1975-10-09 SPM,w - M
326
A Special Meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger was
held on October 9, 1975 at the Town Hall, Mill Street, Wappingers
Falls, New York.
Notice of said meeting was mailed to each Board member on October
7, 1975, calling the meeting for 7:30 P.M., October 9, 1975 for
the purpose of considering petitions regarding the establishment of
a Ward System in the Town of Wappinger and increasing the number of
Councilmen from four (4) to six (6).
Supervisor Diehl called the meeting to order at 7:42 P.M.
Present:
Louis Diehl, Supervisor
Louis Clausen, Councilman
Leif Jensen, Councilman
Frank Versace, Councilman
Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk
Absent:
Stephen Saland, Councilman
Others Present:
Allan Rappleyea, Attorney to the Town
William Egan, Confidential Secr. to Supervisor
Supervisor Diehl stated the purpose of this meeting was to cchnsider
Petitions filed with the Town Clerk requesting the Town Board •to
submit, to the Electors of the Town of Wappinger, 1. the proposition
to establish the Ward System for the election of Councilmen of the
Town of Wappinger and, 2. increase the number of Councilmen from 4
to 6.
Mrs. Snowden informed the Board that these two petitions had been
filed with her on October 5, 1975, that she had examined them, and
found them to be in order on their face, with a few minor exceptions,
not enough to invalidate either petition as the total number of
signatures in each petition exceeded the total of 357 signatures
required for each (5% of total number of votes cast in last Guber-
natorial Election). On the petition for a Ward System there were
S2,.
462 signatures, and on the Petition for increasing the Council-
men from four to six, there were 430 signatures.
Mr. Rappleyea advised the Board that he had spoken with both
Commissioners of the Board of Elections, and it was determined
that both petitions could be placed on the ballot, as they were
independent of one another. Therefore, he had prepared, at the
request of Mrs. Snowden, a Resolution and the two propositions for
the Board's consideration.'
The following Resolution was offered by SUPERVISOR DtEHL who
moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, the Town Clerk of the Town of Wappinger did receive
on or about October 5th,° 1975, a Petition requesting the submission
of a proposition providing for the increase in the number of
councilmen for the Town of Wappinger from four to six, and
WHEREAS, the Town Clerk of the Town of Wappinger did receive
on or about October 5th, 1975,. a Petition requesting the submission
of a proposition providing for the election within the Town of
Wappinger of councilmen, pursuant to the ward system, and
WHEREAS, the Town Clerk has submitted to the Town Board a
proposed proposition to be presented to the electors of the Town
of Wappinger at the next be -annual election.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows:
1. That the following propositions being Propositions No.
1 and 2 shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the Town of
Wappinger at the next bi-annual election.
2. The Town Clerk shall give notice of the submission of
the said Propositions in the W. S. & D. News at least ten days
piior to such bi-annual election.
3. The Town Clerk shall post or cause to be posted a copy
of such notice on the signboard of the Town at least ten days
prior to such election.
4. The said notice shall specify the time when and the
place or places where such election shall be held, and the hours
during which the polls will remain open and shall be in substan-
tailly the following form:
"Notice of Submission of Propositions for bi-annual election
to be held on November 4, 1975, in the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess
County, New York.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following propositions will be
submitted to the electorate of the Town ofwappinger at the election
to be held on November 4th, 1975:
gI
Proposition No. 1 - Shall the proposition providing for the
establishment of the ward system for the election of councilmen
of the Town of Wappinger be approved?
Yes No
Proposition No. 2 - Shall the proposition providing for the
increase in the number of councilmen for the Town of Wappinger
from four to six be approved?
Yes No
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that voting will be by machine
ballot. The polls will --e open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and
the polling places will be as follows:
1. Mesier Park
Wappingers Falls, New York
2. Town Hall
Mill Street
Wappingers Falls, New York
3. Garner Engine House
West Academy St.
Wappingers Falls, New York
4. Wappinger Junior High School
Remsen Avenue
Wappingers Falls, New York
5. Ketcham High School
Myers Corners Road
Wappingers Falls, New York
6. New Hackensack Church
Christian Education Center
Route 376
Wappingers Falls, New York
7. New Hackensack Fire House
Myers Corners Road
Wappingers Falls, New York
District No. 1
District No. 2
District No. 3
District Nos. 4
and 13
District Nos. 5,
7 and 8
District Nos. 6
and 21
District Nos. 9
and 20
8. Myers Corners Elementary School District Nos. 10
17 and 18
9. Hughsonville Fire House
Old Hopewell Road
Wappingers Falls, New York
10. Chelsea School House
Liberty Street
Chelsea, New York
11. Mount Hope Grange
Myers Corners Road
Wappingers Falls, New York
District Nos. 11,
12 and 16
District Nos. 14
and 15
District No. 19
s 2, 9
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a person will be entitled
to vote if she or he is an elector of the Town of Wappinger.
Seconded by: Mr. Jensen
Roll Call Vote:
Councilman Clausen Aye
Councilman Jensen Ave
Councilman Saland 4sent
Councilman Versace Aye
Supervisor Diehl Aye
Prior to the roll call vote on the above Resolution, Mr. Jensen
made the statement that he was not opposed to either proposition
per se, but it was rather a late date for receiving these petitions.
He would rather have seen an ad hoc committee formed to study in
depth the impact either or both of these propositions would have
on the Town residents, and been able to disseminate this information
to the voters so that they might have a better understanding of
what they would be voting on. He was disappointed to see them
presented at this time.
Mr. Clausen, also before the vote. was taken added that he agreed
with Mr. Jensen. Likewise, Mr. Versace supported Mr. Jensen's
statement. Mr. Clausen requested an opinion from the Attorney to the
o ,Town as to whether the Board was obligated to vote in favor of the
Resolution. Mr. Rappleyea indicated that one way or another the
propositions would have to be filed with the Board of Elections
and placed before the Electorate of the Town, therefore, in his
opinion, it would appear to be an obligation of the Board to adopt
the Resolution and place the matter before the voters. Mr. Clausen
stated that, having been advised by counsel, it was his obligation
as a Board member to vote yes, but it was in no way to be miscon-
strued that he was in favor of these propositions, he was, in fact
strongly opposed to both of them. Therefore the vote was cast.
MR. JENSEN moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Versace and
carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 P.M. �RA412-u---
10/9/75. Elaine H. Snowden,
Town Clerk