003
-
GERALD A. VERGILlS*
KENNETH M. STENGER
ALBERT P. ROBERTS
THOMAS R. DAVIS
LOUIS J. VIGLOTTI
JOAN F. GARRETT**
VERGILIS, STENGER, ROBERTS & DAVIS, LLP
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW
1136 ROUTE 9
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NEW YORK 12590
(845) 298-2000
LEGAL ASSISTANT:
AMY E. DECARLO
....AX (845) 298-2842
CLOSING COORDINATOR:
SUSAN E. CAFFINE
www.vsrp.com
e-mail: info@vsrp.com
POUGHKEEPSIE OFFICE
276 MAIN MALL
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY 12601
(845) 452-1046
KAREN P. MacNISH
KEVIN T. McDERMOTT
ANGEL I. FALCON
ANTHONY M. DEFAZIO
JAMES P. HORAN
"'AUMITIl::U IU PKAL'TICI:.
IN NY & FLA.
NEWBURGH OFFICE
299 N. PLANK ROAD, SUITE IO(i
NEWBURGH, NY 12550
(845) 567-3783
.. ADMIITED TO PRACTICE
IN NY & CONN.
July 20, 2007
Via Facsimile 486-2021
Re: Public Forum Dutchess County Rail Trail
Town Hall, Town of Wappinger
July 23, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.
RECE'\'~\ ·
JUL 2 3 2007
TOWN CLERK
Dutchess County Executive
22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601
Attention: William O'Neil, Assistant to County Executive
Dear Mr. O'Neil:
Apparently what started out as a Town of Wappinger Ward 1 Informational Meeting for
Councilman William Beale has now evolved into a public forum on the Dutchess Rail Trail
sponsored by Dutchess County (see attached notice).!t is and has been the Town's practice to
require a certificate of insurance for all outside users of Town property. The importance of such
insurance has been underscored by recent accidents resulting in personal injury on Town
property .
On behalf ofthe Supervisor and the Town Board, we welcome the County and its use of the
Town's facility for this Forum. We are certain the necessary certificate of insurance can be
supplied in time for Monday's meeting. As a courtesy to the County, the Town has waived its
normal fee for the use of this facility.
However, the public meeting room at Wappinger Town Hall will not be made available for the
Public Forum at Town Hall, Town of Wappinger on July 23rd at 7:00 P.M. unless a certificate of
insurance is supplied.
Page 1 of2
O:\Wappinger\Town Board\RaiJ Trail\072007Ietter to DC Executive re Public Forum.doc
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Thank you for your courtesy and attention.
Very truly yours,
VERGILIS, STENGER, ROBERTS & DAVIS, LLP
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ALBERT P. ROBERTS--<'.
APR/so
cc: Hon. Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Town Board
Hon. John C. Masterson, Town Clerk
Page 2 of2
0:\ Wappinger\Town Board\Rail Trail\On007 letter to DC Executive re Public Forum.doc
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
TOWN CLERK
CHRIS MASTERSON
SUPERVISOR
JOSEPH RUGGIERO
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845) 297-5771
FAX: (845) 298-1478
TOWN COUNCIL
WILLIAM H. BEALE
VINCENT BETTINA
MAUREEN McCARTHY
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI
Filing Sheet
Send To
CC
Town Board
Supervisor Ruggiero
Councilman Beale
Councilman Bettina
Councilwoman McCarthy
m Councilman Paoloni
>< Legislative Aide
..... Correspondence Log
CD Town Attorney
., AI Roberts 8
~
Q) Manny Saris
- Town Engineer
Jay paggi 8
Joe Stankavage
Town Planner
David Stolman 0
Other
C Trish Maupin
CD Mark Liebermann
"C
Q) George Kolb
::+ Tatiana Lukianoff
3 Barbara Roberti
CD Phil DiNonno
::s Christian Harkins
....
::I: Ralph Holt
CD Nancy Cito
Q) Eileen Manning
Co Jean Gallucci
en
Graham Foster
I ." I PLACE ON FILE
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Dutchess
County
Executive
William R. Steinhaus
County Executive
22 Market Street
Poughkeepsie
New York
12601
(845) 486-2000
Fax (845) 486-2021
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July 20, 2007
RECEIVt-1 >>
JUL 23 2007
TOWN CLERK
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Town of Wappinger
20 Middlebush Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Dear Supervisor Ruggiero:
I understand you, your Chief of Staff as well as the Town Clerk have been calling
different offices and staff members of county government in recent days regarding the
Dutchess Rail Trail Update for Wappinger residents sponsored by Councilman Beale.
Mr. Beale offered to arrange for the community room at Town Hall after he learned you
refused requests from our Public Works staff to provide the update to Wappinger
residents at a June town board meeting.
County Executive Steinhaus had originally asked staff to contact you to schedule a follow
up to our February 2006 meeting at Town Hall when we first discussed the rail trail
project. Well over 100 Wappinger residents, including you Mr. Ruggiero, participated in
the meeting and expressed interest in a follow up as the county's project progressed. We
simply want to provide Wappinger residents with that update on a project that will go
through your/their town and will be a wonderful new recreational opportunity for their
families.
The idea you are now trying to obstruct this public information meeting for your residents
by trying to find and put up barriers to it reeks of politics. First, in June you deny your
residents the update at a scheduled board meeting by stating the project is not a town
matter so you wouldn't allow it on the agenda. Now, you are claiming County
government must "fill out paperwork" requesting approval for use of the community
room even though we are guests of one of your town's elected Council members.
Additionally, you are requiring a certificate of insurance for a meeting in the town's
"community" room - a meeting which is for residents of the community. Curiously, just
this week there was a Dutchess County Office for the Aging picnic at town facilities and
my understanding is that did not require fulfilling these same requirements.
It's disappointing, and quite unflattering, you are turning this public forum update into a
political power struggle, even getting the town's attorney involved. I certainly hope this
is not how you define intergovernmental cooperation or "working together" to provide
"open, efficient and responsive government" to the people.
Nevertheless, we hope to see you at Monday's public forum.
Sincerely,
-1L"'r ~
Nancy E. Giordano
Chief of Staff
Cc: Town Board Members
Hon. John C. Masterson, Town Clerk
Mr. Albert P. RqRt~~S,,\'t~1'\Y'l1d~t(t~HR~Xy