GERMANTOWN—The Town Board appointed a Comprehensive Plan Review Committee (CPRC) and a Waterfront Revitalization Committee at its meeting July 26.
On the CPRC are Larry Cosenza, founder and chief science manager of C2 Biotechnologies; Ralph DelPozzo, real estate agent, town assessor and member of the Board of Education of the Germantown Central School District; Town Board member Andrea Foley; former school board member Faydra Geraghty; John Kukon of Kukon Brothers Farm; Martin Leuck, proprietor of Central House; and Norman Mintz, author and planning consultant.
Supervisor Joel Craig noted that he needs to do “some organizing” with the CPRC, and one more person may be appointed, so that committee will likely start work after Labor Day.
Appointed to the Waterfront Revitalization Committee are: massage therapist Christina Bohnsack; Kaare Christian, author and tech advisor at Living in Digital Times, LLC; Jennifer Crawford, a staff engineer at Crawford & Associates; Robert Nedwick, president of Southern Columbia Little League and involved in the efforts to bring a kayak rental business to town; author William Shannon; former Town Board member Donald Westmore; and Philip Williams, a member of the Germantown Sportsmen’s Association and a former supervisor of Livingston.
The town is working with the state Department of State to finalize the contract for the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program matching grant of $15,000, so that for this committee too, its start time may be delayed a bit.
Mr. Craig thanked all who had volunteered for the committees. “I hope you’ll stay involved,” he said. He also told the meeting that “there may be other opportunities to volunteer.”
Following up on another matter, the board unanimously approved a Climate Change Resolution. Seven “whereas” clauses lay out climate problems and the need to address them, ending with the resolution:
“That the Germantown Town Board commits to working constructively, using our tradition of American ingenuity, innovation and exceptionalism, to create and support economically viable and broadly supported private and public solutions to study and address the causes and effects of measure changes to our global and regional climates, including mitigation efforts and efforts to balance human activities that have been found to have an impact.”
From the audience Ellen Jouret-Epstein, an advocate of the resolution, thanked the board for approving it. “This summer is giving us lots of reasons to think about this,” she said.
Mr. Craig said Tuesday that this week he would post the entire resolution on the town website, germantownny.org
In other business:
• Councilman Matthew Phelan thanked the 65 volunteers from Germantown and surrounding communities who made the July 2 Independence Day Celebration happen. “Planning is easy,” he said. “But at the event volunteers must be able to think on their feet and assume roles they hadn’t planned on. I’ve led the volunteers for three years now, and it’s a pleasure.”
The event was profitable, said Mr. Phelan, despite attendance being down about 10%, to 2,800 people. People attended from Greene, Dutchess, Ulster and Rensselaer counties, and from New York City and Long Island. July 1 is likely the date for next year’s celebration.
• Camp Palatine has 287 children this year, reported Mr. Craig. “It’s maxed out.” Teens 16 and up who want to be counselors next summer should apply in March 2017. Free county training is required. Those 14 and up who want to be counselors in training should write to Janet Crawford, the town administrative assistant, at gtownny@valstar.net or c/o Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, NY 12526.
All board members except Brittany DuFresne, and an audience of about a dozen, attended the meeting. The town board meets next on Tuesday, August 23 at 7 p.m.
