Mountain high, road narrow
Hunter resident Roy Silver urged the town board to do more to stop large trucks from trying to scale Platte Clove to get to Hunter. He said the road was too steep and narrow for large trucks to traverse.
“When they realize they are not going to make it over the mountain, it’s up to the police and a tow truck to help them back down the road to where they can turn around,” Silver said.
Police chief Joseph Sinagra said the operation to help the truck driver back his way down the mountain or get a tow truck takes upward of two hours, blocking access for anyone else to get up the road. Sinagra said the situation was a nuisance for police.
There are already weight-limit signs along the road, but Silver said truckers ignore them. He asked for “No Tractor Trailer” signs to direct large trucks to take Manorville Road instead.
The town board suggested talking to Hunter officials. Meanwhile the town highway department will put up new signs.
Slow the speeders
For years, residents of Glasco Turnpike that live on the section between routes 32 and 9W have been complaining about vehicles speeding along the 55-m.p.h. road.
At their July 12 meeting, the town board conceded it had heard the complaints. Saugerties will ask the state Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit to 35 m.p.h., said councilman Fred Costello. “Residents asked us to do it, so we’re going to ask the DOT,” he said.
Residents shouldn’t get their hopes up. They are yet to be successful in getting the DOT to agree to lower speed limits. Recently the state turned down a local request to lower the speed limit on Harry Wells Road.
Grants sought for Bristol Beach
Saugertires town government will pay Barton & Loguidice $6000 to apply for two matching-fund grants for the Bristol Beach Park for a boat launch and dock.
Town supervisor Greg Helsmoortel said the town would match the grants, which total $420,000 through in-kind services. If it has to match the grants with money, it’ll take it from an $800,000 account that includes funds given to the town by the now-closed Winston Farm wildlife fund.
New sergeant
The Saugerties police have a new sergeant. Patrolman Jeremy Rushkoski was promoted to the rank at the July 12 town board meeting. He replaces former sergeant Donald Tucker, who retired earlier this year.
Rushkoski had been one of the department’s K-9 officers until his partner Miky passed away.
The town board also voted to hire Michael R. Rogers and Francis E. Winski as reserve police officers, and accepted the resignations of police officer Jonathan Tiernan and crossing guard Edward Kime.
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