The Montgomery Town Board received several updates for the Hudson Valley Food Bank during its last meeting on Wednesday, July 17, among other discussions regarding Real Deal Management and property maintenance.

The board opened the meeting by approving a water extension petition for Real Deal Management’s warehouse, a project approved last December for 171 Bracken Road. This will allow the developers to connect the facility’s waterline to the town’s water districts 2B and 2C solely for fire suppression; the project will source the rest of its water from an on-site well.

“We have an approved warehouse project right at the turn of Bracken Road and we are just outside of the water district, so we will be extending our waterline 100 or so feet down the road to connect to the existing line,” said Justin Ferrazano, senior project manager of Collier’s Engineering and Design. “It’s only for fire service, sprinklers for the building, and hydrants.”

Next up, the board held a public hearing for the Hudson Valley Food Bank at 574 Route 416, updating residents on the project’s current status. Marcia Jacobowitz, the project manager, asserted that construction went smoothly and estimated that the facility would be completed by late October. Following the topping-off ceremony in March, the developers installed the building’s HVAC units, assured that the structure was watertight, graded the site, and dug retention ponds. Current priorities include obtaining an electric panel, hydroseeding the landscape, and hanging up the drywall.

“We’ll probably wait until the beginning of September before we fully complete the water retention ponds and then hydroseed and plant the landscape. We’ll put up the walls and sheetrock; everything’s been ordered,” she said. “Arrangements have been made to rent an electric panel; that was the biggest issue that we were having with completion. Those panels are across the country and very difficult to get. We’re getting one from Florida. Mid-August is the anticipated date.”

Later, in response to an unruly front yard on Maple Street, the board passed a local law addressing lawn maintenance. Moving forward, if the town government finds an overgrown lawn that the owner refuses to cut, it can choose to mow the lawn itself to meet state standards and charge the owner with a service fine. Further action can be taken if the owner refuses to pay the fine.

“A notice is sent to the property owner that they need to get their grass down under 10 inches, which is also state code. Then, if they fail to do that after a certain period, the town has the option of either undertaking the work itself or contracting out to a bidder to do the work,” said Town Attorney William Frank. “An invoice is sent to the property owner and tenant which they have 30 days to pay. If they don’t pay it themselves, then it will become a lien on the property and will be sent up to the county.”

“If it’s a persistent problem, the village has the option to also issue a notice of violation and fines to be assessed by the court if we have to go that far.”