1987-05-07 SPM126
A Special Meeting was held by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger
on May 7, 1987, at the Town Hall, Middlebush Road, Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York.
Supervisor Paino opened the meeting at 7:30 P.M.
Present:
Irene Paino, Supervisor
Vincent Farina, Councilman
David Reis, Councilman
Robert Valdati, Councilman
June Visconti, Councilwoman
Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk
This meeting was scheduled at the Regular Bimonthly Meeting of
May 4th, 1987, for the purpose of discussing the 1987 Dutchess
County Consortium Funds allotted to the Town of Wappinger and the
purposes for which it might be used.
Mrs. Paino explained that $40,000 was available to the Town of
Wappinger which were federal funds funnelled to the municipalities
through the Dutchess County Planning Department. A notice had
been placed in the official newspaper of the Town indicating the
time and place of the meeting and its purpose.
Peg O'Leary was present from Community Services to request the
Town Board to consider using $50,000 matching grant funds to help
rehabilitate the old Town Hall in the Villge of Wappingers Falls.
Also present was a representative from Big Brothers, Big Sisters
who have requested funds from the $40,000 Consortium Funds.
Mrs. Paino invited Peg O'Leary to give a presentation to the Board
on the plans for the $50,000 matching funds.
Ms. O'Leary asked the Town Board to consider matching a $50,000
housing match with other funds, and in this case, their organization
would match it by their administrative funding for 1987 which amounts
to $70,000. The funding would be used for administrative purposes
for three different projects ---one would be for the old Town Hall,
the second would be the historic restoration of Community Services
Building in the Village of Wappingers Falls, and the third project
they are presently developing, a permanent fifteen unit housing project
for the Grace Smith House. After they develop the project, the Grace
Smith organization will own and manage the house. It's a $1.5 million
dollar project; they expect approval from the City of Poughkeepsie
Planning Board by the end of this month; they hope to go to bid and
start construction by the Fall. There is a shortage of administrative
funds available and that is the reason she is seeking these matching
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funds from the Town. Ms. O'Leary explained the procedure they
would follow for the Grace Smith project. It will be located in the
City of Poughkeepsie and will service all of Dutchess County. They
will administer the bidding process, retain the contractor and will
be responsible for the draw downs for the insurances. They will stay
with the project until the C.O. is issued, they assist with management
policies; on a yearly basis their organization will receive an annual
budget so they will be assured the project is in the black. If the
Town Board approves the request, Community Services will execute the
paper work involved. The Town of Poughkeepsie has approved $50,000
housing match for physical improvements, and the Harlem Valley Community
Development Board has tentatively approved the reallocation of $99,000
of their funds to the project.
Mrs. Paino noted as a point of information, that if the Town Board
does not utilize the $50,000, it will go back to the general fund
and the Town will lose the funds.
In response to a question on their plans for the old Town Hall, Ms.
O'Leary said they plan offices on the first floor, per the Village
Zoning Ordinance, four units on the second floor and two units on
the third floor; the second floor will be targeted to retired indivi-
duals. Ms. O'Leary answered questions from the Board Members and
elaborated on details of the administrative work, salaries and benefits
involved.
MRS. PAINO moved that the Town of Wappinger provide Community Services
with a $50,000 matching grant.
Seconded by Mr. Farina
Motion Unanimously Carried
Kathy Esposito, Coordinator of Big Brothers, Big Sisters was invited
to speak to the Board on her request for funds from the $40,000
allotted to the Town from the Dutchess County Consortium Funds.
Ms. Esposito explained that their organization has a satellite
office that operates from the Community Service Building in the
Village. Her request was for $1,000 to expand their services
throughout the Southern Dutchess Area, particularly, Wappinger.
They intend to use the money for educational workshops and programs
so they can increase the number of children they can serve. She
briefly explained the organization, noting that children are between
the ages of seven and fifteen, who are living in single family house-
holds. They carefully match these children with volunteers over
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eighteen. These work shops will deal with drug and alcohol abuse,
teen age pregnancy and parent teens.
Mrs. Paino felt the organization could use a larger amount than Ms.
Esposito requested, explaining that part of the criteria a municipality
has to meet in applying these funds is areas of low income and our
Town has difficulty meeting this requirement. Since this organization
is located in the Village of Wappingers Falls, it does meet that criteria
and in addition it meets other specifications such as drug abuse and
a community service involvement. Ms. Esposito agreed that they could
use a larger amount of funding.
Peg O'Leary added that this program involved more than a Boy Scout/
Girl Scout organization ---it includes programs such as they offer and
more. Big Brothers, Big Sisters meet with counselors, they go to the
children's home, if there is neglect, it's corrected, it's more than
a social type program although they do include fun type activities.
Ms. Esposito answered questions from the public and the Board.
After this presentation, the Board discussed this request and other
projects that had previously been discussed at a work shop meeting,
including the master plan and zoning ordinance revision that would be
eligible for this funding. Mrs. Paino explained that a cap of one-
third of the total amount has been put on this revision project,
specifically $13,333 is the limit that can be applied. Also discussed
was applying some of the funds toward senior citizens programs that
can be operated from the Senior Citizen Room in the Town Hall.
The following Resolution was offered by SUPERVISOR PAINO who
its adoption:
moved
WHEREAS, the Town of Wappinger is participating in the Dutchess
County Community Development Consortium for Fiscal Year 1987, and
WHEREAS, input from citizens and groups has been received and
considered, and
WHEREAS, a Community Development Plan has been prepared and
reviewed, and
WHEREAS, an application has been prepared which is in conformance
with said plan,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Dutchess County Community
Development Consortium Fiscal Year 1987 application for the Town of
Wappinger, including the certifications included therein be and
hereby is approved, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the submission of said application
to Dutchess County Department of Planning be and hereby is authorized,
We, the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger hereby authorize
the following Consortium Funds be allocated to the following projects:
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1. Master Plan & Zoning Ordinance Revision $ 13,333.00
2. Big Brothers/Big Sisters 6,000.00
3. Town of Wappinger Senior Citizens Program 20,667.00
$ 40,000.00
Seconded by: Councilman Reis
Roll Call Vote: 5 Ayes 0 Nays
MR. FARINA moved to close the Special Meeting, seconded by Mrs.
Visconti and unanimously carried.
The Special Meeting closed at 8;22
Spl. Mtg. 5/7/87
P.
0AtLtkaajti.,
Elaine H. Snowden
Town Clerk