Town Board Meeting Minutes
Posted on: 11/14/2007
Date of Minutes:
10/09/2007
October 9,
2007 Town Board Meeting Minutes
Present: Supervisor Steve Block
Council members Dod Crane
Paul Niedercorn
Ellen Silverstein
Linda Souers
Counsel Warren Replansky
At 6:45 the
Supervisor opened the meeting at the Rhinecliff Firehouse. PANDA is not here tonight due to the Village
Board meeting.
Announcements:
Rebuilding
applications are available in the Town Clerk’s office and must be filed by
November 30, 2007. Please call Barb Cunningham, 876-3409 for further
information.
The Town of Rhinebeck Highway Department will hold a “Bike Rodeo” on
Saturday, October 20, 2007 at the Highway Department facility located at
Rhinecliff Road
Presentation:
Anthony Russo, AKRF Planning Engineer, recapped the Astor Flats Traffic Study,
explaining the grading system first. A,
B, C are good, D is marginally unacceptable or borderline and E, F are poor
with congestion delays.
The Route 9 and
intersection was studied at various times and days. With the additional proposed TND, Gardens
Phase II-III - the level of congestion worsens to D’s. Some improvements are necessary. We recommend the signal be re-timed, install
the latest hardware/ software from NYS DOT and putting in a roundabout at the
9/9G intersection.
Jack Conklin
pointed out that the roundabout in
has been eliminated because it didn’t work.
Anthony explained sometimes they are installed for the wrong
reasons. They need to be kept
tight. The final decision is up to the
state. Pedestrian traffic is another
component. Joe Ely questioned the necessity
of this traffic study since one occurred several years ago. One intersection is in the Village and both
are State roads. Anthony replied that
traffic studies become obsolete in 3 years.
My firm did reach out for previous studies and nothing came back from any
agencies. Steve has no knowledge of
another study. Cynthia Philip asked why
a Rhinecliff cluster traffic study was not done and Steve said there will be
more traffic studies done. Dod pointed
out that studies are demanded by the SEQR process. Design and development must be consistent
with our Comprehensive Plan. Linda
stated that developers must do target studies before coming to the Planning
Board.
Richard Macaluso
feels there is more speeding in the hamlet of Rhinecliff in the early mornings
and late afternoon when commuters are on their way to the train and again when returning
home. Anthony suggested potential
improvement measures: get community
together to make recommendations, lower the speed limit, have aggressive
ticketing, install illuminated signage posting speed limit or put up portable
speed trailers. Mr. Macaluso wouldn’t
want to look at a portable trailer out his window. Speed humps really don’t save lives. If there was enforcement, speeders would
stop. Anthony that this study is just a
tool. Richard Macaluso then asked if a
sign inventory was done, there are signs everywhere in the hamlet. Andy Sheppard suggested texturing the road
surface to alert drivers.
Justin Coleburg
and Tom Holsapple said this whole conversation is pointless if there is no
enforcement. That is what will slow the
speeding cars. Mr. Macaluso agrees. There is a predictable pattern with the
commuters. Have enforcement during peak
train times.
Business
before the Board:
1. Paul motioned and Dod seconded to request a lower speed limit on Mt. Rutsen Road to 35
miles per hour to the State D.O.T.
application form and DOT will require a traffic count. Town Counsel will draft a letter but told the
Board it is very difficult to get speed limits lowered. All were in favor of drafting the letter for
the October 22nd Town Board meeting. Considering recommendations for
an official DOT request to lower the speed limit on various streets in
Rhinecliff. Lance Ringel said the Rhinecliff
Advisory Council recommends lowering the speed limit from Slate Dock to
governing bodies; state, county and town.
Dod suggested bring this up at the next Rhinecliff Advisory meeting.
2. The Rhinecliff Advisory Council presented a resolution to the
Town Board requesting that
Road
the
be renamed or renumbered. Lance Ringel
pointed out that there are 13 houses in the village that would be affected and
24 in the hamlet. The Council is
recommending that the Town write the Village requesting this possible
change. Paul asked why the Village
should change their street when legally they have the correct name in the 911
records. Sandy Williams recapped how
this topic came about. On August 25th
Rhinecliff Emergency did not respond to a call at
and went to
in the Village. Ed Murray, owner of NDP,
has since attended a Council meeting apologizing for this mistake. There are 9 duplicate road names between the
Town and Village. To only correct one
name is not practical. Dod feels this is
a safety issue, how does 911 deal with duplicate road names in the same town
and Sandy replied a cross street is given and the numbering is important when
the call is made. Emergency Response
records show
in the Village and
in the Hamlet. If the call is from a
land line it is automatically tied to a specific address. All cell phones don’t all have this
capability. Ellen wants to educate
people about land versus cell phone emergency calls. Steve summarized that it would be wise to
hold off at this point, more research is necessary.
3. Scheduling departmental and committee workshops for the
2008 preliminary
budget. Highway will be October 27th
at 5 pm and another session on the 25th. The October 18th session is hereby
cancelled and switched to the 23rd.
The budget public hearing will be October 29th at 6:45.
4. Paul motioned and Linda seconded to appoint Karen Rua to
substitute for Shelly Day during her maternity leave at $15 an hour for up
to 20 hours a week through end of January.
All were in favor.
5. On motion from Paul and second from Linda the
resignations from Gary Bassett and Debbi Mimoso from the Recreation
Committee were unanimously accepted with regret.
6. Paul motioned and Dod seconded to appoint Rhonda Hammond, through
12/31/08 and Jennifer Beichert, 12/31/09 to the Recreation Committee.
Motion carried unanimously.
7. Linda moved and Paul seconded to appoint Michelle Cassarino and
John Lehane as Co-chairs of the Recreation Committee, replacing Debbi and Gary.
All were in favor.
8. Linda motioned and Paul seconded to appoint Gerardo Weigel and Erin
Doyle as Co-Coaches for Basketball Winter Program at $1200 each stipend per
season, contingent upon sex registry clearance. Motioned carried unanimously.
.
9. Paul motioned and Linda seconded to authorize the Supervisor to sign an
Additional Services proposal not to exceed $4,142.50 from the LA Group for
Plan in response to the findings of the recently completed archeological
study. All were in favor.
10. Paul
motioned and Dod seconded to approve budget transfer of $110 from 03-04-5110-414
to 03-04-5142-414 for purchase of
anti-freeze. All were in favor.
11. Paul motioned and Ellen seconded to approve Abstract 10, checks
2800-2835, vouchers 1068-1111 for $35,041.56.
Carried unanimously.
12. Linda motioned and Paul seconded to
approve minutes of September 24, 2007.
All were in favor.
Adjournment
At 9:03 on
motion from Dod and second from Paul this meeting was unanimously adjourned.
Respectfully
submitted,
Barbara
Cunningham
Town Clerk