At its July 16 meeting, the Mamakating town board worked toward shoring up contracts for services and spaces that have lapsed or simply gone unaddressed for years.

Supervisor Michael Robbins said Thompson Sanitation Corporation of Rock Hill continues to collect garbage for the town although its last contract, which ran for three years, expired in 2022.

The town said it would open bids at 2 p.m. on August 15 from companies interested in collecting refuse in 2025 at Wurtsboro Hills, and at the same time open separate bids for refuse collection at Town Hall and town park.

The board is also seeking requests for proposals for services from engineering, planning and legal firms. “We haven’t changed the engineer and planner in quite a few years,” Robbins said, adding, “We’ll ask for proposals and see what we get back.” Robbins said the town has used the same engineer for 10 years, but he would prefer that the engineer, town planner and town prosecutor all be reviewed every three years. The board wants all the proposals in hand by 2 p.m. on August 8.

The New York State Police have also advised the town that they want an updated lease for space they occupy in a town-owned building on Route 209 next to town hall. The lease for the Troop F barracks dates back to 2010 and the town has been extending it for years. Robbins said town attorney Ben Gailey is working on a new lease, which Gailey advised shouldn’t run for more than five years.

Ward 5 Councilman James Post cautioned Gailey to make sure that the new lease does not refer to the barracks as a “satellite station” because satellite stations can be closed at a moment’s notice. The so-called Wurtsboro barracks is considered permanent, Post said.

Upcoming Purchases

Supervisor Robbins said the summer camp program at the town park is going well and use of the pool and concession stand is up. The board ratified the purchase of two used golf carts, one for maintenance and the other for the camp. The town got both carts from Golf Carts Unlimited for $18,115. Robbins said the town had looked into buying a new utility terrain vehicle, which is built and meant for work unlike its ATV cousins that are used for recreation. Just one UTV would have cost the town $45,000, Robbins said.

The board also approved buying a used John Deere tractor and mower for $19,500 from United AG and Turf. One of the town’s mowers is broken and parts are difficult to acquire because it was made in Italy. The town will have two tractors with mowers and the third will be used for jobs other than mowing.

Route 17 Updates

The town continues to object to the state proposal to close Exit 114 off of Route 17. The Department of Transportation’s Route 17 mobility and access improvement project calls the exit incomplete and dangerous.

State Senator Peter Oberacker recently met with regional DOT officials from the agency to express his and his constituents’ opposition to the elimination of the exit. And now the town is on the record as supporting the continued use of Exit 114. Ward 4 Councilman Peter Goodman is working on a letter expressing the town’s position on the matter, Robbins said, and the board approved a resolution in support of keeping it open.

Public Hearing for Increased Penalties

Robbins said the board is considering substantially raising the penalty for violating the zoning code. A lot of people aren’t mowing their lawns or keeping up their properties, Robbins said, giving examples of the kinds of violators the town will press for compliance. Now the fine for a violation is $250 a week. Under a draft of a proposal that should be ready for the next board meeting, the penalty would increase to $250 a day. It’s not a done deal, Robbins stressed. He wants to hear from townspeople. A public hearing will be scheduled, he said.

Library Vote Approaching

Mamakating Library director Cheryl Jones told the crowd that the library is hosting a Meet the Candidates Night at 5 p.m. August 6 before the regular meeting of the library trustees. The event will also include a Budget Information Session. This is in preparation for an upcoming trustee election and budget vote later this month.

Trustee seats now held by Chelsea Roth, Mark Tourtellott and Patricia Andersen are up for election. All the incumbents are running for re-election. The proposed budget is $379,440, of which $372,000 is to be raised from property taxes.

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20 at the library, 128 Sullivan Street, Wurtsboro.