Image: Route 28 Scenic Byway map. From the Central Catskill Collaborative's Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan, September 2011.
The Shandaken Town Board held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, December 5. Here's Watershed Post reporter Rusty Mae Moore's account of the meeting.
Scenic Byway Vote Tabled
The Central Catskills Collaborative's Route 28 Scenic Byway project, which has been in the works for several years, seeks to get a 45-mile stretch of Route 28 federally designated as a scenic byway. The designation would come with federal funding to market the byway. But before the group can apply for the designation, each of the five towns and two villages along the byway must approve the proposed Corridor Management Plan.
Peter Manning, Regional Planner with the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, made a presentation about the proposed plan in a special hearing before the town board's regular meeting. (Download the complete plan in PDF form at this link.)
The plan would allow a unified marketing effort for the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, which would run along Route 28 from Boiceville to Andes, and include side roads running through the centers of the hamlets and villages.
Members of the board and several other people attending the meeting raised concerns about subjecting businesses to new regulations as a result of approving the "Corridor Management Plan.” Of particular concern to the board were regulations concerning signage for businesses along Route 28. One person in attendance said, “We all want to see economic revitalization in the Central Catskills, but we don’t want to see something limiting it rather than promoting it.”
The proposed Corridor Management Plan would involve a coordinated plan for road signs for tourist attractions. From page 98:
In addition to recreational and cultural attractions there needs to be a coordinated system of Tourist Oriented Destination (TOD) signs...This will assist in developing clusters of signs rather than the cumulative disorganization that has created visual distraction.
Supervisor Rob Stanley recommended that the resolution calling for the adoption of the “Corridor Management Plan” be tabled for the time being to allow another public hearing on the issue. The Board agreed, and a second public hearing was scheduled for 6pm, January 24, 2012.
Logging Permit Reissue
A second public hearing before the regular Board meeting was held after the hearing on the Scenic Byway. There was no opposition expressed, and a resolution was passed unanimously to extend the logging permit to the Upper Esopus Fish and Game Association for another year.
Pine Hill Sewer Use Law
The proposed Pine Hill Sewer Use Law calls for a new extension of the sewer along Route 28. The Board scheduled a public hearing on this law for Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 6pm.
Longtime Pine Hill resident Mary Herrmann told the Watershed Post after the board meeting that this hearing is of critical importance to Pine Hill residents.
Roadside Stand Law Amendments
The Board has proposed amendments to the Roadside Stand Law, known as the Farm Stand Law. The proposed changes include removing the requirement for that farmstands be no more than 10 feet by 10 feet, adding a restriction to prohibit the sale of mechanical products, and increasing the required setback from the road. The proposed amendments were sent to the Planning Board for review, and will be followed by a public hearing on the amendments before a final vote by the Town Board.
Opening of Bids for Work on Glenbrook Park Pavilion
Two bids were submitted for work on the deteriorating Glenbrook Park pavilion. The Board voted unanimously to award the work to Black Bear Construction, based in Margaretville. The Black Bear bid was $11,700, compared to the second bid which was $47,700 plus $18,000 for stone facing work.
Reopened Bidding for Ambulance Sale
One bid on the used ambulance for sale by the town was opened, but the price offered was much less than the trade in-value of the vehicle. The Board voted to call for new bids, and to park the ambulance along Route 28 with a sign calling for bids.
Ashokan Watershed Floodplain Management Program Conference
Bob McCormack of the Ashokan Watershed Floodplain Management Program announced that the AWFMP will hold a one day conference on April 21, 2012. Topics to be addressed include flood plain management, stream permitting, and guidelines for property owners with land situated on streams. The fee for the conference will range from $15-$20.
Rumors of Esopus Dredging Lawsuit
Councilman Jordan mentioned that he had heard two unconfirmed reports that the Trout Unlimited organization was planning to bring a lawsuit against entities implementing the dredging of the Esopus. He asked if anyone had information on this.
Kathy Nolan commented in the Public Comments portion of the meeting that she is a member of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited, and had never heard of this. She promised Jordan that she would look into the matter and let him know what she finds.
A spokesperson for the national Trout Unlimited organization, contacted after the meeting by the Watershed Post, said that he was not aware of any lawsuits being planned.
Onteora Schools Face Financial Problems
Phyllis McGill, Superintendent of Schools at Onteora Central School District and Ann
McGillicuddy, President of the Onteora Board of Education, attended the Board
meeting to present a status report on the Onteora School District. The district is currently considering a reorganization of its elementary schools, or possibly even closing a school, in response to falling enrollment.
At the meeting, McGill told the board that the district faces financial difficulties because of the new New York State cap of 2 percent on the tax levy, as well as the reduction in federal and state financial support for schools.
McGill said that the district's enrollment is on a downward trend, with a student body of 1,200 as an eventual possibility. Currently, the district has about 1500 students.
McGill also said that “student performance is a major issue,” with an 80 percent graduation rate across the district including BOCES,” meaning that 20% of students leave high school without a diploma in Onteora. In addition, McGill said, another 20 percent of graduates are graduating “by the skin of their teeth.”
She mentioned several programs to restructure the educational process to improve education attainment and adjust to reduced financial resources.
Frustration with the Shandaken Museum
The Shandaken Museum in Pine Hill.
Councilman Jordan reported that the Shandaken Museum in Pine Hill would remain closed until the Spring. He noted that the building is in poor repair, and that the museum is currently without a Director. He commented that the option of moving the museum from its present site is a possibility being considered.
Kathy Nolan questioned the board about the museum during the public comments part of the meeting. She mentioned that the current museum building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and that many possible volunteers have expressed frustration with their exclusion from the museum. She asked what the view of the Pine Hill Main Street Committee was concerning the possibility of moving the museum.
Stanley responded that “the Main Street Committee has not met for months,” and suggested that there was frustration at the lack of action by the committee concerning the storm drain project in Pine Hill. He said that it might be good to have the museum in a higher traffic area than on Academy Street in Pine Hill.
Former Shandaken Museum Director Mary Herrmann commented that there would be many volunteers if the times were advertised, and suggested that people are discouraged from participation in the museum by the Museum Board.
"If you were not born in Shandaken, you're not really welcome," she said. "The [Museum] Board treats it as if it is their own private genealogy museum."
She suggested that more public discussion on the museum is needed.
Expression of Thanks to Retiring Officials
Outgoing Councilman Malloy was thanked by the board, and received a round of applause for his work on the board.
Laurilyn Frasier, Shandaken's retiring town clerk, accepts a bouquet of thanks from three of her grandchildren.
Laurilyn Frasier, who has been the town clerk in Shandaken for more than 30 years, was also thanked by members of the board and public. She is the longest serving town clerk in New York State. Three of her grandchildren came to the meeting and presented her with bouquets of flowers, as she received a standing ovation.
Other Business Conducted
The Board approved the contract to fund the Pine Hill Fire Company, approved resolutions to provide snow plowing and sanding for fire houses and churches in Shandaken, and renewed the shared services agreement with Ulster County related
to winter maintenance of specific roads in Shandaken.
The year end Town Board Meeting was set for 1:00PM, December 29, for the purpose of paying bills and transferring funds. All bills or vouchers must be presented for payment before noon on December 16.
The Town Board Reorganization Meeting was set for January 2, 2012, to set meeting dates for the year, and make all yearly appointments.
