Stamford Tables Motion To Help With Mt. U Road Repairs

HOBART  - For the second month, a former town board member and other residents raised questions over cost and safety to help the village of Stamford repair the steep and narrow passage to the peak of Mount Utsayantha. Board members also awarded the mowing bid for eight cemeteries, which residents also questioned during last Wednesday's regular meeting.

Resident Lori Betz questioned if both bidders had insurance. The town will make sure the winning bidder does have insurance and explain why the town listed eight cemeteries for mowing. Jody Dorosky won the bid at $1,500, which was the lower bid.

Supervisor Kosier said the list of cemeteries to be mowed came from Delaware County, which used to have the cemeteries mowed through the Summer Youth Program. The mowing was discontinued by the county during the pandemic and the town picked up the mowing on the eight cemeteries listed. 

Betz said she researched it and found the town-owned cemeteries are not on the list and referred to special assessment codes that are used to designate the cemeteries on the town tax rolls.  Some cemeteries belong to religious organizations and some are owned by cemetery associations. 

It is possible the assessments are incorrect, but she asked why the town is paying to mow cemeteries it doesn't own. The list was provided to Supervisor Kosier who will review the cemeteries. He said the cemeteries on the list  are open to the general public. He will check with the county and see if the town needs to amend the list.

Antonia Besculides, executive director of the Western Catskills Community Revitalization Council (WCCR) was present to offer grant possibilities.  It would be federally funded under the Community Development Block Grant program. The grants are awarded based on safety and health improvements to help keep seniors in their homes and to make them safe. Applications could be made in the amounts up to $500,000 for housing rehabilitation. The WCCRC would make the application and administer the grant at a cost to the town. She said the grants can focus on different groups such as the elderly or disabled. They remove radon and asbestos in the older homes, which is costly and often reduces the number of homes that can be repaired. Those who have their homes repaired may not sell their homes for five years or they must pay back portions of the grant. She answered several questions from the audience. No decision was made by the town board at this time. 

Highway Superintendent Dan Miglianti reported the crews have been repairing areas of washouts from recent rain storms, one near the Dennis Reinshagen farm on Roses Brook. He said he needs to get prices on stone to make that repair and he is waiting on a reply from the state regarding Comprehensive Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding. He said the county Soil and Water Conservation District is investigating repairs on the Foote Hollow, to determine what will be needed. Dave Post, who asked the superintendent to inspect the road last month, said it has gotten worse and the bridge on Foote Hollow Road needs more signage and cones to prevent people from passing over the bridge at the same time. He said it is safe for one vehicle and suggested it might be closed completely for safety. The option was to put up additional barriers and signage.

The board had asked Jim Kopp to attend last week's meeting to provide more information regarding the repair of Tower Road, owned by the village of Stamford, to the top of Mount Utsayantha. The road has been maintained by the village, however it has fallen into poor shape in recent years. The village has asked both the towns of Harpersfield and Stamford for help in a one-time commitment to put the road in good shape for tourists and others traveling to the summit. 

The fire tower at the summit is now included in the Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, which is being promoted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It will encourage tourists and hikers to visit Mt. Utsayantha, which is home to the only fire tower in the challenge that is accessible by car.  It is expected the traffic to visit the summit will increase greatly.

Last month residents questioned the town's involvement in helping the village of Stamford repair the roadway to the top of Mount Utsayantha, due to safety of equipment working on the narrow, steep roadway.  When it was proposed in January by  Kopp, he said visitors to the area will benefit everyone. 

The village was researching to ensure ownership of the roadway to the summit and the right of way. The village owns 20 acres at the summit where the fire tower and lookout building are located along with hiking trails, barbecue areas and picnic tables. Locals and visitors alike venture to the mountain top but Post said it is a little  scary due to the washouts and the narrowness that won't allow two cars to pass in most places. 

The town doesn't want to shirk its shared services obligations, but they also don't want to jeopardize men and equipment.

The town will get clarification of what the shared services work encompasses. Board members indicated they were disappointed Kopp was not present last Wednesday to answer their questions. Board members agreed the scope of the project needs to be clarified, they want to know who is designing the project and put in writing exactly what each municipality is going to provide for the project.

A motion was passed to table the February 11 motion to enter into the shared services agreement until the town receives an update on who is designing the project and what it encompasses. Post continues to question the right of way for the roadway, which may not allow the road to be widened as much as it should be for safety.

Supervisor Kosier will check with the town's attorney to determine what the town agreed to and what is in the plan.

Resident Ernie Hanselman questioned why the village doesn't levy some of the cost of the project on the companies that lease the mountain for communications equipment. He also suggested getting an outside contractor to do the work.

The next Stamford Town Board meeting will be held May 13.