6 December Message from Supervisor Meyers Regarding Town Finances December 6, 2020 By Patrick Mangan General 0 From Supervisor Meyers: I want to give a quick synopsis of where the Town of New Windsor is heading next year as it relates to the town’s finances/taxes. The town, as is the case with many businesses and residents, is not in great financial condition. The town comptroller has cautioned me a number of times regarding his concerns as it relates to the town’s fiscal condition going forward next year. Two huge issues/problems facing the town are the economy and our union contracts with our unionized employees. These contracts were negotiated a couple of years ago during different economic times. An attempt was made to seek some concessions from the PBA and the CSEA - to no avail as of this time. Many of our businesses and residents are struggling (nationally 25% of businesses have gone out of business and are not coming back). I have been told many times recently by owners and residents: “I don’t know how I am going to pay my taxes.” We cannot continue going forward as if nothing is wrong. I will update our taxpayers over the coming weeks as to what steps I am going to propose to the Town Board to address this situation. To me, raising taxes is not an option. Related Articles Notice Public Hearing: Comprehensive Master Plan Update March 10, 2021 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR LOCAL LAW AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 300 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR ENTITLED “ZONING” AND AMENDMENT OF ZONING MAP IN FURTHERANCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOWN’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of New Windsor will hold a public hearing at a Special Town Board Meeting on the 10th day of March, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York, to consider a Local Law entitled “A Local Law Amending Chapter 300 of the Code of the Town of New Windsor entitled “Zoning” and to Amend the Zoning Map in Furtherance of the Implementation of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update.” Said proposed Local Law furthers recommendations made in the Town’s draft Comprehensive Plan Update, includes modifications to its AP, CL-2, PI and R-1 bulk tables, and anticipates rezoning the following parcels within the Town of New Windsor: Town tax map parcels identified as 56-1-22.32 and 56-1-20 shall be rezoned so they are fully within the R-1 zone; Town tax map parcels 26-1-1.1, 26-1-1.2, 40-2-8 and 44-1-14 shall be rezoned from R-5 to R-4; Tax map parcels 29-1-20.31, 29-1-20.32, 29-1-91.22, 29-1-92.22, 29-1-93, 31-3-1, 31-3-2, 31-3-3, 31-3-4.2, 31-3-7, 31-3-8, 31-3-9, 31-3-10, 31-4-1, 31-4-2, 31-4-3, 31-4-4, 31-4-5, 31-4-6, 31-4-7, 31-4-8, 31-4-9, 31-4-10, 31-4-11, 31-4-12, 31-4-13 and 31-4-14 shall be rezoned from OLI to R-1 Town tax map parcels 4-1-31.22 and 4-1-26.2 shall be rezoned from R-5 to R-4; Town tax map parcels 100-1-1, 100-1-2, 100-1-3, 100-1-4, 100-1-5, 100-1-6, 100-1-7, 100-1-32, 100-1-33, 100-1-34, 100-1-35, 100-1-36, 100-1-37, 100-1-38, 100-1-39, 100-1-40, 100-1-41, 100-1-42, 100-1-43, 100-1-44, 100-1-45, 100-1-46, 100-1-47, 100-1-48, 100-1-49, 100-1-50, 100-1-51, 100-1-52, 100-1-53, 100-1-54, 100-1-55, 100-1-56, 100-1-57, 100-1-58, 100-1-59, 100-1-60, 100-1-61, 100-1-62, 100-1-63, 100-1-64, 100-1-65, 100-1-66, 100-1-90, 100-1-92, 100-1-93, 100-1-94 and 100-1-96.2 shall be rezoned to CL-2; and Town tax parcel 95-1-21 shall be rezoned from R-3 to Parks. The hearing will be held on March 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., however, due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 and in accord with Executive Orders issued by the Governor of the State of New York, the Town intends to conduct this hearing remotely, with board members participating via videoconferencing technology from various locations. Please check the Town’s website and Facebook page prior to the Public Hearing for updates, which may be necessary due to a lifting of the Governor’s Executive Orders. If conducted remotely, the public will be able to view the hearing on the Town’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NewWindsorNY/) or listen by telephone. Information on how to listen by telephone will be posted before the meeting on the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/New-Windsor-Connect/Online-Meetings (a link to this page can also be found on the top right hand side of the Town’s homepage at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/). Every effort will also be made to give the public the opportunity to participate in the hearing via videoconference. Instructions on how to participate will be posted before the hearing on the Town’s Facebook page and on the Town’s website, at the web address listed above. Any member of the public that wishes to be heard may email questions or comments, before or during the hearing, to [email protected]. Further comments will also be accepted via this email address for up to 10 days after the close of the March 10, 2021 public hearing. A copy of the proposed Local Law is available at the Town of New Windsor Town Clerk’s Office, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, NY and can be found on the homepage of the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/ BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR KELLY ALLEGRA, TOWN CLERK 30 Day Public Notice Review and Comment Update Hazard Mitigation Plan TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR TOWN BOARD NOTICE OF THIRTY (30) DAY PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN UPDATE TO TOWN-WIDE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN The Town of New Windsor is preparing an update of their previously adopted 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update to the Plan allows the Town to remain eligible for future Federal and New York State mitigation and disaster funding. Public notice is hereby given that the Town of New Windsor Town Board is soliciting public review and comment on its Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan for a period of thirty (30) days commencing on January 15, 2021 and continuing through February 15, 2021. The Town Board has therefore directed the Town Clerk to post a complete copy of the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan on the Town of New Windsor’s website at: www.newwindsor-ny.gov for public review and comment. In addition, a complete copy of the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan is on file and available for inspection in the Town Clerk’s Office located at the Town of New Windsor Town Hall, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York 12553. Current Town Hall business hours are, by appointment only, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Town of New Windsor Town Board is holding a public hearing on the draft Plan at its March 3, 2021 Town Board Meeting at 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York 12553, at 7:00 p.m. Due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 and in accordance with Executive Orders issued by the Governor of the State of New York, the Town intends to conduct this hearing remotely. Please check the Town’s website and Facebook page prior to the Public Hearing for updates, which may be necessary due to a lifting of the Governor’s Executive Order. If conducted remotely, the public can view the hearing on the Town’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NewWindsorNY/) or listen by telephone. Information on how to listen by telephone will be posted before the meeting on the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/New-Windsor-Connect/Online-Meetings (a link to this page can also be found on the top right hand side of the Town’s homepage at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/). Any member of the public that wants to be heard regarding the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan may email questions or comments, before or during the hearing, to [email protected] Every effort will also be made to give the public the opportunity to participate in the hearing via videoconference. Instructions on how to participate will be posted before the hearing on the Town’s Facebook page and on the Town’s website, at the web address listed above. The Town Board and the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee are inviting input on the Plan from surrounding municipalities and all interested parties. All persons wishing to be heard will be given the opportunity to speak at the public hearing, in accordance with above protocols, or may submit written comments to: [email protected] on or before March 3, 2021. Update from Supervisor Meyers on New Windsor precautions in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic Based on the recommendation of New York State that local governments have 50% of employees working remotely due to the spread of COVID-19, Supervisor Meyers is taking action for the health and safety of our employees and ensuring our government continues to function for New Windsor residents. Town Departments are having employees work from home or in split shifts where possible without affecting services to the public. The New Windsor Police and New Windsor Ambulance are taking extra precautions to protect their officers and staff. Additional precautions are being taken with our highway, water and sewer departments to ensure staff availability to run critical town infrastructure. Town Hall is still open to the public for the time being, however the Town is encouraging the public not to come to Town Hall or our Recreation department unless it absolutely necessary. Please conduct business via phone, email, online or via US mail where possible. New Windsor offers online utility bill payments, court fines and fees payments, online FOIL requests, online mapping, and more on our website at newwindsor-ny.gov. Above all, Supervisor Meyers would like to assure the public that even if Town Hall does close to the public, the New Windsor government will continue to function and provide all critical services to our residents. We will continue to provide residents and businesses with information as it becomes available. Town of New Windsor in contact with Verizon regarding Fios service in town Town Supervisor Meyers has contacted Verizon regarding their ability to provide Fios service to New Windsor residents. Throughout the month of January Supervisor Meyers’ office has been in touch with the Verizon Director of State Government Affairs, and also the director directly responsible for the Mid-Hudson and Westchester area for Verizon. Both explained that Verizon’s current position is fulfilling their existing signed franchise agreements with other towns, cities and villages. Verizon is not entertaining or committing to any new franchise agreements at this time. Verizon has agreed to monitor the town’s request. Verizon and the Town will revisit this issue in six months to see if Verizon’s position has changed. Supervisor Meyers contacting state and county officials regarding COVID-19 vaccine location in New Windsor Supervisor Meyers is contacting New York State and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus in regards to setting up a COVID-19 vaccination location at the Town Hall Complex. New Windsor Emergency Services has two Registered Nurses on staff who would administer the vaccine to eligible residents. All New York State guidelines would be followed. Supervisor Meyers would like to make it easier for eligible New Windsor residents to receive the vaccine. The town will announce any plans as soon as it has more information from the state and county. Town Hall closed to public; Town Hall staff available via email, phone and websites Effective Thursday March 19 New Windsor Town Hall and Recreation Offices will be closed to the public. Employees will be available daily between 10am and 4pm to conduct business via phone, email and website. There is also a mail slot in the front door of town hall that is available for correspondence. Online services are available 24 hours a day at newwindsor-ny.gov. These include online utility bill payments, court fines and fees payments, online FOIL requests, online mapping, and more on our website. On Friday March 20 Town Hall and Recreation Offices will be closed for a deep cleaning and sanitization. Monday March 23 through Friday March 27, Town Hall and Recreation offices will be closed to the public, with employees available from 10am and 4pm to conduct business via phone, email and website. In addition, Supervisor Meyers is declaring a State of Emergency in the Town of New Windsor. THIS IS ONLY A FORMALITY, to ensure the Town is eligible for reimbursement for expenses occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it also removes restrictions on the bidding process. Please contact Supervisor Meyers office at (845) 563-4610 or email [email protected] with any questions or concerns. Comments are closed.