GERMANTOWN–The Germantown Waterfront Advisory Committee hosted a group of about 40 people for 90 minutes Sunday to review and plan a response to the proposed Amtrak gates and fences along the Hudson River, as reported in the March 15 Columbia Paper.

Present were representatives of Scenic Hudson, Riverkeeper, Germantown Sportsmen’s Association, Columbia County Sportsmen’s Federation, Trout Unlimited and Germantown Hose Company #1, along with town residents and local business owners.

Supervisor Robert Beaury also attended. He said he planned to write to the state Department of State requesting additional information. His letter will also ask that the current comment period be halted, as many believe that there are too few details allow for informed comments.

The town will instead ask that the Department of State to conduct meetings with the public in each affected municipality and to set a new 30-day comment period starting once the local meetings are completed. Riverkeeper and Scenic Hudson said they plan to write a joint letter requesting the same.

In parallel, the Germantown Waterfront Advisory Committee plans to continue research and outreach efforts in order to fully comprehend the potential impacts to the town, and to form alliances with potential partners in addressing this proposal. The committee can be reached at .

For those who want to comment at this time, the proposal can be found here: http://on.ny.gov/2FUOEdG

Comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. March 29. By email, write to using the subject F-2018-0060, with a copy to so the town has a record of comments.

Comments by postal mail should be sent to New York State Department of State, CR F-2018-0060, Office of Planning, Development & Community Infrastructure, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231. Duplicates of comments are requested, so that the town has a record, to Amtrak Gates Comments, Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, NY 12526.