically not effective until it is approved by the town. It has to be given by the town clerk and normally approved by the town board. Probably that didn’t happen. So let the record show that Hoffman had previously resigned from the council and there was a mistake in the resolution, and the board apologizes for any embarrassment.”
The board passed a motion to amend the record. “That works for me,” Hoffman said.
The board also formalized the hiring of several part-time employees for the summer season at the town beach. Two co-head lifeguards will be paid $20 per hour, five lifeguards will receive $16.50 per hour, and several substitutes and recreation assistants will be paid $15 per hour.
Additionally, the board approved hiring Charles O’Donnell at $16 per hour to water the plants in the town’s planter boxes, pending his acceptance.
Town Supervisor Brian Walsh announced that the town was awarded a $50,000 grant from New York state to replace the sidewalk beside the pharmacy.
Additional announcements included the expected arrival of an automatic door opener for the community center next week, with installation to follow, and that bids for architectural services for the new town hall must be submitted to the town clerk by 1 p.m. on June 14. The board also approved its 2024 record of activities for the New York State Retirement System.
Board member Jeanine Sisco announced that the Dutchess County mental health public forum will be held at satellite locations this year, including the Stissing Mountain High School cafeteria on June 5 at 5:30 p.m. The open forum will allow participants to share experiences and input on mental health issues.
Board member Kevin Walsh announced that the sewer committee is in its early stages. He met with Robert Ambrose and Darrah Cloud to discuss next steps. “Our next step is to try to get everyone on board,” he said. “The way that I’m going to handle it is that whoever can meet, we meet when we meet, and we move forward one step at a time.” Brian Walsh said that Ray Jurkowski, the town engineer, also wants to be involved in the sewer committee.
Sisco, discussing workforce housing, highlighted the work of the Hudson Valley Alliance for Housing and Conservation, a collaboration of land trusts and affordable housing organizations. She mentioned a project in Red Hook, Cookingham Farmland, where Scenic Hudson is protecting 97 acres of land, with portions set aside for affordable housing.
“Conservation organizations are partnering with housing and creating wonderful projects,” Sisco said. “It’s right outside of town, it’s farmland on a big hill, and they’re not going to cut a lot of trees. It’s really pretty exciting.”
Sisco met with Carli Fraccarolli, Scenic Hudson’s state policy expert, and hopes to develop a conservation trust to fund similar projects in Pine Plains. The board agreed to meet with Fraccarolli next month.
Board member Matt Zick suggested using the current site of the town hall for future affordable housing projects. “There are lots of possibilities, lots of balls to juggle in the air, and I think we should explore all of them,” Sisco said.