At last night's Saugerties Village Board meeting, mayor Yerick opened with a salvo against the "jerk... idiot... 22 year old" who irreparably damaged one of the Hors'n Around Saugerties horses. "What in the hell gives these kids the right", the mayor continued as he explained that there was probably more than the 3 horses that have already been damaged.
Not children friendly
Apparently there have been other unforeseen issues that have arisen with the artful horses. Trustee Myers' report to the board included a child who "bumped" her face with the corner of one of the horses' metal bases. It seems that the bases on all 48 horses have protruding metal corners which are at eye-level to most children. "It's hard for a child to see them", Myers nervously chuckled, continuing to ensure a wary public that road department ground down the corners immediately after being alerted to the problem. "It's been quite a job keeping up with the horses..." she added. Mayor Yerick ended with a plea for anyone who witnesses suspicious activity around the horses to call the police immediately. "I can't understand why anyone would sit a child on these horses... they are beautiful pieces of art". Adding to the vandalism, it seems that folks have been seen sitting their pleading toddlers on the horses.
Running out of juice
Can you imagine that the little Village of Saugerties has reached full capacity and needs electrical upgrades? Well, it's true according to Alex Wade. Central Hudson will need to install 70 new utility poles. The problem is that CH will have to cut down some old shade trees in order to complete the upgrades. The Mayor explained that Verizon and Time Warner share these utility poles and they have "thousands of law suits" pending against them and he is "not optimistic" that they will comply will the Central Hudson pole transfers leaving old poles next to the 70 new poles and an unsightly mess. Kelly Myers is in charge of protecting the trees and the historical "integrity of our streets".
DOT changes its terms
The multi-million dollar Village water and sewer separation work agreement that has been planned for many years has run into financial trouble. New York State DOT wants the Village of Saugerties to pay for the construction costs upfront before the work begins. Then, as Alex Wade explained, "... we [Village of Saugerties] will bill DOT for the work when they are completed." The Mayor went on to assure the public that he has called all the politicians and representatives for their help and is hopeful something can be worked out.
"Oh yea... I'm abstaining"
The financial abstract for last month's Village expenses was approved unanimously (Campbell and Moore absent) with Trustee Murphy abstaining. At first Mayor Yerick seemed surprised, though with a smile and wink remembered that Trustee Murphy's trash services are included in the abstract of bills. Oh yea... I forgot.
Squeezing in another subdivision
A "Major Subdivision" request is in the progress. John Duran who owns property at the end of Main Street is requesting permission to subdivide his village property into several smaller parcels, "... for his kids".
Showing posts with label mayor yerick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mayor yerick. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Saugerties Times' Editor "Confuses"
The editorial by Will Dendis on April 9 is very misleading as he tries to guess as to Mayor Yerrick's [equally confusing] dismissal of the Saugerties Village Historic Review Board.
The New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires the Village of Saugerties’ Historic Review Board to be a part of the review process for the Partition Street Project. In New York, planning boards, town boards, city councils and other government agencies must comply with strict procedures for the review of environmental impacts of proposed projects that they approve. If the procedures are not adhered to, citizens may challenge the decision in court, generally seeking to annull the decision in question and the environmental review process starts over.
When Will Dendis refers to the current historic Review Board (whom the mayor has tried to remove) as “inserting itself into the process” and that the Historic Review Board has "run amok”, the Saugerties Times editor has totally misrepresented the facts. The current board (Dave Minch, Michael Sullivan Smith and Rosemary Brackett) are required by SEQRA to form an opinion as to the project’s appropriateness. Since they are listed as interested agencies at the beginning of this process, they should remain in place until it’s resolution.
The SEQRA review process involves negotiation between interested parties, developers and the citizens of the Village of Saugerties. The Historic Review Board followed Village law and neither Mayor Yerrick [or Saugerties Village Board] has the authority to usurp the Village's own laws. Will Dendis is entitled to his opinion, but first he should get his facts straight.
Diana Bryan
845-246-3182
The New York's State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) requires the Village of Saugerties’ Historic Review Board to be a part of the review process for the Partition Street Project. In New York, planning boards, town boards, city councils and other government agencies must comply with strict procedures for the review of environmental impacts of proposed projects that they approve. If the procedures are not adhered to, citizens may challenge the decision in court, generally seeking to annull the decision in question and the environmental review process starts over.
When Will Dendis refers to the current historic Review Board (whom the mayor has tried to remove) as “inserting itself into the process” and that the Historic Review Board has "run amok”, the Saugerties Times editor has totally misrepresented the facts. The current board (Dave Minch, Michael Sullivan Smith and Rosemary Brackett) are required by SEQRA to form an opinion as to the project’s appropriateness. Since they are listed as interested agencies at the beginning of this process, they should remain in place until it’s resolution.
The SEQRA review process involves negotiation between interested parties, developers and the citizens of the Village of Saugerties. The Historic Review Board followed Village law and neither Mayor Yerrick [or Saugerties Village Board] has the authority to usurp the Village's own laws. Will Dendis is entitled to his opinion, but first he should get his facts straight.
Diana Bryan
845-246-3182
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Village Law is Only a Guide - Explains Saugerties Mayor
On April 2 the Village of Saugerties Mayor notified four members (4) of the village's Historic Review Board that all 5 members [staggered 3 year terms] were being replaced and that a "clean sweep" was in order and that the mayor took this action because of [repeated] alleged grievances against the board members.
Three (3) members [David Minch (chair), Rosemarie Brackett and Smith were notified by mail of their dismissal during the week April 6. On Monday April 6, the regular Village Board meeting took place, with the agenda to name the replacements. During the public comment period several citizens, including David Minch spoke about their dismay over the mayor's unilateral and hasty decision. It was brought out that this action was taken immediately after a local developer stated that his project was on hold partly due to the resistance he was experiencing from some citizens.
The mayor was reminded that according to village law, he did not have the right to dismiss the members and that his actions violated the village law. "It's not unprecedented" the mayor contented and that he has replaced boards at least twice of the last 10 years in his "regime". During the April 6th meeting and subsequent meetings, Mayor Yerick defended his action citing his right to replace Historic Review Board members due to the fact that he had up to 20 grievances with the board members, though he refused to reveal the grievances. He explained that his decision culminated with the board's recent recommendation that Tom Struzzieri [local developer] had "stormed" into the mayor's office several times, cursing and complaining of the board's recommendations regarding several of his projects, including The Partition Street Project. The mayor continued to state that"Village Law is only as a guide" and that businesses [like Tom Struzzieri's] sometimes trumped those laws.
Numerous times over the past several weeks, mayor Yerick stated that when a developer who is bringing "many, many million dollars project" into the Village that "common sense" took precedence over laws.
Three (3) members [David Minch (chair), Rosemarie Brackett and Smith were notified by mail of their dismissal during the week April 6. On Monday April 6, the regular Village Board meeting took place, with the agenda to name the replacements. During the public comment period several citizens, including David Minch spoke about their dismay over the mayor's unilateral and hasty decision. It was brought out that this action was taken immediately after a local developer stated that his project was on hold partly due to the resistance he was experiencing from some citizens.
The mayor was reminded that according to village law, he did not have the right to dismiss the members and that his actions violated the village law. "It's not unprecedented" the mayor contented and that he has replaced boards at least twice of the last 10 years in his "regime". During the April 6th meeting and subsequent meetings, Mayor Yerick defended his action citing his right to replace Historic Review Board members due to the fact that he had up to 20 grievances with the board members, though he refused to reveal the grievances. He explained that his decision culminated with the board's recent recommendation that Tom Struzzieri [local developer] had "stormed" into the mayor's office several times, cursing and complaining of the board's recommendations regarding several of his projects, including The Partition Street Project. The mayor continued to state that"Village Law is only as a guide" and that businesses [like Tom Struzzieri's] sometimes trumped those laws.
Numerous times over the past several weeks, mayor Yerick stated that when a developer who is bringing "many, many million dollars project" into the Village that "common sense" took precedence over laws.
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