Marlborough approves tax breaks; Library renovation planned

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 3/15/23

The Marlborough Town Board approved a law that provides for a partial exemption from taxation of certain real property owned by an enrolled volunteer firefighters in the town. Supervisor Scott …

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Marlborough approves tax breaks; Library renovation planned

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The Marlborough Town Board approved a law that provides for a partial exemption from taxation of certain real property owned by an enrolled volunteer firefighters in the town. Supervisor Scott Corcoran clarified that the years of service in the fire company is calculated from when they became a member of the department.

“So if someone has been there already for 20 years and they’re certified by their Commissioners that they have all their classes then they could actually get a lifetime exemption right now, [but] they have to be an active member,” he said. “Also they must have two consecutive years of service to start the qualification.”

Corcoran said this resolution provides for a 10 percent exemption on the assessed value of the volunteer’s personal residential property, which must be their primary residence and they have to reside within the Town of Marlborough.

For his update, Corcoran said, “we’re moving forward on all of our projects but TOMVAC is moving forward slowly. The Bayside project is moving forward, the Dockside project will start to get before the Planning Board and Mr. Pollock has started his Main Street project and started his Henry’s restaurant and spa expansions, so there’s a lot of good things going on in town and we’re still plugging away at grants with Rosemary Wein’s help and all the paperwork that goes with it.”

Corcoran also said there is a $125,000 grant through the Ulster County Parks and Recreation that Marlborough can apply for and if received, they are considering putting lights on the playing fields.

Brick fundraiser for Library
Maribeth King, a trustee of the Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library, informed the board that they have launched an engraved brick fundraiser, hoping to raise $60,000 to make improvements to the 1924 section of the library, such as laying new carpeting, painting, installing energy efficient lighting and new shelving.

King said the last major renovation of the library was in 1990.

“The town really deserves a more updated environment in which we can explore and learn; the library is no longer a place where you come in and be quiet, it’s really a place to engage and to be a center of the community,” she said.

King said the library did receive some grants, thanks to Rosemary Wein’s expertise, “but the grants do not really cover all of the work. The annex will become the children’s area, with child-sized furniture and shelving, and the Circulation Desk will be moved over there, and it will be ADA compatible. The historic side of the library will become the adult section.”

King said they also received a grant from Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson for LED schoolhouse lighting, so it’s more in keeping with the historic nature of the building.

King said they have 1,000 bricks for sale that will be laid down by Stephen Rivieccio, of Top Seed Landscape Design, just outside the library in the alcove area. In addition, Gail Appler Jr. will build the circulation desk, Dave Pulliam will handle the electrical work and Mike Charter will finish off the project by doing the painting.

“It’s really going to be spectacular,” King said, with Corcoran adding, “Yes, this is a great, great thing. It’s going to look good there.”

King provided a brochure that has a rendition of the layout, noting that the bricks can be engraved with the name of a loved one, a favorite book or author, your name or a business.

“There’s an early bird special, so you can get one at the discount rate before June 30, a 4×4 brick for $75 and an 8×8 brick for $150 that can be inscribe with anything of your choice,” she said. “We would ask the Town Board to consider buying a brick in their name and that you do so individually as well. So that’s my spiel and I appreciate your support.”

King said to download and print forms go to miltonlib.org.

Parking laws
In late February the board introduced a new law that will grant the Town Code Enforcement Officer the authority to issue summonses for parking offenses as defined in Ch 145 of the town code. After a public hearing on March 13, the board passed the law.

The law lists actions that could warrant a ticket being issued: Blocking a Fire Hydrant, Parked in Fire Lane, No Parking Any Time, Restricted Parking, Temporary Parking Prohibited, Parking, Overtime, Parked in Bus Zone, Parked in Handicapped Parking Area, Violation of Snow Ordinance, Double Parking, Parking on Sidewalk, Blocking Intersection, Blocking Crosswalk and Blocking Driveway.

Corcoran said consideration of this law began when he met with Police Chief Gerald Cocozza and Code Enforcement Officer Tom Corcoran to review summonses and traffic tickets, which has not been updated in 20 years. He noted that the old tickets they are using, “are so out of date that we had to update them to a more up-to-date ticket. We actually wanted to change our town code to not actually have the fines [listed] within the code and we wanted to give the Code Enforcement Officer a little authority to possibly write some summonses because he’s always the one that is mostly out in the hamlet than anybody.”

Corcoran said when there is a significant snowfall people call the office complaining that some are not clearing their sidewalks within the 24 hour time requirement and all the code enforcement officer could d0 is give a ticket for them to come to court.

“By that time the snow’s already melted and so now if he comes back in 24 hours he could actually write a summons and say here’s a ticket. So we’re just adding to this section his ability to do that,” he said.