Up-Comming Fishkill Town Board Meetings

There is a Special Meeting on Monday May 3rd at 3PM. There is no agenda as required by law on the internet.

There is a Regular Meeting on May 12th at 9:30 AM.

http://webmail.aol.com/31509-111/aol-1/en-us/mail/get-attachment.aspx?uid=1.27564535&folder=Inbox&partId=4&saveAs=Fishkill_Public_Hearing.pdf

This is a law to limit building height.

This is another law passed after development has already happened. I call it a paper law, like Wet Lands, PLA's, Apprentance Program, and others.

This will do nothing to prevent what has already happened.

4/10/2010 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

It appears that the new Fishkill Water District was taken off the agenda. The town passed a 100 years of scouting resolution. Scouts were present and participated in the meeting. Beacon sent a resolution in support of Stony Kill. The Housing Director stated that he is applying for a grant to help seniors with winterization. Call him at town hall for further information. There will be a Dog Show-Off at Doug Phillips Park on May 2nd. The board also reminded the public, that the Recreation Center is available to the public.

http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/Agendas_Minutes.htm

3/31/2010 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

The Public Hearing to start the Fishkill Consolidation Water District was taken off the agenda. This may be on the April 10th agenda.

The Village of Fishkill raised it's water rates. When that happens, Fishkill Town Districts of Blodgett, Beacon Hills and Glenham also go up. As those districts buy their water through the village.

The rate increases are substantial. They use a different formula that I am unfamiliar with so I can't give you hard numbers.

Supervisor Pagones stated this is a 40 year agreement, and that town districts pay 1.5 times over the village rate.

Deputy Supervisor Ferguson was absent and no reason was given. He is a resident of the Beacon Hills District.

Letter Regarding Snow Storm

As a active Fishkill resident. I would like to commend the actions, of the Highway Department. Along with the work of my FD, Slater Chemical. During the recent winter storm. As the power went out on my block. A fire crew, walked in over a foot of snow, at 2 AM. To warn the neighborhood. That a tree, fell onto a utility poll and was blocking access to the main road. After the storm, they came by, and pumped out basements. While at the same time clearing our drainage basins and fire hydrants.

Our Highway Department was also out there, clearing the roads and helping out our fellow residents. This storm occurred less than 3 months. After Supervisor Pagones and Councilpersons, Malvarosa and Ferguson. Cut Highway Department salaries and instituted a “Lag Pay”. This was done, as no elected official took a pay cut. Instead of “Packing It In”. The Highway Department, showed true grit and integrity. Too bad our Town Board. Did not give them time to petition the public, to save their salaries, like the county allowed the Sheriffs to do.

While we have elected officials in Fishkill. Taking credit for what other people do. We need to hold them accountable for their failed planning. For instance, after spending 3.6 million on a new Recreation/Senior Center without a Public Vote. Pagones, Malvarosa and Ferguson failed to include generators in the project. So instead of taking care of our own, we had to ship them to East Fishkill.

Ozzy Albra
Fishkill

2/20/2010 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

Beacon Ambulance was honored with a award for it's upgrade in service. Wal-Mart suffered 1.7 M in loses and loses dropped after the PBA began security there. Royal Carting was awarded the Trash and Cleanup bid for 2010-2012. This was after Waste Management, who submitted a lower bid was disqualified. Please note that the current elected officials recieve substantial campaign contributions from Royal. It also appears that crime is up in Toll brothers as a TV was stolen out of the Community room there along with other petit crimes. A Republican Committee member was named to the Board of Assessments. Of particular note, is that her name was not the same as on the agenda. Audrey Scott was named as Planning Board Attorney. There were also several Budget transfers and for the first time, the board did not disclose the dollar amounts.

Assessors Letter to Editor

Assessor plan raises questions
In the article ("Four towns seek combined tax unit," Feb. 7), which is a story of how, Beekman, Fishkill, LaGrange and Wappinger are going to combine assessor services, it mentioned that the towns are going to save taxpayer money. Then it notes that $440,000 in state grant money would be used. If New York state has an $8 billion deficit, how will this save money? This is what LaGrange Supervisor Jon Wagner stated, "Everybody wants us to cut the budget. ... Everybody wants us to save money. This is a viable way of doing it." Who is he kidding? He, according to this paper, doubled his salary, while raising taxes 12.08 percent in LaGrange! Here are a few follow-up questions that I would like to get answered:
1. Does it really cost $440,000 to set up some office space to do this?
2. Which towns' general fund will this grant money go into?
3. How many people will be fired, and the cost savings of those fired?
4. How many people will be hired, and the cost?
5. Will Fishkill continue its four-day work week or go to five days to accommodate the residents of three other towns?
I already attempted to ask those questions at the two combined board meetings in Fishkill. But unfortunately, Fishkill Supervisor Joan Pagones first called the meeting "historic" and then threw out the press and the citizens of Fishkill, under the guise of executive session. I hope the Poughkeepsie Journal can do better.

Ozzy Albra
Fishkill

1/21/2010 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2010Agendas/01-21-10%20TB%20AGENDA.pdf

Amnesty for tickets law was passed. This will allow the Justice Court to
accept the original fine without penalty. It goes into effect on February 1st for a 90 day period.

A bid for trash collections was rejected and another bid went out. What the town does, is pass laws to deny others to make money, while those that contribute to their political campaign get the contracts.

For Example: Wetlands Laws are a sham as they are disregarded to benifit political operatives. For the normal citizen, it's just another tax on your land for the application.

They also require a Apprentance Program, but without union backing. If it does not have union backing, it means nothing to a Journyman. This way "preffered" contractors get the bid. Fishkill, under a FOIL request, was unable to tell me how many union workers, built the new rec center.

Project Labor Aggreements are a waste, as Fishkill passed the law, "after" it built the new PD and Recreation Center.

A new Senior Housing Development an the lands owned by Elant on 9D was discussed. Around 100 units for those over 62. This is a not-for profit, and will be given a tax abatement for 50 years.

A Budget Transfer of 18k was sent to the Parks Department.

The Salt Committe presented their findings. Doctor Eberle and Housing Director Gromkowsi informed the board of the problems associated with salt. Board appears pleased, and indicated that they wanted to take this to the county level. Report is available at the Clerks office.

Board then went into Executive Discussion to talk about unions. Based on inside sources, it appears that the Highway and Police Dispatchers joined the Teamsters out of Newburgh. http://teamsterslocal445.unionactive.com/This was done after the board stripped the non-union employees of pay and benifits. This will cost town residents much more in the future.