Real concerns
The following letter was submitted to Town of Saugerties Planning Board Chairman Howard Post by Saugerties resident Gaetana Ciarlante. Ms. Ciarlante asked that the letter appear in this newspaper. Here it is:
On August 16, 2011 you presided over a public hearing regarding a project which includes the construction of 40 low-income rental units in Glasco. After allowing Larry Regan from Regan Development Corporation to present his plans for over a half hour, the meeting was open for public comment and questions. In opening the meeting to the public Mr. Regan suggested to the public that he knew many of us were present out of concern about crime, impact on our schools, taxes and such issues and invited questions about those concerns. After an hour and a half of sometimes heated discussion on socio-economic and natural resource issues, much was revealed about the plans that was not known. A school official pointed out that this project will cause a hike in school taxes translating into an extreme burden on the taxpayers.
Many of us learned for the first time about NY State Law 581A and the negotiated deal with town officials to pay a total annual combined property and school tax of only $26,000 per year for the next 30 years for all of the 40 housing units, which includes 1,2 and 3 bedroom units. After allowing the public to question for well over an hour’s time, Mr. Post announced to us that we, the public, had raised almost no issues which the Planning Board would consider. Though many of us asked to keep the meeting open your board took a vote which was tied and Mr. Post cast the decisive vote to close the meeting.
Today I consulted with a state assemblyman and also met with the DEC and learned that in fact the State Environmental Quality Review does provide for consideration of the issues you Mr. Post said the board would not address. This is the instrument that your board uses for its review. The Full Environmental Assessment Form Section C #11 asks whether the project will create a demand for any community provided services (recreation, education, police and fire protection), none of which have been addressed.
This low-income rental housing project which promises to be a financial burden on all property taxpayers is being considered as the same plan which was approved for high end upscale revenue producing town houses several years ago before this recession. It is highly likely to create a need another classroom to our school and bring into our school district children with special needs that drives the cost of education to skyrocket.
I am writing this letter to you, Mr. Post to ask that the Town Planning Board to address all of the areas mentioned in the previous statement, to reconsider whether this is indeed the same plan and above all to consider the socio-economic impact on the Hamlet of Glasco and town of Saugerties.
Gaetana Ciarlante
Saugerties
Thanks from the Boys & Girls club
On August 7, the Boys & Girls Club, Saugerties Unit, held our third annual Golf Tournament at the beautiful Lazy Swan Golf Resort. The hugely successful, sold out event has become a highly sought after tournament. Chairman Wally Michaels with assistance from co-chair Ron Myers worked tirelessly for months to bring the tournament to fruition. Once again Pete Kramer provided behind the scenes support, built and installed the sponsor signage and handled on-site coordination. Pete’s expertise in golf tournament execution is priceless. All proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to offset the costs of operating the club facility on Partition Street. Without fundraisers and community support, the club would not be able to offer vital programs our Saugerties youth need to prepare them to succeed in today’s challenging world.
The Board of Directors gratefully acknowledges everyone who supported this popular event and helped to make it so successful. Special recognition and thanks go to the following individuals and businesses:
Platinum Sponsors: Shop Rite, The Center of Health
Gold Sponsor: United Healthcare, Haller Financial Services
Corporate Sponsors: HITS, Rondout Savings Bank, Town & Country Liquors, ELKS Lodge # 2574, Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home, Methods Tooling & Mfg, Village Apothecary, Saugerties Kiwanis Club, Guilded Leaf Landscapers, Erica Guerin Attorney, Honda of Kingston, Riozzi Construction, Naccarato Insurance, Lions Club of Saugerties, Supreme Builders, Brads Barns, Kosco, Murphy Plumbing, Woodstock Harley Davidson, Helsmoortel Insurance & Realty, Markertek, Tim Mauro Construction, Saugerties Carpet, Sawyer Motors, Kenneth Gilligan, Esq., Chester Krom, Esq., Polaski Dental Group
Tee Sponsors were: Jim Halwick Seamless Gutters, State Farm Insurance, Mowers and More, H.L. Snyder & Son, Michael Stein, Control Concepts, Saugerties Sawyers Baseball Club, Greco Motors, Sandi Albelli, Dr. Joseph Mueller, Mike Saporito Photography, M&M Carpet Cleaning, Fran Andreassen, Exchange Hotel, Smith Hardware, Lezette Express, Nekos-Dedricks Pharmacy, Nekos Pharmacy Gifts, Frank & Co Jewelers, Saugerties Lumber, Fehr Brothers, The Beer Store, Maggiore Electric, Sauger Tees, Robert Yerick, Nick & Seth Johnson, Putt ‘n Plus, Saugerties Little League, Saugerties Babe Ruth League, Reis Group, Mirabellas Restaurant, Lisa Stanley Town Clerk, Robert Gehring Septic, Fred Costello Town Board, Kid Around Consignment, Greg Chorvas, Mike Abate Construction, Ward Backhaus, Saugerties Athletic Assoc, Valley Spa & Pools, Cliff Tienken Plumbing, Rip’s Auto Parts, Holley Carnright UCDA, The Committee to Re-elect Holley Carnright, Dan Lamb Attorney, Chuck Schirmer Construction, Doc’s Cycle Shop, Blue Stone Country Inn, Awesome Sun Power Co, Good Guys Auto, John Greco Attorney, Squires Sealcoating.
And last but definitely not least, a sincere Thank You to all the golfers who participated in our tournament. See you all at the 2012 tournament.
Sue Worthman
Board President
Boys & Girls Club Saugerties Unit
Join the family! 
