At last week’s Village Board meeting public comment took more time than anything else, with a variety of topics being addressed. The board opens every meeting with a public comment session dedicated to agenda items, followed by a near-the-end-of-meeting public comment on any topics.

The first comment was from village resident Michael Joyce, who tried to engage Mayor Joe D’Onofrio with a question about FEMA reimbursements for July 9, 2023 storm projects. That topic was not on the agenda.

Next up was resident Kat Dagaev, who spoke regarding the agenda item accepting the resignation of Wastewater Treatment Plant employee John Walter. She asked if the board would ever “do things legally and morally” and said Walter should pay back the village for “the money he stole” (pertaining to pay he received). Kevin Smedman, a former business owner in the village, also spoke about Walter, saying he should be given a second chance in his position. The mayor did eventually accept Walter’s resignation, after a mid-meeting executive session. Jim Titolo echoed the need for second chances when he spoke.

Former Mayor Pat Flynn spoke at the start of the meeting asking why the village needs “another depository”, noting that years ago “money went missing” when employees took change collected from parking meters to an out-of-town bank. Later in the meeting the board did approve Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. as an “additional depository”, but Deputy Mayor Jim DiSalvo explained the firm would be used for investments, not to deposit cash in.

There was a lengthy discussion about a new senior citizen club, with SALTY (the new group) President Christin Manning asking for a key to the Senior Center so that the club’s meetings could be held there. While the topic was not on the agenda, there was also a discussion about clubs that use the building needing to have insurance (Trustee Dr. Melanie Guerrero said they did not, but D’Onofrio contended they do), and about who has access to view the building’s security cameras, after it was alleged that one group had the ability to view the other group’s activity. There was also concern expressed by Fort Montgomery’s Annie Scott about the need for two senior groups in the community.

Flynn also took a minute to say that the town’s Recreation Department should manage all the senior programs, and the Senior Center. “There would be a lot more programs and a lot less BS that way,” he said. Flynn added that he called six communities in the area and all run their senior programming that way.

In the second round of public comment, Joyce spoke again, asking about FEMA reimbursements. The mayor, as he did recently to The News, explained that FEMA payments were halted because of repeated calls to federal and state governments about potential fraud – “It’s been a big waste of time,” the mayor said, “because they have come down to look and nothing was found”. Joyce accused the mayor of lying, and asked “do you not think the government has more money and manpower than you do?”

D’Onofrio noted over $2 million in flood-related expenses have already been received. He also said that he had just sent a letter to Congressman Pat Ryan, State Senator James Skoufis and Assemblyman Chris Eachus asking for help in getting the FEMA-approved work going again.

Flynn again spoke, saying the Village Board should be having meetings at Town Hall instead of the Senior Center, and that the Senior Center should be used for things like blood drives. He also chimed in on insurance to use the building, saying groups do not need it, nor for “fireworks or parades”.

Chamber of Commerce President Dee Moreno urged the board to “put a policy in place for events held in public buildings and places”, and also told the board “you have to take a step back and have respect for the community”.

Ed Dunn and Titolo both spoke about the village’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning – the board announced a meeting set for this Friday evening (August 16 at 5:30 p.m.at the Highland Falls Intermediate School) where those things will be talked about as representatives of West Point’s Association of Graduates and developer Rick Minicozzi are scheduled to talk about Main Street development. Titolo reminded the board “we need to make Main Street attractive to developers”. The board also introduced a local law amending the village’s zoning – that document is available to see at www.highlandfallsny.org. A public hearing is tentatively set for October 9.

Titolo also suggested that one of the things the village could apply for via the NY Forward grant is extending sidewalks further south on Main St.

Aleena Olivia addressed code enforcement, noting trash on sidewalks and overgrown weeds. Trustee Guerrero said the town “needs a bigger and stronger building department” and also said the Highland Falls Police Department should be helping with code enforcement. Olivia also asked the board if more action was going to be taken with the new flock of geese that has claimed Roe Pond after the last flock was humanely removed. DiSalvo said he was set to talk with the company that removed that first batch the following week.

Town Councilman Rich Sullivan took a minute to laud Building Inspector Phil Hannawalt.

The entire meeting is available to watch via the village website.