VALATIE – Mayor Gary Strevell appointed former Trustee Amy Freinberg-Trufas to fill the seat of Trustee Paul Raihofer at the Village Board meeting this week. Mr. Raihofer died last week. His term would have ended in March of 2012 so Mr. Freinberg-Trufas will serve until then.
At the Tuesday, November 8 meeting the board also heard from local bar owner Adam Sinacore about moving his business across the street from its current location on Main Street. Mr. Sinacore wants to move into a smaller space to save money on rent, but he would have a larger kitchen to serve more food. He said the smaller space, which was most recently a Mexican food store called Picante Uno, would mean he would not be able to do live music or have dancing in the bar. The space he is now, Sinacore’s Tavern, has been a bar for many years.
Mr. Sinacore has owned the business for three years and in that time there have been issues with local law enforcement. There have been fights in the street, noise complaints and the bar lost its liquor license for a short time because it served underage costumers.
“We are not impressed,” Mayor Strevell said of the bar’s track record.
Mr. Sinacore said he was coming to the board for approval to move to the new space before talking to the village Planning Board about site approval or going to state liquor licensing office.
“You are not going to get the support of the board for a rushed application,” said the mayor.
Mr. Sinacore insisted he has called the police when he has seen criminal behavior outside his bar, and he believes the bar had fewer problems with fighting than it did before he owned it.
But Mayor Strevell said the complaints have gotten worse.
Village Attorney Bill Better suggested the board write a little to the state liquor license office about the issues.
Mr. Sinacore also showed the board a parking ticket he was given around 3 a.m. for parking on a side of Main Street with signs saying no parking at night after November 1. Mayor Strevell said since Main Street is a state route, the town and the state can issues tickets and make rules for parking. Village officials plan to set a fine schedule for village tickets. They will look at a draft fine schedule at their next meeting in December and will hold a public hearing to put parking tickets and the fines in the village laws.
Ms. Frienberg-Trufas said at the November 8 meeting she was “dear friends with Paul,” adding that she was honored to be asked to fill his seat. She has served on the board before as a trustee and deputy mayor. She is also the daughter of former trustee Dr. Norman Freinberg, who passed away on the same day as Mr. Raihofer. Mayor Strevell said after a moment of silence for Mr. Raihofer that the village had lost two long-time residents, both of whom were actively involved in the community.
The next village meeting will be Tuesday December 13 at 7:30pm in the village hall. The village will celebrate Winter Walk on Saturday December 10 from 6 to 9p.m. with a parade and events on Main Street.
To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com.
