Summer Slate for Stony Point Town Meeting

BY CHERYL SLAVIN

As summertime fast approaches, the Stony Point Town Board voted in the finishing touches for several regular seasonal events and programs. Additional camp counselors were hired for the day camp which starts on June 29. The playground program is still accepting registrations for the July 6 start date. The pool will open on June 27. The Patriots Hills Golf Course has been open since April, and Director of Golf Dave Fusco sent a note to the board that the course has taken in $41,000 more this May than it did last year.

The annual Wayne Day Bazaar and Firefigther’s Parade is scheduled this year for July 8th to the 11th. In addition to music, food and rides, the Bazaar will feature, for the second year in a row, a fireworks display on Friday night, July 10. Given that this year also celebrates the town’s sesquicentennial, the board voted to increase its contribution to $2000 to support a more spectacular pyrotechnic presentation. Councilman Tom Basile stated that publicity for the Bazaar should also make note of the 150th anniversary. The Firefighter’s Parade will take place on Saturday, July 11. Also in conjunction with the sesquicentennial celebration, the town will hold its annual Family Barbecue on July 4 at Eccher Park, from 2 – 7 p.m.

The warm weather brings plants and animals out of hibernation; consequently, the board voted to conduct property maintenance on three bank-owned properties where the grass has become overgrown. This program enables the town to perform essential upkeep on unkempt properties but still hold the property owner accountable by adding the cost onto the tax bill. On one of the properties, 8 Lighthouse Court, the town will also drain and remove an above ground pool that currently constitutes a nuisance. Any Stony Point resident can call the supervisor’s office or the building department to make a complaint about an unmaintained property.

Resident Elaine Cappuccino expressed her concern about the increased presence of coyotes in the area, and in particular on and around her property. She asked what could be done if the police cannot do anything until a person or a pet gets hurt. Lately social media has exploded with posts about bear and coyote sightings in North Rockland, and a number of attendees at the meeting offered anecdotes about hearing the howling at night, or spotting coyote packs in their neighborhoods. However, as Supervisor Geoff Finn explained, there isn’t much to do except be vigilant and call the police if anyone is in fear of harm. Basile stated that he would at least call the state DEC and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to see if anything further could be done.

George Potanovic Jr., president of Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment, spoke about the need for the board to represent the interests of the community as impacted by large corporate or utility projects. In particular he noted that the SPECTRA gas line was slated to run behind numerous homes that rely on wells and septic tanks which might be affected by any blasting or digging performed in conjunction with the laying of the 42-inch diameter pipe. He urged the board to get assurances from the corporation that all safety standards will be followed and that the company will do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the homeowners and the integrity of their property.

Finn replied that he has been in touch with several homeowners along the SPECTRA route, and that he has also been in contact with SPECTRA regarding the proposed width of the company’s right of way. After discussing how many trees might have to cut to accommodate the line and the work area, Basile also suggested that the board acquire from SPECTRA updated maps of the pipeline route, including the rights of way, in order to hold the company to the dimensions stated on the maps.