Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Historic Fishkill Building
Written by Anthony P. Musso For the Poughkeepsie Journal. For more check out the papers website at www.poughkeepsiejournal.com or subscribe to it as I do.
The large two-story red-brick building at the corner of Main (Route 52) and Bedford streets in the Village of Fishkill has had an interesting history since its construction in 1853. Through the years the building has served as a private residence, a dry-goods store, a bank, headquarters for the Veterans of Foreign War, a courthouse and, for 44 years, Fishkill’s Town Hall.
Four years after it was built, its first floor became the base of operation for the National Bank of Fishkill. A second smaller bank, the Fishkill Saving Institute, also rented a portion of the building during that time. The building features 18-inch thick walls and has a mansard roof that was added during the 1870s.
While the National Bank of Fishkill would suffer the effects of the post-Civil War depression and go out of business in 1870, the Fishkill Saving Institute prospered, eventually moving a few doors east of its original location and changing its name to Fishkill Savings Bank. Through the years its name would change again to Mid-Hudson Savings and it is now a branch of Wells Fargo.
Following the failure of the National Bank the ownership of the building passed to the Dean family in whose possession it remained for many years. Herman Dean, the editor of the Fishkill Weekly Times also operated a dry goods store on the building’s first floor. Dean, whose father was Fishkill’s first postmaster, rented out an apartment on the second floor.
“Herman Dean was a familiar sight in the village often navigating its streets peddling a high-wheel bicycle,” said village historian Willa Skinner. “On Sunday afternoons he could be observed riding the bicycle along Albany Post Road (Route 9) with a box of candy under his arm on his way to court a local lady who lived on a farm where the Holiday Inn is located today.”
The second-floor apartment was eventually remodeled and used as headquarters for the Veterans of Foreign War .
In 1945, the Town of Fishkill purchased the building and it became Town Hall through 1989 when the municipality moved to a new location farther west on Route 52.
When the village moved its operation out, Kenneth Davies bought the property and remodeled the interior of the building for his real estate business .
The building, now owned by Jordan Leigh, is occupied by Piano Piano, a wine bar and new business opened by Rich and Anne Corbo.
“This building just has so much character,” Anne Corbo said. “We built our bar on the spot that the original bank vault once stood.”
On April 27, the Fishkill Historical Society will kick off its 50th anniversary with a celebration in the building.
On May 19, it will be one of several historic buildings in Fishkill to participate in an open house event.
The original iron shutters that date to the building’s use as National Bank of Fishkill still adorn the historic structure, which is located at 1064 Main Street.
“Dateline” appears Wednesdays. To suggest a topic, call 845-437-4834. Anthony Musso: railcommute @aol.com.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20120425/NEWS01/304250017/Dateline-Fishkill-building-home-businesses
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Fishkill Historical Society Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Written by Susan Campriello Poughkeepsie Journal For more check out the papers website www.poughkeepsiejournal.com or subscribe to it as I do.
FISHKILL — In 1960, Shirley “Trotsie” Mathews began working to lay the groundwork to form the Fishkill Historical Society and to save the Van Wyck Homestead, which was slated for demolition to make way for a cloverleaf ramp off Interstate 84.
The homestead had been requisitioned as a Continental Army “officers headquarters” during the Revolutionary War and was assigned to the Fishkill Supply Depot, and was visited by George Washington, according to the now 50-year-old society.
Mathews said the interest she found showed “that the people of Fishkill felt it was worth saving.”
The society, which gathers and preserves resources related to Fishkill’s history and the homestead, incorporated in 1962. It begins celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.
Joey Cavaccini, a 12-year-old member from Wappinger, will help kick off the celebration by presenting a history of the organization, complete with photographs and interviews with some of the group’s founding members. His presentation will be at 3 p.m. April 29 in Fishkill’s Van Wyck Hall.
Cavaccini said he learned through the project the challenges the group faced as it worked to persuade the state Department of Transportation to spare the building.
“It was really hard to save the house,” he said.
Other planned anniversary events include a kickoff reception Friday at Fishkill’s Piano Piano Wine Bar, a tour of three historic churches and about a dozen historic homes in Fishkill and Beacon in May, a children’s quilting workshop in June and a portrayal of the life of Revolutionary War spy Enoch Crosby in September.
Society President Steven Lynch said he set a fundraising goal this year of $50,000. The society spends on average about $21,000 in restoration expenses, insurance, supplies and printing, among other needs, he said, adding that major, and costly, repairs are needed every few years.
Mathews wants to see youth involvement in the society increase.
“If they don’t get interested (...) there won’t be a future,” she said.
More information about the Fishkill Historical Society, along with a list of society events, can be found at www.fishkillhistoricalsociety.org.
Susan Campriello: scampriell@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-451-4518, Twitter: @SusanCPJ.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
4/18/2012 Fishkill Town Workshop Meeting
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2012%20Agendas/04-18-2012%20%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
The Brinkerhoff Water District, Rombout Sewer and Dutchess Park Sewer Districts. Will see increases in billing to make up for previous borrowed monies to such districts.
There is a update on the Brinkerhoff connection to Merritt (Toll) water districts. It appears that a 3rd well that was going to be used, which needed a filtration system. Is not going to be needed. This may reduce the cost of the connection.
Monies gained from the dog park, may be dedicated solely to the park. Currently the money is going to the General Fund and being spent.
The Brinkerhoff Water District, Rombout Sewer and Dutchess Park Sewer Districts. Will see increases in billing to make up for previous borrowed monies to such districts.
There is a update on the Brinkerhoff connection to Merritt (Toll) water districts. It appears that a 3rd well that was going to be used, which needed a filtration system. Is not going to be needed. This may reduce the cost of the connection.
Monies gained from the dog park, may be dedicated solely to the park. Currently the money is going to the General Fund and being spent.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
4/4/2012 Fishkill Town Board Meeting
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2012%20Agendas/04-04-2012%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
There were 2 Public Hearings
1. The board by a 5-0 margin. Passed Local Law #4 of 2012 to override tax levy cap established in the General Municipal Law 3-c.
2. The board by a 5-0 margin to repeal the "Apprenticeship Law."
A court action was taken, involving the PBA and the town over demotions and promotions. It appears that a stay was granted.
Fireworks at Dutchess Stadium are to end at 10 pm on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends.
K-fest is to end at 8 pm.
The towns Comptroller was replaced without resolution or reason.
The board also affirmed it's desire to obtain waterfront land from a developer. For the purpose of the town applying for a grant to build a bridge to access such property. This will be taxpayer dollars being used to make the developers money.
There were 2 Public Hearings
1. The board by a 5-0 margin. Passed Local Law #4 of 2012 to override tax levy cap established in the General Municipal Law 3-c.
2. The board by a 5-0 margin to repeal the "Apprenticeship Law."
A court action was taken, involving the PBA and the town over demotions and promotions. It appears that a stay was granted.
Fireworks at Dutchess Stadium are to end at 10 pm on weekdays and 10:30 on weekends.
K-fest is to end at 8 pm.
The towns Comptroller was replaced without resolution or reason.
The board also affirmed it's desire to obtain waterfront land from a developer. For the purpose of the town applying for a grant to build a bridge to access such property. This will be taxpayer dollars being used to make the developers money.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Dutchess deficit $40 million, Fishkill tax payers pay attention.
You pay more in county taxes than town. For more local news. Check out www.midhudsonnews.com
Molinaro calls on state lawmakers to implement “significant mandate relief”
POUGHKEEPSIE – As state leaders put the finishing touches on the state’s 2012-2013 budget, which must be adopted by Saturday night, March 31, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro has written to them urging that “significant mandate relief” is necessary to aid all counties.
A two percent tax cap was implemented months ago, forcing all levels of local governments to further tighten their belts in these continued difficult economic times. Molinaro noted that nine state mandates along consume 90 percent of each county’s property tax levy. Safety Net, child welfare, indigent defense, probation, youth detention, and pensions are among the so-called “big nine” unfunded mandates.
The county executive did note the delivery of a few relief measures including pension reform and the availability of some additional dollars for indigent defense.
But, the most costly mandate on counties is the cost of Medicaid. Molinaro told lawmakers a hard cap on Medicaid cost growth and a multi-year phase out of county payments for Medicaid are needed. He said counties also need reforms in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education to permit greater municipal involvement.
“Without these reforms and other mandate relief, Dutchess County will be faced with difficult decisions for its 2013 budget in order to close an estimated $40 million gap”, Molinaro said.
http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/March/28/mandates_Molinaro-28Mar12.html
Molinaro calls on state lawmakers to implement “significant mandate relief”
POUGHKEEPSIE – As state leaders put the finishing touches on the state’s 2012-2013 budget, which must be adopted by Saturday night, March 31, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro has written to them urging that “significant mandate relief” is necessary to aid all counties.
A two percent tax cap was implemented months ago, forcing all levels of local governments to further tighten their belts in these continued difficult economic times. Molinaro noted that nine state mandates along consume 90 percent of each county’s property tax levy. Safety Net, child welfare, indigent defense, probation, youth detention, and pensions are among the so-called “big nine” unfunded mandates.
The county executive did note the delivery of a few relief measures including pension reform and the availability of some additional dollars for indigent defense.
But, the most costly mandate on counties is the cost of Medicaid. Molinaro told lawmakers a hard cap on Medicaid cost growth and a multi-year phase out of county payments for Medicaid are needed. He said counties also need reforms in Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education to permit greater municipal involvement.
“Without these reforms and other mandate relief, Dutchess County will be faced with difficult decisions for its 2013 budget in order to close an estimated $40 million gap”, Molinaro said.
http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/March/28/mandates_Molinaro-28Mar12.html
Monday, March 26, 2012
Missing $9.6 million in Dutchess County is gone
For more go to the Poughkeepsie Journal website or subscribe to the paper as I do.
Written by Larry Hertz: lhertz@poughkee.gannett.com. 845-437-4824. Twitter: @eagles416.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20120326/WATCHDOG/303260029/The-saga-missing-9-6-million-end-s-gone
This is a important article for Fishkill residents. As you pay more in county taxes than your local taxes. The article identifies a dispute between the prior County Executive and current Comptroller. It also states that the county spent $26.9 million from the Reserve Fund to balance the 2012 budget. The story also indicated that these monies are nearly gone. This suggests to me, that 2013 will be a very difficult budget to balance for 2013.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn’t what you’d call a friendly disagreement.
Dutchess County Comptroller James Coughlan called then-County Executive William Steinhaus an “alarmist” who was misleading taxpayers about the state of the county’s finances. He announced in December 2010 he and his staff had uncovered $9.6 million in unspent county funds.
Steinhaus counter-punched. He called Coughlan, who had taken office 11 months earlier, inexperienced in county finances and pronounced the comptroller’s claims “ludicrous.”
Fifteen months later, county officials now agree Coughlan had identified $9.6 million in unspent county funds between 2005 and 2009.
But those officials also say all the extra money has since been spent and the county is running on a budget with virtually no extra cash.
Feeling vindicated
Budget Director Valerie Sommerville, who held the same job under Steinhaus, said Coughlan and his staff did, in fact, identify $9.6 million in unspent appropriations.
“The comptroller was diligent in drilling down into our encumbrances to squeeze out the ($9.6 million) that was there,” Sommerville said.
Coughlan said he had always been confident in the work he and his staff had done in scrutinizing county finances.
“Do I feel vindicated? I would say yes,” Coughlan said last week. “The money was there and it was part of the $29 million in fund balance that we had at the end of (2011).”
But the ultimate answer to the question of who was right when the dispute broke out depends on how the term “fund balance” is defined, financial experts say.
Coughlan’s contention that the county had unspent funds that had not been previously noted in county budget documents was confirmed by the independent auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The comptroller cited a 2010 memo from the firm saying Coughlan had identified $4.99 million in extra funds in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 budget years.
“We recommend that management continue to review all liquidations to ensure they are appropriately posted to the general ledger in the appropriate period,” the auditors’ memo said.
Coughlan said the balance of the money he cited had been found in unspent funds in 2005 and 2006.
Sommerville said last week that while she agreed Coughlan and his staff had uncovered some unspent funds, she still contended the money could not be considered part of the fund balance until all outstanding bills and revenues for the year had been reconciled.
“I’m not arguing with (Coughlan) over the ($9.6 million figure), but I did take exception to his timing,” she said.
Coughlan and Sommerville said some budget lines weren’t adequately funded, such as the costs of housing jail inmates in other facilities.
In addition, some anticipated revenues were not received, further reducing the amount of cash the county had available.
'Fluid concept'
Sommerville said new procedures recommended by the PricewaterhouseCoopers auditing firm are in place and she and Coughlan were “in full agreement” with County Executive Marc Molinaro that there is little or no fund balance left.
“Until we know the full depth and breadth of all expenditures and revenues last year, it’s premature to say exactly what the fund balance is, but Jim and I and the county executive are now on the same page,” Sommerville said.
The county Legislature used $26.9 million in surplus funds to balance the 2012 budget, and in his state-of-the-county address last month Molinaro said there was “virtually no fund balance” heading into the new year.
Coughlan described the fund balance as a “very fluid concept” that varies throughout the budget year and depends on “revenue targets” — the amount of money the county expects to receive in taxes, fees and other sources — as well as how much money the county spends out of each line item in the budget. He said the county often does not receive as much revenue from taxes or state reimbursements as anticipated.
Sommerville noted the 2011 budget adopted by the county Legislature had anticipated $1.7 million from the expected reinstatement of the county’s share of a tax on home mortgages.
That money was not collected because state lawmakers failed to pass legislation permitting the county to collect the tax, she said.
Fund balance
County Finance Commissioner Pamela Barrack said the term “fund balance” doesn’t necessarily signify cash that can be used for any and all county expenses.
“Fund balance is not cash,” Barrack said. “Fund balance is the difference between net assets and net liabilities on the balance sheet as of Dec. 31.”
Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said he was not familiar with the facts surrounding the dispute in Dutchess County.
But he cited recent amendments to accounting principles accepted by the financial industry that list several distinct types of “fund balance.”
They can include revenues or expenditures earmarked for a specific purpose and even inventory a government has on hand that cannot be converted to cash.
“When you’re talking about fund balance, you have to ask what kind,” he said. “That question always has to be asked before you get a true financial picture, and that’s done in concert with outside auditors.”
Auerbach said he knew of a school district in Ulster County that had established a fund to be used strictly to pay back taxpayers who are successful in appealing their assessments, reducing their property taxes.
“It would be misleading to call the money sitting in this account part of a general fund balance because it can’t be used for other purposes,” he said.
Looking ahead
Coughlan said he agreed with Molinaro and Sommerville that “almost all of (Dutchess County’s existing fund balance) was used to cover an expected deficit in the 2012 budget.”
Sommerville, Coughlan and Molinaro said they believed a system was now in place to scrutinize county spending and analyze the potential for increasing revenue more closely.
The three officials are meeting regularly with members of the Budget, Finance and Computer Information Systems departments as members of a new committee dubbed FAST (Fiscal Accountability and Strategic Thinking).
Molinaro said it would be the committee’s job to work with department heads “to look for areas of savings and accessing more revenues.
“This county government is a fairly efficient institution, but there are areas where we can enhance those efficiencies,” the county executive said.
Molinaro said Coughlan and Sommerville had already begun analyzing some of the county’s major expenditures.
“Next, we’ll pick a few specific areas and analyze how we might consolidate or deliver services differently,” he said.
Coughlan said the FAST committee would tackle “macro” issues, such as why the county Department of Mental Hygiene spends more than such agencies in other counties of comparable size. But he said he’d also be talking to county employees about simpler ways to save money, such as turning out the lights and turning down the heat.
“Utility costs are one area we’ll be looking at. Knocking a couple of degrees off the thermostat can add up to significant savings,” he said.
Written by Larry Hertz: lhertz@poughkee.gannett.com. 845-437-4824. Twitter: @eagles416.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20120326/WATCHDOG/303260029/The-saga-missing-9-6-million-end-s-gone
This is a important article for Fishkill residents. As you pay more in county taxes than your local taxes. The article identifies a dispute between the prior County Executive and current Comptroller. It also states that the county spent $26.9 million from the Reserve Fund to balance the 2012 budget. The story also indicated that these monies are nearly gone. This suggests to me, that 2013 will be a very difficult budget to balance for 2013.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It wasn’t what you’d call a friendly disagreement.
Dutchess County Comptroller James Coughlan called then-County Executive William Steinhaus an “alarmist” who was misleading taxpayers about the state of the county’s finances. He announced in December 2010 he and his staff had uncovered $9.6 million in unspent county funds.
Steinhaus counter-punched. He called Coughlan, who had taken office 11 months earlier, inexperienced in county finances and pronounced the comptroller’s claims “ludicrous.”
Fifteen months later, county officials now agree Coughlan had identified $9.6 million in unspent county funds between 2005 and 2009.
But those officials also say all the extra money has since been spent and the county is running on a budget with virtually no extra cash.
Feeling vindicated
Budget Director Valerie Sommerville, who held the same job under Steinhaus, said Coughlan and his staff did, in fact, identify $9.6 million in unspent appropriations.
“The comptroller was diligent in drilling down into our encumbrances to squeeze out the ($9.6 million) that was there,” Sommerville said.
Coughlan said he had always been confident in the work he and his staff had done in scrutinizing county finances.
“Do I feel vindicated? I would say yes,” Coughlan said last week. “The money was there and it was part of the $29 million in fund balance that we had at the end of (2011).”
But the ultimate answer to the question of who was right when the dispute broke out depends on how the term “fund balance” is defined, financial experts say.
Coughlan’s contention that the county had unspent funds that had not been previously noted in county budget documents was confirmed by the independent auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The comptroller cited a 2010 memo from the firm saying Coughlan had identified $4.99 million in extra funds in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 budget years.
“We recommend that management continue to review all liquidations to ensure they are appropriately posted to the general ledger in the appropriate period,” the auditors’ memo said.
Coughlan said the balance of the money he cited had been found in unspent funds in 2005 and 2006.
Sommerville said last week that while she agreed Coughlan and his staff had uncovered some unspent funds, she still contended the money could not be considered part of the fund balance until all outstanding bills and revenues for the year had been reconciled.
“I’m not arguing with (Coughlan) over the ($9.6 million figure), but I did take exception to his timing,” she said.
Coughlan and Sommerville said some budget lines weren’t adequately funded, such as the costs of housing jail inmates in other facilities.
In addition, some anticipated revenues were not received, further reducing the amount of cash the county had available.
'Fluid concept'
Sommerville said new procedures recommended by the PricewaterhouseCoopers auditing firm are in place and she and Coughlan were “in full agreement” with County Executive Marc Molinaro that there is little or no fund balance left.
“Until we know the full depth and breadth of all expenditures and revenues last year, it’s premature to say exactly what the fund balance is, but Jim and I and the county executive are now on the same page,” Sommerville said.
The county Legislature used $26.9 million in surplus funds to balance the 2012 budget, and in his state-of-the-county address last month Molinaro said there was “virtually no fund balance” heading into the new year.
Coughlan described the fund balance as a “very fluid concept” that varies throughout the budget year and depends on “revenue targets” — the amount of money the county expects to receive in taxes, fees and other sources — as well as how much money the county spends out of each line item in the budget. He said the county often does not receive as much revenue from taxes or state reimbursements as anticipated.
Sommerville noted the 2011 budget adopted by the county Legislature had anticipated $1.7 million from the expected reinstatement of the county’s share of a tax on home mortgages.
That money was not collected because state lawmakers failed to pass legislation permitting the county to collect the tax, she said.
Fund balance
County Finance Commissioner Pamela Barrack said the term “fund balance” doesn’t necessarily signify cash that can be used for any and all county expenses.
“Fund balance is not cash,” Barrack said. “Fund balance is the difference between net assets and net liabilities on the balance sheet as of Dec. 31.”
Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said he was not familiar with the facts surrounding the dispute in Dutchess County.
But he cited recent amendments to accounting principles accepted by the financial industry that list several distinct types of “fund balance.”
They can include revenues or expenditures earmarked for a specific purpose and even inventory a government has on hand that cannot be converted to cash.
“When you’re talking about fund balance, you have to ask what kind,” he said. “That question always has to be asked before you get a true financial picture, and that’s done in concert with outside auditors.”
Auerbach said he knew of a school district in Ulster County that had established a fund to be used strictly to pay back taxpayers who are successful in appealing their assessments, reducing their property taxes.
“It would be misleading to call the money sitting in this account part of a general fund balance because it can’t be used for other purposes,” he said.
Looking ahead
Coughlan said he agreed with Molinaro and Sommerville that “almost all of (Dutchess County’s existing fund balance) was used to cover an expected deficit in the 2012 budget.”
Sommerville, Coughlan and Molinaro said they believed a system was now in place to scrutinize county spending and analyze the potential for increasing revenue more closely.
The three officials are meeting regularly with members of the Budget, Finance and Computer Information Systems departments as members of a new committee dubbed FAST (Fiscal Accountability and Strategic Thinking).
Molinaro said it would be the committee’s job to work with department heads “to look for areas of savings and accessing more revenues.
“This county government is a fairly efficient institution, but there are areas where we can enhance those efficiencies,” the county executive said.
Molinaro said Coughlan and Sommerville had already begun analyzing some of the county’s major expenditures.
“Next, we’ll pick a few specific areas and analyze how we might consolidate or deliver services differently,” he said.
Coughlan said the FAST committee would tackle “macro” issues, such as why the county Department of Mental Hygiene spends more than such agencies in other counties of comparable size. But he said he’d also be talking to county employees about simpler ways to save money, such as turning out the lights and turning down the heat.
“Utility costs are one area we’ll be looking at. Knocking a couple of degrees off the thermostat can add up to significant savings,” he said.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
3/21/2012 Fishkill Town Board Meeting
http://www.fishkill-ny.gov/pdfs/TownBoardAgendas/2012%20Agendas/03-21-2012%20%20TB%20Agenda.pdf
Monsignor Martin of St. Mary's paid tribute to the late Councilman Steve Ferguson.
The board is going to repeal Chapter 43 of the Town Code, regarding the Apprentice Program. A member of local labor Jeff Loughlin made a public comment about it.
Mrs. Principe spoke about how she favored Term Limits that was discussed at last weeks Workshop Meeting.
The board is also planning to pass a law to over ride the 2% Tax Levy.
AVR, which owns waterfront property across the RR tracks. Wants to give the town some land. So the town can apply for grants to build a bridge over the tracks to gain access to the property. Estimates are $6 million for the bridge. The developer is expecting the taxpayer to foot the bill. Once the bridge is built, the developers property will increase dramatically. The land is currently zoned Industrial and would also have to be changed.
Monsignor Martin of St. Mary's paid tribute to the late Councilman Steve Ferguson.
The board is going to repeal Chapter 43 of the Town Code, regarding the Apprentice Program. A member of local labor Jeff Loughlin made a public comment about it.
Mrs. Principe spoke about how she favored Term Limits that was discussed at last weeks Workshop Meeting.
The board is also planning to pass a law to over ride the 2% Tax Levy.
AVR, which owns waterfront property across the RR tracks. Wants to give the town some land. So the town can apply for grants to build a bridge over the tracks to gain access to the property. Estimates are $6 million for the bridge. The developer is expecting the taxpayer to foot the bill. Once the bridge is built, the developers property will increase dramatically. The land is currently zoned Industrial and would also have to be changed.
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