Town of Shawangunk Highway Superintendent Rich Blazeski is hoping that the River Road bridge by the town transfer station won’t be closed for more than a month during replacement work.

Blazeski announced at the Shawangunk Town Board meeting on October 6 that the bridge would be closed starting October 12 for major construction work. He estimated the construction would take a month, weather permitting.

“We’re going to remove the old bridge and replace it with a box culvert,” Blazeski said. “The detour signs will go up Monday, October 10 so everybody is clear about it a few days before the construction starts.”

He said the town’s transfer station will be accessible for residents from the north side of River Road.

During the construction, River Road will be open to local traffic only.

A list of roads involved for the detour for River Road can be found under “News” on the town’s website at Shawangunk.org.

The list includes detours for cars and trucks from the Wallkill hamlet side and from the River Road side.

“We’ve notified every one we can think of and as best I know, we’re ready to go with it,” he said.

He said the town will put out a number of “Road Closed” signs to inform the public of the closure, and the town has taken out a quarter-page ad in the Wallkill Valley Times about the road closing.

In other news, Supervisor John Valk released the 2023 tentative budget and gave an overview of the proposed spending plan. He did not release the total amount to be raised by taxes since he said the town was still waiting for more information about a $60,000 funding increase request from the Walker Valley Fire Company.

“I’ve not received an itemized budget,” Valk said. “All I got was an email that we need this amount of money. Because of that, it will put us over the tax cap. Unless we say no (to Walker Valley Fire Company) or we get into a confrontation, we’re going to have to go over the tax cap.”

The board voted 5-0 to set a public hearing on October 20 for the override of the 2.0 percent tax limit.

The amount to be raised by taxes in 2022 was $4,303,787, which was an increase of $131,401 over 2021. But the total was still under the 2.0 percent tax cap.

Under the proposed 2023 tentative budget, the clerical staff in the town hall will receive a 3.0 percent salary hike.

“They can’t keep up with the inflation facing them,” Valk said. “But the other bargaining units get nearly that. The elected officials and the other officials will stay with the 2.5 percent (pay hike).”

Valk praised Police Chief Gerald Marlatt for putting in “a very conservative budget. He runs a very tight budget.”
Marlatt’s tentative budget for 2023 is $978,987, up $38,478 over 2022.

There was some good news on estimated revenues where Valk budgeted $270,000 for sales tax from Ulster County, an increase of $60,000 over the previous year.

“The County estimates the sales tax is up 10 percent, so I’m assuming ours will be up 10 percent,” Valk said.

Valk noted that the amount to be raised by taxes in the general fund is estimated to be $1,599,767, about 1.0 percent less than the adopted 2022 budget of $1,603,486.

“I think it’s a healthy budget,” he said.

Following a public hearing with no comment, the board voted 5-0 to dissolve the New Prospect Fire Protection District. The board then voted 5-0 to authorize the consolidation of the New Prospect district with the Pine Bush Fire District.

Valk said he wasn’t surprised there was no comment during the public hearing.

“It’s a plus for the taxpayers in the district because they’ll be able to run for commissioner if they so choose,” Valk said. “Right now, they’re restricted. Only residents in the Town of Crawford part of the district can run. It’s a plus. There’s no negative attached to it.”

Susan Wiand was awarded the Dick Parker Community Service Award by the town in recognition and appreciation of her many contributions and years of faithful service to the Town of Shawangunk. The award is given quarterly in conjunction with the Southern Ulster Rotary Club.

Councilman Adrian DeWitt announced that the town’s fall basketball program will not be held for the third year in a row.

“I can’t really find anybody to run it, so I don’t know that I’m going to try to cram it in,” he said.