Local skateboarders may have to wait a little longer for their jumps and quarter pipes to arrive at Hackett Hill in Hyde Park.
Supervisor Pompey Delafield (D) announced a possible setback to the town’s skate park project that may disappoint some of the town’s young residents. According to Delafield, the project recently sought construction bids from contractors and bids came in significantly higher than the project’s budget allows.
“The bids were very far over” the amounts that skate park committee members expected costs to be, said Delafield, who asked for patience from the community as skate park committee members and Recreation Director Kathleen Davis mull over conflicting data.
“It’s a process which we did not anticipate,” said Delafield, who noted that recent bids were “twice the cost it was meant to be.” When completed, the project is expected to be first concrete skate park in the Hudson Valley that will be free of charge, according to skate park committee member Colin Riley.
The recreation department had hoped to have the skate park completed this summer to correspond with the town’s busy summer camp programs, but it remains to be seen whether or not the project will meet current timelines.
Local law regarding property maintenance
What’s unsightly to one person may be attractive to another … especially if it’s the law. After receiving a great deal of feedback from residents regarding a proposed property maintenance law, Town Board members agreed to tweak the law’s wording a bit more before holding a public hearing on the matter.
Councilman Robert Linville (D-1st Ward) remarked that the law contained wording such as “unsightly” that could be open to interpretation, and result in town employees answering of a barrage of phone calls from residents. “The town also has a responsibility to draft a law that will work for our employees,” said Linville. “The word’s going to cause more trouble than it’s worth,” said Linville, who voiced concern that “complaints could arise that aren’t terribly serious.”
Town attorney George Rodenhausen explained that the intent of the proposed law is not so much to define “unsightly” or “unsanitary,” but to “provide more effective procedures to enforce property maintenance. It’s a cost savings procedure for the town and it is sufficient,” said Rodenhausen, who noted that the proposed law reduces costly legal fees on behalf of the town and homeowners and allows the town to step in and make corrections to neglected properties on the advice of town building inspectors.
Current laws, said Rodenhausen, do not adequately address issues such as derelict or junk cars left on properties. “Ninety percent of this law is about procedure,” he said, adding that much of the law’s wording is from existing New York state laws. “This is not about paint,” said Rodenhausen.
Councilperson Valerie Hail (D-2nd Ward) said she has received phone calls from constituents who simply don’t have the money for upkeep on their properties, and would like to see a waiver written into the law that refers to hardship cases. The town’s lack of bulk recycling, said Hail, reduces the options that residents have to discard unwanted items.
“The issue is we don’t have bulk recycling. I think the waiver would be important to have in certain situations,” said Hail.
“It’s about trash in the yard, junk cars in the yard. It’s not about rich or poor,” said Rodenhausen, who agreed to include a hardship clause in the law’s wording.
Much discussion took place regarding the definition and use of words such as “blight,” and the difference between a “junk car” and “derelict car.” Enforcing the removal of derelict cars, said Rodenhausen, can require the use of a search warrant to check the vehicle’s identification number and registration. Junk cars, however, are determined as such by being either unregistered or lacking a proper license plate.
“There’s no search warrant needed to start the process with a junk car,” said Rodenhausen.
Linville pointed out that current zoning law already prohibits homeowners from storing junk cars on their property. “There’s an impression that we’re establishing a standard, but we’re not,” said Linville. The new law, explained Rodenhausen, will allow the town to address property infractions in a more timely, efficient manner.
Public art project
Staatsburg resident Matthew Slaats spoke to the board explaining his upcoming art project, which combines historic and contemporary footage of life in Hyde Park and will culminate in a multi-media public presentation at the Hyde Park Drive-In this fall.
Slaats received a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council for the project and is seeking submissions from local residents, including photo images, video and film footage that represents life in Hyde Park, both past and present. Slaats has already received footage from the Culinary Institute of America and has been speaking with numerous organizations, including Hyde Park’s Historical Society.
“I’m looking to engage a broad group of people,” said Slaats, who added that he will be working with a group of students at FDR High School as well. Slaats completed a similar project in Madison, Wis. at a WPA stadium, and is looking for “everyday people to donate material.” Details and updates on the project can be found online at http://hydeparkproject.blogspot.com.