Bovina

By Matthew J. Perry
The Bovina Town Board held its 2009 organizational meeting on January 13 and approved reappointments to most town posts and a new appointment to the town’s assessment review board.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Town of Bovina adopted a 2009 budget after a public hearing on October 30. Residents can expect a 4.07 percent rise in the tax levy over this year.
At its regular meeting last Tuesday, the town board expressed satisfaction with the increase, which is considered modest considering the difficult economic climate. The tax levy increase was offset by the application of $56,000 in highway funds that were left over from 2008 provisions.

By Matthew J. Perry
Less than two weeks before Election Day 2008, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court confirmed that eight Bovina homeowners—all whom keep other residences downstate—are within their legal rights to cast their votes as Bovinians.
The “Bovina Eight,” whose right to vote was challenged in 2007 and denied by the county board of elections, sued to retain that right and now have the backing of two state courts.

By Matthew J. Perry
Last week’s snow couldn’t melt away soon enough for Bovina residents.
What might go down in history as the October Surprise Storm of 2008 was mostly cleaned up by Saturday when the last of Bovina households once again had power. The town was under a state of emergency for nearly two days, and the hardships of those who lived at higher altitudes lasted even longer.
“In 24 years with the department, I never saw anything like it,” said Bovina Highway Superintendent Bob Burgin.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Bovina Historical Society will be showing a new documentary film, “The Past, Present and Future Of A Farming Community,” at the town’s community hall at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. Chris Ingvordsen, a historical society member who also sits on the planning board, states that the film is intended to help preserve the town’s rich agricultural history, as well as describe the challenges confronting farmers who are working to sustain their businesses in the 21rst century.

By Matthew J. Perry
Although he describes his weekly turn as art critic for The New Yorker magazine as “the best job in the world,” Peter Schjeldahl, a longtime resident of Bovina, doesn’t seem to take praise for granted.
Artists, after all, are famous for their adversarial relations with critics. And then there are the art historians. Schjeldahl, a dropout of two colleges and largely self-taught, seems pleased by the notion of himself as a misfit among academics and others who use their degrees as a basis for opining about art. They can say what they like about him; after all, he’s been writing about art for 40 years.

Get ready to do-si-do your partner down at the Bovina Community Hall this Friday, Aug. 29 6:30 p.m. Wes St. Onge will be calling the dances for dancers of all ages and level of experience. Wes will be joined by musicians Kathy Shimberg and Ira McIntosh. Families are strongly encouraged to attend.

By Matthew J. Perry
The Bovina Planning Board is reviewing laws from other municipalities in Delaware County to prepare for the possibility of cell tower construction inside its borders. With input from Delaware County Planning Board consultant Justin Shaw, the board reviewed its own existing zoning regulations on Monday night, in addition to poring over details from laws that have been passed or drafted in the towns of Kortright and Meredith.

By Matthew J. Perry
On the verge of committing its resources and energy to a new highway garage, the Town of Bovina has pulled the plug on its existing plans.
At a meeting of the town council on June 10, the board voted to rescind an earlier resolution that allowed the town to raise funds for a new garage through municipal bonding. Existing plans for the garage have been shelved, and the future of the project remains uncertain.

Highway funds are 84% expended in less than 5 months
By Matthew J. Perry
The Bovina Town Board received an update on the town’s finances on May 13 that included mostly positive budgetary news. Accountant Joe Hanley’s assessment of the first four months of 2008 revealed that overall, the budget was sound and tax levies were meeting projections.