At last week’s meeting Lloyd Supervisor Dave Plavchak updated the board and the public on the status of the Highland Hamlet Streetscape project. He noted that the town has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]  to bury utility cables underground in the hamlet that is slated to be done just after the sidewalks are torn up and prior to installing new sidewalks.

 

“We did get a contact from Central Hudson who will work with [engineering firm] Barton & Loguidice. I’m sure, as with everything with utilities it will be a little longer process than we all like, but we’ll work through that. The other thing we did this week was about an old grant of $777,000 from 2017. We had cut some scope out [of the project] from Commercial Avenue doing some right-of-way work that we knew with the costs rising we weren’t going to do it. At the same time this week there was some additional money available to communities from the Carbon Reduction Program and we were able to get $200,000 of that, so our budget went from $777,000 to $977,000 so that should help us with all of the increasing costs that we’ve had prior, so we’ll start moving forward.”  

 

Plavchak said they had discussed splitting the project into phases, beginning with the sidewalks on Eltings Place from the Library to the Middle School crossing and down to the parking lot followed by a second phase in the area that will be affected by the utilities.

 

Councilman John Fraino said the Water Department, with help from the Highway Department and their equipment, have installed sewer lines to the new pavilion at the town field.

 

“They finalized that today and got past the laundromat and the water line is in, so all the utilities are now to that pump station. The electrician finished up from the transformer to the electrical panel, which is also in, and now the pump station is wired in. We quickly got a J number that is required for an electrical inspection and are waiting for the inspector to come look at the entire job.”

 

Fraino said once that is completed, Central Hudson will hook up the transformer, “on the one end by the charging stations and then turn that panel live. We ran the utilities up into the building and stopped there.”

 

Fraino said the architect is working on the final design of the restrooms and storage areas in the pavilion. A preliminary review will be done in early July, at which time bids will be sent out to contractors to do the work. Once that is done the final utility work can be completed. He noted that the process is taking a little more time but town employees are being used, “and we have to work around their normal duties. We’re saving a considerable amount of money, but we’re doing it when the Highway and Water Department crews are available...and hopefully finish it up in the fall.”

 

At the Privilege of the Floor, resident Karen Angel returned to address the Town Board, stating there is bullying in Highland and also touched upon the sexual hazing incident at the Middle School last year.

 

“It’s not a question whether there is a problem with the culture in Highland, it’s a foregone conclusion; it is obvious, so you need to deal with it one way or another,” she said.

 

Angel said the Town Supervisor ranted about the fact that she did not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, “which is my First Amendment right. I’m not going to stand with people who I don’t believe are following the same moral code; I’m not gong to lump myself in with you. A few minutes after I left [previous meeting] Dave Plavchak lied about several things, which I have proof of and documentation.”

 

Angel said the Supervisor lied when he said he had no knowledge about a flier that was distributed showing an X through her neighbor’s head as well as an accompanying email.

 

Councilman Lenny Auchmoody was about to interrupt, but Plavchak and Angel urged him to let the discussion continue and remain professional.

 

Angel said at her previous appearance before the board, a former Town Supervisor [Fred Pizzuto] said, “Get that dog away from me,” referring to her small fox terrier, and that he added, “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.” She said his comments implied threats of violence. She added that she did not say she wanted cameras installed all along North Eltings Corners Road at the last board meeting. When Plavchak said her time was up, Angel said she will continue coming to further Town Board meetings to finish her comments.

 

As Angel was leaving the meeting, Councilman Auchmoody told Angel in a raised voice, “Before you leave, listen to me, you don’t stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, I will never do a thing, not a thing, to help you out even if you have a real problem.”

 

The meeting deteriorated into a shouting match, with Plavchak urging Auchmoody to stop, saying it is not necessary, but he continued, saying Angel is a “zero.”

 

Plavchak countered Angel’s accusations.

 

“She was offended because I used a single-use plastic [water] container and I said I am offended that you didn’t stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, that’s what I said and personally we’re not going to stoop to that same level on this board.”

 

Auchmoody said, “Evidently it means more to me than it does to her. She just comes in here and complains about everything that we do; she needs to move away.”

 

Councilman Mike Guerriero reminded the board that Angel is a resident of the community and has a right to voice her opinions to the Town Board.

 

“I just don’t want to discourage anybody else out there that ever wants to come to a Town Board meeting to express themselves to say they’re going to be yelled at; I don’t think that’s right,” he said.   

 

Plavchak agreed, adding that he was not going to spend more time on the matter.

 

“It’s her opinion and she’s entitled to it,” he said.

 

Councilman John Fraino said he wished Angel would “make a point of something we could address to work on. She calls people names and I find that distasteful.”

 

The board approved hiring Matthew Dubois as a part-time Dispatcher at the rate of $19.82/hr at the recommendation of Chief James Janso. He started on June 27.

 

Janso said Dubois is a native of Highland and is “looking for an opportunity so we’re going to see how he works out with us.” Supervisor Plavchak wished Dubois good luck, adding that “you’re on a great [police] force and you’re with a great team and we wish you all the best.”

 

The board noted that the town’s Independence Day celebration along with a fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, July 6, rain or shine.