1970-10-29 PHA Public Hearing was held by the Town Board of the Town of
Wappinger on October 29, 1970, at the Town Hall, Mill Street,
Wappingers Falls, New York on the Preliminary Budget of the Town
of Wappinger for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 1971.
Supervisor Diehl opened the Public Hearing at 7:40 P.M.
Present:
Louis Diehl, Supervisor
Louis Clausen, Councilman
G. Donald Finnan, Councilman
Harry Holt, Councilman
James Mills, Jr., Councilman
Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk
Others Present:
Allan Rappleyea, Attorney to the Town
William Horton,. Superintendent of Highways
Joseph E. Ludewig, Building Inspector •
The Town Clerk offered for the record, the Affidavit of Posting
duly signed and notarized, and the Affidavit of Publication duly
signed and notarized by Beatrice Ostten, Editor-Pixblisher of the
W&SD News. (These Affidavits are attached hereto and Made ,a part
hereof of the Minutes of this Hearing.)
Mr. Diehl made the following statement:
The following is a report of the Town of Wappinger Town
Board sitting as a full committee and reporting upon the prelim-
inary budget for 1971.
The Town Board of the Town of Wappinger has examined the
preliminary budget figures -presented to the Town Board by,thc'
Town Clerk. The preliminary budget reflects generally the
requests of the various department heads as well as the manda-
tory items required for debt service.
The Town Board has met with the various department and agency
heads and has thoroughly reviewed these requests. The Town Board
has decided that the fallowing changes in the preliminary budget
will be .made,._ keeping in. imind..that zany ;material or additional
information presented at the public• hearing .ion. the budget may
result in further changes in this preliminary budget. The
following items are those which the Town Board believes at this
time will be amended:
1. Account No. A 1315 -- Comptroller
The preliminary budget proposed the hiring of a full-time
comptroller anf.:ar:.appropriat=ioo o .$12,•000.00 was proVided.
At this time,. the Town Board believes that while this office
is needed, the:expense of es.tabl shi g At'.is tOb.: great:. It' is•
possible that the establishment of this office could save addi-
tional tax dellars and the Town Board will continue to study this
matter.
.5' '(
2. Account No. A 1330 =- Tax Collection
This account will be reduced by $200.00 to reflect a
reduction in the item of personal services.
3. Account No. A 1355 -- Assessors
This account will be reduced by the sum of $5,000.00. In
1971, a full-time assessor and one assistant will be appointed.
The Town proposes the salary of the assessor to be $8,500.00
and the assistant assessor to be $2,000.00. In addition to.
that, the sum of $7,500.00 will be provided for clerical services.
4. Account No. A 1410 -- Town Clerk
This account will be reduced by the sum of $100.00 reflect-
ing a reduction in the appropriation for personal services.
5. Account No. A 4540 -- Ambulance Service
The Town has received a request for additional fees for the
ambulance service provided by Sloper-Willen'Ambulande Corps.
The request was for an appropriation of $26,1600.00. The Town
Board has decided to appropriate the sum of $25,000.00 to this
account.
6. Account No. A 7110 -- Recreation
The Recreation Commission requested $38,500.00 for contrac-
tual expenses out of the general fund, The Town Board recognizes
the need for additional recreation services and the improvement
to the Brouthers Park.
However, it is believed that some
financed over a longer term. The
the request by the sum of $14,900
$24,410.00.
7. Account No. A 9000
of these improvements can be
Board, therefore, has reduced
.00 and proposes to appropriate -
A request was made for full insurance benefits for all
Town employees. The Town Board has reduced the request so that
the full insurance will btprovided for highway employees only.
This results in a reduction rof the Employee Benefits Account
from the general fund of $6,150,004
8. Account No. B 9000
As previously .mentioned, the Town Board recognites the need
for insurance coverage for highway employees. The insurance
coverage will be somewhat less than originally proposed resulting
in a reduction of this account of '$2,000.00.
As previously noted, the above changes reflect the study
made by the Town Board of all budget items. After the public
hearing, the Board will consider all matters presented at the
public hearing and make such additional changes as may be
appropriate.
Much , of the increase inthe propoted 197N<budget is the
of the increased debt service which is required by reason of
many capital r prof leets, undertaken in the last several years.
course,' the items involving salaries for Town employees have
result
the
Of
also
been increased to retain experienced and capable personnel.
Mr. Finnan stated that this statement was not signed by all members
of the Town Board and he had his own statement to make. He was in
favor of the Office of Comptroller. He was disturbed about a news-
paper article by Mr. Diehl_that he was against this office although
the Republican members of the Board were in favor of it. This article
was printed, stated_Mr. Finnan, after a meeting of the Board when all
members agreed to drop it out o -f this year's budget. For this reason,
Mr. Finnan was in favor of this office; he felt this office was
needed. One of the reasons being the criticism of the State Depart-
ment of Audit and Control on different items, one of which was that
no formal bids were put out for work done by Recreation Commission.
Mr. Finnan felt that the $12,000 salary for a Comptroller would not
affect the budget since the Supervisor's office now had a -full time
Secretary, a part-time Bookkeeper and a part-time Administrative
Assistant, and these salaries together would go quite a way towards
this $12,000 salary for a Comptroller. -
Mr. Diehl reiterated that a_Comptroller would need an office, a
secretary, equipment, etc. Getting back to the Audit report, he -
wished to remind them that because of, the alertness of the Super-
visor's office, a special census had been recommended and the Town
did pick up $20,000 from this. They were :also commended for the
interest they had gained in C.D's, it has been the largest ever,
(this was mentioned .in the Audit Report.)
Louis Eck asked if the Office of Comptroller was still included in
the Budget. The Town of Poughkeepsie has a two million dollar budget,
their'increase would amount to about $.50. The Town of Wappinger
should not have any increase. Highway and Recreation should be
reduced. He would be willing to sit with them and show them how
to reduce this budget.
Arthur Bisom, Myers ,Corners Road brought up the amounts of the
Recreation Commission Budget in previous years; this years was the
highest, $50,955, compared to $32,800 last year, an increase of 60%.
He asked the Recreation Commission what they were going to do with
this budget, the public is entitled to know. How much was going into
ball fields and ball games. Hugh J. Maurer answered $6,500 for ball
fields. He explained youth programs--different programs during the
year, arts:and, crafts in summer playgrounds, girls soft ball, Lassie
League, girls, and boys winter basketball.
Mr. Monk, DeGarmo Hills Road, had three items he wanted information
on -- comptroller, recreation and special items. Where would they
get a decent comptroller at $12,000? Would this be an elected
position? Why haven't the recommendations suggested by Audit and
Control been put into effect before? Would this man deal directly
with all financial matters of the Town, or would it be an office-
manager type of position? What does unallocated insurance apply
to? He was told it was all building and fire insurance on town -
buildings. Mr. Monk asked if any of these insurances covered the
recreation activities. He asked if there was duplication of any
insurance in the Town. He further questioned what the Contingency
Fund was. He thought the recreation budget should increase in
view of the population rise in the Town.
Mr.,Corteilino_stated that he was not questioning Mr. Rappleyeas'
salary, he thought he was doing a good job, but in view of the
extra fees: he charges, wouldn't it be better to retain an attorney
for a flat fee? He was in favor of a full time Attorney and a full
time Engineer. -
Joseph Incoronato, Ronsue Drive, they had land in Fleetwood area
for approximately ten years, dedicated by the builder, which was
approximately 2 acres. It was dedicated for recreation,-but nothing
has been-done _.about it. They always had problems that prohibited the
use of the land, but about a year and a half ago when they acquired
the sewer and water districts, he asked the Town Board to set aside
money for blacktopping of the site. They had-plans for a ball field
and basketball court and with fill , they calculated the cost would
run about $4 to $5,000.
He asked if the Recreation Budget reflected any money for this area
which included 400 or 500 children in Fleetwood Manor. He also
bnpught up the fact that developers should be dedicating 10% of
the land for recreation, not 5%. They could also take the -money
according to market value and add this money to the Recreation
Budget.
Charles Uhl, Wildwood Drive asked if they were planning to buy land
with the money in the Recreation Budget. He had heard that the Town
is buying recreation land on All Angels Road. The Attorney informed
him that this would be entirely separate, it had nothing to do with
the Recreation Budget; it would be a bond issue and it would be
voted on by the taxpayers.
Mr. Monk inquired if interest on bonds was included in the budget.
He also questioned the Contingency account again, in going through
the budget discovered there was a total of $25,000 in the Contingency
account. Mr. Egan explained that part of the budget:did not include
the Village and this is why the same accounts appear twice. Mr. Monk
thought the budget should have been presented with a top sheet or
synopsis with total amounts of each item, instead of leafing through
twenty some odd pages to put everything together.
Louis Eck again stated that the budget should not be raised in rate
this year, it should be kept the same as last year, give or take a
few cents.
Mr. Byrd, St. Nicholas Road ---the Highway Budget should not be cut.
The Highway Department should do something to improve the roads in
the Town.
Mrs. Robert Hanna --Recreation Budget should not be cut. The program
is pitiful, the budget is ridiculous for a first class Town, a first
class Town deserves first class recreation. The Highway Budget should
not be cut, the roads are in a deplorable condition.
Mr. Lafko blamed the Attorney for any problems, high budgets etc. not
the Town Board ---it's the lawyer who advises them. He asked Mr. Diehl
if he was willing to give up his staff if a Comptroller was voted in
the budget.
Louis Eck remarked that the Town only gets 25 on Dog Licenses and
Hunting Licenses, he felt that the Town is entitled to at least
50 for the work entailed, otherwise, we should give it back to
the State.
Mr. Cortellino asked if the tax rate would go up 50% if this
budget was passed.
Mr. Monk --if Recreation Budget is cut, we will not have first class
citizens. We need family recreation, if you cut now, you cut back
on your future.
Mr. Halberstaff, if the cuts were not made, what would the tax rate
be?
There was considerable discussion on whether to put a Comptroller
in_the Budget; the Board decided not to call a Special Meeting to
vote on the budget tonight.
MR. FINNAN moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Mr.
Clausen and unanimously carried.
The Public Hearing closed at 9:45 P.M.
PH. Budget 1971
10/29/70
W. and S. P.
NEWS
ash
DISPLAY ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
AX 7 — 3724
20 EAST MAiN STREET • WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y.
NOTICE OF HEARING UPON PRELIMINARY BUDGET i
Notice Is hereby given that the preliminary budget of the Town of.
Wappinger for the fiscal year beginning January 1st, 1970, has been
completed and filed In the office of the Town Clerk, at Mill Street,`
Wappingers Falls, New York, where it is available for inspection by
any interested. person at all reasonable hours.
Further notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the Town of
Wappinger will meet and review said preliminary budget and hold a
public hearing thereon, at the Town Hall at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the
30th day of October, 1969, and that at such hearing any person may
be heard in favor of or against the preliminary budget as compiled or
for or against any item or items therein contained.
Pursuant to Section 113 of the Town Law, the proposed salaries of
the following town officers are hereby specified as follows:
Supervisor $5,000.
Town Justice $3,600.
+ ' Town Justice $3,600.
• Councilmen (each) $2,000. LTown Clerk , $8,000,
Superintendent of Highways $10,000..
Dated: October 10, 1969
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
• .,Elaine H. Snowden
Town Clerk
AFFIDAVIT OP PUBLICATION
State of New York.
County of Dutcheu.
Town of Wappinger.
Beatrice Osten
of the
Town of Wappinger, Dutcheu County. New Yak,
being duly sworn. says thatShe is. and ift the several
times hereinafter was. theGO.—.EGii. Ar7P.ub.L1.Sh*
W. & S.D. NEWS, a newspaper printed and published
every Thursday in the year in the Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County. New York. and that the annexed
NOTICE was duly published in the said newspaper for
... two... week succeuivel ... £ aC.e . in each week.
commencing on the....1.4.day of... Qptgt3er
19..69tnd on the following dates thereafter, namely on
Oct. 23rd
and ending on the....2 3x41. day of. DP.tObA ... .
1949 both days inclusive.
Subscribed and sworn to before)i is �i
this. day;.:; t
Al-
.._ 42
Notary Public/
My commission expires.... 4A.Z1;,... 0k . C1. .
•
it
t!
;1
TOWN BOARD; TOWN OF WAPPINGER
DUTCHESS COUNTY: NEW YORK
IN THE MATTER'
OF
NOTICE OF HEARING UPON
PRELIMINARY BUDGET
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss:
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS)
says:
AFFIDAVIT OF
POSTING
ELAINE H. SNOWDEN, being duly sworn, deposes and
Asqk
That she is the duly elected, qualified and acting
Town Clerk of the Town of Wappinger, County of Dutchess
and State of New York.
That on October 16, 1969, your deponent posted a
copy of the attached notice of Public Hearing on the
Notice of Hearing Upon Preliminary Budget, on the
signboard maintained by your deponent in her office
in the Town Hall of the Town of Wappinger, Mill Street,
in the Village of Wappingers Falls, Town of Wappinger,
Dutchess County, New York.
001 • � _a�. •.--
Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk
Sworn to before me this 34 -day
CCro Bal' 1969.
Notary Puiblic v
ANTHONY P. SILVESTRI
NOTARY PUBLIC, STATE OF NEW YORK
RESIDING IN DUTCHESS COUNTY
CORMS= EXPIRES MARCH 80,192
NOTICE OF HEARING UPON PRELIMINARY BUDGET
Notice is hereby given that the preliminary budget
of the Town of Wappinger for the fiscal year beginning
January 1st, 1970, has been completed and filed in the
office of the Town Clerk, at Mill Street, Wappingers
Falls, New York, where it is available for inspection
by any interest person at all reasonable hours.
Further notice is hereby given that the Town Board of the
Town of Wappinger will meet and review said preliminary
budget and hold a public hearing thereon, at the Town Hall
at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the 30th day of October, 1969, and
that at such hearing any person may be heard in favor of
or against the preliminary budget as compiled or for or
against any item or items therein contained.
Pursuant to Section 113 of the Town Law, the proposed
salaries of the following town officers are hereby specified
as follows:
Supervisor
Town Justice
Town Justice
Councilmen (each)
Town Clerk
Supt. of Highways
Dated: October 10, 1969
$5,000.
3,600.
3,600.
2,000.
8,000.
10,000.
BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD
Elaine H. Snowden
Town Clerk