Legislature reconstitutes Sewer District No.1 advisory committee and abolishes Dutchess Quarry committee

The Physical Services Committee on Monday amended the 2019 resolution that created the Orange County Sewer District No.1 Advisory Committee to update its language and clarify that the committee will report to the Physical Services Committee on design, construction, financing and completion work.

Chairman Kevin Hines explained the change was primarily to clean up language and to reflect work already done: the sewer committee reported in October 2019 and has more work ahead. The committee also reappointed members to the advisory committee for the coming year and confirmed Peter (identified in the meeting as Peter Benton) will remain as chair of the advisory committee.

Separately, the committee voted to abolish the Dutchess Quarry Sites National Register District Management Committee, citing that quarry operations on county property have ceased and there is no longer a product to manage on county lands. Presenters said the historian’s office will handle display cases and artifact management moving forward and that education and economic development staff will take responsibility for case-oriented matters.

Committee members said the sewer advisory committee will have significant work ahead, including grant applications due in May; the reappointments and amended language were described as preparatory steps to support that ramp-up. The abolition of the quarry committee does not remove oversight of artifacts or historical display responsibilities; those duties were described as transitioning to the historian and to the Education and Economic Development committee as appropriate.

Both the amendment to Resolution 61 of 2019 and the appointments were approved by voice vote; the quarry committee abolition carried after discussion about coordination with the county attorney and historian.