Dear Resident,
November 2014
It is a pleasure to keep you informed regarding your Town of
Haverstraw Government. Listed below are current
issues, events and a review of 2014 happenings in Haverstraw, as well
as information that we believe would be of
interest to our residents.
· The Tentative Town Budget for 2015 has been completed. The budget
reflects a total tax levy increase of less than 1.56%. The Governor’s
Tax Cap is 2% or the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower.
2015’s CPI for Town Governments in New York State is 1.56%. To remain
within the tax cap we asked each Town Department to hold the line on
their current costs. In achieving this goal, we would like to remind
the public that many of the costs in the
Town Budget are not controlled by us but are mandated by the State. We
must be careful not to negatively affect future budgets. An example of
some of the mandated costs are: Health and Workers’ Compensation
Insurance, Police Salaries (binding arbitration) and Police and
Employee Pension Costs. It is critical that we do not have a deficit
budget. A deficit budget would translate into the Town’s excellent
Bond Rating being reduced, which would mean
the Town’s costs for insurance, interest and bonding would increase
significantly.
· The New York State Comptroller’s Office recently completed its
Financial Stress Test for Town Governments. We are proud to report
that the Town of Haverstraw rated better than any other Town
Government in Rockland County and one of the best within the State of
New York!
· The Town of Haverstraw, North Rockland School District, County of
Rockland and the Villages of Haverstraw and West Haverstraw entered
into a Settlement Agreement with the current owner of the Bowline
Power Plants, NRG. Before the deregulation of the power producing
industry by the State of New York, the Bowline Power Plants paid over
$45 million dollars in total property tax (2006). Before the
settlement was entered into, NRG was paying a total of $8 million
dollars in property tax (2013). NRG’s position was that they would not
pay more than $250,000 in property tax. This was completely
unacceptable to the Town. Clearly the deregulation of the power
industry has been a complete failure. The greatest burden of this
failure has been on municipalities that have hosted these power
plants. The new settlement requires NRG to pay a total of $3 million
dollars in property tax. We are now on our fifth owner of the Bowline
Power Plants since deregulation.
· We are pleased to report that the repair of the severe damage that
was caused by Hurricane Sandy at our Bowline Point Park has been
completed and the shoreline is now structurally stronger than it was
prior to the storm. We would like to thank Congresswoman Lowey, State
Senator Larkin and Assemblyman Zebrowski for their help and assistance
in securing both FEMA and SEMO funding. The total funding for the
shoreline restoration was $700,000.
· The Town of Haverstraw received a Community Development Block Grant
for $80,000 for 2013 and another $116,000 for 2014 to construct a
jetty and pier at Bowline Point Park. The jetty will serve to buffer
the shoreline from future storms. We would like to thank the Rockland
County Office of Community Development for their assistance and help.
· We are proud to announce that after 30 years of trying to acquire
land at Helen Hayes Hospital across from the North Garnerville
Elementary School, the Town has secured 25 prime acres at no cost to
the taxpayer for future recreation! We would like to thank Governor
Andrew Cuomo, State Senator William Larkin, Assemblyman Kenneth
Zebrowski, the Board of Visitors of Helen Hayes Hospital, Kathleen
Martucci-Chief Operating Officer and Tony
Ahanj-NYS Department of Health Representative. Without their vision
and hard work this would never have been accomplished.
· We are excited to announce that our State Representatives Senator
William Larkin and Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski have informed us that
the Town will be receiving approximately $600,000 in State funding for
the following projects: resurfacing of several Town roads, design of
the recently acquired 25 acres of land for recreational facilities,
construction of a pier at Bowline Point Park, and construction of a
dog park at our Scenic Hudson River Park on Beach Road.
· We are pleased to announce that the Town of Haverstraw and the
Village of Haverstraw entered into a study to see whether
consolidating the Village Justice Court into the Town could accomplish
both a savings in costs and a greater efficiency in police coverage.
We submitted a Consolidated Funding Application to the NYS Department
of State which would pay for the cost of the study. When a Town Police
Officer makes an arrest in the Village, two officers must take the
person to the Town Police Station to be booked. They then must go back
to the Village to have that person arraigned before the Village
Justice (New York State Law does not allow a Village Justice to do an
arraignment outside of the Village boundaries). Then the two officers
must take the person back to the Town Police Station to be held. This
means that two Police Officers are out of service on average an hour
and a half, sometimes longer. If we could reduce this by even 50%, it
would mean a tremendous increase in police coverage. We would like to
thank Mayor Kohut and Trustees Batista, Dominguez, Bueno, and Watson
for their commitment to the residents and taxpayers of our Town. We
asked the Village of West Haverstraw if they would participate in the
study and they declined the offer. We are hoping that they will
reconsider if the study’s findings demonstrate that it can achieve the
goals stated above.
· Town Clerk, Karen Bulley, would like to inform the public that her
office remains open until 8:00 PM on Town Board Meeting nights which
are normally scheduled for the second and fourth Mondays of the month
unless there is a holiday. The Town Clerk’s Office has a notary on
staff at all times. We are pleased to report that each of her staff
members is a Certified Marriage Officer.
· The Town Receiver of Taxes, Ann McGovern would like to inform the
public that her office remained open until 7:00 PM this past September
24th and 25th to collect your school taxes. The Town Receiver of Taxes
would also like to remind the public that her office will remain open
until 7:00 PM on Monday, January 26th and Wednesday, January 28th,
2015 for your convenience to collect Town and County property taxes.
· The Town of Haverstraw has secured $240,000 worth of equipment for
the Highway Department. Our Superintendent of Highways, George Wargo
continues to make his department more efficient by cutting costs and
sharing equipment with other Town Municipalities and Villages. The
Highway Department maintains the fleet of police department, parks,
golf and volunteer ambulance corps vehicles. The Superintendent would
like to remind our residents that all landscape/snow removal
contractors must be licensed by the Town. A license can be obtained
at the Town Clerk’s Office at the Town Hall on Rosman Road.
· The Town of Haverstraw Justice Court received a grant in 2014 from
the Justice Court Assistance Program to purchase two desktop scanners.
Since 2007, the Justice Court has received $48,546.68 from the Justice
Court Assistance Program.
· We had so many great events at our Bowline Point Park this past
summer and fall. Some of the events were:
The Annual Vietnam Veteran’s Watch Fire at Bowline Point Park was held
on May 30th. This ceremony recognizes all those who have served in the
different branches of the United States Military, especially those who
sacrificed their lives for freedom and liberty of all people.
The 11th Annual North Rockland Community 5K Run/Walk was held on
Sunday, June 8, 2014 at Bowline Point Park. This event was sponsored
by the Towns of Haverstraw, Stony Point and the North Rockland Central
School District. The walk benefited three North Rockland families:
Aris Gomez, Laura Mariotti and Billy Keenan - all three have serious
medical needs. Thank you to everyone who came out to help support a
great cause. Also, a special thank you to the Stony Point Seals and
Fran Nardi who were each presented with a plaque in gratitude for
their dedication to the North Rockland Community.
The Town of Haverstraw’s Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration
took place on Saturday, July 5th. There was an enjoyable concert and
then a spectacular fireworks display. It was perhaps the best show we
have had to date.
Our Annual Thursday Night Open Air Concerts have become even more
popular than before with attendance growing each year. Special thanks
to Michael Gamboli, Director of Finance, who scheduled these concerts.
We would like to give a special thank you to United Water and Tilcon
for their generous donation toward our summer concerts and 4th of July
Fireworks Celebration.
We held our Annual Volunteer Recognition Night on August 27th for all
those men and women who are members of our volunteer fire departments
and volunteer ambulance corps. They were able to use all of our
facilities at Bowline and were provided with refreshments in gratitude
for their selfless service to our community.
The Second Annual Bricktown Challenge Triathlon/Duathlon was held on
September 27th at Bowline Point Park and nearly 200 individuals
participated in the race. The swimming event was held in Bowline Pond
with the run and bicycling went through the park and around North
Rockland. We would like to thank Detective David DeLaRosa and the Town
of Haverstraw PBA for organizing the event.
The Town was a cosponsor with the Neighborhood Cruisers on their 13th
Annual Cruisin’ For Kids Car Show fundraiser which was held on
September 28th. Approximately 200 vintage cars were on display.
Concerts were performed by Remedy and the Jillian and Sean Band. We
would like to thank Bob DuBois, President of the Neighborhood Cruisers
and the members for organizing this event. If you missed it, come next
year and you will
have a great time.
Numerous organizations/families held their barbecues/picnics at
Bowline Point Park. We are very pleased that our residents have come
to enjoy a wonderful recreational facility at the most beautiful park
on the Hudson River.
· The Town of Haverstraw along with the Village of Haverstraw were
cosponsors for this year’s Dancing Under the Stars in the Village of
Haverstraw. The first concert was on Friday, June 13, 2014 and the
second was a Salsa/Merengue Night on Friday, August 22, 2014 on Maple
Ave. next to the Village Hall in Haverstraw. The Town of Haverstraw
was also a cosponsor with the Village of West Haverstraw for Dancing
Under the Stars on Friday July 18, 2014 on Railroad Avenue. Thank you
to Jerry Accomando for helping to organize the concert in West
Haverstraw.
· We would like to thank the Rockland County Marine Corps League for
hosting their 9-11 Ceremony at the Town of Haverstraw Town Hall. It is
a moving ceremony where those who perished on 9-11 are remembered. We
would also like to thank the volunteer fire departments who
participated in this event.
· The 4th Annual United Latin Festival and Parade was held on Sunday,
August 3rd at the Haverstraw Elementary School. This year’s honorees
were: Hilda Cusick - Grand Marshal, Father Esteban Sanchez - Parade
Godfather, Caterina Pantano - Parade Godmother, Jose Guillermo Rosa -
Latin Honoree of the Year, Alicia Rivera and Guillermo Vasquez - Latin
American Students of the Year, George M. Holt Funeral Home, Vilma’s
Bakery and Catholic
Community Services of Rockland - Businesses of the Year. We would like
to thank the committee which represents various Latin cultures for
organizing this event. The day was full of music, food and cultural
entertainment.
· We would like to congratulate the Village of Haverstraw on their
First Annual River Arts Festival this part September. The festival was
held at Emeline Park which is located at the end of Main Street in the
Village of Haverstraw. There were arts and crafts, musical
entertainment and food and refreshments for the public’s enjoyment.
· The Fifth Annual Town of Haverstraw Air Show was held this past
August at our Scenic Riverview Park on Beach Road. We would like to
extend our appreciation to the Hudson Valley Radio Control Club and
Club President Bruce Leach for organizing the event. Over 700 youth
and adults enjoyed the day’s events and donations were collected to
support the Wounded Warriors Project.
· The First Annual Town of Haverstraw Shredding/Electronics Recycling
Day was held on Saturday, June 28th in collaboration with ARC of
Rockland. Residents were encouraged to bring any documents to be
shredded or old electronics to be recycled. Dozens of our residents
took advantage of this opportunity.
· Our 8th Annual 90+ Recognition Day was held on September 22nd at the
Knights of Columbus in Haverstraw. There were 60 honorees in total
with six new honorees for 2014: Martin Adler, Elizabeth Bates, Anthony
Bosico, Elizabeth Conklin, Ann Kopko and Frances K. Smith. The Town of
Haverstraw is blessed and honored to have these 60 honorees and thank
you to all who made the day possible including George M. Holt,
Shop-Rite, TD Bank, Knights of Columbus and Haverstraw Transit.
· Our Veteran’s Day Services will be held on Tuesday, November 11th.
The service will commence at 11:00 AM at Calico Hill on Railroad
Avenue in Garnerville.
· Any Town resident age 60 or older is allowed to obtain a senior
citizen card for free at Town Hall. This entitles you to use Bowline
Point Park. Many stores in our area also offer a discount to our
seniors. The Town has instituted a new POS software package for
Bowline Point Park and we request any senior with an old card to
please come to Town Hall to get their updated cards.
· Our Youth Board once again has done an extraordinary job with this
year’s events. Some of the events have included: Matilda on Broadway,
Aladdin on Broadway, Marvel Universe Live!, a Mets game at Citi Field,
Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest and Disney’s Frozen on Ice.
Special thanks to our Youth Board Coordinator and the members of our
Youth Board.
· The Town of Haverstraw Senior Citizens Program celebrated their 60th
Anniversary on Wednesday, October 15th and we would like to
congratulate them on reaching this momentous milestone. This program
continues to grow in membership and there were numerous events in 2014
that included trips to: The Empire City Casino, Eisenhower Hall,
Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, Ehrhardts Waterfront Resort, Belmont
Raceway, Thimble Island Cruise, Mt. Airy
Casino, and Westchester Broadway Theatre. Our seniors meet at the
Knights of Columbus every Monday. Please go to the Town Of Haverstraw
website www.townofhaverstraw.org for the complete schedule. If any
person age 55+ is interested in joining, please call the Haverstraw
Town Hall at 845-429-2200.
· The Town of Haverstraw Day Camp had another very successful season
this past summer. This is a great program for our youth ages 6-13 who
reside in the unincorporated area. Trips and activities for the day
camp included: Splashdown, ice skating, Sportstime USA, Rockland
Boulders game, movies, bowling, Bronx Zoo, Platzl Brauhaus BBQ and Rye
Playland.
· We are very proud of the work that our Police Department has been
performing especially with programs for the youth of our community,
such as the North Rockland Youth Explorers and the North Rockland
Youth Police Academy. Both programs are under the direction of Det.
Richard Spatta, Haverstraw PD and Det. Andrew Kryger, Stony Point PD
and are open to local high school students. For more information
please contact our Police Department at 354-1500.
The Youth Explorers do volunteer work throughout the North Rockland
community and the Youth Police Academy is a program that lasts for 10
weeks and covers numerous law enforcement topics as well as hands-on
police training.
· The Town of Haverstraw Youth Court is in its 6th year. In 2013-2014
they graduated 25 high school age students who participated in the
year round program where the students act as judge, jury, defense
attorney and prosecutor. This enables youth who have minor offenses to
avoid going through the criminal justice system. The Youth Court has
been very successful for the students who participate.
· In keeping with the topic of law enforcement, we were recently able
to secure law enforcement grants for the Town of Haverstraw Police
Department totaling $57,000 for the following items at no cost to the
local taxpayer: software for the Detective Bureau; additional
computers for the police station; traffic enforcement, children’s car
seats; enhanced video equipment.
· We would like to recognize Police Chief Charles Miller, District
Attorney Thomas Zugibe and Sheriff Lou Falco, who through their
efforts with their officers assigned to the Narcotics Task Force, we
were able to secure $11,000 in seizure funds. To date, we have secured
approximately $350,000 in seizure funds. This money is used for
various needs and equipment for our police department.
· Congratulations to the Haverstraw Little League Junior League Boys
who won the NYS Championship, 11 Year Old Boys Division who won the
Rockland County Championship and Section IV Championship, Senior
League Boys Division who won the Rockland County Championship and the
Junior League Girls Softball Division who won the Rockland County
Championship and Section IV Championship.
· The Town of Haverstraw is very proud to once again be in possession
of the Civil War 95th Regiment Flag. The Town of Haverstraw has
restored the flag base and it is now on display in our large meeting
room at Town Hall. This flag was flown with soldiers from Haverstraw
at the Battle of Gettysburg.
· The Town of Haverstraw was proud to host a Bronze Plaque Dedication
commemorating the Letchworth Village Developmental Center on September
30th at the corner of Ridge Road and Thiells Mt. Ivy Road in Thiells.
We would like to thank Wilbur Aldridge and the Board of Visitors for
organizing this dedication. Letchworth Village opened over a century
ago as a self-sustaining “farm village” for people with developmental
disabilities named for philanthropist, William Pryor Letchworth. It
was initially built as an alternative to the institutions of the past,
and was
at one point home to nearly 6,000 individuals and the largest employer
in Rockland County. Such an operation certainly sustained the North
Rockland community during its heyday with many people from around the
country relocating to work at Letchworth. Many of those employees and
their families still remain in the area. While the farm ceased
operation in the 1960’s, the institution continued to operate until
the last resident moved to a home in
the community on March 28, 1996. This dedication is in memory to the
thousands of individuals who called Letchworth Village home and the
many honorable who worked there.
· Congratulations to the GARNER Arts Center for receiving a grant
through the Preservation League of New York State for a conceptual
design study for one of the buildings that was destroyed by Hurricane
Irene, and which housed the former gallery of the non-profit GARNER
Arts Center. The grant received was from the Donald Stephen Gratz
Preservation Fund, endowed by Thomas Schwarz, President of Purchase
College. In addition, a plaque from the National Register of Historic
Preservation was unveiled on September 24th to commemorate the
Preservation League’s designation of the Garnerville Arts & Industrial
Center’s listing on the State Register of Historic Places as the
Rockland Print Works Historic District.” Under the leadership of Robin
Rosenberg and the Board of the GARNER Arts Center they are
transforming this industrial site into an active arts community and
commercial business park. Thousands of people have attended their
annual art shows including the recent Artoberfest this October. The
GARNER Arts Center is located on Railroad Ave. in the Village of West
Haverstraw and it is known as an “Art, Business and Cultural
Destination all in one location.” For more information please check
out their website at www.garnerartscenter.org.
· Helen Hayes Hospital held their 10K Classic Race 2014 on Sunday,
October 5th. This race was in memory of Niles M. Davis, Jr. who was
instrumental in organizing the first HHH Classic in 1983. The proceeds
were to benefit Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation, which supports a
tremendous array of rehabilitation programs, services and equipment,
all aimed at helping patients rebuild their lives following
catastrophic injuries and chronic disabling illnesses.
We will continue to provide the most affordable, accessible and
accountable Town government in the State of New York. We welcome all
of our residents to attend our Town Board Meetings which are held the
second and fourth Mondays at 8:00 PM and we welcome you to visit our
web site at www.townofhaverstraw.org. Sincerely,
HOWARD T. PHILLIPS, JR.
Supervisor
ISIDRO CANCEL VINCENT J. GAMBOLI JOHN J. GOULD HECTOR L. SOTO Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman