The session began with a remembrance of 9/11, the pledge of allegiance, a prayer, and two proclamations: the recognition of Sept. 16-20 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, and the declaration of September as Goldstar Mothers and Families Day.
A public hearing on a proposed lease extension between Dutchess County and POU Development LLC, Sky Harbor Group at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport was opened, and then, in the absence of any public comment, continued to next month.
Committee reports were offered by Majority Leader Houston, Legislator Lawler, and Legislator Kaul. Houston reported from the Veterans Affairs Committee that the previously approved challenge coin has come out and will be handed out, and that the Committee is working with the Office of the Aging and the Department of Transportation to improve services to aging veterans. She also mentioned that on Sept. 20-22, the Vietnam Traveling Wall will be at Bowdoin Park and the organizers were looking for volunteers to serve as greeters and security. Lawler reported an uptick in enrollment at Dutchess Community College and a doubling of students enrolled in EMT and EMS programs. Kaul remined that the Environmental Management Council has considerable expertise that can be harnessed in connection with any proposed environmental legislation, including local law under consideration now.
Twelve resolutions passed unanimously on consent: 125, adoption of Environmental Assessment Forms and Declaration of significance for the Dutchess County Consolidated Two Way Radio Communication System Project; 147, a authorizing the issuance of $ 2,360,370 civil bonds of the county to pay the cost of the purchase of equipment for various departments in and for said county;
149, authorizing amendment of funding under the Trade Adjustment Act; 150, confirming new appointments and appointments to the Human Rights Commission; 151 and 152, authorizing payment of 2023 unencumbered vouchers from 2024 funds for the Dutchess County Sheriff; 153, and 154, authorizing the county executive to execute grant agreements and Finance department to receive and disburse funds allocated to Dutchess County as an urban county under the 2024 Federal Community Development Block Grant Program under the 2024 Federal Home Investment Partnership Program; 155, approving Home Consortium agreement with the City of Poughkeepsie pursuant to the Home Investment Partnership Program; 158, setting a public hearing for proposed lease with the United States of America for the airport traffic control tower premises at the Hudson Valley Regional Airport; 159, amendment to Resolution 2024 038 authorizing a condemnation proceeding to acquire a temporary easement on real property owned by Mitten Rock Farm LLC in connection with the replacement of Bridge L 29 S.R.21 Noxon Road over Jackson Creek, Town of Lagrange, Dutchess County, to include additional property owners Keith S Olson and Noxon LLC; and 160, authorization for an acquisition from Missouri Group LLC in connection with the Intersection Improvement Project Middle Bush Road at Sergeant Parmentier Way in the Town of Wappingers.
There was one non-consent item — Resolution 156, a local law regulating hazardous pollution sources in proximity to public water sources, aquifers, and wetlands. This also passed unanimously after several legislators expressed gratitude to fellow legislators for answering their many questions, and clarifying that a process for stakeholder engagement would be created, that the legislature will work with municipalities and the County Planning Department to understand impacts to the law on future development and potential unforeseen consequences of the law, and that the law could be revisited in the coming months and amended should unforeseen consequences and problems with implementation arise.
In an announcements section, Legislator Kaul referred to a request from Dutchess Outreach that the legislators come and help to serve a meal. Majority Leader Houston announced the 6th Annual Hudson Valley Weekend for Warriors event to honor local combat veterans on Sept. 22 at Mahoney’s Irish Pub.
Three members of the group Mothers Out Front again urged the legislature to study and consider alternatives to the county incinerator for the county’s waste management. They (1) argued that incinerators are a “failing industry” that incentivizes increases in the amount of waste and creates pollutants to air, land, and groundwater, (2) pointed out that, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation, Poughkeepsie is an “asthma capital”, ranking number 6 in the nation because of the prevalence of asthma in the population, and that the incinerator contributes to this situation; and (3) pressed for the hiring of a zero waste consultant to help in the process.
Finally, in connection with Resolution 125 regarding a two-way radio communication system project, a resident of Poughkeepsie complained about a violation of the open meeting law. She noted that, at the committee meeting the prior week, she learned that changes to the project were made based on a letter a county consultant received from the City of Poughkeepsie Engineering involving an unregistered and abandoned underground storage tank, but that document was not shared with the public. She urged the county to implement an open data law as has existed in New York City since 2012.
The meeting adjourned in the memory of James Earl Jones, long time resident of Pawling, and with condolences to County Executive Sue Serino on the passing of her father.