GERMANTOWN—The Town Board approved $82,812 for the 2018 rescue squad services chargeback, at its meeting on October 17. This is the town’s portion toward having rescue squad service available from Northern Dutchess Paramedics. The charge has not risen in several years, Supervisor Joel Craig said.
The sum is taken out of the town’s share of county sales tax before it is paid, so it is not part of the town’s budget, said Mr. Craig. The rescue squad bills clients’ insurance, but “that doesn’t cover everything.”
Also at the meeting:
• The board approved a request for an out-of-district sewer hookup from Valley Harvest Ice Cream and Grill at 6 Palatine Park Road, a seasonal eatery. Mr. Craig described the business as “under the gun” of the Columbia County Health Department about its waste disposal system.
The business will obtain easements, establish an escrow account and have its new system approved by the town’s engineer. The closest main is outside of Town Hall. The library, across the road, is on the town sewer system. No other property would be able to “tap into” the Valley Harvest piping
• Also on the subject of the town sewer, the system has had a problem with the pump on lower Main Street. As part of budget development, the board got an estimate for a new pump, but it’s “quite expensive,” said Mr. Craig, adding, “We’re looking for a cheaper option and we have to make a decision shortly”
• The second budget workshop is tonight, Thursday, October 26 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall. After that, the proposed budget will be posted on the town website, germantownny.org. The board set the Public Hearing on the budget for Thursday, November 9 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall
• Also tonight, October 26 at 7 p.m., the Planning Board holds a Public Hearing at the Kellner Activity Building on Palatine Park Road on the D’Souza application for a Site Plan Review of the existing pond, utility building, animal pens and husbandry at 4301 Route 9G, in a Highway Commercial zone
• Ellen Jouret-Epstein announced during the public comment period that the Columbia County Environmental Management Council has received a grant for Hudsonia, Ltd. (hudsonia.org) to do a resource assessment of the whole county. The information and maps will be kept current she said, in hard copy and digital formats, to help towns with their planning. The EMC, on which Ms. Jouret-Epstein represents Germantown, wants feedback from each town on what will make the assessment most useful.
A workshop will take place on Wednesday, November 29 at 5 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office 479 Route 66, Greenport. A presentation and facilitated discussion will be aimed at municipal representatives. Ms. Jouret-Epstein will attend as the EMC representative, and she asked Mr. Craig to have two additional people attend from Germantown
• Mr. Craig announced the annual Halloween parade will be Saturday, October 28 at 5 p.m. on Main Street; the annual flu shot clinic on Thursday, November 2 from 11 a.m. to noon at Town Hall and the next Town Board meeting on Tuesday, November 21 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.
• Councilwoman Brittany DuFresne assured the audience that the town would hold a holiday celebration in December, although specific plans had not yet been made.
All board members and about 20 in the audience attended the 23-minute meeting.