STANDING ROOM ONLY AT BEEKMAN TOWN BOARD MEETING
Three public hearings scheduled at last nights Beekman Town Board meeting brought a standing-room only crowd to the hall.
Michele Llanes – October 19, 2017
The meeting started with a public hearing on Solar and Wind Energy Systems regulation amendments. Several residents expressed their concern over the proposed amendments to the Solar and Wind Energy System town code. Town Board Councilwomen Mary Covucci took time during the public hearing to voice her concerns showing several enlarged pictures of rolling green hills beyond white rail fencing which depicts what residents of Beekman enjoy viewing in their daily travels, verses solar panel “farms” that have been cropping up in neighboring towns and states. Covucci’s largest concern is the decommissioning process that must follow after the lifespan of the panels have been reached. Covucci stated there is insufficient concession in the proposed amendment to decommission and recycle the materials, said to be hazardous, when they have reached the end of their lifespan. Other residents questioned the size of a “large” installation at being less than 1 acre, stating a Solar Energy system almost a square acre is too large for a property in residential or agricultural zoning.
Next up on the agenda was a public hearing to Overriding the NYS Tax levy limit for the 2018 fiscal budget. Discussion kicked off with an explanation from the Town Board that after three completed budget workshops they were only able to shave off a little over 1% from the tentative budget that was presented with an 11% town tax increase. It was explained by Supervisor Zulauf and Councilman Stiegler that in years past the town has been able to use funds from the Fund Balance to balance the budget, but now that fund balance is vastly depleted and of no help to balancing the budget of the town.
Resident opinions during thes public hearing ranged from disgust at the present and previous administrations for letting town finances carelessly dwindle away, to offering suggestions on how the Town Board might dig in and correct the problem. Attracting more industrial and commercial business was discussed by residents as an alternative to residential tax increases. The suggestion was met with resistance by Councilman Stiegler due to what he described as an incomplete Town Center infrastructure that deters businesses from opening up shop in Beekman. Mr. Stiegler mentioned open seats are available on the Town of Beekman Conservation Advisory Board and encouraged residents to attend.
The discussion pertaining to overriding the tax levy seemed to be an open forum for some political grandstanding. Councilwoman Covucci was very vocal about her part in trying to steer the budget process straight early in the year. She stated she was not invited to attend the department meetings and was embarrassed when the Town Board presented an 11% increase on the tentative budget. A ‘write-in’ candidate for Supervisor, James Dankleman, took the opportunity to call out the highway department on purchasing a truck that he says was unnecessary earlier in 2017. Tony Covielli, Highway Superintendent then stepped up to the podium with members of his crew to dispute this statement and inform the participants that there were serious safety issues with the truck they were replacing. Covielli also presented numbers, although unconfirmed, that state each tax paying parcel in Beekman contributes $24.15 to the Permanent Improvements (Infrastructure) line in the highway budget.
Additionally, during the open discussion, Greg Brown a 17 year employee of the Park Maintenance department, took to the podium to clarify recent events concerning his status as as exempt verses non-exempt employee of the town. In closing Mr. Brown stated that his desire is to do his job and do it to the standards that residents of Beekman have come to expect.
All contributors to the discussion of the first two public hearings were met with applause from the audience, signifying that there were many different view points expressed or supported but not one stood out as holding the answers that the Town of Beekman was searching for.
Final public hearing of the night was for Maintenance of the Abandoned Properties in the town off Beekman, which was quickly opened and closed with one comment from the public.
Full Webcast recording of the Town Board Meeting can be viewed at the link provided below: https://vimeo.com/channels/111324/238922287 .
