2006-09-28 SPMTOWN CLERK
CHRIS MASTERSON
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845) 297-5771
FAX: (845) 298-1478
Town of Wappinger
Town Board Meeting
September 28th, 2006
7:30 PM
Agenda
SUPERVISOR
JOSEPH RUGGIERO
TOWN COUNCIL
VINCENT BETTINA
MAUREEN McCARTHY
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI
ROBERT L. VALDATI
7:30 PM Meeting called to order on September 28th, 2006 at Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Rd,
Wappingers Falls, NY.
I. Call to Order
II. Public Hearings
1. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF THE CONSOLIDATION,
PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 718 OF THE LAWS OF 2006 AND SECTION 206-A OF THE
TOWN LAW OF CERTAIN WATER DISTRICTS AND WATER IMPROVEMENT AREAS IN
THE TOWN OF WAPPINGER, DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK.
III. Resolutions
2006-220. A Resolution Making Certain Determinations In Relation to the Consolidation of
Certain Water Districts and Improvement Areas and Approving the Establishment
of Wappinger Consolidated Water District of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess
County, New York, Pursuant to Chapter 718 of the Laws of 2006.
IV. New Business/Comments
V. Adjournment
Town of Wappinger 20 Middlebush Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Special Meeting
^ Minutes — Chris Masterson
(845)297-5771
Thursday, September 28th, 2006 7:30 PM Town Hall
Call to Order
Supervisor Ruggiero called the meeting to order at 7:36 PM.
Attendee Name`
VT g nizatid1h `,
TI1
Status Axrived
_ _..
Joseph Ruggiero
.
Town of Wappinger
_
Supervisor
Present
Robert Valdati
Town of Wappinger
Councilman
Present
Vincent Bettina
_
Town of Wappinger
_ _
Councilman
Absent
_Maureen McCarthy
Town of Wappinger
Councilwoman
Present
Joseph Paoloni
Town of Wappinger
Councilman
Present
Public Hearings
1. RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF
THE CONSOLIDATION, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 718 OF THE LAWS OF 2006
AND SECTION 206-A OF THE TOWN LAW, OF CERTAIN WATER DISTRICTS AND
WATER IMPROVEMENT AREAS IN THE TOWN OF WAPPINGER, DUTCHESS
COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Supervisor Ruggiero opened the Public Hearing and introduced those in attendance that
would be presenting information and responding to questions. Those individuals include Town
of Wappinger Town Attorney, Al Roberts, Mike Tremper from CAMO Pollution Control, and
Town Engineer, Jay Paggi. Town Clerk, Chris Masterson, offered for the record the affidavits of
posting and publication, duly signed and notarized. (These affidavits are attached hereto and
made part thereof the Minutes of this Hearing). Supervisor Ruggiero then commenced to give
the audience a history and summarized sequence of events concerning the Town's water districts.
The Town's current situation is the result of a culmination of decades of water districts and water
improvement areas coming together and functioning, physically, as one water system. It is the
goal of the Board that everyone in the water district areas are paying for the same Operation and
Maintenance quarterly charge as well as well as the same Capital Tax for all of the
improvements up to this point and forward. This legislation has gone through the New York
State Assembly, New York State Senate, and was reviewed by the New York State Comptroller
and New York State Governor's staff. It was found to be fair and equitable and, therefore,
passed both houses of the legislature. Supervisor Ruggiero then asked Al Roberts to address the
audience.
Mr. Roberts began by providing additional background. In the early 1970's, when the
Town began providing water service to large areas, it did so by forming what is known as an
Improvement Area. At about the same time, the Town was also acquiring smaller water districts,
of smaller areas, from private developers. In doing so, the Town would either create a water
district or a water improvement area. Statutorily, water districts and water improvement areas
are completely different and legally incompatible. For instance, a water improvement area is
created for one project. Once that project was completed, the improvement area ceases to exist
except in the matter of repayment of capital debt. On the other hand, a water district, once
created, remains in place indefinitely until dissolved. If repairs are required to the system, the
district does not need to be reformed. The district is still in place and, mechanically, it is easier
to facilitate future money generation to make the capital repairs. Because of these technical
incompatibilities, and since there is nothing in the law that allows districts to become
improvement areas, or vice versa, the Town asked the State Legislature to consolidate a number
of the Town's water improvement areas and water districts. Mr. Roberts referenced a map that
was displayed at the front of the room which illustrated the consolidation. The specific districts
and improvement areas included are: The Central Wappinger Water Improvement Area, the
Wappinger-Cranberry Water Improvement Area, the Wappinger Park Water District, the
Ardmore Hills Water Improvement Area, the Central Wappinger Emergency Improvement Area,
the Wappinger Improvement Area 1999-2(R), the North Wappinger Water District, the Myers
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Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
Corners Water District, and the Oakwood Knolls Water District. Excluded from this process are
the Tall Trees Water Improvement Area, the Watch Hill. Water District and the Fleetwood Water
District. Mr. Roberts then turned the floor over to Mr. Paggi. (Supervisor Ruggiero interjected
to introduce the Town Comptroller, Jean Gallucci, whom was also present).
Mr. Paggi began by explaining that his firm has been working on the water districts and
water improvement areas since 1973. He then began to explain the map displayed at the front of
the room. The Town has developed a number of water districts, each of which started out as
separate, [distinct] districts. Each had its own source (wells), series of pumps, and
interconnected series of pipes. Some had their own water storage facility. None of these
districts were connected. Over the years, it became necessary to do a lot of work on the smaller
systems. Those small systems were abandoned as individual systems and connected to larger
systems. Right now, they are all connected and fed by the two main water sources for the Town:
the Atlas Well field on the Northwest end of town and the Mill Top well field on the southeast
end of town. All of the districts are physically connected by pipes except for Tall Trees,
Fleetwood and Watch Hill. They are smaller, separate districts at a distance from the central
system. It would not be feasible to connect those districts into the central system. The eight
districts that have been consolidated over the years are the subject of the proposed consolidation.
In 2005, application was made to the State Legislature and the State Governor to consolidate
these districts into a "super -district" which will be called the United Wappinger Water District.
The purpose of this consolidation is to more efficiently operate the districts from a capital debt
repayment perspective and in regards to the operation and maintenance perspective. Daily
operation and maintenance is performed by CAMO Pollution Control.. It was felt that, as all of
the districts are connected, it was an opportune time for the consolidation. One factor that
allowed for the consolidation to take place is a water improvement that was done in 1999 by the
name of Water Improvement 1999-2(R). It was a relatively significant project with an
approximate cost of Ten Million Dollars. It upgraded both of the sources (the Atlas and Hill Top
well fields), the supply, the pumping facilities, the transmission component of the system (the
large pipes that pump the water from the well field up to the tanks), the water storage facilities
on Cider Mill Loop, and made improvements to the telemetering and the controls of the system.
After the completion of this project (the Town was still in the final. phase of this project), the
Town is able to hook the Oakwood Water District and the Wappinger Park Water District into
the central system (the 1999-2 (R) system). Oakwood had two wells - one that hadn't been
pumped in years and the other that is marginal at best. Because it was so small, it cost a
significant amount of monies to operate the district on a yearly basis. Wappinger Park had water
quality problems, such as chlorides, for the last ten years. They were both very expensive
systems to operate and, although they met all of the Codes, the quality of the water was marginal.
The 1999-2 (R) project permitted these systems to tie into the central system. However, when.
the 1999-2 (R) was set up, it was not contemplated that Wappinger Park nor Oakwood would tie
in or pay for the project. The proposed consolidation would ensure that everyone that is
connected to the system pay for the improvements. All residents get a tax bill in January. Part
of the bill is the charge for water districts. The line item shows how much the resident will pay
per benefit unit. (A benefit unit is a house, tied into the water system, on a lot less than two
acres). A resident in the Central Wappinger Water Improvement Area would see three line items
on the tax bill because that resident is actually in three Water Improvements. For 2006, that
resident would pay a sum of approximately $129.00. The goal of the consolidation is to simplify
all of the administrative paperwork, to consolidate the work done both in the field and at Town
Hall, to consolidate all of the debt in the eight districts, and to consolidate and unify the
operation and maintenance costs. For 2007, the debt repayment for each individual district will
be humped together to be paid by everyone in the United Wappinger Water District. A review of
the 2006 tax rates for the five of the largest districts to be consolidated shows the following: the
Oakwood Water District paid approximately $128.00, Wappinger Park paid $218.00, the North
Wappinger (more commonly known as the Atlas Water District) paid $127.00, the Central
Wappinger Water Improvement Area paid $129.00, and the Ardmore Water District paid
$120.00. When all of the existing indebtedness is combined to be paid by the United Wappinger
Water District, the 2007 proposed rate would be consistent for everyone within the consolidated
district. That rate would be $124.00. In the past, there have been different Operation and
Maintenance rate structures for most districts. Operation and Maintenance charges are on the
quarterly water bill based on how much water you use. This was very difficult to administer. In
the proposed United District, there will be one rate structure for everyone in the district. For
2007, the rate structure for Operation and Maintenance on the quarterly bill is not anticipated to
change from that of 2006. This consolidation is not going to affect the cost to produce the water
or to deliver the water to the households. Mr. Paggi summarized and turned the discussion back
over to Supervisor Ruggiero.
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Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
Supervisor Ruggiero asked Mr. Paggi to explain to the residents the current improvement
in the North Wappinger Water District and how it would have been solely borne by the residents
in that district. The Town discovered a water line that it did not have an easement for. The line
broke about 18 months ago and now needs to be relocated. There is no direct benefit of moving
this line for any one resident, and yet, the cost of the project would be approximately $500,000.
Jay Paggi explained that the project that the Supervisor was referring to is over in the Cindy
Lane and New Hackensack Road area. It was discovered that there were three homes off of a
common service line that ran through back, front and side yards. These lines were not properly
connected. Normally, there is a water main in the street in front of each home and a service
connection of a smaller diameter that's tapped into the main. Each home has its own separate
water service connection. This large 2" water service connection fed four or five homes. Mr.
Paggi is proposing to abandon the improper connection and extend the main about 600 feet down
New Hackensack Road and provide those houses with new water service connections. It is a
project totaling approximately $535,000. If that project was undertaken solely by the North
Wappinger Water Improvement and bonded, that yearly tax bill would be approximately $77.00.
If that project were now done and covered by the entire United Wappinger Water District the
increase would be about $8.00 per year. Supervisor Ruggiero then opened the floor for public
comment.
The first resident to speak was Berton Roblin of 95 Lossee Road. Mr. Roblin pointed out
that when BJ's shopping center was put in, the line ran right past his house. At that time, he
applied to the Town and got permission to tap in. Since he was out of the water district he was
charged twice the normal usage rate. He asked what his status was now. Supervisor Ruggiero
replied that he would become a resident of the district. This law eliminates all tenancies. He
would be paying a normal O&M and capital rate.
The next resident to speak was Richard Dehais of 71 Edgehill. Drive. He bought a lot in
1964 which was at a higher price than typical lots because it was part of the Hilltop Water
District. He made the following paraphrased statement which he wanted clarification on: If a
resident bought a home in the Atlas District, which would cost a lower level because that system
was poorly done, that resident would be asking for the rest of the Town to pay for it. He added
that the Town would be asking the residents to take up the problems for all other problem
sections because they were "at a tough time". Supervisor Ruggiero responded. What is being
said is that the water systems were private when the neighborhoods were built. When the Town
had to intervene in the 1970's and 1990's, it was because the systems did fall into a state of
disrepair. This is the case with the Wappinger Park Water District and Oakwood Water District.
The residents suffered under the private operators until the Town intervened and took them over.
The residents of those Districts, as well as the larger Districts, have invested their own money
time and time again. Even when residents of the Hilltop Water District thought that they had a
premier water district, they didn't because, for many years, that district had an annual ban. The
reason for the ban is that the wells were not meeting the demand of the residents. The district
was built in the 1970's and could not meet the increased demand over time. Mr. Dehais asked
when the Hilltop Water District was created. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that it was 1972. Mr.
Dehais then asked if it was not operating correctly at that time. Supervisor Ruggiero then asked
Mike Tremper of CAMO Pollution Control to respond to Mr. Dehais questions. Mr. Tremper
has worked for the Town as a water operator since 1974. He pointed out that the water districts
each have their plusses and minuses. For example, the Hilltop Water District is a good well
field, but it is very subject to draught. When the Town is experiencing draught conditions, the
output of that well field drops from 1200 gallons per minute down to 300 gallons per minute.
That output would barely supply the immediate area around the well field. The residents of that
district were in as much need of the 1999-2(R) project as the residents of the Oakwood District.
There was never a generator at the Hilltop well field. The storage tanks up on Cider Mill Loop
were failing. The improvement was to rebuild the 1,000,000 gallon tank and install a new tank.
Every system had its good and bad points and this consolidation brings it all together into a
working functioning unit. In the future, there will be other challenges with drinking water. The
Town will now be able to address them as a large unit as opposed to individual problems.
Supervisor Ruggiero asked Mr. Tremper to explain to the residents that the Hilltop
district was offline for a time under 1999-2(R) and that if it wasn't for the larger project, the
residents would have been in a real crisis. Mr. Tremper explained that the district was originally
set up and had things that needed to be done to it to bring it up to today's Health Department
standards. Those standards are getting stricter and stricter. For example, a chlorine detention
tank at the Hilltop well field. In order to do that, the well field was required to be completely
offline for approximately six to eight months. If the Town had not done the enhancement and
made the larger district, there would not have been a source of water for those residents.
Emergency sources would have been brought in that would have probable quadrupled the cost of
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Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
the job. Mr. Tremper reiterated that when you have the entire area working together as one
group, it's a lot easier to face any upcoming issues than as individual districts.
The next speaker was Mrs. Olivieri of 207 Old Hopewell Road. Mrs. Olivieri asked if
BJ's was part of this United district. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that it was not. BJ's has its
own water supply. It has fire water service provided by the district, but nothing else. Mrs.
Olivieri then asked if it were correct that there were several residents on Lossee Road that have
become tenants to this new district. Supervisor Ruggiero responded that she was correct. She
then asked how many residents there were that were tenants. Mr. Paggi replied, "Approximately
six." She questioned this figure and stated that Mr. Paggi. previously said that there were 25
tenants. Mr. Paggi clarified that there were 25 tenants throughout the entire district. Mrs.
Olivieri went on to say that they will now become residents of this United district and, therefore,
their costs will be lowered. Supervisor Ruggiero answered that their O&M will be brought in
line with everyone else's because they are now part of the district, but they will now realize the
capital tax. Until now, they have not paid anything into the capital infrastructure. Oakwood,
which has 82 homes, and Wappinger Park, which has about 79 homes are tying into a district of
about 4000 homes. There is about Ten Million Dollars worth of indebtedness in the big area and
their tax is about $125-128 a year. The smaller districts have only a couple hundred thousand
Dollars of indebtedness, yet they are paying the same tax. Supervisor Ruggiero pointed out that
Wappinger Park would see the largest decrease in charges. That district has had a couple of
improvement projects over the years. The wells had to be redone and, more recently, there was
an MTBE detection in the wells. The Town obtained a grant for this project, but the cost was
still about $780,000. Commercial properties were also picked up on Route 9 because there was
no other viable water source. Mrs. Olivieri asked if those commercial properties are being
included in the United district. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that Hark Plaza and the new
Corporate Park would be going in, but Corporate Park would be building that pipe at their own
cost. Mrs. Olivieri stated that those properties would still be drawing water. She followed that
up by claiming that the Rockingham district failed not long ago with the addition of a new well.
Supervisor Ruggiero, and others in. attendance, pointed out that that was not true. Mr. Tremper
explained that in 1999, two Rockingham wells were found to have Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
At that point, those wells were shut off. There was already a pipe connecting the Rockingham
district to the other water systems, and that valve was opened and the system put online. Mrs.
Olivieri went on to say that there was a development by the naive of Shamrock that was being
built by Toll Brothers on. Old Hopewell Road. She claimed that there would be 88 units. The
Board replied that it was 62 units. She asked if that development would also be tapping into this
district. Supervisor Ruggiero explained that this development has been in the district "since day
one". She asked if any of this water would be coining from the Hudson. The Board replied that
it would not. Mrs. Olivieri found it difficult to believe that all of this water would be coming
from the four wells that she saw illustrated on the diagram. Mr. Paggi. explained that the Town
could pump, from the Atlas well field, approximately 1500 gallons per minute during draught
years. Mr. Tremper pointed out that nobody is more concerned about expanding beyond the
water supply than he. The Town Engineer and. Town Board have a running total of the amount
of available water and the amount of hook-ups that the water can serve. The boundary that is
illustrated on the map was partly designed by looking at the amount of homes that could be
served with the available water. Supervisor Ruggiero commented that he has an obligation to
meet the potential need of all the properties within the water district that was laid out decades
ago. For years there was a moratorium on construction and subdivisions. At some point, the
town was probably going to get sued for charging a water tax when there was no water available.
The Town conducted the 1999-2(R) to alleviate the needs of the district and have not had a water
advisory, aside from the gasoline spill on Jackson Road, since then. There is enough water in the
system to handle all of the current homes and the potential. growth of homes. Mrs. Olivieri
understood but pointed out that when she moved to the area 25 years ago, homes had one
bathroom and two or three bedrooms. Now, homes are being built that have three or four
bathrooms. Mr. Paggi explained that that was being taken into account in the projections. He
went on to say that, although the new homes have more bathrooms, the fixtures are much more
efficient. Therefore, the overall water usage is less. do
Mr. Dehais asked to make another statement. He wanted clarification on what would
happen when new developments were built. He thought that Mr. Paggi said that any new
developments would become part of the district. Mr. Paggi clarified that that only applies if the
new subdivision was within the boundaries of the United district.
Supervisor Ruggiero asked how long Shamrock was before the Planning Board through
all of the different stages. Mr. Paggi replied, "Six to seven years." Supervisor Ruggiero then
asked Mr. Paggi to explain the lawsuit that was settled in the 1980's. Mr. Paggi explained that
there were properties within the existing district that were paying taxes since 1972. The Town
was unable to supply these specific properties with the utility. There was a lawsuit which ended
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Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
in a settlement. There are currently four large properties within the central district that have been
in the district since 1972. When the future calculations were done for the United district, the
assumption was made that those large properties are built out. The Town has the obligation to
supply those properties. The property that is going up now east of Kendell Drive is one of those
properties. Mr. Tremper added that the Shamrock Subdivision will provide a huge benefit to the
operation of the water system because it will loop water back around from the Spook Hill area to
the Rockingham subdivision. They are going to connect a pipe that the Town would have had to
pay for and are going to have it sized larger than they would normally have in order to benefit
the Town. Mr. Tremper has noticed that as developments come in, the Town has been able to
get the developers to improve the operation of the water system. Discussion followed.
The next resident to speak was Ronald F. Latko of 79 Helen Drive. Mr. Lafko stated that
he approves of the idea of the water district consolidation. He asked if there would be any
changes concerning certain non-residential customers. Supervisor Ruggiero answered that the
Town conducted a strong analysis of all commercial properties in the water districts last year.
The Town then came up with a commercial rate structure. A previous Town Board from decades
ago set a rate structure that basically said: "the more you use the less the Town charges per
gallon." In other words, buying in bulk was a savings. In reality, the more water that is used,
the more it costs the Town. Last year, the Town's electric bill changed the charge from nine
cents per kilowatt hour to fifteen cents per kilowatt hour. The Town set a minimum rate for
commercial properties at $90.00 per quarter. Commercial properties also have different overage
and usage charges. The Town expects a water budget to be approximately $740,000. About
10%, or $70,000, is paid by commercial properties. The rest is paid by residential properties. In
the past, commercial properties were not paying their fair share. Mr. Lafko asked about
apartments. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that apartments are charged per unit as if they were
single homes. Mr. Lasko followed up by asking what would start happening when there is more
build -out. There will be more benefit units added to the overall numbers. As more customers
hook-up, more customers will be paying into the O&M rate. The residents will see a large share
of the capital costs being absorbed by more units. Commercial properties' assessment value is a
component of calculating its benefit unit. As the values go up, the commercial properties will
take up more share of the benefit unit cost of the capital tax. Mr. Lafko then asked what the total
O&M rate for 2007 was going to be. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that the rate would be $39.00
per quarter. He added that the residents should not see a rate increase. Mr. Lafko then asked
what the resident would be spending on water in O&M and capital. Supervisor Ruggiero
responded that he would be spending $285.00. Mr. Lafko then pointed out that that figure is in
line with what other municipalities are charging. Mr. Lafko asked if the 1999-2(R) project was
completed. Mr. Paggi replied that it was 90% done. Mr. Lafko then asked what would happen
when expansion comes into play. Mr. Paggi stated once again that the Town has accounted,
within the district: how much water can be produced within Hilltop, how much water can be
produced from Atlas, and how much water can be produced by both in draught conditions.
When the Town did the calculations, there was enough water to support full build -out in. the
district. Supervisor Ruggiero asked Jay to explain the Meadowood situation for the residents.
Mr. Paggi explained that Meadowood Subdivision is at the Southwest corner of Old Hopewell
Road and All Angels Hill Road and consists of 40 lots. Meadowood could not be built out
because it could not sustain individual wells on that property. The developer then drilled two
wells along Sprout Creek, just west of the bridge on Old Hopewell Road and constructed a water
filtration and pumping facility to be dedicated to the Town. In turn the Town will supply the
subdivision with. water. Those 40 houses will use approximately 24,000 gallons a day. The
water pumping facility that is being built and dedicated to the Town can pump in excess of
400,000 gallons a day. The water will be pumped right into the system. The Town should be
taking control of those wells this fall.
The next resident to speak was Mrs. Olivieri. Mrs. Olivieri asked if this included the
South side of Old Hopewell Road. Mr. Paggi replied that there was one property on the South
side of Old Hopewell Road, which is a large parcel, on the corner of Old Hopewell Road and
Cedar Hill Road that is in the district. The rest of the properties that are South of Old Hopewell
Road are not in the district. Mrs. Olivieri pointed out that the area she was talking about is
directly across from Rockingham. The entire board and professional staff replied that she was
talking about Meadowood.
Mr. Dehais asked Mr. Paggi to explain the numbers listed on the chart at the front of the
room meant. Mr. Paggi explained them again. Mr. Dehais asked that Mr. Paggi explain the
components of the tax bill. Mr. Paggi did so. Mr. Dehais followed that he has been paying for
the Town's installations, modifications, and repairs for years and years. Supervisor Ruggiero
asked Mr. Paggi to explain the districts that bought Atlas. Mr. Paggi explained. The districts
that bought Atlas are Central Wappinger Water, Ardmore, Myers Corners II, North Wappinger,
and Cranberry Hills. Those 5 districts bought the Atlas Water District in 1991. They are paying
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Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
between $7.00 and $9.00 a year for that purchase. Without that purchase, the improvements
being carried out today would not be possible. Mr. Dehais asked if the Town would ever be able
to take water off the big pipe coming from Poughkeepsie. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that that
applies to the Fourth Ward in the Town. The Town of Wappinger talked to Poughkeepsie about
that possibility. The City and Town of Poughkeepsie will ultimately own the source of that
water and would demand that the Town of Wappinger buy a minimum quantity regardless of the
usage. The cost of the water is three times the Wappinger cost of water. They wanted $700,000
a year just to reserve the water, not to use it. It may be an option for a future Town Board to
look at, but is not presently a reasonable option.
The next resident to speak was Sandy Goldberg of 40 Wildwood Drive. Mrs. Goldberg
pointed out to the Board that they said this consolidation would unify the billing for the Town,
that the usage costs would now be uniform across districts, and what the residents would be
paying per quarter is going to stay the same for all of the different sections. She asked how that
is going to happen. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that, up until 2005, there were different rates.
Most people in the Central Wappinger Water District were paying about $27.50 per quarter.
People in North Wappinger were paying in the low $30.00 area. People in Oakwood were
paying $85.00. In Wappinger Park, people were paying $85.00. Once they came into the
system, they had the benefit of paying less in O&M costs because it was being shared by so
many others. In 2006, the Town looked at the real cost of operating everything and spread it out.
It isn't that the formulas are varied from district from district; it was the inputs that make the
difference. Some districts have 82 people but their fixed costs are great. Mr. Tremper would
have to do the same work as in a district of 5000 people. The costs for those small districts
dissipate as they are spread across everyone.
Craig Zimmerman, of 27 Roberts Road, was the next speaker. Mr. Zimmerman asked
how long the residents would be paying $129 if the Town didn't do the consolidation.
Supervisor Ruggiero answered that he had been paying the $129.00 since 1999, when the Town
first started the bonding on this. As the money is spent, the indebtedness goes up. There is about
another $800,000 left before the project is done. The figures will go up another $4.00 or $5.00
over the next few years. Once the bond is fully spent, it is anticipated to be spent down over 20
years. The Town is 7 years into a 20 year indebtedness. Mr. Paggi added that there will be no
new financing. Mr. Zimmerman replied that Mr. Paggi answered his question. Along the way,
there are probably 9 different bonds. They will be retired at various times. Supervisor Ruggiero
pointed out that the original water improvement bond from 30 years ago was just retired. Mr.
Zimmerman asked how this would affect sewers. Supervisor Ruggiero replied that it does not
affect sewers at all. The Town may be looking at doing the same thing for sewers in 2007.
Phase 1, 2, and 3A are basically all one system. They all go to the Tri. -Municipal plant. It
seemed that it would be easier to get the water legislation through because all of the residents
were all at the same level of payment in taxes for water. It wasn't expected to be that much of a
transition politically or administratively.
Mr. Lafko spoke again and asked for clarification about certain sections of the maps. Mr.
Paggi explained the map again for Mr. Lafko.
At that time, Supervisor Ruggiero asked if there were any further questions or comments.
There were none.
Councilman Paoloni made a motion to close the Public Hearing. Councilwoman
McCarthy seconded the motion. After a unanimous vote, the Public Hearing closed at 8:41 PM.
RESULT: CLOSED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joseph Paoloni, Councilman
SECONDER: Maureen McCarthy, Councilwoman
AYES: Joseph Ruggiero, Robert Valdati, Maureen McCarthy, Joseph Paoloni
ABSENT: Vincent Bettina
Town of Wappinger Page 6 Printed 10/11/2006
T
N.Y.
BLICATION .s
State of New York441
County of Dutchess O
City of Poughkeepsie
Rita Lombardi , of the City of Poughkeepsie,
Dutchess County, New York, being duly sworn, says that at
the several times hereinafter mentioned she was and still is
the Principal Clerk of the Poughkeepsie Newspapers Division
of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc., publisher of
the POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL, a newspaper printed and
published every day in the year 2006 in the city of
Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, and that the
►nnexed NOTICE was duly published in the said newspaper
orone Weeeks succcessively, in each week, commencing
►n the 4th. day of
)Ct.
:006 and on the following dates
hereafter, namely on:
nd ending on the day of
2006 , bot ays inclusive.
ibscribed and sworn to before m this .-
y of , 2006
Notary Pu
�`;�ItII1SS IVIHUII'�i�v�� � O , /l
N€tMY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
NO. 01 015096485
QUALIFIED IN DUTCHESS COUNTY.
COMMISSION EXPIRES OCTOBER 14, 200
SOUTHERN DUTCHESS NEWS
BEACON FREE PRESS
84 EAST MAIN STREET
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
A -F -F i d a %a i.. t-- c> -F P u b 1 �L +c a -t z c> n
To: WAPPINGERS FALLS, TOWN
P.O. BOX 324
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
Re: Legal notice #74984
State of NEW YORK }
County of DUTCHESS
I, TINA HEATH, being duly sworn, depose and
say: that I am the PUBLISHER of Southern
Dutchess News, a weekly newspaper of general
circulation published in WAPPINGERS FALLS,
County of DUTCHESS, State of NEW YORK; and
that a notice, of which the annexed is a
printed copy, was duly published in Southern
Dutchess News once on 10/04/06.
Sworn to before me this 4th day! of October, 2006
ALBERT M OSTEN
Notary Public, State of NEW YORK
No. 14-8240760
Qualified in QUTCHESS County
My commission expires on June 15, 2007
RECEIVED
OCT 16 2006
TOWN CLERK
Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
III. Resolutions
RESOLUTION: 2006-220
A Resolution Making Certain Determinations In Relation to the Consolidation of Certain
Water Districts and Improvement Areas and Approving the Establishment of Wappinger
Consolidated Water District of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York,
Pursuant to Chapter 718 of the Laws of 2006.
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, has heretofore
established the following water districts and water improvement areas, amongst others:
(1) The Central Wappinger Water Improvement Area, (2) the Wappinger-Cranberry
Water Improvement Area, (3) the Wappinger Park Water District, (4) the Ardmore Hill Water
Improvement Area, (5) the Central Wappinger Emergency Improvement Area, (6) the
Wappinger Water Improvement Area 1999-2, (7) the North Wappinger Water District, (8) the
Myers Corners II Water District, and (9) the Oakwood Knolls Water District (which water
districts and water improvement areas, including extensions, if any, thereto, are referred to herein
collectively as the "Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas" which specifically do not include
Tall Trees Water Improvement Area and the water districts known as Watch Hill Water District
and Fleetwood Water District); and
WHEREAS, costs of debt service, operation and maintenance of each of the water
districts included in the aforesaid Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas has been a charge
against all the taxable real property within each respective water district included in the Prior
Water Districts/Improvement Areas or in the case of the water improvement areas included
therein, pursuant to the provisions of section two hundred nine -q of the town law, the town board
has been responsible for the management, maintenance, operation and repair of each water
improvement area, and, to the extent that moneys therefor have not been raised by water rates,
the cost of such management, maintenance, operation and repair has been a charge upon the area
of the town outside of any villages and has been levied and collected in the same manner and at
the same time as other town charges while the cost of debt service for improvements has a
charge against all the taxable real property therein, benefitted thereby or by the area of the Town
outside of any Village or a combination thereof as provided by law and the proceedings
establishing each such water improvement area; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 718 of the Laws of 2006 (the "Special Act"), the
Legislature of the State of New York has authorized the Town to consolidate as Wappinger
Consolidated Water District, the Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas and it is now desired
to consider the question of the consolidation of said Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas;
and
WHEREAS, it is further desired, pursuant to Section 206-a of the Town Law and the
Special Act that all expenses of said Wappinger Consolidated Water District, including all
extensions heretofore or hereafter established, shall be a charge against the entire area of said
Wappinger Consolidated Water District, as hereinafter described; and
WHEREAS, an Order was duly adopted by said Town Board on September 11th, 2006,
specifying the 28th day of September, 2006 at 7:30 P.M., Prevailing Time, at the Town Hall, in
Wappingers Falls, New York, in said Town, as the time when and the place where said Town
Board would meet for the purpose of holding a public hearing to consider the question of the
consolidation of the Prior Water District/Improvement Areas and the establishment of said
Wappinger Consolidated Water District and to hear all persons interested in the subject thereof
concerning the same; and
WHEREAS, notice of the aforesaid public hearing was duly published and posted in the
manner and within the time prescribed by the Special Act, and proof of publication and posting
has been duly presented to said Town Board;
WHEREAS, said public hearing was duly held at the time and place in said order, as
aforesaid, at which all persons desiring to be heard were duly heard;
WHEREAS, said Town Board has considered the evidence given at said public hearing;
and it is now desired to provide for such consolidation and to provide for certain other matters
relating thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of
Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, as follows:
Section 1. Upon the evidence given at the aforesaid public hearing, it is hereby found and
determined as follows:
a) It is in the public interest to consolidate the Prior Water Districts/Improvement
Areas and such consolidation as the Wappinger Consolidated Water District is
hereby authorized and approved.
b) The effective date of the establishment of such Wappinger Consolidated Water
Town of Wappinger Page 7 Printed 1011112006
Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
District shall be as of midnight on the thirty-first day of December next
succeeding being December 31, 2006.
c) Upon such consolidation becoming effective, all of the property of each of the
Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas existing prior to the effective date of the
consolidation described herein shall become the property of the Wappinger
Consolidated Water District and all unexpended funds of each of the Prior Water
Districts/Improvement Areas existing prior to the effective date of the
consolidation described herein shall become the property of the Wappinger
Consolidated Water District.
d) Upon such consolidation becoming effective, any indebtedness of each of the
Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas incurred prior to the effective date of
consolidation described herein which shall be outstanding as of the effective date
of such consolidation shall be assumed and paid by said Wappinger Consolidated
Water District.
e) To the extent not paid from water rates, there shall annually be apportioned and
assessed, in an amount equal to the benefit which improvements shall confer upon
same, upon all the taxable real property in such Wappinger Consolidated Water
District, an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest of the outstanding
indebtedness of each of said Prior Water Districts/Improvement Areas as
extended, incurred prior to the effective date of the consolidation herein
described, as the same shall become due and payable, but if not paid from each
such source, all the taxable real property within said Town shall be subject to the
levy of ad valorem taxes without limitation as to rate or amount sufficient to pay
the principal of and interest on said outstanding indebtedness.
f) Future assessments for costs of improvements authorized as of the effective date
of the establishment of such Wappinger Consolidated Water District, as the same
may be amended, and improvements to be authorized after the effective date of
such establishment, including the payment of the principal of and interest on
bonds and bond anticipation notes issued or to be issued for such improvements,
and all costs of the management, operating, maintenance and repair of such
improvements and contractual or other obligations authorized, to be authorized,
incurred or to be incurred for such improvements shall, to the extend that moneys
therefore are not raised by water rates, be borne by local assessment upon the lots
and parcels of land within such Wappinger Consolidated Water District against
which the expenses of the improvements is charged, which assessment shall be
apportioned and assessed upon such lots or parcels of land in just proportion to
the amount of benefit which the improvements shall confer upon such lots or
parcels.
g) Any water improvement authorized for any of the Prior Water
Districts/Improvement Areas, as the same may be amended, as of the date on
which the establishment of such Wappinger Consolidated Water District is
effective may be constructed by such Wappinger Consolidated Water District.
h) The future assessments of all costs of improvements, as well as costs of operation
and maintenance of such Consolidated Water District shall be charged against the
entire area of the Consolidated Water District, including all extensions hereafter
established.
Section 2. The Wappinger Consolidated Water District of the Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York, is to be bounded and described as follows: Said Wappinger
Consolidated Water District shall consist of the area encompassed by the aggregate boundaries
of (1) Central Wappinger Water Improvement Area, (2) the Wappinger-Cranberry Water
Improvement Area, (3) the Wappinger Park Water District, (4) the Ardmore Hill Water
Improvement Area, (5) the Central Wappinger Emergency Improvement Area, (6) the
Wappinger Water Improvement Area 1999-2, (7) the North Wappinger Water District, (8) the
Myers Corners II Water District, and (9) the Oakwood Knolls Water District which specifically
do not include Tall Trees Water Improvement Area and the water districts known as Watch Hill
Water District and Fleetwood Water District).
Section 3. The Town Clerk shall, within ten (10) days after the effective date of this
resolution, file certified copies of this resolution in duplicate in the Office of the State
Department of Audit and Control at Albany, New York and record same in the office of the
Clerk of the County of Dutchess, New York.
Section 4. This resolution is adopted subject to permissive referendum, and the Town
Clerk shall give notice of adoption of the resolution by providing a copy of this resolution with
an appropriate notice of adoption in the official newspapers of the Town, and, in addition, such
Town Clerk shall post or cause to be posted on the bulletin board of his office a copy of such
resolution and notice of adoption and such publication and posting shall be within ten days of the
Town of Wappinger Page 8 Printed 10/11/1006
Special Meeting Minutes September 28, 2006
date hereof.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
✓ Vote Record - Resolution RES42006-220
0 Adopted
Yes/Aye
No/Nay j
Abstain
Absent
❑ Adopted as Amended
_�°seph Rug�ero
Voter
0
❑
—
❑
❑
❑ Defeated
RobertValdati
Imt�ator
0
❑
❑
❑
❑ Tabled
Vincent Bettina
Voter
❑
❑
❑
0
❑ Withdrawn
- Maureen McCarthy
Voter
0
❑
- _ - W.._
❑
❑
Jose hol
Paoni
Seconder
0
❑
_ _
110
_--
Dated: Wappingers Falls, New York
September 28th, 2006
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted.
IV. New Business/Comments
1. Councilman Paoloni new business
Councilman Paoloni asked about an issue involving trees on regency drive.
V. Adjournment
1. Motion To: Adjourn at 8:42
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maureen McCarthy, Councilwoman
SECONDER: Joseph Paoloni, Councilman
AYES: Joseph Ruggiero, Robert Valdati, Maureen McCarthy, Joseph Paoloni
ABSENT: Vincent Bettina
The Meeting Adjourned at 8:42 PM.
�krwl'a�
J hn C. M sterson
Town Clerk
Town of Wappinger Page 9 Printed 10/11/2006