More than a dozen members of the public on April 20 attended a lively meeting of the Pine Plains Town Board, whose members approved laws on cannabis dispensaries and tax incentives for firefighters, in addition to fielding questions on a central wastewater system and swearing in new members of the town police force.
Credit: Daisy Sindelar
It has been more than two years since Pine Plains officials began reviewing local cannabis legislation in accordance with the 2021 New York state law legalizing the sale of adult-use marijuana.
Potential dispensary owners are now able to apply for a state license and come before the Planning Board to discuss potential sites. The law does not extend to on-site smoking lounges and prohibits sales within a certain distance of schools and churches.
After a brief public hearing, at which there were no questions or comments from the public, the board then passed a local law allowing for a 10% tax exemption for volunteer fire fighters and ambulance workers whose primary residences are in Pine Plains. This move follows an amendment to state law in December 2022 which aims to encourage expansion of volunteers in these areas.
Most small towns in New York state rely on volunteer firefighters, who receive training and mentoring, but the numbers of participants statewide has declined in recent years. Under the Pine Plains law, trained firefighters must have been active for at least three years to qualify for the exemption. An additional 10% exemption will be offered to volunteers who have served at least 20 years and who continue to reside in Pine Plains.
In addition, Didi Barrett, who represents parts of Dutchess and Columbia County in the New York State Assembly, this month introduced legislation that would offer an added layer relief to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Currently, it is not possible to receive both a local property tax exemption and the State Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers Tax Credit. Her bill would allow individuals to obtain both incentives.
Following the vote on these two measures, the meeting was opened up to public comment.
Resident Rachel Greenfield Minkoff asked whether, given the progress on securing grant funding for sewer systems in Amenia and Millerton, Pine Plains was making any progress on a central wastewater system in the town’s business district.
Supervisor Brian Walsh noted that discussions with engineering firm Tighe & Bond had stalled because St. Anthony’s Catholic Church has not agreed to sell the 5-acre Church Street plot recommended by the firm for an underground wastewater system.
Town lawyer Warren Replansky agreed it was “a good time to get grants for these projects” and said he had reopened negotiations with the Catholic Archdiocese, but that progress has been slow. Board member Don Bartles recommended extending the site search to other potential locations, including an Academy Street lot also recommended by Tighe & Bond.
The next public comment came from Dyan Wapnick, head of the Little Nine Partners Historical Society. She noted the town’s bicentennial commemorations include plans for a plaque recognizing the Mohican and Schaghticoke nations as the region’s original residents.
Claire Gunning, president of the Pine Plains Free Library Board and a volunteer with the New Pine Plains Herald, then thanked Supervisor Walsh and board member Sarah Jones for meeting with library staff and board members about plans to put the library budget to the popular vote.
It was noted that Pine Plains is the only library in Dutchess County that has not yet brought its budget directly to voters as a ballot initiative to ensure sustainable long-term funding. Library stakeholders will soon begin to collect the signatures necessary to add the budget measure to the ballot. The Library Board is due to meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 29. That meeting is open to the public.
Routine reports were also made by Carl Baden of the highway department and building inspector Drew Weaver. Water department clerk Ray Jurkowski, noting the Beach Road water main is experiencing its second leak in a year, said he will prepare a cost estimate to replace the main. Mike Cooper, the recreation director, praised high school students who have been assisting with the spring soccer, baseball, and softball programs.
The board approved the hire of two new police officers, Zachary Alpay and Brent Blauvet, to replace two officers who retired. Alpay and Blauvet were sworn in immediately after the meeting.
Christopher Wyant — the husband of Amanda Wyant, the secretary to the Town Supervisor — was also approved as an alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals.