1998-10-27
10/21/98
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€"01 1998
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Town Board
Middlebush Road
Wappingers Falls, New York 12590
Dear Sirs,
I am writing this letter to you at the encouragement of my neighbor Mrs. James Devine. My name is
Maureen Wolfe and I live at 37 Ardmore Drive. As you are well aware, there is a dispute going on over
not only the naming of this road, but whether or not this small road has been under the town jurisdiction
for services over the years. I have been told that the Town Board is being told by the Highway
Department that this small road has had town services such as snow plowing etc for years and years.
I have lived here is 1977. Mrs Devine has lived here longer than that. Let me tell you emphatically that
this road NEVER had town services until 2 years ago. When we bought this house, the road was dirt, my
driveway was gravel. I called the town complaining that when it rained, water was coming down the hill
into my driveway. I was told Nothing could be done as it was a PRIVATE road. In the winter I again
called because my driveway always had 3-5 inches of ice on it from the meltoff. We would have to take
hammers and chisels out to break up the ice on my driveway. We were told there was nothing the town
could do, it was a PRIVATE road. Mrs. Devine and myself could not get out of the driveways in the
winter. What we would do, is stand out at night and wait in the cold for the plow truck. Upon arriving
either Mr. Devine or my husband would flag down the truck and give the driver a "holiday bottle". Then
and only then he would make one or two sweeps of the road. My husband would then go and help the
Devines dig out the rest of there driveway and front of their house. This went on for years and years.
Then suddenly, the property next to me came up for tax sale. We tried to buy it for taxes but were stunned
when the small irregular parcel starting bidding at 10,000 dollars. The parcel remained barren for at least
3-5 years after that. It could not be built on because of lack of sewers etc and because it was not paved. It
was never paved because it was a PRIVATE ROAD, we tried to get the town to pave it to help with water
problems but were told no. I spent at least 4,000 fixing the front of my property in order for the water to
roll away from my driveway. If this was a town road, why would I spend this money???? I can dig up the
paperwork if necessary. Then suddenly, the powers behind the doors, namely the owner of the parcel, the
town and whoever else got together on their own, without our knowledge, and one morning when we
awoke, the road was mysteriously paved! Then came the sewers, the house next to me and now more
houses.
Yet, this road has never ever been dedicated by the TOWN as a TOWN road. Services of any type were
not afforded Mrs Devine or myself for at least 16 years!!!!! The Highway department, especially the
Supervisor would have you believe they always were there for us!! Well neither Mr Croshier, past, nor
the new Highways Supervisor has ever given this small road services. But now, suddenly Mrs Devine is
being questioned about her property and I am going to have to change all my billing for a new road name.
This is all more than ludicrous. The town has never ever considered Mrs Devine nor myself regarding
anything that has gone on here, and we were the only two houses on this road.
..
It is sad that we have to be put through this after living in this town, raising our children here, supporting
the community through volunteerism and paying taxes for over 20 years. I know full well that progress
goes on, but to allow outside interests to dictate and scheme and virtually make town residents lives
miserable for the almighty dollar does not speak well for officials.
I know that this letter will not be taken into any type of consideration. I only hope it will alert town
officials to the fact that in this instance, the people living on this road are telling the truth. We were the
ones barricaded in snowstorms, we were the ones shoveling and breaking up ice and we were the ones
that live here, NOT the Highways Department.
Thank you.
Maureen T. Wolfe
37 Ardmore Drive
Wappinger Falls New York 12590
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