Town of Saugerties seeks candidates for UC Planning Board
The Town of Saugerties is accepting applications to fill two vacant positions, a regular member and an alternate member, on the Ulster County Planning Board. The mission of the Ulster County Planning Board (UCPB) is to promote, encourage and support solutions among levels of government, agencies and other stakeholders in matters affecting conservation, preservation and development. In pursuing this mission, it is of critical importance that the Planning Board and its staff be widely accessible to the public, comprised of technically and professionally experienced members, broadly represented geographically and independent from political influence.
The very nature of the Board’s duties and the responsibilities of its staff require a nonpartisan approach in order to work for the benefit and welfare of Ulster County, to represent the Town of Saugerties for a four-year term, each to expire on December 31, 2025.
Saugerties residents are invited to submit letters of interest, including résumés and pertinent experience. All applicants will be considered. Deadline for letters of intent is December 6; they can be sent to the Supervisor’s Office, 4 High Street, Saugerties NY 12477 or via e-mail to twood@saugertiesny.gov.
Saugerties Boys & Girls Club Craft Fair
The Saugerties Boys & Girls Club will hold a Craft Fair on Sunday, December 5 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Club House, located at 45 Partition Street in Saugerties. The fair will feature handcrafted gifts from local crafters and vendors, raffles and a visit from Santa. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.
Holiday in the Village
A community holiday celebration throughout the Village of Saugerties will be held on Sunday, December 5 from noon to 6 p.m. on Market, Main and Partition Streets. For additional information, e-mail info@discoversaugerties.com or visit discoversaugerties.com.
Reformed Church of Saugerties Christmas Craft Fair
The Reformed Church of Saugerties will hold its annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, December 5 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Church, located at 173 Main Street in Saugerties. The Fair specializes in themed gift baskets, gently used Christmas items and fresh greens.
For additional information, e-mail refsaug@yahoo.com or visit saugertiesreformed.org.
Work nears completion at new mini-park near the corner of Montrose and Partition Street
Work is nearing completion on a new mini-park at the corner of Montrose and Partition streets in the Village of Saugerties.
Rosemarie Brackett of the Saugerties Tree Commission, said the area has been cleared out and with assistance from the Village DPW, trees have been planted and volunteers have contributed many hours. Brackett updated the Village Board recently about the status of the project.
She explained that work will continue on the project throughout the winter and into the spring. Bluestone boulders, about 17 inches tall, will be installed on the site for people to sit on in the park in-lieu of benches. “Bluestone is conducive to our history,” Brackett said.
Trustee Vincent Buono said the Kiwanis Club was considering donating a bench, but he said he’ll talk with the club about paying for one of the boulders.
“Maybe we could put a plaque on it,” Brackett said.
The site will be screened from neighbors by a natural arboretum.
Village DPW Superintendent Rich Forbes said his crews could water the site until a more permanent solution can be found in the form of a tap connected to a water main on either Montrose or Partition streets. It’s estimated to cost between $800 to $1000 in material, including a new box to link the line to the main.
Trustee Terry Parisian suggested that a house could be connected to the nearest hydrant using an adapter. “That’s what we did when I was at the Hudson Valley Mall,” he said.
— Brian Hubert
Saugerties Village Board approves dredging project at Blue Mountain Reservoir
The Saugerties Village Board recently approved a $571,000 project to dredge silt out of the Village’s sole source for municipal drinking water, the Blue Mountain Reservoir in the Town of Saugerties.
Water Superintendent Mike Hopf said the project is urgently needed after the Village’s water plant was knocked off twice in the past month by heavy rainstorms that clogged the intakes at the plant.
Hopf said the project is expected to start in spring 2022 and last into summer. But if it runs over, the work would have to be suspended to allow for spawning season in the creek and it would have to stretch into 2023.
The superintendent said the last time the reservoir was dredged was in 2008. He said the reservoir has been inspected by divers three times since then, including by Village Building Inspector Eyal Saad and the Greene County Dive Team, which used the dive as a training exercise.
“This is one of those things that need to get done,” Mayor Bill Murphy said.
The board went on to unanimously approve issuing a bond for the work.
In other water department matters, the Village will be taking part in a program where the state will help qualifying low-income water and wastewater department customers to pay off their water and sewer bills in arrears. Residents will apply through the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, which will also administer the program.
“It’s a good thing they’re doing something for people down on their luck,” Trustee Don Hackett said.
If this first phase of the program is successful, the state will consider beginning a program to help income-eligible customers with current bills, Hopf said.
— Brian Hubert
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