By Alison E. MacAvery
County Legislator District 16
East Fishkill, Fishkill and the City of Beacon
The July 14 meeting of the County Legislature began with a moving invocation by East Fishkill Legislator, Robert Weiss in memory of Sgt. Mark Palmateer, who lost his life in combat last month at Logar Province in Afghanistan. A moment of silence followed.
The Legislature will be sending several requests to the State. One to revise 2009 budget to forward monies received from alcohol related offenses back to the STOP-DWI program and not to the general fund as is now in place. Secondly, requesting the State Legislature to increase the field training budget for the Office of Fire Prevention and Control by a minimum of $800,000 to insure the State Fire Training Program can provide the necessary preparation and instruction to our Firefighters. In addition, the DEC and EPA has been asked to reinstate particulate monitoring in Dutchess County. It was halted six years ago. Inhaling particulate matter has been attributed to such ailments as lung cancer and asthma. A report on this is expected to be given to the County Legislature by August.
The City of Beacon will receive a county contribution of $500,000 for the Hiddenbrooke Project as a result of the Legislature authorizing the issuance of $1,600,000 serial bonds.
A resolution was passed requesting the Departments of Planning and Development and Public Works to research a bike rental program. The Departments will report back to in December. Also Legislators passed a local law to establish an At-Store Recycling Program for clean plastic carryout bags. This will impact stores where a minimum of 10,000 square feet is used for the sale of consumer goods and requires a receptacle be made available to collect the bags; and requires store operators of 20,000 square feet or more to make reusable bags available for purchase and use in place of paper or plastic bags.
Residents of the county will be able to dispose of electronics, fluorescent bulbs and household chemicals on August 7 at the Amenia Transfer Station and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Millbrook on September 6. You must pre-register and pre-pay ($5.00). Call 463-6020 for more details.
Mark you calendar to attend the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck August 19 – 24. For more information call 845-876-4001.
The next board meeting is on Monday, August 11 at 7:00 p.m., 6th floor, 22 Market Street.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 831-5202.
