Saugerties officials will host a public hearing for a revised version of a controversial property maintenance plan at the Frank D. Greco Memorial Senior Citizen Center at 207 Market Street on October 6 at 6:30 p.m. before that scheduled Town Board meeting.
A previous draft, shared at a July 21 Town Board meeting, drew outrage from more than a dozen residents present, with just one speaker who joined online, speaking in favor of it. As a result, Town officials pulled the proposal and revised it.
Supervisor Fred Costello said during last Wednesday’s meeting that he was confident the new plan addressed residents’ concerns and he added that officials met with building officials and the Town’s legal representation before bringing the new draft out in front of the public.
“We listened to the public comment and he hopes this satisfies many concerns,” he said.
Still, he said, the consensus among everyone is that some type of property maintenance law is needed.
“Property maintenance issues have existed for years,” Costello said. “There are unsafe structures, storage of vehicles leaking fluids near property lines and water and sewer fluids impacting wells, gardens and children’s’ play areas.”
He said this new draft of the proposed property maintenance ordinance creates a better, more streamline approach he hopes balances protecting private property rights with ensuring safe access for first responders and protects other residents from hazardous waste materials.
“This new law does not create lawnmower police,” Town Board member Leeanne Thornton said, addressing concerns raised by numerous residents over provisions in a previous version of the proposed regulations addressing the length of grass.
“This is another attempt, we”ll see what happens at the public hearing,» she said.
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