Village of Saugerties trustees are interested in joining a state-wide initiative to develop sources of clean water. The program, run by the New York Departments of Environmental Conservation [DEC] and the Department of Health [DOH] offers municipalities free technical assistance to ensure the cleanliness and safety of their water sources. The state program, Drinking Water Source Protection Program [DWSP2] offers technical help in protecting existing water sources for municipalities. It does not offer help in finding new sources, explained Mary McNamara, who works with local environmental and conservation organizations, at the village board’s regular meeting on Monday, July 1.
The program is cost free, but municipalities must apply to join it, McNamara said. “They will only proceed if they can get elected officials behind this, and then they will come and present to you and you can ask them questions and find out more about it. It is only for existing water supply; it is not for future water supply.”
Trustee Terry Parisian said the village needs to complete a form requesting inclusion in the program and appoint a contact for it. Parisian said he would favor water department superintendent Mike Hopf; board members agreed. Alternate contacts would be grant writer Mike Karashay, mayor Bill Murphy and Parisian. Parisian said he will fill out the form and send it in.
The program offers technical assistance, grant writing help and other help to ensure that water sources are kept clean. In response to a question, McNamara said the protection of existing water supply could include the Blue Mountain Reservoir and its watershed.
A representative of the DOH had met with village water superintendent Mike Hopf and had offered him information about available grants to help pay for dredging the reservoir, McNamara said. “It’s a good program, it doesn’t cost anything and it would help you know about other sources of funding. And if you ever had an emergency with your drinking water, they would be a source for technical information.”
Representatives of the program are expected to visit the village in August to explain the program in more detail and to answer questions.
Fees set for use of village amenities
“We’ve gone through and revamped some of our fees for village residents, town residents and out-of-town residents,” parks and buildings director Kevin Brown told the Saugerties Village Board at its regular meeting on July 1. He distributed copies of application forms he has developed for use of various village amenities, such as Seamon Park, Tina Chorvas Park and the village beach.
Brown has suggested, since his recent employment, that the village could derive revenue from recreational amenities. The study of possible revenue from village amenities is an ongoing process, Brown said. “If we can get it established now and keep revamping it and adding all these amenities we have on the list to do, it’s going to be a good revenue source for the village.”
Village trustees said they were impressed with Brown’s work on the application process.
“I’ve revamped all the applications for the use of Seamon Park, the village beach, Tina Chorvas, Lions Club, anything of that nature; some verbiage corrections and acceptable fees for people to pay for the use of the parks.”
Regarding a house at Seamon Park in Saugerties, the board discussed how long anyone renting the building could stay. Trustee Donald Hackett said a friend of his allowed visitors at his Airbnb only three-day stays. Other alternatives, such as two weeks and possibly longer, were discussed. The question was how long a renter could stay before the stay turned into a regular rental, rather than a bed and breakfast.
As the board discussed details of the plan, trustee Jeannine Mayer reminded them that at this point the plan is “just a draft,” with details to be filled in over time.
Brown suggested the board members look over his plan and get back with any questions or suggestions. The point is that the village is moving forward to realizing some revenue from its infrastructure.
One immediate change trustee Terry Parisian suggested was to change the application form so it fits on one page. The sample given to the board had only a line and a signature space on the second page of each of the sample forms the board was given.
Village of Saugerties no longer accepting sludge
“We stopped accepting sludge today,” Saugerties village trustee Donald Hackett said Monday, July 1 at the board’s regular meeting. As the board considers upgrades to its sewer plant, stopping the acceptance of sewage sludge from other municipalities was a way of reducing the production of ammonia at the plant. The village has been ordered to reduce the amount of ammonia produced in the treatment, Hackett said at last month’s board meeting. However, the move means the village will no longer be collecting fees from other municipalities for sludge treatment. The fee for handling other municipalities’ sludge make up about eight percent of the village budget. It is possible that planned upgrades to the plant could allow the village to treat sludge again at some point in the future.
Improved traffic control on Livingston Street
At the Saugerties Town Board meeting on June 17, residents of Livingston Street asked that the village improve traffic controls to stop drivers from using the street to bypass Ulster Avenue. Mayor Bill Murphy said he will be walking the street with police chief Robert Nuzzo to determine the best ways to slow traffic down and to reduce the use of the street as an alternative route. “We did order ‘children at play’ signs as they requested,” he said. There has also been discussion about a three-way stop sign. A speed detector with a signal to let drivers know how fast they are going was installed and will remain on the street for two weeks, the mayor said.
Crosswalks will be placed at the ends of First and Second streets, and a stop sign will be placed on the street. “One suggestion was a three-way stop at Second Street, but one of the people that was here was complaining; they didn’t want the stop sign just in front of their house.” Murphy said he will research the law to see whether a stop sign can be legally installed in the middle of a block that is between intersections. Trustee Vincent Buono suggested that a sign be placed at the new crosswalks reminding drivers that they have to stop if a pedestrian is entering the crosswalk.
A police patrol set up shortly after the last board meeting stopped two cars. The drivers were both Livingston Street residents, Murphy said.
Livingston Street is hardly alone in its problem with speeding vehicles. “You should see them fly up Lighthouse Dive,” Buono said. “This guy on a motorcycle must have been doing at least 80.”
Farmers’ Market Club forming in Saugerties
Saugerties village trustee Andrew Zink and Nina Schmidbaur are planning to start a Saugerties Farmers’ Market Club, which would meet at the market every Saturday at 10 a.m. “We invite all village residents to come to the market, buy an item and sit in the public seating area and gather. We had our first meeting on Saturday and 20 people came. It’s posted on Facebook and you are all welcome.”
Join the family! 
