Between two to three percent of Marbletown’s projected 10 percent town budget increase was cut after the town board decided to dig into its reserve funds on Tuesday.

Town board member Tim Hunt came back to every budget meeting with new ideas to reduce the financial burden on residents and was successful this week, with help from his peers. The town board elected to take $50,000 from its reserve funds to offset the cost of the $315,000 ambulance improvement district, which will fund a full-time ambulance service for residents.

“I’m thinking about people at the end of their budgets, who need to save every penny they can,” Hunt said. “For some, every dollar really counts.”

Since the budget was first unveiled, the town board explained that the ambulance district is the only cause for the tax hike. You may remember that the Marbletown First Aid Unit (MFAU), the town’s main ambulance provider, was almost forced to close its doors after placing some staffers on the payroll to be more available to locals in need. Like first-responder teams across the nation, MFAU struggled to recruit enough volunteers and it soon became clear that permanent funding was needed to keep an ambulance service in Marbletown. The town gave MFAU $130,000 in June to fund its services through the end of the year. But for 2021 it’ll take $100,000 from reserve funds, and $215,000 will be covered by taxpayer dollars to pay for the district.

Hunt first suggested that $100,000 should be taken from the roughly $582,000 the town received from the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion pandemic relief package signed by former President Donald Trump in 2020, to reduce the tax hike. Town board member Daisy Foote, along with other members, said she felt that figure was too high, considering the money the town already forked over to fund MFAU through the rest of the year.

“I just don’t know if it’s sustainable,” to give MFAU such a large sum of the COVID-19 money, Foote explained. “[The MFAU] might run out of volunteers and have to go to a fully paid staff.”

She felt that taking some money to help with the adjustment period that came with implementing the ambulance district was a good idea. However, the town could not afford to allocate that same money down the line, and the board felt that residents should prepare for the future expense, if it wanted to retain its own ambulance district. The ambulance district is a work in progress, but without it the town would have to contract with a commercial ambulance provider, which could cost residents thousands if they don’t have the right health insurance, Foote explained. While residents originally would have paid $15 for every $100,000 in their assessed home value, that figure will decrease thanks to the slice from the reserve funds.

The board is looking to the county, with an eye to craft a county-wide emergency service district, to help consolidate services and cut costs, while reaching out to neighboring communities to share emergency services as well. Instead of taking the money from the CARES Act, which the town wanted to save for long-term projects, the board decided to dig into its reserves.

The town is still hoping to receive between $25,000 and $30,000 from Rosendale to pay for the roughly 400 homes MFAU currently covers. The board was optimistic that the money would come through and Rosendale’s contribution will reduce the amount of money needed from the reserve fund. However; if Rosendale follows suit with Rochester, which decided not to contribute $5,000 to cover the roughly 100 homes serviced by MFAU there, the ambulance service will not be sent their way. Supervisor Rich Parete noted that this seemed harsh, but it may be the only way to encourage the towns to pay their share of this vital service.

Aside from the ambulance district increase, the budget included a 1.89 percent rise in the Highway Department budget, connected to payroll increases for employees, Parete explained. The High Falls Water budget remained the same as it has for the past few years, Parete continued. With all of their ducks in a row, the board gave its final approval for the budget just four days before the state deadline.

Fence Law

The town board reviewed a new proposed law that would dictate the size and design of fences on folks’ yards in Marbletown. The board hoped it would protect the “aesthetic and visual qualities” of the town, especially in its historic-heavy corners, and preserve its rural characteristics.

“We noticed some fences going up in town, on the side of the road, that blocked the viewshed of neighboring properties and didn't look too good,” Parete explained.

All folks looking to build fences, excluding those required for an approved farming operation, would be required to receive a permit from the Marbletown Building Department beforehand, according to the draft law. When built on the side or rear of a plot, fences would not be able to exceed six feet in height. If the fence is built within 40 feet of the front lot line or a highway right-of-way, it would not be allowed to exceed four feet in height. Berms, or raised banks, where fences are built will also factor into the height of the fence. Any proposed fencing that exceeds the above height limits would be required to go to the planning board for a special use permit, according to the law.

The proposed law would also mandate that all fences, gates and walls (including stone walls) be located on private property and outside of the right-of-way of a roadway. The law sets them at least 25 feet from the center-line of a roadway, or 15 feet from the end of the pavement or road shoulder to leave for wintertime snow removal. The only exception to this rule is for vegetable garden enclosures that are less than four feet in height (the maximum height is eight feet and vegetable gardens are one of the few special fences afforded wiggle room with the height restrictions). These garden fences can be placed within 20 feet of any lot line.

Folks who want to build fences in any of the town’s historic districts would be required to attain a special use permit. The only exception to this rule would be if the fence is built in a split rail, with two vertical posts and several perpendicular rails, or picket fence-style. Generally speaking, no fence can be built with flexible plastic, vinyl mesh or any other “non rigid material.” Such fences could be used temporarily for construction surface barriers or for seasonal covers to protect landscaping from animals and the elements.

If the law is passed, the town is toying with a three- to five-year amnesty period in which residents could replace or renovate existing, non-conforming fences. Those who don’t adhere to the proposed fence regulations could be fined if this law is passed.