New parkland acquired by state in Hudson Highlands in Fishkill

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/December/23/HudsonHighlands_acq-23Dec13.html

For more local news, check out the papers website, its free.

Thank goodness the state is helping us with open space. If it was not for them, developers would building on the land right now.

HUDSON HIGHLANDS – The State Parks Department and Scenic Hudson have agreed to add nearly 1,250 acres of open space along Fishkill Ridge to Hudson Highlands State Park.

The agreement calls for State Parks to purchase the Fishkill Ridge acreage from Scenic Hudson with close to $1.8 million in Highlands Conservation Act funding and $250,000 from the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. Scenic Hudson is donating more than $1.8 million worth of land value toward the sale.

Fishkill Ridge offers 11.5 miles of wilderness trails that allow visitors to walk beside a stream to a waterfall, scramble up rocks and step onto outcroppings.

“Fishkill Ridge is one of the Hudson Valley’s iconic landscapes, visible for miles around and offering the public some of the best hiking in the region,” said Scenic Hudson Land Trust Executive Director Steven Rosenberg. “Throughout the year, people come from New York City and all over to enjoy this remarkable resource, which also is contributing to the economic vitality of nearby communities such as Beacon and Cold Spring.”

In addition to the Fishkill Ridge purchase, State Parks has finalized the purchase of two parcels totaling 63 acres added to Clarence Fahnestock State Park. The $1.3 million in purchases were funded with equal shares from the Highlands Conservation Act and Environmental Protection Fund, and completed with the assistance of the Hudson Highlands Land Trust and the Open Space Institute.

Governor Cuomo (D) saves Gap from moving out of Fishkill

The Gap will receive a $1 million state tax break for its New York operations, including the expansion of its distribution center in Fishkill.

Fishkill Officials Hope to Eliminate Debt by 2016

Greg Maker Hudson Valley Reporter, for more local news check out the papers website.

http://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutchess/2013/11/fishkill-officials-hope-to-eliminate-debt-by-2016/

FISHKILL, N.Y. – In an effort to deal with its ongoing fiscal struggles, the town of Fishkill has put together a deficit-reduction plan that sets spending and budgeting goals for the next three years and aims to eliminate its debt by 2016.

The town had incurred a budget deficit of $4.8 million by the end of 2011, $3.2 million of which still remains.

The town hopes to reduce the general fund deficit by $100,000 in 2014. The fund that covers the town outside the village is targeted to be slashed by $400,000, and the highway fund for the town outside the village will be reduced by $1.15 million in 2015. Town officials also want to delay major capital expenditures until 2015.

Part of the plan has town officials counting on real property tax revenue increasing. The 2014 tentative budget factors in $1.66 million in revenue from property taxes and projects $1.81 million by 2017. The plan also projects expenditures will drop between now and 2017. The town is budgeted to spend about $4.1 million in 2014. By 2016, expenditures are expected to be down to $3.9 million and in 2017 drop even further to $3.8 million.

“The Town Board acknowledges that prior budgetary practices, interfund borrowings, and the application of donated funds to cover operating expenses has significantly affected the town’s financial stability,” said Supervisor Bob LaColla. “Due to these practices, the town incurred an overall deficit of $4.8 million across its four general funds through year end 2011. The Town Board has made elimination of the deficit in all the major funds a priority.”

In the 2013 budget, the town was forced to override the 2 percent tax cap by raising taxes 53 percent. This year, residents in the town outside the village are seeing about a 15.4 percent increase with tax rates rising from $2.40 to $2.77 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Village residents in the town would see a tax hike of about 12.8 percent, going from 80.6 cents to 90.9 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Additionally, homeowners in the Rombout Sewer District would see a raise in their rates from $44.28 to $53.14. Three water districts would see increases as well. Those in the Snook Road district would have their rates raised from $40 to $44 per quarter; Fishkill Glenn would increase to $27.40 per quarter from $15.40, while fees in Watch Hill would increase from $5.50 per quarter to $13.70.

LaColla said that increases are for districts that have not had rates go up in a long time or ever. In August, the rates of the Dutchess Park Sewer district were raised from $41.40 to $97.20 (135 percent) to help reduce some of the deficit.

“We were told by Moody’s that formal adoption of a deficit reduction plan would go a long way to secure financial markets,” LaColla said. “By formally adopting the plan, it will clear the path for future town boards.”

Even though 2016 is the target year to be back in the black, LaColla said it wouldn’t officially be out of debt until an audit is done and that might take until 2017.

Fishkill taxes set to rise 15 percent

Taxes increased about 15.41 percent for residents as officials try to eliminate a $3.2 million deficit in full by 2016, Supervisor Bob LaColla said.

Three more hotels planned in Fishkill

FISHKILL – With its 11 hotels, the Town of Fishkill can be called the hotel capital of the Mid-Hudson Valley. Developers now have proposed construction of three more facilities, two in the busy Route 9 corridor and one on Route 52 at I-84.

Town Supervisor Robert LaColla said they demonstrate renewed interest in economic development.

“It is definitely a better ratable than an empty lot and we are glad to see things warming up again,” LaColla said. “Most of the development initiatives we have seen recently have to do with senior living, so it is nice to see a more commercial base coming in.”

One developer wants to build a four-story facility that would include both a Residence Inn with 125 rooms and a Spring Hill Suites with 75 rooms on a more than six-acre parcel in the Westage Business Center.

The other project, a Comfort Suites Hotel, would consist of 64 rooms, restaurant and retail building as a sister hotel to the existing Quality Inn on Route 52 at the Fishkill intersection of I-84 next to the 84 Diner.

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/November/11/Fish_hotels-11Nov13.html

For more free local news check out the papers website.

More Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Fishkill identified

FISHKILL – Friends of the Fishkill Supply Depot, the group seeking to preserve a 10.4 acre parcel of land in the Town of Fishkill known to be a burial site for Revolutionary War soldiers, has identified two dozen additional soldiers known to have been laid to rest there. That brings to 84, the number of Continental Army soldiers buried at the privately owned site on Route 9.

Group President Lance Ashworth said the property owner wants millions for the land.

“We have identified this half-acre portion that the burial is contained in,” Ashworth said.  “The trouble is the remaining 10 acres he has includes other significant ruins from the Revolution including the foundations of the officers’ horse stables, and so what you have on his property is like a little time capsule of the Revolution.”  

Ashworth said the group is seeking a matching grant to help fund the purchase and preservation of the property.

Editors note: The land was separated from the Hess Gas station after it was built and sold. There are interesting title and price issues regarding this parcel.

This memorial was moved from the site to the Van Wyck homestead in the mid 70's and is what caused the confusion of were the burial ground was.

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/November/11/FishSupDpt_ids-11Nov13.html

For more free local news check out the papers free website. 

2013 Town of Fishkill Election Results

Democrat Tim Tuttle & Republican Doug McHoul won 2 council seats and Darlene Bellis was re elected to Town Clerk.

Congratulations to all.

Vote Tuttle & Knips for Fishkill Town Council

Fishkill’s local elections are being held this November 5th. I urge residents to re-elect Councilman Tim Tuttle to a full 4 year term. Tim is the first Democrat elected in Fishkill in nearly 40 years. He won a 1 year term as a previous councilman retired. Tuttle an attorney, has performed exceptionally well in his first year. Tuttle has saved the town money with his legal knowledge. First, he defended the police when the Republicans wanted to move to a full time PD. Saving the taxpayers millions. He then defended the local tow truck companies who wanted to file a lawsuit after the Republicans attempted to create a new law benefiting select operators.

A meeting in which Republicans voted for a 135% sewer tax increase. Tuttle was the only one not to vote yes, while defending the public. Recently, Tuttle joined with Councilman Callahan (R) in refusing to allow the other Republicans to go over the tax cap.

Running with Tuttle is Mr. Thomas Knips. Knips, a Planning Board Chairman for nearly 10 years. Is an engineer that brings years of service in regards to the development of roads, sewers, water and other infrastructure problems that exist in the town.

After nearly 40 years of one party rule in Fishkill. It’s time to balance the board. One party rule in Fishkill has resulted in a 53% tax increase in 2013, a 135% sewer increase for 2014. Help me balance the board by voting Tuttle Knips this November 5, thank you.

Ozzy Albra

Fishkill

Councilman's Tuttle & Callahan against breaking tax cap

http://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutchess/2013/10/town-of-fishkill-preliminary-budget-looks-to-reduce-deficit/ For more local news check out the papers website.

Greg Maker, reporter

FISHKILL, N.Y. – Fishkill Supervisor Bob LaColla said that the town spent less on special districts, such as water and sewer, in 2013 and will use those savings to pay off the deficit in a fund used exclusively for the town to get back in the black by 2015.

The town is trying to close the deficit in four funds, which include town-wide services, services for the town only, the town-wide highway fund, and the highway fund exclusively for the town. LaColla said in two years they should be out of the financial misery found by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli in a recent audit due to this plan.

“This will allow us to take care of capital needs we have that we neglected such as paving roads,” LaColla said. “It will also be seen as a deficit-reduction plan by Moody’s and the state.”

Councilman Tony Curry said that this plan would help the town focus more on other services it can offer to residents.

“The reduction in the deficit is going to put us in a position to get rid of the black cloud that has been hanging over the town, “Curry said.

LaColla suggested to the Town Board to run up to the tax cap of 1.66 percent and possibly override it in case there is a calculation error. A local law would have to be adopted to do that but LaColla said the board decided not to go this route considering it adopted a 53 percent tax increase last year. Both Councilmen Brian Callahan and Tim Tuttle said that it would be a mistake to go over the tax cap.

“I’m not going to vote for anything like that,” Callahan said. “We need to work the numbers out and see where they fall.”

Instead the board opted to reduce the amount of money it would spend to buy down the deficit to leave a little bit of a cushion to make sure it doesn’t go over the tax cap. Though the 16.3 million budget carries a 1.66 percent tax increase, LaColla said that the final number should be between 1.36 and 1.46 percent.

The Town Board also accepted a request from Judge Harold Epstein to raise the salaries of court employees. Currently, the court offices in Fishkill are only open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Part of the compromise would be to increase the hours of the court to 5 p.m., which would effectively expand the court employees workweek to 40 hours thus increasing their pay. LaColla said that the salary increases will be offset by a high deductible health insurance plan that should save the town money in the long run.

“They are pressed trying to get their work done as it is,” LaColla said about the court employees.

Tuttle said that the extra hours will help the town process tickets issued by the police department which are currently backlogged.

“They are currently processing tickets from 2009,” Tuttle said. “This will help increase the amount of money coming into the town. There is going to be a net savings to the town because of this.”

Additionally, LaColla said that several water districts outside of the town will have their rates adjusted because the rates in some districts have remained the same for years while others have seen astronomical increases, such as the Dutchess Park Sewer District, which had its rates raised 135 percent in August.

“We are going to make adjustments where necessary,” LaColla said. “There seems to be a lack of clarity in debt service in some districts.”

LaColla said that the Town Board is expected to adopt the preliminary budget to present to the public at its meeting on Oct. 23. A public hearing will be set for input from the community on Nov. 6.

Fishkill Justice makes solid case for salary increase for staff

http://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutchess/2013/10/town-of-fishkill-court-employees-ask-for-salary-increases/ For more local news, check out the papers website

Posted by: Greg Maker

FISHKILL, N.Y. – Court employees in the town of Fishkill are asking for a salary raise comparable to nearby municipalities; however, with a tight budget and many fiscal challenges facing the town that may prove difficult. The town was recently declared “fiscally stressed” by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli,

Judge Harold Epstein petitioned the Town Board for raises for court personnel including judges and clerks at its meeting Wednesday night. Epstein said that if salaries are raised, it will increase both morale and productivity.

“Our clerks go above and beyond their duties,” Epstein said. “They didn’t have to do grant applications but they took the initiative to do it anyway. A good clerk is invaluable to the court and we’re lucky to have three very good ones.”

Epstein didn’t say how much of an increase court employees are looking for but said that they make significantly less than their colleagues in the bordering towns of Wappinger and East Fishkill. Court clerks in Wappinger make approximately $55,000 annually, while those in East Fishkill make approximately $70,000 per year. In comparison, court clerks in Fishkill make about $37,000. Additionally, judges in Wappinger make just under $27,000 while East Fishkill pays judges about $31,500 per year. Judges in Fishkill currently make $23,500.

“Our salaries are not even close to being comparable,” Epstein said. “We are asking for a fair increase in salary to compensate our clerks for the fantastic job they do. I don’t expect our chief clerk’s salary to go up to what they make in East Fishkill and Wappinger but it has been years since we received a specific pay increase.”

Supervisor Bob LaColla said that one compromise is to increase number of hours that court personnel work .Court offices have been operating from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and LaColla said that town could consider increasing the workday by two hours by keeping the offices open until 5 p.m.

“I see court clerks here early everyday and I agree with the judge,” LaColla said. “I asked for all department heads to consider the benefits to any increases either in salary or for town projects. However, if we entertain every department head request it would be a 63 percent increase in taxes across the board. We need to keep in mind that we still have roughly $5 million in deficit.”

Epstein said that court employees haven’t asked for salary increases or money for court equipment recently because they’ve gotten grants from New York State that provided everything from copy machines to computers and cash registers.

Councilman Tim Tuttle said that since the town ranks close to the Top 10 across the state in revenue, it should be able to afford some type of salary increase.

Councilman Kurt Buck said that the Town Board should at least take a look at the court employees’ request.

“Maybe we can cut other places like holding off on road repair for another year until we get another budget,” Buck said.

Fishkill raising taxes again, 5% town, 10% village, when will it stop?

Letter to Southern Dutchess News

Last week the paper published a story on Fishkill’s recent audit. In that story, the Republican Supervisor who runs a 4-1 GOP town board. Stated that there were “no surprises” in the audit. Is he kidding? The Supervisor, who is covering for his Republican predecessor by refusing to conduct a forensic audit, even read the audit?

 

In the audit, the Supervisor makes a claim that he found the $750,000 missing from the Siscar Sewer project. How could he find something that was right in front of him? The Supervisor was a Councilman when the developer gave Siscar the sewer monies. Did he just forget about it? The Supervisor also seems to think that over $850,000 that was budgeted as revenue from the Siscar district, that “never” existed was found by him, how so?

 

The Fishkill GOP has not only let the former Republican Supervisor off the hook, they are just totally disregarding $850,000 of illegally allocated money that never existed. Why is the Republican Supervisor allowing such criminal activity to go unchallenged? I guess the Fishkill Republican Party could care less what the voters think. In fact, the 4 members of the GOP board decided is was easier to raise Sewer taxes 135% than to hold those that ruined Fishkill's economy accountable. The 2 Republican candidates who were at the 135% tax increase vote, sat quiet and complied, just like they would do if elected. Never mind that one candidate was the GOP Chairman under Pagones and the other one has Pagones running his campaign. So much for that new “voice.”

 

Too bad the voters think otherwise. Earlier this month there was a Conservative Party primary where the Democratic/Independent candidates received 40% and 20% of the vote. That’s right, there is a strong showing by Conservatives in this town who are sick and tired of Fishkill Republicans raising taxes without accountability. As a Conservative Democrat, I am looking forward to taking the Fishkill GOP’s record to the rest of the voters in town. I wonder how many Republicans in town are also sick and tired of the Fishkill GOP raising taxes without accountability.

 

I urge my fellow Conservatives and Republican friends to balance this board before it’s too late. Re-elect Tim Tuttle for Councilman along with Mr. Thomas Knips. The Fishkill GOP does not deserve a 5-0 board, unless of course you like high taxes without accountability.

 

Ozzy Albra

 

Fishkill

 

Fishkill Readies to Bite Fiscal Bullet as Budget Preparation Looms

Greg Maker, Hudson Valley Reporter. For more local news, please check out the papers website.

http://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutchess/2013/09/fishkill-readies-bite-fiscal-bullet-budget-preparation-looms/

FISHKILL, N.Y. – A year after increasing taxes in the town by 53 percent, Fishkill’s new administration under Supervisor Bob LaColla is facing an uphill battle to craft the town’s 2014 budget.

With the state tax cap implemented at 1.66 percent next year, LaColla said that the town has only $239,352 more to work with this year than last if they are to remain under that cap. Of that money, LaColla said that $85,000 has already been designated to healthcare under the National Healthcare Act, also known as “Obamacare” which kicks in on Jan. 1, 2014.

LaColla said an additional $25,000 is already designated to contractual obligations. The majority of the contracts are for the police department, which signed a four-year contract that gives department employees a three percent increase each year over that time period. Started in 2012, the contract will go into its third year for this budget.

One upside for the town is that it will see a $64,000 decrease in retirement expenses. LaColla said that over the past three years, 20 municipal positions have been cut. The town no longer has a full-time tax receiver or a director of affordable housing. Other positions were cut from the building department and the courts. Additionally, the Town Board accepted the resignation of Recreation Director Cynthia Starke at its meeting on Wednesday night. LaColla said that the position will be filled but Starke’s successor will be paid less than she was.

“It helps but we have to keep in mind that the town was operating without a capital plan for years,” LaColla said. “There are roads that need to be repaired and parks that need maintenance. When you ignore maintenance and move toward replacing roads rather than repaving them like the previous administration did, the cost goes up. If we don’t resurface the roads they will fall apart. Not doing maintenance increases costs down the road.”

LaColla said that he has had discussions with all of the department heads who have requested everything from money for maintenance and capital expenditures to pay increases and more municipal positions to be filled. LaColla said that the town will not be able to accommodate all of their requests.

“The department heads are not going to be thrilled but we as a board appreciate the work they have done,” LaColla said.

The preliminary budget needs to be submitted to Town Clerk Darlene Bellis no later than Sept. 30.

“We will work to shave down the budget to get under the tax cap,” LaColla said. “We’ll have a month to take a hard look at it.”

DiNapoli: Fishkill Facing Financial Challenges

This is a summary of the NYS Comptroller's report and the audit itself. Note that it only covers January 1 2012-March 31, 2013. The state has NEVER looked into the years that caused this problem and why a forensic audit is still needed.

https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/sept13/091613a.htm

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/towns/2013/fishkill.pdf Actual Report


Unrealistic budgets, insufficient revenues and the lack of rainy day funds have left the Dutchess County town of Fishkill in fiscal stress, according to an audit issued today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“The town of Fishkill is digging out from sizeable operating deficits caused by years of poor budgeting,” said DiNapoli. “The current administration has begun to implement the necessary changes to improve Fishkill’s finances. Continuing these efforts will be vital to eliminating the remaining deficit, building up adequate reserves and avoiding future large fluctuations in tax rates.”

Auditors found the town’s year-end fund balance for its major operating funds had a combined $2.2 million deficit at the end of 2012. The deficit was fueled by overestimated revenues in 2009 and 2010 and underestimated expenses in 2010 and 2011.

As a result, town officials frequently loaned moneys between multiple funds to cover operating expenses. Although these loans are required to be paid back during the same fiscal year, the town had $10.3 million of outstanding interfund loans at the end of 2012, some of which date back to 2009.

DiNapoli noted that improved budgeting practices, coupled with tax levy increases, have allowed officials to make progress in reducing portions of the town’s deficit. For example, the town-wide general fund deficit declined from $1.4 million in 2011 to $132,000 by the close of the 2012 fiscal year.

Still, challenges remain. Specifically, the fund balance of the town sewer fund declined from a surplus of $765,000 in 2009 to a $1.3 million deficit in 2012. This occurred primarily because sewer revenues were not sufficient to cover operating costs. Further, at the end of 2012 the town-outside-village general fund had a $2.4 million deficit fund balance and the town highway fund had a $434,280 deficit.
Auditors also found:

• Town officials failed to charge residents for services in two smaller sewer districts, resulting in lost revenue of approximately $188,000 annually;
• In 2009 and 2010, the town over budgeted for mortgage tax revenue by a combined $1.4 million and parks revenue by a combined $110,000;
• In 2010 and 2011, the town underestimated legal expenses by more than $500,000; and
• The town did not use nearly $782,000 in donated funds as stipulated by the donors, but instead applied the money towards general and sewer operations. This included $758,000 intended for a sewer system extension which was never built.

DiNapoli recommended the town adopt more realistic budgets and monitor operations throughout the year more closely to ensure further deficits do not occur.
The audit also recommended the town board:

• Reduce the deficits in all the major funds and develop a realistic plan to accumulate fund balance so that the town is prepared for unexpected expenses or revenue shortfalls;
• Review all interfund advances and determine the actual amount owed to each fund; and
• Ensure that all interfund borrowings are repaid in a timely manner.

Town officials agreed with the audit findings and indicate they have already begun developing a multi-year financial plan to address many of the issues raised in the report. The town’s complete response is included in the audit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/towns/2013/fishkill.pdf

For access to state and local government spending and nearly 50,000 state contracts, visithttp://www.openbooknewyork.com/. The easy-to-use website was created by Comptroller DiNapoli to promote openness in government and provide taxpayers with better access to the financial workings of government.

###

Albany Phone: (518) 474-4015 Fax: (518) 473-8940
NYC Phone: (212) 681-4840 Fax: (212) 681-7677
Internet: www.osc.state.ny.us
E-Mail: press@osc.state.ny.us
Follow us on Twitter: @NYSComptroller
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nyscomptroller

Wappinger School Tax Bill now includes a Fishkill Tax

If you live in the Wappinger School District in the Town/Village of Fishkill. You will notice a new tax voted on by the Republican members of the Town Board. The board decided to raise your school taxes because they collect the taxes for the district.

While this will be short lived, the tax will be a lifetime gift courtesy of the Fishkill GOP.

Wappinger SD will be taking that portion back and it will now be built into the school tax. Then it will be pulled from the town, which will now need to find that revenue somewhere else.

Tuttle, Knips merit Conservative votes

Fishkill Conservatives will have a primary election from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10. This primary is for two council seats. In the running are two Republicans, a real lifelong Conservative and a center-right Democrat.

Councilman Tim Tuttle, who in 2013 became the first Democrat to win a seat on Fishkill’s town board in more than 40 years, is seeking a full term. In his first year in office, Tuttle has affirmed his fiscal conservatism while proving he is the most competent councilman.

Running with Tuttle is Conservative Thomas Knips. Tom has been on the Planning Board for more than 10 years and is needed to attack the infrastructure problems the town is facing.

The two Republicans running claim to be a new voice for Fishkill. Don’t believe one word they say. On Aug. 7, the 4-1 Republican-controlled board voted to raise sewer rates a whopping 135 percent. Every Republican voted for the increase, while Tuttle did not. During this meeting, Knips also spoke out regarding the increase.

Where were the two new-voice Republicans during the meeting? Well, they attended the public hearing, sat in the back and said absolutely nothing. Not once did they fight for the citizens of Fishkill. These new-voice candidates sat quiet as their fellow Republicans voted to raise your sewer rates 135 percent.

The only ones who delivered on conservative principles were Councilman Tuttle and Mr. Knips. On primary day, vote for those who proved they are bona fide conservatives — vote Tuttle and Knips.

Ozzy Albra

Fishkill

Ethics in Fishkill

A few weeks ago, the Supervisor published a letter in the Southern Dutchess News regarding ethics. This is my response to that letter, published in the 8/28/13 issue of the SDN.

Fishkill Supervisor Bob LaColla recently wrote a letter to this paper. He gave a sermon on ethics, and quite frankly, he is the last person in town to criticize anyone regarding ethics. LaColla has presided under the most unethical town board in Fishkill’s history. Here is a list of just a few things that LaColla and his fellow Republicans have done, since they took over from the last Republican administration.

1.       LaColla repealed the Financial Disclosure Law and failed to replace it with an alternative. How dare you know what he makes in addition to his full time taxpayer job?

2.       LaColla and crew, failed to notify the public of their right to an appeals process regarding the botched FEMA flood maps that cost Fishkill residents thousands of dollars.

3.       LaColla just last month violated the PBA contract, the Taylor Law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with our fine police force that will cost us tens of thousands of dollars in litigation.

4.       LaColla has politicized the police department to his own personal benefit.

5.       LaColla has failed to hold anyone accountable for the fiscal disaster that his political party did to our town. In fact, LaColla continually blames the previous Republican Supervisor without any proof. Does that sound ethical? Sounds slanderous to me.

6.       LaColla this month, held a Public Hearing regarding a 135% sewer tax hike. At the beginning of the meeting, he criticized members of the audience for letting their neighbors know about the meeting with handouts. This was after he encouraged the public to attend, but never sent out a mailing to the public advising them of the meeting.  That sounds ethical to you?

7.       At the same meeting LaColla admitted that he “overlooked” the $1.9 million of debt in sewer district, but still refuses to conduct a forensic audit. What is LaColla hiding and why is he refusing to protect the public? Any numbers he shows you cannot be trusted. What’s the baseline (year) that he is working on?

8.       After the above public hearing and after the audience had left the 135% sewer tax hike meeting. LaColla illegally introduced a resolution raising taxes.  A violation of the Rules of the Town Board that he passed into law! He also admitted that it was wrong at the end of the meeting.

Does any of this sound ethical? Now LaColla and his fellow RINO’s want to limit free speech at board meetings. How dare the public question the economic jackpot that LaColla contributed to. LaColla promised transparency and open government, so much for that. But what do you expect from an administration that lacks ethics and operates under hypocrisy and fear.

Ozzy  Albra

Fishkill 

8/21/2013 Special Town Board Meeting

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1081

This meeting was not televised.

Of note was the Republican members of the board. Want to restrict free speech and institute strict town board rules.

This is in response to the 135% sewer increase meeting where the public vented.

I guess the Republicans on the board cannot take the heat and thus want to make it a criminal offense to violate the rules.

So much for open government in Fishkill.

Rate hike vote was an affront to all involved

Public input at Fishkill meeting seemed to have no purpose

Published in the August, 14 2013 issue of the Southern Dutchess News.

A public meeting was held on Aug. 7 by the town of Fishkill on the proposed 135 percent increase in sewer rates.

A number of residents spoke as to their concerns on how such a large increase would impact their lives especially those on a fixed income. Others asked if the town had considered other means of financing such as going to the state or a lender to extend the length of the repayment of the $1.1 million owed to the City of Beacon. There was no satisfactory answer.

Town Supervisor Bob LaColla stated that the best deal was with the City of Beacon that offered a 2 percent rate, but for a rather short repayment period necessitating the extremely high increase.

Another resident asked to see a map of the Dutchess Park Sewer district. The answer was: there was none! The question is why not?

After hearing the many concerns of so many residents, two councilman requested time to review the matter and it appeared that the matter had been tabled.

After most residents had left and towards the end of the meeting a vote was taken on the 135 percent rate increase. The two councilman who requested additional time to review other avenues for financing and consider concerns appeared to be pressured. One councilman caved in and voted for the rate hike. Councilman Tuttle abstained. It passed.

The vote should have been taken in full view of the concerned residents. It was clear their input was totally disregarded and the rate hike was a forgone conclusion.

Linda R.

Fishkill

Fishkill sewer rates to increase 135 percent

 A public hearing ended with a resolution to raise Dutchess Park Sewer District's rates 135 percent for its 1,926 customers.

Huge Sewer Rate Hike Leaves Fishkill Residents Fuming

Greg Maker, Hudson Valley Reporter, for more free local news check out the papers website as I do.

FISHKILL, N.Y. – Fishkill residents in the Dutchess Park Sewer District are irate that the Town Board voted to raise their rates by 135 percent, but board members say it would have been more expensive in the long run if they didn’t do it.

The Town Board approved the rate hike 4-0. Councilman Timothy Tuttle abstained from the vote. Residents of the sewer district will now pay $97.20 for 1,000 cubic-feet of sewage, up from $41.40.

Supervisor Bob LaColla said that the sewer rate increase is one of the final steps the town needs to take to improve its financial situation.

Currently, the town owes the city of Beacon $1.1 million, which it is paying off with a 2 percent interest rate. Beacon Mayor Randy Casale, who was at the Fishkill Town Board meeting on Wednesday night, said that Beacon has been “more than fair” with Fishkill on the debt it s owed going back to the third quarter of 2011. Casale said the city has gotten to the point where its capital project plans are being affected without the money Fishkill owes it.

“It’s not fair to our ratepayers,” Casale said. “If nothing gets done, we will wind up in litigation and [Fishkill] would have to pay us more money. Nobody likes to see rate increases but there is no room for compromise. Over the years the cost of business has gone up. When no rates were raised for many years, that should have raised a red flag in everybody’s eyes.”

LaColla said that one of the reasons for the high rate increase to sewer district is because residents were charged less than they should have been paying over the years, adding that it was not enough to pay the bills.

“These new rates will not only pay the bills but will pay the outstanding money we owe to Beacon,” LaColla said.

Fishkill resident Pat Lewis questioned the “credibility” of the numbers that the Town Board presented to the public. Lewis said that money was borrowed from the sewer district to pay general town bills and was never returned.

“We want to see what the true numbers are,” Lewis said. “There is so much borrowing back and forth that it got out of control. Nobody ever had any consequences except us – the residents.

LaColla said that the numbers are “legit” and there were no findings of criminal wrongdoing.

Resident RoseAnne Montalbal said that she understands that the town owes Beacon money but said her problem is that it took too long to pay it back. She said that the town should have caught the problem during the first rate increase in January.

“Nothing was said then,” Montalbal said. “These rate increases are really going to be difficult. It’s not the board’s fault or the residents’ fault but the thing is we don’t know if we can afford to pay this increase and live. It’s a lot of money for people to put out, especially based on what is going on across the country with the economy. It’s not just a raise, it’s a spike.”

Resident Chris Kazimir said that the latest rate increase is another example of the government reaching into the taxpayers pocket to pay back what it owes.

“It’s us who are paying it back,” Kazimir said. “We need to become self-sufficient so we don’t have to worry about paying others back.”

Resident Patty Moranski said she moved to Fishkill in 1977. She said that since she’s been living here she has paid her water bill on time and has done everything she was supposed to do but the local government hasn’t been looking out for its residents. Moranski suggested that everybody in every water district pay one price to help lower ones costs.

“Why is it only a Dutchess Park problem?” Moranski asked. “I have no problem paying school taxes even though my children went to private school. It would be so much cheaper if everybody paid a little bit instead of pushing it all on us.”

http://hudsonvalleyreporter.com/dutchess/2013/08/huge-sewer-rate-hike-leaves-fishkill-residents-fuming/

Public Hearing for Dutchess Park Sewer Rate Revision Aug 7, 2013 at 7 PM

Planned rate increases for residents in the Dutchess Park Sewer District will be the focus of a public hearing at Fishkill Town Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7 p.m. The Town Board is proposing the revised rates to defray costs of operating the sewer district and to restore a significant negative fund balance in the district. The increases would be in the minimum charge, for 1,000 cubic feet of sewage, from the current $41.40 to $97.29. The rate for flows above the minimum would go from $0.04140 to $0.09729.

http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/content/public-hearing-dutchess-park-sewer-rate-revision-aug-7-2013-7-pm

Hudson River Fjord Trail update

On the question of the Route 9D speed limit, the legislators heard from John Teagle, the caretaker at Little Stony Point, and Paul Elconin, of the Open Space Institute, vice president of the Friends of Fahnestock and Hudson Highlands State Parks, as well as from Nelsonville resident Vincent Tamagna, county transportation manager. All have also been involved in the proposed Hudson River Fjord Trail for pedestrians and cyclists between Cold Spring and Beacon.

Because 9D is a state highway, running through Putnam and Dutchess Counties, neither county can reduce the speed limit directly.

“The Little Stony Point Citizens Association has been trying for years to get the speed limit reduced” near Little Stony Point and Breakneck Ridge, Teagle said. He gave legislators a map showing 25 miles of 9D between the Bear Mountain Bridge and the terminus near Wappingers Falls. Of the entire length, only a 3-mile section has a 55-miles-per-hour speed – and those three miles start a half-mile from Cold Spring and coincide with the busy area where hikers reach trails, he said. “That’s the crazy part.”

The narrow road twists around curves, with little or no shoulder or grass verge for pedestrians. “You have hikers who have no place to go” but along the road, Teagle told the committee. “You have bikers. You have cars. You have tractor-trailers” and motorcycles, “and they’re all sharing the same roadway.”

Although crosswalks for pedestrians might seem to help, until the speed limit is reduced, “we won’t ask for a crosswalk because people will get killed in the crosswalk,” thinking it safe, only to be hit by a speeding vehicle, Teagle explained. “We’re looking to get all this [stretch] at 30 miles per hour.”

As Teagle’s map indicated, 9D’s speed limit is a hodge-podge: 30 miles per hour in Cold Spring, 40 miles per hour south of Cold Spring to the Bear Mountain Bridge and for a short stretch just north of Cold Spring, 35 miles per hour approaching Beacon and lower than that within it, 45 miles per hour at one stage between Cold Spring and Beacon – and 55 miles per hour at the hiking trail access points. The hiking area also lacks adequate parking, with vehicles crammed into small, makeshift sites by Little Stony Point and Breakneck.

“It really is an accident waiting to happen,” Elconin said. He referred to various Fjord Trail activities underway to improve the situation, including pursuit of grant money to create better parking and start upgrading trails.

District 1 Legislator Barbara Scuccimarra, who represents Philipstown, lent her voice to the pleas. “I’m asking for that support also,” she informed Pena and her legislative colleagues.

“Traffic here is tremendous,” Pena agreed, focusing on the hiker-laden stretch and sounding a bit incredulous that “the speed limit is still 55 miles per hour here.” He pledged to bring the matter to the county’s traffic safety committee and to advocate that New York State reduce the speed limit. “I think it’s a reasonable request,” Pena said.

District 3 Legislator Richard Othmer, a Physical Services Committee member and the chairman of the full Legislature, said that he and others “absolutely” would support a formal resolution asking the state to reduce the speed limit. “The faster, the better, you get it in” the hopper for legislative attention, he told proponents of the change.

Tamagna kicked off the discussion by playing a video, made by Cold Spring residents involved in the Fjord Trail, which shows chaotic conditions at Little Stony Point on a summer day, with cars whizzing past at high speeds, pedestrians literally dodging vehicles to cross 9D to reach a trail, and drivers maneuvering erratically.

He and the others in the informal trolley-trail delegation said safety also could be enhanced by revising the route of the trolley, so it can bring pedestrians from the Cold Spring train station and elsewhere to the trails. Currently, because of various regulations, the trolley cannot do that.

“We talk a lot about the Fjord Trail and this is only going to be heavier traffic” if the trail is created, he said. Tamagna has been drafting a trolley rerouting and soon expects to take town supervisors and other municipal officials on a ride to help finalize the route. After that, he advised the committee, he would seek legislative approval of the trolley changes.

Elconin added that rerouting the trolley would minimize reliance on cars to reach trails or the need to walk along the road, while also supporting businesses and the economy in Cold Spring.

An online petition launched by Cold Spring resident Dar Williams asks Tamagna to champion the change. “The extended trolley route would be a great benefit to the village, town and pedestrians who enjoy our state parks and tourist destinations along the Hudson River,” it says.

http://philipstown.info/2013/07/26/putnam-county-legislators-promise-efforts-to-change-9d-speed-trolley-route/

For more area news, check out the papers website.

7/24/2013 Special Fishkill Town Board Meeting

Please note that this meeting was not televised or recorded on the internet.

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1097

There was a big discussion about whether a police officer was allowed to be granted a Competitive Classification. The Town of Fishkill operates a part time 24-7 PD. The PBA contract with the town does not cover such. PBA representatives stated that this was a breach of contract as this officer was granted a special privilege that was not granted to everyone else.

Voting yes were Supervisor LaColla, Councilman Buck and Councilman Curry.

Voting no were Councilman Callahan and Councilman Tuttle.

It also appears that the PBA will be filing a lawsuit against the town for this action.

Also, a Public Hearing is set for August 7th 2013 in regard to raising sewer rates from $41.40 a unit to $97.29. This is in regard to paying off debt. I asked the board if they were going to notify the public by mail. They said no and indicated they were going to do a Public Notice.

DC Conservative Coup' in Fishkill tossed by Supreme Court

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/June/27/DC_Conservs-27Jun13.htm

For more free local news check out the papers website as I do.

Court tosses effort to take over Dutchess Conservative leadership

POUGHKEEPSIE – An effort to take over the leadership of the Dutchess County Conservative Committee by a renegade faction has been rejected by the State Supreme Court. The court ruled the effort by committee member Maureen Natrella and her supporters to place her in the chairman’s seat, was illegal because proper procedures were not followed. The Dutchess County Board of Elections had previously ruled the Natrella effort was illegal. Since the leadership terms had expired with no new vote taken, former Chairwoman Patricia Killian was named to fill that role temporarily. She said Thursday that she was pleased with the Supreme Court ruling and at such time as when new leadership is sought, she will step aside and allow new blood to take over the county committee.

Southern Dutchess News story on NYS Comptroller's audit in Fishkill

For more good weekly local news. Subscribe to the Southern Dutchess News as I do, or get it at news stands.

By Kristine Coulter

At the town board's recent meeting Fishkill Supervisor Bob Lacolla said the New York State Comptrollers Office would be working with town officials on town finances.

"In our exit interview, they recognized marked improvement in the financial condition of the town," said LaColla recently.

He said the state auditors also mentioned "they see a long way to go."

"While the auditors were here, the town administration uncovered some irregularities in one of the departments and we're working with the NYS Comptroller to address that," the supervisor stated.

When asked what department, LaColla responded that he was asked not to say at this time which department.

In regards to the Siscar sewer project, LaColla said, "They recognized, as we had, that money was to be held in reserve for the Siscar sewer project and they've asked us to book that on a reserve account. By doing so, that's going to increase the deficit of the Dutchess Park Sewer." (District)

The amount that is to be booked on the reserve account is $758,000.

"We are coming close to proposing a payment plan to the City of Beacon and when we come to terms we'll be able to chart a timetable of payment for Dutchess Park Sewer," said LaColla

LaColla added, "There are irregularities like that everywhere, we're just trying to address them. Unfortunately, it means a increase (in) water and sewer rates of Dutchess Park."

Brian Butry, Deputy Press Secretary from the NYS Comptrollers Office, said in an email, the office's audit of the town is still ongoing.

Discovery of an Underground Railroad station

By Ronald G. Greene

On May 19, 2013 I experienced the humbling honor of being recognized for having discovered the Zion Pilgrim Methodist Episcopal Church of Baxtertown in Fishkill, NY - a church that was a Station on the Underground Railroad. The foundation of the church is on my property, and during the recognition dinner I received the first annual Hudson River Valley Heritage Award.

After moving up from New York City in 1982 pursuing career advancement opportunities in NYS service, I purchased the property in 1998 from a local builder. For years we were afforded accounts that the property had formerly been owned by African Americans, that Baxtertown had been a relatively large, vibrant African American community in the 1800s - early 1900s, and that there had been an active church on the property. Following a Fishkill Planning Board meeting in October 2012, my interest peaked in the church and I embarked on a search for information which ultimately lead to the discovery of the church’s role is facilitating Freedom Seekers quest for independence from the horrors of slavery.

Since October 2012 we have amassed information about the church from several reliable sources including town records and maps, county records and maps, local and regional periodicals, through meetings with Fishkill town officials, through contact with the historian of Mother AME Zion church in NYC (Dabney Montgomery, who is a Tuskeegee Airman, by the way) and through documents on file at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most notably, the Chapel Hill document by Bishop James Walker Hood entitled, "1831-1919: 100 Year’s of the African American Episcopal Church - or The Centennial of African Methodism" specifically cites the Zion Pilgrim ME Church of Baxtertown as a "Station". And, Bishop Hood’s citation of the church is the only suchreference in the 625 page document.

In his 1957 publication of "Blithe Dutchess" President Emeritus Henry Noble McCracken specifically wrote about the church and the Baxtertown area. He wrote that "a rigourous church life arose among them" speaking of Blacks and Wappinger Indians, and he wrote that "Baxtertown was a station on the underground railway – probably working with Quakers." So, the history of the church is clear.

We are in the process of working with NYS Parks & Recreation to gain historic recognition of the property in New York State. Inclusion of the property of the US national register will then be pursued. We seek recognition of the Zion Pilgrim ME Church of Baxtertown because its history is everyone’s history and the story should be brought forth for all to know. The process has been slow but our attention to the goals has been steady and, ultimately, we are confident that the community will witness the erection of a historical maker to connote the church, its role as a Station of the Underground Railroad and its former vital role in the life of Baxtertown in Fishkill, NY.

The May 19th event was well attended by family, friends, Democrats, Republicans, young and old alike. We were drawn together in the spirit of community - and of that I am particularly proud. Pray for us as we continue this important work.

Letter to Poughkeepsie Journal on 6/16/2013 regarding robo call

Lalor says Tax-Free NY plan is ‘corporate welfare’

For more free local news, check out the papers website.

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2013/June/07/TaxFreeNY_Lalor-07Jun13.html

WAPPINGERS FALLS – State Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R-Fishkill) Thursday charged that Democrat Governor Cuomo’s Tax-Free NY proposal a “corporate welfare scheme.”

The plan would create essentially new business incubators at SUNY colleges that would include a no-tax provision for those businesses.

Lalor stood at the Market Street Industrial Park in Wappingers Falls, saying existing business would be subsidizing the tax-free status of those new businesses.

“These businesses are carrying the big, heavy New York State tax burdens 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, and they get nothing out of this, they continue to pay the freight, and in fact they are going to be subsidizing their competitors,” Lalor said. “I wouldn’t want to be the owner of a commercial rental property if potential tenants could go 20 miles up the road to a SUNY campus and be free of all the taxes I am paying.”

Market Street Industrial Park owner Jack Fedigan said New York’s taxes “are out of control.” He said all business needs a tax cut.

Properties owned by the Town of Fishkill & Village of Fishkill

At the 6/5/2013 Fishkill Town Board Meeting. There was a item on the agenda, that was in regard to selling off surplus property. I asked a question to the board if there was any Real Estate property that could be sold. So we could pay off our debt. The board responded with a "no, not aware of."

I asked this question at the 5 minute mark.

http://fishkilltownny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1076

Today, I went to the Dutchess County Parcel Access website to look at those properties. Click Parcel Access, then the county map in the middle and then drag down to Fishkill. You can also check your property by putting your name in the upper right box. To find Fishkill properties, put "Town" or "Village" in the last name box and scroll down for the Town/Village of Fishkill.

http://geoaccess.co.dutchess.ny.us/parcelaccess/parcelaccess_map.htm

Dutchess County Parcel Access identifies 51 properties owned by the Town of Fishkill and 23 by the Village of Fishkill. The following is my OPINION of what lands could be sold to the public. If I have stated anything wrong, please contact me and I will make a correction. Most of these properties are parks, government facilities and  lands on slopes and wetlands.

In the village one house at 10 Academy could be sold, but it is currently condemned and is adjacent to the village parking lot(s) on Academy.

The Town "may" have up to 12 properties that are worth a look at.

1. Old Town Rd 5.7 acres, by the creek. There is a entrance near Belvedere that you might be able to squeeze one home on. This is in the Beacon Hills area.

2. 1 Van Stueben, in the development across the 84 diner called Forged Brook. 1.9 acres that is zoned residential and is used as a makeshift park. This land is in a wetlands zone.

3. There are 3 connected small parcels on Old Town Rd that could be combined for one lot for a small home. Could also be wetlands.

4. Snook Rd, 14 acres on steep slopes. This land should be preserved for the Fishkill Supply Depot.

5. There is one acre zoned residential that is within the boundaries of Shepheard Park. It would be a bad idea to sell this 1 acre parcel.

6. On Lockey Woods there is 7 acres near 9D that is designated water supply. At past meetings there was talk of selling this land to the adjacent apartment complex. I don't recall if the town still uses this site.

7. 78 Brockway .74 acre lot. Don't know the zoning down there.

8. 148 Red School House Rd, Across from Downstate prison, 11 acres on wetlands, that could be sold to adjacent property owners.

9. 160 Merritt, 128 acres of mountain land that could be sold to Scenic Hudson.

10. There is the Recreation House on Shepards Park on 2 acres that should not be sold.

11. Meadow a .15 parcel that could be sold to the adjoining property owner.

12. Merritt Rd, a 2 acre parcel right on the roadway.

The following is a list of other properties owned by the town:

-Slocum Rd a 1.17 lot on the Fishkill Creek by the Hudson between the tracks and high ground.

-Kassim Way 1.1 acres for water.

-Old Castle Point Rd, 2.48 acres between the RR tracks and house on slopes.

-Old Castle Point Rd, 2.78 acres designated Water Supply.

-Brockway a .509 acre lot across Dutchess Stadium.

-Joy Place .11 Beacon Hils lot, could be sold to neighboring property owner.

-Park Lane, 2.4 acres on Fishkill Creek wetlands.

-Van Stueben 3 acres on wetlands.

-I84 47.12 acres in wetlands in back of Maple off exit 12.

-Recreation Center.

-Doug Phillips drive, Brinkerhoff Water.

-Rt 52 north of Merritt, 35.56 acres on the mountain. This land was donated by Toll for a school.

-Sarah Lane 23.30 acres on Fishkill Creek/wetlands.

-Brockway a sewage plant.

-1 acre triangle lot as you pull into Castle Point Rd.

-Washington Ave, picnic site 1.8 acres.

-Old Town Rd 2.5 acres on wetlands.

-Town Hall-Police Department 5.2 acres.

-Snook Rd well field 5.4 acres.

-Highland Ct sewage.

-Shepheard Park 15.3 acres.

-Slocum 23 acres of steep slopes and wetlands.

-Industrial Way 2.63 acres Public Utilities.

-Park on Castle Point Rd 16 acres.

-Sunflower Circle easement to Cherry .17 acres.

-Washington Ave, vacant industrial .30 acres.

-I84 10.61 on the Fishkill Creek wetlands.

-Greenwood Dr 8 acres on wetlands.

-Merritt 4 acres a pathway.

-160 Merritt 128.62 acres Mountain Land.

-Geering Way 25 acres park.

-Greenwood Dr .10 acres, could be sold to adjoining property owner for land only.

-GHG&E vacant commercial .92 acres, don't know what this is.

-Snook Rd .23 acres.

-Doug Phillips Park 9.5 acres.

-Dutchess Park Lake/Blodgett Dam 11 acres.

-Elmcrest Sewage.

-Old Grange Rd, Fishkill Creek wetlands.

***********************************Village Owned Properties:

-Clove Water Supply.

-7.8 acres adjacent to the Clove water supply. Traded for water capacity for a future development.

-Wood, the Village PD.

-Jackson Sewer Plant.

-Academy Street Parking Lot.

-1-3 Jackson Water Sewer department.

-Academy Street Parking Lot.

-Academy Street Parking Lot.

-PECO

-Givens Lane .18 acres.

-Village Common .44 acre strip along Shop Rite driveway to the south.

-5.2 acres in back of Shop Rite on steep slopes.

-3-5 Merritt 1.11 on the Fishkill Creek.

-Old Main 19 acre park.

-27 acres in back of the above park, wetlands.

-Rt 9 2.7 acres near the above park.

-Wood Highway garage.

-Ridge Water Supply.

-Baxtertown sewage.

-Osbourne Hill water supply.

-Jackson water supply.

-Chestnut sewage.

**** Van Wyck Hall is designated as Prop Hall/Government Building. The building was donated to the village many years ago.