By Rob Sample
The Town of Marlborough Police Department recently received a $25,000 check from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office for the department’s help in a countywide Drug and Gang Task Force.
The check presentation took place during the Monday, December 9 meeting of the Marlborough Town Board. “What happens every year, if people don’t know, is that through the Sheriff’s Department and local police departments there is money confiscated from criminal activity throughout the county,” noted Town Supervisor Scott Corcoran. “When that money’s all collected at the end of the year, it gets distributed to different municipalities – and that’s why we are here.”
At the meeting to present the award to Marlborough Police Chief Gerald Cocozza were Captain Joseph Sciutto and Undersheriff James Mullen, from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Ulster County Legislator Gina Hansut.
“We couldn’t do the work we did without the assistance with you guys,” Mullen said. “From day one, you guys have always been there for us. The sheriff couldn’t make it tonight. So, he wanted us to send his appreciation for being part of the task force. It goes a long way. Also, thank you, Gina, for being here [and for being] a huge supporter of the Sheriff’s Office.”
Sciutto noted that without participation by local police departments in the task force, it would not be as successful as it is. The task force’s work resulted in a total of $90,000 being forfeited by criminal activities this year. “The regional task force doesn’t just target gangs, drugs, and illegal gun traffic in and around Ulster County but throughout the Hudson Valley as a whole,” he said. “You’re one of five local departments that are getting a share [of the forfeited funds].
“It is hard to get this,” said Cocozza. “We worked hard for it, and we truly appreciate it.”
The board unanimously approved the appointments of several people to town boards. They include: reappointing Larry Bartolotti to the Zoning Board; reappointing Cindy Lanzetta to the Planning Board; and the appointment of John LaMela as a new member of the Planning Board.
The board also okayed a resolution to accept a bid from TAM Enterprises of Goshen, New York, for additions and alterations to the Marlboro Wastewater Treatment Facility. TAM’s bid, for $2,298,000, was the lowest received. The board also approved a measure splitting the bid into two parts – a move recommended by the town engineer for funding purposes and specifically to allocate funds award earlier for this project through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). TAM agreed to this funding method.
The initial portion of funds will be $1,358,434, most of which will be covered by the aforementioned ARPA funds. The remaining portion - $939,566 – will require the town to issue bond funding. However, Corcoran said the town expects to recoup those funds through revenues generated by increased sewer hookups in town, prompted by the recent flurry of newly constructed homes, apartments, and condos.
The board approved an amendment to its ground lease with Nexamp Solar, LLC. This lease was signed in 2021, under which a town parcel on Bailey’s Gap Road is being leased for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of a solar electric generation facility. The amended lease terms specify that the development and construction period for this facility will terminate on either April 28, 2027, or the commercial operation date, whichever comes earliest.
A separate amendment clarifies the “operations period” to begin the day after the expiration of the development and construction period, ending on the 25th anniversary of the first date of commercial operation. This clause gives the tenant the option to extend operations for a 10-year term first, and then for one additional five-year term.