A moment of silence preceded the September 4 meeting of the Plattekill Town Board. Members of the Town Board honored Senator William J. Larkin,who passed away on August 31, 2019. Senator Larkin was an honored veteran who dedicated over 40 years to serving the people of New York in various government positions.

Councilman Darrell Matthews presented an update on the ongoing Thomas Felton Park Expansion Project. Councilman Matthews, who serves as chairman of the Park Expansion Committee, explained that the Thomas Felton Park expansion project was becoming more concrete, and would soon develop a master plan using the input of the residents of Plattekill as a blueprint. In order to assess the ability to expand the park, members of the park expansion committee will discuss the proposed projects with an engineer. The Town of Plattekill Highway Superintendent will also work with the committee to determine if any planned park projects overlap with those of the proposed park expansion. The Thomas Felton Project committee will continue to work side by side with the residents of Plattekill to better utilize the space at Thomas Felton Park.

The one year anniversary of the Thomas Felton Park project survey is approaching The survey, which is still available online and at the Plattekill Town Hall, has set a final deadline. Final submission will need to be received by October 31, 2019. The survey will be distributed at this years annual Plattekill Day on September 21, 2019, and is also available on the Thomas Felton Project Facebook page.

Time Clock Selection Continues
During the August 21 Plattekill Town Board meeting, a motion was carried to replace the time clock used by the employees at the Plattekill Town Hall. The new Latham brand time clock would be purchased by the Town of Plattekill for $252.49 and allow employees to use a one time card instead of two.

However, between the August 21 meeting and the date in which the time clock would be purchased, the price of the selected time clock increased to $341.43. In light of the price change, at the September 4 meeting, the Town Board carried a new motion to purchase the Latham time clock at the new price of $341.43. The new motion also stipulated that the town would not only purchase the time clock, but also the time cards and ink at an additional cost.

Invision Plattekill in 2040
Phase 1 of the Comprehensive Master Plan for the Town of Plattekill is now complete. After holding two public input meetings and circulating a survey, the Master Plan committee, working with the engineering firm Barton & Loguidice, drafted a Needs Assessment and Community Visioning report.
This report will be submitted to the Hudson River Valley Greenway in the hopes of receiving a second $10,000 matching grant to help fund phase 2. The Town of Plattekill Master Plan committee asked the Town Board to pass two resolutions that are necessary to start phase 2. The first resolution would approve the draft of the Needs Assessment and Community Visioning report created at the end of Phase 1. The second resolution would give the Town of Plattekill Master Plan committee permission to apply for the second matching grant from Hudson Valley Greenway. The Town Board passed both resolutions.

It’s Budget Season for the Town of Plattekill

After September 25 2019, the Town Board and the heads of various town departments will begin mapping out the Town of Plattekill 2020 budget.
The exact dates and times of these budget meetings will be decided by the Town Board members and the heads of each department. A preliminary town budget for the 2020 fiscal year will be available to the public for review during the last week of October at the Plattekill Town Hall. The Town of Plattekill will hold a public hearing regarding the 2020 budget at the November 6 Town Board meeting.

New Police Car Request from the Plattekill Police Department
In a memo to the Plattekill Town Board, Plattekill Police Department Lieutenant Wayne Smith asked to submit a letter of intent to purchase a new police vehicle. A 2019 Ford Police Utility Interceptor, at a cost $42,931.88, would replace a 2014 Town of Plattekill police cruiser which has reached end of life. This letter of intent to purchase, submitted to the car dealership, would allow the dealer to hold the new vehicle until the 2020 Town of Plattekill budget is in place. The town would pay for the new vehicle in three installments estimated at $14,310 each. The Town Board carried a motion to allow the police lieutenant to submit the letter to hold the new police vehicle.

The next Plattekill Town Board Meeting will be held on September 18 at the Plattekill Town Hall.