The Orangetown Town Council voted unanimously in favor of a State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) resolution needed to get funding for sludge tank improvements.
With Supervisor Andy Stewart and Councilman Paul Valentine absent from Tuesday’s special meeting, the rest of the board voted in favor of the resolution, which is needed in the application to the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) to fund the finance the sludge tank capital project that consists of replacing and rehabilitating the existing stuctures.
The town board previously authorized the use of serial bonds to pay for improvements and authorized the supervisor to file an application with the EFC requesting financing for the project back in 2010. The improvements were undertaken as part of a Consent Order with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
“It was all pretty much done about two years ago,” said Councilman Denis Troy. “This is just a technicality needed for the application.”
Also at Tuesday’s workshop, Paul Witte, a code enforcement officer, spoke about property maintenance code violations, for which there will be a public hearing at the Aug. 28. While the agenda listed four sites up for discussion, Witte said that was an outdated list. There are only two locations with violations, both in Blauvelt.
Witte said the list is down from 10 locations initially included. One location, a rental property, was issued a violation for tall grass, and the violation was issued to the renter and owner of the property. According to Witte, he issue went to justice court and grass has since been cut.
Witte also said there has been concern expressed by the public about the violations and how they come into the officers.
“Ninety percent of our complaints anonymous complaints that come into the building,” he said.
He added that occasionally his department will come across something while out for another reason, but they “don’t go around patrolling and looking for tall grass.”
A public hearing was set for Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. to discuss a proposal to get rid of street parking on Western Highway north of Erie Street. The proposal was recommended by the town attorney, along with various departments, including the highway and sewer.
During the discussion of the proposal, it was brought up that Greenbush Presbyterian Church has members park on the street at times, and for certain big events, the town could cover up the signs to allow for street parking.
The board also discussed a resolution that would make the Project Review Committee available to everyone considering land development and/or construction within the town. The idea is to help ensure that people who go in front of the planning board are informed and prepared.
The Project Review Committee was formed to provide a comprehensive review of construction and subdivision applications to assist in earlier identifying issues of concern that can come up in the review process, which could in turn help avoid delays.
Councilman Thomas Diviny wanted it made clearer in the resolution that not everyone would have to meet with the Project Review Committee, and that John Giardiello, director of Building, Planing, Zoning and Enforcement (OBZPAE) would have full discretion over those that need to meet with the committee.
