Website accused of bias against Trump supporters
John McFeeley said at the June 16 meeting of the Saugerties Town Board that he believes he has been discriminated against by the operator of a village Facebook page. “The Saugerties Village Facebook page is very biased,” he said, citing several incidents that came up over time, such as “there are a lot of Black Lives Matter postings, and I’ve had some things taken down.” Last week a not-for-profit called MAGA Birthday promoted June 12 as a national celebration of Trump’s birthday, and places all over the country were hosting parties.” After arranging for a party in Saugerties, McFeeley approached the Saugerties village site and his party was posted for several hours, there were some comments and then it was taken down, he said. “I approached the admin and asked what was the reason?”
After discussing it with friends, McFeeley said he thought a discussion with the site owner could make it more politically balanced. He has considered starting a page himself.
“We would not have any say in that conversation,” Supervisor Fred Costello said. The site is not sanctioned by the town or the village, it’s not our official site. McFeeley asked whether the town would consider starting a new site. The town has a Facebook presence, Costello said. “We do our best to not make it political, to make it a source for information about our meetings, thing’s we’re working on and certain announcements, so it is certain that those things are seen by everyone.”
He noted that platforms exist that McFeeley might find more welcoming and that he has the ability to set up his own page.
Complaint about noisy neighbors
Steve Gentile, who lives on Platte Clove Terrace in Saugerties, said at last week’s Town Board meeting that his neighborhood was quiet and people got along well until a nearby house was sold last year. He said the noise upsets not just his and his partner’s quality of life, but his dog’s as well. “It’s not just weekends, it’s during the week.” And his attempts to speak to them “in a civilized way” were unsuccessful, he said.
The lights the new owners installed in their yard are so bright that “I literally don’t have to turn the lights on in my house,” Gentile said and added that the police have no jurisdiction in that area; their authority is in the village and that should be addressed “because I don’t believe there is really any difference between the village and the town.” And, having been sleepless for three months, “I’m as cranky as hell,” he said.
Supervisor Fred Costello said there’s some good news for Gentile, as the town is in the process of drafting a law regarding short-term rentals, “and I hope it addresses some of the concerns you’ve shared with us.” Costello noted that Woodstock, whose law Saugerties is using as a model, has a noise ordinance so there’s no need for them to include noise in their rental law. Costello said Saugerties would be looking to include some limits on noise in its law.
One person at the meeting suggested that Gentile contact Airbnb. “They have very strict rules,” she said.
John McFeeley said he owns an Air-bnb in Lake Placid and he has never had a problem with unruly tenants. “I have a next-door neighbor that I pay as a property manager and a cleaning woman and I haven’t had a single complaint. I bring this up because I have a piece of property that I am considering Airbnbing.” The owner and property manager should be pressed, he said. “There are ways of fixing things other than passing laws.”
Costello said the town plans to distinguish in the law between an owner-occupied unit and someone who might be operating remotely.
Town Board names supervisor as marriage officer
The Saugerties Town Board voted unanimously at its meeting on June 16 to appoint Supervisor Fred Costello as marriage officer for the town. Costello recused himself from the vote because it gives additional authority to the supervisor. The resolution passed 4-0.
Town Board honors Sawyer Savings Bank
The Saugerties Town Board voted at its meeting on Wednesday, June 16 to honor Sawyer Savings Bank, which was first chartered in February, 1871. The bank, founded by John Kiersted, changed its name to Sawyer Savings Bank in 1973.
“Whereas for the past 150 years, this institution’s mission has been one of supporting local organizations and businesses, through volunteerism as well as monetary support, and whereas we applaud and congratulate Sawyer Savings Bank on its remarkable long standing in the community; therefore I, Fred Costello and the Town Board do hereby proclaim that the Town of Saugerties, NY recognizes July 3, 2021 as Sawyer Savings Bank Day,” the proclamation concludes.
“Sawyer Savings really represents what it means to be a community bank,” Supervisor Costello said. “They are significantly represented in so many organizations, Kiwanis, Lions; they have been supporters of many local business ventures over the years, and many of those businesses have grown to be substantial supporters of the community, and that support has been facilitated by the support they received from the bank. They represent what Saugerties is all about and we are grateful to have them here.”
Truck purchase approved
In a series of motions, the Saugerties Town Board authorized highway superintendent Douglas Myer to buy two 4×2 six-wheel cab and chassis dump trucks at a price of $177,954 each, for a total not to exceed $355,902. The purchase would be “piggybacked” on an Onondaga County purchase, a practice that averts the need for bidding, Myer explained at the Town Board meeting of June 16.
The trucks each have a nose plow and a wing plow off to the sides, Myer explained. The old trucks had been built with a technique of putting dual frames together, and over time water and salt seeped in between them and caused severe rusting, he said. “The only way you know the frames are disintegrating is when it eats from the inside out and once it appears, it’s too late.” The lead time for ordering trucks is “ridiculous,” Meyer said. If they are ordered immediately, the earliest they could be delivered would be 2022.”
Myer explained piggybacking: “Onondaga County put out a multifaceted bid and all municipalities within the United States could piggyback on that bid, so it already is the lowest price.” A second motion authorized Myer to pay for the trucks with funds from the department’s fund balance.
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