The November 9 meeting of the Ellenville Board of Trustees included some encouraging news on delinquent taxes, another round of discussion about winter parking, progress on the Clinton Avenue Bridge project, and an unusual search for a new home for 52 pairs of ice skates.

Good News!

The problem of property owners failing to pay their Village of Ellenville taxes may finally be coming to an end.

The Board of Trustees voted to have the Village Treasurer submit a list of delinquent property owners, representing a total of $352,084.05 in unpaid Village taxes, to the Ulster County Department of Finance for collection.

Trustee Victoria Messner commented, “These are repeat offenders. We know who they are. We've seen all this before.”

All true. But now these delinquent taxpayers will face Ulster County's well-staffed Department of Finance. Failure to pay can lead to legal action and, potentially, foreclosure. Their days of ignoring their tax obligations to the Village may finally be over.

The Annual Winter Hassle

Every year, beginning November 1, Ellenville enforces a winter parking ordinance that prohibits parking on Village streets during snowfall and after dark. The restriction does not apply to Canal, Center, or Main Streets, which are state roads.

For many Village residents, this annual rule is a familiar inconvenience. The Board, however, has heard the complaints.

The restrictions are necessary because the Streets Department needs clear roads to plow when snow arrives. Although crews sometimes work around parked vehicles, doing so creates problems and risks damage to cars and trucks. A heavy steel plow blade can easily damage a vehicle, leaving the Village and its employees facing complaints and potential liability.

The Board discussed the snow ordinance, and Mayor Trent suggested suspending enforcement notifications for vehicles parked on Village streets until November 15. A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for the Board's December 14 meeting.

Trustee Kentop emphasized that any decision should involve public input.

Clinton Avenue Bridge Moves Forward

The Clinton Avenue Bridge project took another step forward with a motion to authorize an Architectural/Engineering Consultant Agreement between the Village and Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C. The agreement will allow the firm to review the bridge project and advance the process.

52 Pairs of Skates

Several years ago, the Village explored ways to make Stoeckeler Memorial Golf Course and Park more useful during the winter months. One idea was to install a donated outdoor ice rink. To support the project, the Village spent approximately $5,000 on ice skates, purchasing 52 pairs in a range of sizes.

Unfortunately, changing winter weather patterns have made it increasingly difficult to maintain a frozen outdoor rink throughout the season. The experiment was unsuccessful and has not been repeated.

Now the Village is looking for a nonprofit organization that could put the skates to good use.

Mayor Trent observed that selling them would probably bring in very little money. He felt it would be better to donate them to an organization that could make use of them.

So, if your nonprofit organization could use 52 pairs of ice skates, the Village may have an opportunity for you.

Coming Up

The NAACP will hold a health event and board election on November 17 at 6 p.m. at the Ellenville Public Library.