Untitled (10)Metier Homestead Moss
Under Scrutiny In Falls
By MARILYN STONE
Journal Staff Writer
WAPPINGERS FALLS—A citizens
committee to study sundry problems,
including general untidiness, un-
cleanliness deterioration and rats at
the historic Mesier Homestead,
recommend solutions and determine
their costs was established by the
village board Wednesday night.
A power failure attributed to the
thunderstorm caused a delayed start
to the board meeting in the Garner
Engine Company firehouse, East
Academy Street. Mayor J. Donald
Synnett moved the meeting to the
American Legion Hall after he
learned that the interruption in
electrical service at the hall might be
prolonged.
An effort to have a committee
appointed to study the problems at the
Mesier Homestead and park was led
by Trustee Warren Short with con-
siderable assistance from Trustee
Raymond Dolan. Mayor Synnett
opposed the citizens committee.
Some members of the committee
were appointed but the total com-
position of it was partly left up to the
village parks commission. The
citizens committee will include
commission members and at least
three members of the Wappingers
Falls Historical. Society but may not
be limited to these citizens.
Former Police Capt. Joseph Costa
may or may not be asked to join the
committee since the village board
disagreed on whether or not to have
the police represented on the com-
mittee.
Definitely appointed to the com-
mittee were Alan Weitlich, Joseph
McCloskey and Mrs. Daniel Tackas,
of the historical society, and John
Cheetham, Norman Ferling and Mrs.
Zita MacDowell, parks commission
members.
The Mesier Homestead discussion
began with Synnett explaining his
position that there are no funds to
move the police or water departments
out of the building, but Dolan in-
terrupted to urge the mayor to allow
Short to present his resolution first.
Short, after gaining the floor,
passed to Ferling, asking him to��iv.e
a report on an inspection of the
building.
Ferling said Sunday when he in-
spected the building there was an
outboard motor in the lobby, patched
over holes in one room with rubble on
the floor and "the headquarters itself
very strewn around with papers ... and
sundry stuff bunched upon the desk."
"The whole first floor is one mess,"
Ferling concluded.
Short said, "I went through the
building and it's just unbelievable
that we would let that happen to A
historic building," and Dolan said,
"I'll make a statement, it's a pig
pen.$$
Mrs. Virginia Ferris implored the
board to insure that the building is
kept up better, especially since the
July 20 "picnic in the park" is ap-
proaching, the bicentennial
celebrations are anticipated and thq
town is celebrating it centennial year.
In response to a question from
Trustee Frederick Di Berto Mrs.
Ferris said the historical society is
exploring the possibility of restoring
the homestead, if or when, federal or
state funds become available to
match local funds.
At one point in the discussion she
mentioned, "there are rats in that,
building too."
Mrs. MacDowell echoed some of
what Mrs. Ferris had said, . adding,
"These people maintain; a proper
home for themselves. Why can't they
give the place they work in the same
respect," obviously referring to the
police employes.
Silvestri then exclaimed, "let's get
out of the park all together and see
what happens to the park then." He
proposed a bond referendum.
Almost ignoring Silvestri, Short
said, "let's have a citizen's com-
mittee, but the mayor asked, "Is this
board going to do what the committee
suggests?"
Another round of discussion was -
commenced after the mayor's
question, but it ended with a
resolution proposed by Short and
seconded by Trustee Raymond
Belding to appoint the committee.
" - «