Beacon City
Council Workshop
August 27, 2007
The Beacon City Council Workshop was held on Tuesday, March 12, 2007, at
8:10 p.m.
immediately following the Special Meeting.
Present were: Mayor Clara Lou
Gould, Councilmembers Steven Gold, Elizabeth Foster and Eleanor Thompson. Councilmembers Philip Shea, Charles Kelly and
Lee Kyriacou were not present. Also in
attendance: City Administrator Joseph
Braun and City Attorney Gerard Pisanelli.
Marjorie Groten of Scenic Hudson made a brief
presentation on the proposed purchase of the University Settlement Camp. The Settlement Society approached Scenic
Hudson about their plan to sell the property to see if they were interested in
purchasing it for preservation purposes.
The 80 acre parcel encompasses the Settlement Camp’s recreational
facilities, as well as a portion of steep terrain adjacent to Scenic Hudson’s
property on Mt. Beacon.
Ms. Groten reported Scenic Hudson has signed an option to purchase the
property and want to sell the portion containing all the recreational
facilities to the City. Scenic Hudson would retain
approximately 30 acres of the steeper portion adjacent to their property. A conservation easement would be acquired to
insure the property is not developed in the future. The City would pay $550,000 for the 50 acre
portion that contains recreational buildings and the pool. Councilmember Gold called the City’s grant
writer, Susan Brown, regarding grant funding for the acquisition and she
informed him that there is one significant grant available that could reimburse
half of the purchase price. He said the
City can close on the property and acquire the grant after the purchase. It is a reimbursable grant where the City
would spend money first, then be reimbursed.
Although there are grants for maintenance, application can only be made
after the property is acquired and a maintenance plan is in place. Ms. Groten reported Scenic Hudson must close
before December 15th and would like a memorandum of agreement from
the City by September. A resolution will
be prepared to authorize the Mayor to sign the agreement. Councilmember Thompson asked to discuss plans
for the Settlement Camp because she feels it could take care of itself
financially if appropriately planned.
City
Administrator Braun reported Acting Chief Scofield submitted a memorandum
recommending appointment of Brian Lawrence for an open police officer
position. He is on the county’s Beacon
preferred list and has been through the academy. City Administrator Braun expressed confidence
in the hiring process and emphasized the importance of filling vacancies within
the department. Councilmember Gold
announced someone he knows gave Mr. Lawrence a good recommendation and speaks
highly of him. City Attorney Pisanelli
disclosed that Mr. Lawrence is his cousin.
City Attorney Pisanelli repeated that Cherry Street is a
street by prescription only. Thus the
City is obligated to continue the current level of service it has provided over
several years but has no obligation to replace a water service line that was
installed by a private contractor many years ago. Councilmember Gold reported Randy Casale
previously suggested an arrangement whereby the City installs a new service
line and bills the owners for the cost over a ten year period. Councilmember Thompson expressed concern that
it would be setting a precedent. It
would be an arrangement similar to the sidewalks and could be a good
compromise. City Administrator Braun
agreed it would be better than making all Beacon’s taxpayers foot the
bill. A legal document would need to be
drafted and signed by all affected property owners. The estimated cost of $60,000 would be
equally divided.
Mayor Gould provided Council with a copy of a group
of citizens interested in forming a coalition of City and non-profit
organizations to purchase the old Beacon
High School for use as a
community resource center. A list of
possible tenants included the Howland Public Library, Beacon Studios, the
Historical Society and Beacon
Community Center. Councilmember Gold suggested the Mayor set up
a meeting with all interested parties, including school officials, to discuss
the combined interest in keeping the building open to the community.
Council
reviewed a resolution to authorize the submission of an application for the 2008
Dutchess County Community Development Block Grant Program. Although the City Council determines how funds
are spent, priorities established for 2008 are affordable housing, economic
development, public facilities, infrastructure improvements and public
services. The City utilizes funds for
street rehabilitations and other agencies make application for projects they
want funded. Councilmember Thompson
asked if anyone has expressed interest in funding for moderate income
housing. The ranking system used to
evaluate applications has been revised, yet there are guidelines that must be
followed. Individual applications are
due by October 5, 2007. Councilmember Gold will put information on
the website.
Council
reviewed a memorandum from Fire Chief Joseph regarding his concerns about a
bridge on the Hiddenbrooke property. Mr.
Dexter explained the bridge was never designed to standard and when the
Carmelites built an addition to their facility, the bridge was temporarily
reinforced to prevent it from collapsing under the heavy weight of construction
trucks. Chief Joseph’s concern is the bridge
will not take the weight of the tower ladder which is nearly 80,000 lbs. He has issued an order to the department that
the ladder tower not be permitted to cross the bridge until a determination has
been made regarding its integrity. It
was unclear who owned the bridge because it is located after the “Via Madonna”
and may be on private property. If it is
on private property, it will be up to the owner to make any necessary repairs
or upgrades needed.
Fire
Chief Joseph also submitted a memorandum requesting a 4x4 ATV for the Fire
Department to help access injured victims from remote off-road areas of
Beacon. Over the last two weeks, four
incidents occurred where members had to physically carry victims out of wooded
areas. One hiker was injured somewhere
behind Slocum Road
and had to be carried over the railroad tracks and nearly a mile to the Waste
Water Treatment Plant. Councilmember
Gold felt the department should have such a vehicle because they respond to
areas even though it may be outside City limits. Debate took place regarding the cost
($15,000) vs. the need for this type of vehicle. City Administrator Braun explained it does
not rise to the level of a capital item and he was not certain a convincing
argument had been presented. The Town of
Fishkill does
not have this type of equipment and their property that surrounds Beacon
contains the rougher terrain. They are
equipped to fight fires in wooded areas and have pumpers for access to water in
out-of-the-way areas, similarly they may have equipment for remote rescues. Mr. Dexter reported the only company that has
a similar vehicle is New Hamburg. He
explained Beacon responds to calls 500 ft. from base of the mountain but never
refuse requests for assistance; we don’t have the equipment and are not the
primary responder to calls on Mt.
Beacon. Councilmember Gold suggested sharing the cost
with adjacent communities if we are responding to territories outside City
limits.
Council
reviewed the reappointment of John Stella to the Board of Assessment Review,
and new appointment of Dorothy Stanton.
Each will be appointed to a five year term.
Councilmember
Gold reminded members that school opens soon and last year there were 28
incidents of gangs and fighting. He
suggested sending a letter to the school system informing them that they need
to do more to curb such activities. He
felt students should be clearly informed they will be arrested and prosecuted
to the fullest extent if they break the law.
This type of activity puts a strain on our police and sets a bad precedent
for younger students. City Administrator
Braun suggested inviting Acting Chief Scofield to an upcoming workshop to get
his opinion on the best way to address the situation. Councilmember Foster suggested inviting Dr.
Parr to do a presentation at a community segment.
Council
reviewed the upcoming agenda. There was
no further business to discuss and the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Etha
Grogan
August 29, 2007