Workshop
Minutes
City
of
WORKSHOP
The
City of
In
attendance were:
Mayor
Clara Lou Gould
Council
Members: Lee Kyriacou, Charles Kelly,
Phil Shea, and Steve Gold
Excused: Council Members
Also in
Attendance were: City Attorney Joseph
Braun and City Attorney Gerard Pisanelli.
AGENDA
Mayor Clara Lou Gould: Ordinarily residents are not permitted to
speak at Workshop but in this situation the mayor announced that this would be
permitted in an attempt to record the comments of the residents that this
project would affect.
City Administrator Joseph Braun gave a brief
description of what the possible plans are for
Peter
R. Pavelock, 99
City
Administrator, Joseph Braun: The sewer
line will be replaced on
Chares
Runner – I have been parking there since the late 60’s. I have parked there for thirty years. I see no reason for a one-way street.
Cathy Swain,
Paul S.
Kmiotek -
City
Administrator, Joseph Braun: Because we
are replacing sidewalks, city will be responsible.
Wendy
Brown
City
Administrator, Joseph Braun: That is in
the process of being designed
Shelia
Archibald – Thank you Mr. Gold for listening.
I do not have a problem with
Thomas
Strianese,
George
Mansfield – I think the widening the street will make it an invitation as a
speedway. We need to slow things
down. I think that whatever is done, it
should be in the interest of the people that live on
Hank
Dutch –
Shannon
Adams 164
Mark
Roland: I want to strenuously oppose a
one-way street. There are a lot of
reasons to have a one-way street but this is not one of them. It seems that there is a problem of cars
speeding. This should be fixed.
Joe Drummor – I would have a problem driving out of my driveway. It will be unsafe. Cameras do a good job. There are a lot of speeders.
Richard
Crammer,
Kent
Shawnee and Cheryl Nelson of
We
believe that the foremost issue on
No further comments.
Mayor Gould: We will turn these comments over to the
engineer.
Council Member Gold: We really do appreciate your
coming. There are so many people that
show up, we feel that you really care.
Council
Member Kyriacou: Our struggle is what to do with a limited amount of
space.
Southern
Dutchess Country Club - Bernie Ruf will be in
attendance:
Mayor Clara
Lou Gould: Mr. Ruf
will explain what his plans are for the Southern Dutchess County Country Club.
Bernie Ruf: The reason that we are here is to share with the council our future idea for the Southern Dutchess County Club. – We have been in Beacon since 1902 – We hope we are a valuable part of the community and we would like to stay that way. We are taking somewhat of a hit from the economy. We put together a development plan by necessity. We also put together a mission statement. Our goal is to re-establish the Southern Dutchess County Club. We have maintenance issues. We have a new vision for our future. We would like to renovate our clubhouse. It is in disrepair. We have several buildings on the property that we would like to relocate and renovate. We envision something more attractive. The series of drawing that are on our website are quite crude. The plan we are thinking about involves an outside developer that would purchase some of this property and build town houses that is from 1800 up to 2600 square feet in living space... The town homes will include walkout basements. Bill Deverou allowed us to use these photos because he would like to do the design for us. There are also photos of some of the amenities. Mr. Davis did a wonderful job of the first draft. Because of the economy costs have increased. Membership has declined from six years ago when there were over 600 members. Membership is now roughly around 300. We would like to bring back members. The club does not have the same appeal that it used to. We feel that it is our duty to protect the future of the country club. We hope that you will help support us. If we are allowed to go forward with our plan, we will be able to restore and preserve this historical building. It is a city landmark. I believe that the golf course will keep that space as long as possible. We have to present this to a lot of people. We are searching for a way to survive. We need to do some things. If we cannot come up with something, we will be selling 70 acres.
Mr.
Ruf answered many questions from the council members.
Water
Taxi Service - Authorize Agreement
Courtney Kain,
83 Broadway,
Council
Member Kyriacou: Inquired regarding
liability. If we are liable for
something on the boat, we need to know.
This will be checked into.
Courtney Kain:
This will be on the agenda
for
Dummy Light - *Location – See Attached List
of Comments
Seth Kacur
<sethkacur@hotmail.com> - Please do not move the dummy light. That dummy light IS
Beacon and it's not going anywhere on my watch.
NO
Charlie <sky67dude@yahoo.com> - Just my 2 cents but I
kind of like that old "dummy light it definitely gives this end of Main St
some character, in keeping with all the other great work that's going on here
in Beacon. No
The
barrier around it in the pics in the City of
Beacon report would be a nice idea to protect it if it remained there in the
middle of the road would protecting the perimeter of it and possibly raising it
up a bit be an option that would safely let larger vehicles by? (I know it depends on the driver!) NO
Dummy light - one thought I've had when passing it
on a daily basis. If the 3 or 4 spaces that the bump out will remove were
eliminated now, there would be more room to navigate around the light, and
it would be okay where it is. And if the one suggestion was to raise the
light, that would help, too. In essence, put the bump out area in the
middle of the street and make no parking the width of
NO
THAT LIGHT HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER, AND PEOPLE NEED
TO LEARN TO DRIVE. WHEN THE FACTORIES WERE OPEN
THERE WERE TRACTOR TRAILERS EVERY DAY AND THE LIGHT WAS THERE. PUT IT ON THE
SIDEWALK AND THEN PEOPLE CAN WALK IN THE ROAD, AND BE HIT BY VEHICLES. No
Ginny
Figlia - tfgf@juno.com <tfgf@juno.com>
I think moving the
"Dummy" Light to an extended sidewalk is a terrific idea. This
way it is still in the same area but more protected from traffic. Thanks
for the interesting newsletter. - Yes
Theresa
Kraft -
I
was shocked to read in the City of
There
are numerous reasons not to move this Historical "Dummy" Traffic
Light.
1.
The function of the Historical "Dummy" Traffic Light changes if the
location changes.
2.
ONLY real Dummies hit this light and they should be held financial accountable
to pay all cost incurred to repair the damage to the light back to perfect
condition ASAP.
3.
You can alter the road on the left and right sides of the light to accommodate
larger vehicles to maneuver around the light, even if it means working out a
deal with Metro North.
4.
Cars/truck/buses etc will continue to hit it even in a new location just as
much as if it is left free standing, once you have cars parked in front of
and/or behind the light it will be obscured. Even if you change it to "no
parking' zone people/cars/trucks etc. will always stop there regardless.
5.
The reason for the light is to see it when you approach around the sharp corner
on
6. I suggest building a larger, higher and wider
base, built more substantial, stronger, re-enforced enough to withstand impact
if a vehicle, regardless if it's a car, truck or bus, only vehicle feels the
brunt. Have the local architects design the base that carries the diamond paint
pattern so it looks historical.
Please
rethink this move because the current move-it solution is not the best
solution. Save Beacon's "historic treasures" where they stand.
PS. Driving past that intersection I saw the sign
on the building I read it as "another restaurant coming to town". No
Wendy Wolf-Durso - wallyandwendy@optonline.net
As
a life long resident of Beacon I would like to see the Dummy Light left where
it is and restored to working condition or at least as a blinking red for East
Main and yellow for
I
believe the problem of people hitting the light is the fear of hitting the cars
parked directly across the street thus making a too tight of a swing against
the light. Eliminate the 2 spaces directly across from the light and problem
solved. You would be eliminating these spaces anyway if you moved the light and
this would be much more cost effective than the thousands spent relocating it. Thank you, - No
Cheryl A. Critelli-Neubauer - cherylac@optonline.net
As a 48 year Beacon resident, I am in favor of the
Dummy Traffic Light staying put. Not only is it a historical icon for the City
of Beacon which acts as check point for providing directions, I see many a time
where it also acts as a means to control the traffic patterns in the area in
which it resides.
- No
Would like to go on record as being in favor of
keeping the dummy light where it is. On a base would be okay, but stay in
the middle of the street. - Would also like to have a public hearing on this. -
No
I would like to see the dummy light stay where it
is. Traffic drives much too fast around the curve at the
While
you are fixing traffic problems, the cars that park along
Barbara O’Leary -
Gary Wood
Dear
Mayor Gould,
I am writing in support of leaving the "dummy light' in it's
present location. The light has been there for many decades and serves a
purpose of "traffic calming" as described in "Suburban
Nation" by planners Duany,Plater-Zyberk
and Speck. Studies have shown narrower street, winding streets and similar
traffic calming procedures make for safer streets. Removal of the "dummy light " will increase traffic speed and make that area
less safe for pedestrians. Also another
piece of Beacon will be lost by its movement. Government involvement in Urban
Renewal in the 60's robbed Beacon of many landmarks such as
I appreciate the opportunity to express my opinion and hope the council leaves
well enough alone. No
Jeremiah French - Jeremiah French <french.jeremiah@gmail.com>
To
whom it may concern: The dummy light
should definitely NOT be moved. I understand the idea but it seems purely
aesthetic. The light now, serves as a definitive divider for traffic turning
from and on to
Mayor Clara Lou Gould: Suggestion about raising the light. The traffic law is that it should be so many
feet above the ground.
Council Member Gold: We can leave it there and make it safer.
Council Member Kelly: How many times was it actually hit?
Mayor Clara Lou Gould: I sent a letter to the traffic committee.
Council Member Gold:
This
keeps people in their lanes. People put
these in traffic circles. Maybe it
should be elevated. The historical
society is up in arms about changing the location.
City Attorney Pisanelli will do a resolution.
It will be put on the agenda for
Proposed Local Law to update
Bonding Amount - See Proposed Local Law to Amendment to
Beacon City Charter - Section 8.10, entitled "Exceptions to
Referendum" - To Increase Amount.
This will go on the Agenda
for
Church & North Cedar
Parking - Purchase of Church and North Cedar Parking. Grant is for $500, 00, Local Share is $100,00, Federal Share $400,000.
Reappraisal completed on
This will be placed on the Agenda for June 18, 2007.
Proposed
Local Law to update Bonding Amount - *See Proposed Local Law to AMENDMENT TO BEACON CITY
CHARTER – SECTION 8.10, ENTITLED “Exceptions to referendum” – To increase
Amount
This will be placed on the
Amend Resolution 54 of 2007 - STOP
DWI Contract….
Adding Sobriety Checkpoint $1,200 and Adding Fringe (25%) 300.00
Mayor
Clara Lou Gould: We need authorization to sign contract.
Request to Execute Tolling Agreement - See documentation dated
May 22nd from Carol Y. Berns, Assistant
Regional Counsel – United States Environmental Protection Agency. RE:
Consolidated Iron & Metal Co., Inc. Superfund Site (“Site”),
This has to do with Junk cars. This is to clean up the site. They went through the records and established
who is responsible for the junk cars.
A Resolution to consent will be placed on the agenda
for
Proposed Local Law - Tabled at the June 4th
Meeting
- Second Reading: §179-3(F) Of Chapter 179 “Sewers” Is
Renumbered As §179-3f(1) And A New Subsection 179-3f(2) Is Added. See REVISED Proposed Local Law.
City Attorney Pisanelli: This
will be taken back to workshop. In most
cases we do not make local laws retroactive.
I don’t think you want to spend the money for a retroactive local law.
Council Member Kelly:
Can we go back to determine if
the damage was done to January one?
Administrator Braun:
It would be difficult. It could have been done from work that was
done on the road by the state. We might
want to remove "retroactive back to January 1"
Council Member Kyriacou: We should
replace it if it is our fault.
Council Member Gold: We should include in this law
that if it is roots it is not covered.
City Administrator Braun: If it is not
the fault of the city, the property owner will pay for it.
Authorize
applying for and Accepting Grants - Resolution
authorizing and accepting funds for application to the National Park Service
for a Preserve America grant for the City of
Susan
Roeller Brown Grant Writer: Gave
a brief description of the above grants.
Council
Member Gold: If we use the money from the ski lodge property would
that jeopardize the grant?
Susan: I don’t think it will have an effect because
it is city funds. As long as we produced
the cash that is required.
This
will be put on the agenda for
Proposed
Local Law – To Add to Chapter 33 of the Beacon City
Code entitled, “Harbor
Management’ To Create a New Subsection C, to Section 33-8. “Permit applications and procedures.. See attached
History of Minutes 01/04//05,
This
goes back in 2005 when we had a proposal that was tabled.
This
will be put on the
Resolution - Authorizing Tax Refund for 2006 and
2007 For Sculpture Beacon, LLC – See
attached letter from K. Martin to G. Pisanelli in addition a copy of Consent
Judgment dated
This was over assessed and a court order was issued by
Hon John R. LaCava, JSC –
This will be placed on the
Church and North Cedar Property:
Based
on the appraisal those lots are worth $500,000.00 – 400,000 grant money. This will be the two lots rather than the
three.
This
will be placed on the agenda for
Vacant Buildings - Documentation
previously distributed
Inter-municipal
and Regional Cooperation.
- See attached Executive Order “Establishing the New York State Commission on
Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness. Any Ideas?
We have intermunicipal Water
and sewer, trails,
City Administrator Braun: I still believe that the assessing that is going on
is far from ideal. If we try to be
uniform, it should be done on a regional basis.
Another area that I seen working well is the state processing it’s own survey with it’s own processing staff. If
the state had the facility, usually the county has a depository. The county legislators all want to save
money. We want to push it to the county
and they want to push it to us.
Council
Member Kyriacou: We should write down our
ideas and present them to the county.
The one thing about emergency services is that we might coordinate this
on a graveyard shift. There might be
some way to do that. We can tell them
that these are the things that we are willing to talk about. We can do two buckets, the one that is hard
and the one that is easy. I will do a
hard and easy bucket and we can do a resolution. We can do this through an email.
Discussion of Pool Cleaning
Appointments / Ratifications /Announcement
Update:
Other Business
Upcoming Workshop Agenda Items
June 25th Workshop
Conservation Advisory Commission – Jerry P. City
Attorney will have Proposed Local Law.
Beacon Economic Development Task Force
Glenn Scofield – Captain – Budget Discussion (or July
9th)
Council Agenda
Community Segment: Timothy Joseph – Fire Chief
Workshop ended at:
Submitted by Lucy M Cullinan -