“Apple and Blossom will be, God willing, fixed this year,” said Highway Superintendent Joseph LoCicero.

Residents of Apple Lane and Blossom Lane welcomed the good news at the Shawangunk Town Board meeting on Thursday. They have been speaking with the town since last August about possible improvements.

LoCicero said the town will address drainage, as well as regrade and blacktop the roads, at an estimated cost of $65,000.

“It’s going to be fully blacktopped, the whole road,” said LoCicero.
The lighting for Apple and Blossom will take more time, as the town first needs to extend the lighting district, which will require a public hearing. The district will then need to raise the funds for the installation next January.

Supervisor John Valk estimated the annual cost to be about $50 for each property owner.

The improvements promised by LoCicero were included in the 284 Agreement he provided to the town board. The agreement is essentially a contract between the town board and the highway superintendent, which lists the work LoCicero intends to do this year and the funds needed from the town to complete it. The board voted to accept the agreement on Thursday.

Other roads that made the list for various levels of repair include Red Top, Roosa Road, Denniston Road, Pleasant and Park Avenues, Laurel Park Road, Redder Road, Jansen Road, Aumick Road, Lake Shore Drive and Rutsonville Road.

The estimated cost of the work in the agreement is $477,000, which includes $355,000 from New York State’s Consolidated local street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS).

“The state cut funding last year because of COVID and they reinstated it and gave it a little boost,” explained Supervisor Valk.

LoCicero said he’s “spending every nickel and dime” on the roads, but he could always use more funding. He explained that it costs $100,000 per road mile to blacktop a road and there are more than 100 road miles in the town.

“If I had $10 million I could spend $10 million,” said LoCicero.
The board also addressed concerns from residents about Sinsabaugh Road, ranging from maintenance of the road to a new business that did not go through the town’s approval process.

Supervisor Valk acknowledged the concerns and stated that the town was aware of the situation on the street, noting that it “is not a legal campsite” and that the town’s new code enforcement officer is working on the issue.

In other business, the board introduced a new local law that will “clean up” text in the town’s zoning law, such as a misspelling of “town” as “tow” and other errors. The public hearing has been set for June 17 at 7:05 p.m.

Valk noted that the town may also be looking into a moratorium on battery storage facilities as well as a yearly peddler’s permit (they are currently issued monthly).

The board also agreed to hire two new part-time police officers, Daniel E. Montalto and Matthew Sudol. Montalto was sworn in during the town board meeting.

“I think they’ll be a good addition to the department,” said Supervisor Valk.

Chief Gerald Marlatt reported to the board that a new police vehicle has been ordered and one of the existing vehicles will be taken out of service and provided to the town’s building department.

Councilman Adrian Dewitt noted that the parks are very busy, with a packed schedule of lacrosse, football, soccer and softball. He is also working on the question of summer camp and will update the board at the next meeting.

The board will also address the town’s comprehensive plan at that meeting, as the anticipated adoption was tabled due to a recommendation that language be added regarding affordable housing.