Village communications “terrible”
The Village of Saugerties needs a new phone system, treasurer Paula Kerbert told the village board at their regular board meeting on September 8. “We are in dire need of a good phone system,” she said. “Our phone system is terrible.”
Problems include leaving voice mails and dialing extensions. Village clerk Lisa Mayone] has a hard time leaving a message for the general public, Kerbert said. Her phone doesn’t provide caller ID.
Funding for improvements would not all come out of the regular village budget, Kerbert said: “The court would pay for part, the fire department is going to pay for part.”
Trustee Donald Hackett asked whether the system would include the wastewater plant. “They don’t need it there,” Kerbert replied.
The system Kerbert recommended from Superior Telephone Systems of Salt Point would cost $7952, Kerbert said. Trustee Terry Parisian asked Kerbert to get another estimate for comparison. She has contacted Hudson Valley Telephone, which will be doing so in the near future.
In another matter, Kerbert reported that the village’s new online system for residents’ payment of bills via the Internet was functioning well. People don’t have to come into the office to pay bills, making that aspect of village life less onerous.
First Friday to be expanded
Saugerties village stores stay open late and offer free samples and entertainment on the first Friday of each month. Friday, September 4, was especially festive, with two bands and a good crowd, reported mayor William Murphy. All wore masks and maintained social distance.
The village will be expanding the first-Friday concept to every second Friday, Murphy said.
Bids on street butterflies
The Saugerties Chamber of Commerce is auctioning the butterflies that grace the streets of downtown Saugerties via the Internet, Saugerties village trustee Jeannine Mayer reported at the village board’s regular meeting on September 8. Mayer said there should be no problem placing bids at https://www.accelevents.com/e/butterfly.
The page offers both a direct contact for bidding or instructions for bidding through other channels. Information is also available on the chamber’s site: www.discoversaugerties.com.
Minimum bid is $300. Proceeds from the auction go to the artists, to Diaz Ambulance, for a scholarship for a graduating Saugerties High School senior, and to fund various Chamber initiatives.
Sprucing up fire escape
Roger Hummer, a community volunteer, will be working with the Village of Saugerties in various ways, as a community volunteer, Saugerties mayor William Murphy said. Hummer will sandblast and paint the back fire escape on the village hall.
“This is a project we have wanted to get done for some time. We actually had a price on it last year for about ten grand, and now we’re going to get it done for free,” Murphy said. “Roger and his crew will do it as a community-service project for the village.”
Join the family! 
