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Union Vale board approves surplus sales, seeks speed study and discusses park equipment and firewood program
Summary
At its June 17 meeting the Town Board accepted surplus-auction results, voted to ask Dutchess County for a speed study at a crash-prone Roscoe Road curve, discussed replacing an undersized parks tractor (estimated $70,000–$100,000), debated the adequacy of a cell-tower removal bond, and reviewed a pilot for harvesting downed firewood on town land.
The Union Vale Town Board on June 17 handled a cluster of operational and policy items: accepting surplus‑auction proceeds, asking the county for a speed study at a hazardous curve on Roscoe Road, discussing replacement of a parks tractor, reviewing concerns about a proposed cell‑tower removal bond, and outlining a potential firewood‑harvesting program for downed trees on town land.
Supervisor Frazier presented the end‑of‑May finance snapshot, reporting general checking of $1,111,848, miscellaneous receipts of $22,654 and a total of $4,066,186 across town accounts; he said year‑to‑date net income was favorable by roughly $174,000, driven mainly by timing of expenses. After a brief review the board moved to pay bills and to accept results of a recent surplus equipment auction; the motion to accept the auction results passed on a voice vote.
Highway Superintendent reported recent storm cleanup and said phones and internet at the highway garage were recently out for several days but the phones were restored "as of yesterday," while email remained a work in progress. He recommended accepting the auction proceeds and said the department got fair prices for items; the board approved processing the sale.
The board discussed a parks‑department request to replace an undersized 75‑horsepower tractor used for brush‑hogging with a larger‑frame 75‑hp tractor and a 17‑ft batwing mower. The presenter estimated the tractor alone at about $70,000 and an all‑in replacement with attachments at roughly $100,000, and said dealer financing could spread payments over several years. Board members asked the parks manager and highway superintendent to return with firm pricing and attachment costs before any purchase decision.
After a string of recent property‑damage crashes at a curve on Roscoe Road, board members agreed the 55 mph limit there appears unsafe in that geometry and voted to send a formal letter urging Dutchess County to conduct a speed study and consider lowering the limit (members suggested a drop to 45 mph as a likely target). The motion for full board support and a letter to the county passed unanimously.
Members also reviewed the removal‑bond provisions in a proposed cell‑tower lease. Several board members said the bond amount included in the draft lease was too low; one board member asked staff to seek escalation or escrow mechanisms and suggested $100,000 might be more protective than the figure currently proposed. The board instructed staff to research prevailing‑wage implications and other cost drivers if the town were to assume removal responsibility.
The board discussed a resident request to harvest only fallen firewood from town land. Insurance counsel recommended guidelines; board members favored a resident‑only, noncommercial pilot, limited access points and season windows, and suggested drafting an application form and mapping town‑owned parcels for eligible areas.
The board moved into an executive session to discuss legal advice and the Article 78 proceeding and later returned; no funds were allocated in executive session. The meeting adjourned after adoption of the litigation defense resolution.
