At its Aug. 21 meeting, the Pine Plains Town Board confronted the potential financial strain of its planned new Town Hall, with board member Kevin Walsh saying the town does not yet know how it will cover the cost of the estimated $4.5 million project.
The statement came during a discussion about whether the town should apply for a state grant for swimming and recreation facilities. Recreation Director Brian Coons briefed the board on the NY SWIMS initiative, a $53 million statewide fund that offers municipalities up to $10 million for pools, bathhouses, and recreation areas, with a required 20 percent local match.
“We’re in a middle process of our current town hall,” said Town Supervisor Brian Walsh. “There’s not really that much extra money, if at all, to put towards this right now,” he said of the recreation grant.
“We kind of are heavily extended toward the Town Hall,” said Kevin Walsh. “We don’t entirely know how we’re going to pay for all of it.”
The board voted in March to hire LaBella Associates to design a new Town Hall building on North Main Street, replacing the current town offices on Route 199. When the firm met with the board in December, it estimated a 6,000-square-foot building would cost about $4.5 million and could take up to 15 months to build once plans are approved.
The board expressed that it would meet with ChoiceWords, a grant-writing firm contracted by the town in April, to discuss the recreation grant further.
Possible School Consolidation
Earlier in the meeting, Pine Plains Central School District Superintendent Brian Timm outlined the district’s challenges. Enrollment has fallen nearly 50 percent over two decades, from 1,420 students in 2003–04 to 783 last year.
The district currently receives about $8 million in state aid annually, with $6 million of that in foundation aid. Timm said a potential 50 percent reduction in that aid would amount to 10 percent of the district’s budget.
An outside facilities study concluded the district could consolidate into two buildings without increasing class sizes or cutting services, potentially lowering operational costs.
If the district were to close a building, it would likely shutter the Cold Spring Early Learning Center in Stanfordville.
“No decision has been made,” Timm said. “My goal is to raise awareness and make sure everyone understands what is going on with the school district.” He urged residents to attend upcoming forums and school board meetings.
In other business, Recreation Director Coons said he will apply for a $15,000 county grant to fund equipment upgrades as part of a five-year plan to improve the town’s recreation facilities. The town beach has closed for the season, while soccer and baseball signups are underway.
The Beautification Committee presented bids to repaint 55 lampposts, ranging from $11,200 to $11,550, with the lowest at $4,675. Funding sources are still under review.
The board also approved the applying for a $25,000 Climate Smart Communities grant through the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Kevin Walsh noted the process began in 2018 under then-Supervisor Darrah Cloud. The funds would support Pine Plains’ efforts to earn Climate Smart Certification, a program that helps municipalities gain access to resources, cut emissions, and build climate resilience.
The next Pine Plains Town Board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18.
The population of Pine Plains is about 2,250. That means a new town hall would cost $2,000 for every man, woman and child in the town. Does make any sense?