Orangetown Board Against Increased Pearl River Day Funding, Showmobile Request

Budget concerns continue to dominate the discussion at Orangetown Town Board meetings.

In that environment, the council was not receptive to the Pearl River Chamber of Commerce request for additional funding for Pearl River Day, which is scheduled for Oct. 6.

"It's a busy, productive event in the downtown area, but it is a bit funny to see numbers increasing while we are trying to find every way to cut," Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart said. 

"Not now," Councilman Tom Morr said. "This is not a good time for an incease." 

The town contributed $1,000 and the Chamber of Commerce was asking for $2,000 for this year, citing increasing attendance for the annual event.

"We had not given until last year and I do not support increasing it at all," Councilman Denis Troy said.

"If we are going to do it, it's going to be $1,000 and we should send a not esaying we won't be giving it out next year if we don't have the money to do so," Councilman Tom Diviny said.

Another item that found little support was a request from the JCC Rockland for use of Orangetown's Showmobile for its "Dog Day at the J" event Sunday, Sept. 23. They would have paid the rental cost of $350 and provided additional insurance.

According to Orangetown Parks & Recreation Director Aric Gorton, such a request has not been granted in the past. 

"How do you say hes to one group and not another," Councilman Paul Valentine said. "I don't think we should open the door on that."

"It should be pulled off the agenda," Troy said, noting the lack of support from the council. "One of the things with the old one is it got beat up going all over the place. This one is very well taken care of."

The town board also discussed other items expected to be included on the budget for the regular town board meeting Sept. 24:

• Bids for three Orangetown Highway Department vehicles, all covered by a bond passed earlier this year.  
• Request for additional barricades and cones for the upcoming Team KJ Duathlon in Orangetown.
• Accepting $10,500 donation from property owner Howard Dean, which will be used for an investigation of a plan to mitigate flooding near Oaktree Road.
• The 2013 budget.