Shandaken

By Jay Braman Jr.
A special session to shave dollars from the Town of Shandaken’s $5 million preliminary budget yielded little results Monday night, but there are some items, including raises for staff and officials, on the chopping block.
Filled with four percent raises for all public officials and non-union employees plus a whopping 18 percent increase for the town’s ambulance squad, the preliminary plan caught attention when first revealed earlier this month, prompting one councilman to note that while this would be a hard winter for town employees it would be harder for taxpayers.

By Jay Braman Jr.
With the Ulster County facing challenging economic times, Big Indian resident Gary Gailes has urged the Shandaken Town Board to proceed with caution when finalizing next year’s budget.
Along those lines, Gailes has called for a special committee to be formed to look at the possibility of a tighter budget and what that would mean to the town and its residents.
A preliminary budget prepared last week calls for spending of just over $5 million. Discussion of the plan will take place on October 27 during a special workshop meeting of the town board beginning at 6 pm. At that time all proposed spending would be reviewed. The public is invited to attend.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Town of Shandaken’s preliminary budget has appeared on schedule this year, unlike last when the same document didn’t jump out of town hall until close to Halloween. But this year’s $5 million spending plan may still give taxpayers a fright. Filled with raises for all public officials and nonunion employees plus a whopping 18 percent increase for the town’s ambulance squad.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the times.
As governments on all levels works to cut spending during the current poor economy, frivolous expenditures are called into question. In Shandaken a popular yet controversial project is now on the chopping block, and some say the funds saved should be spent helping the ever increasing needy population instead.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Shandaken Town Board met in a special session last Monday to begin work on the 2009 budget. And from the sound of it, everything is on the table when it comes to possible spending cuts.
The informal session, which was sparsely attended, saw the board members seated at a table scrutinizing the current figures in the budget in an attempt to find places to save money.
Right off the bat there was disagreement over how brutal the cutting should be. Supervisor Peter DiSclafani, who recently favored no raises in 2009, said that all non-union salaries should increase four percent next year. He changed his mind, he said, because energy costs have risen so high that it’s going to be tough for workers to make ends meet.

Shandaken Goes Greener is the theme for this year’s celebration at the site of future Catskill Interpretive Center on the Department of Environmental conservation Day Use Area on Route 28 in Mt. Tremper. Family fun, games, arts and crafts, delicious food and good times will be on hand on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The Shandaken Town Council voted to become a Greenway Community at this month’s board meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor although Councilman Vince Bernstein was absent.
There was little discussion about the measure among board members, but some in the audience needed reassurance that property rights would not be stepped on.

By Jay Braman Jr.
Longtime Phoenicia resident Tina Rice has announced her candidacy for a seat on the Shandaken Town Board. Rice, a 10-year member of the town’s Recreation Committee and well-known to residents who participate in the popular Shandaken ski program, said Tuesday that she would appear at the town’s Republican Party Caucus and ask for the party’s support.
If endorsed, Rice would face off against Democratic incumbent Doris Bartlett.

By Jay Braman Jr.
The tiny American Flag tacked up on a ceiling beam at the Glenbrook Park Pavilion was a hint that the Shandaken Democratic Caucus, though necessary, was going to be as informal as such an event could be.
The 30-plus party diehards that came out for the evening last Tuesday pledged their allegiance to that mailbox sized flag, and within a few minutes cast one vote to unanimously endorse current town council member Doris Bartlett to run this November to continue her term for one more year, that year being the remaining part of current Supervisor Peter DiSclafani’s four-year term on the council.

By Jay Braman Jr.
A precarious section of Chichester’s Silver Hollow Road is at risk of slipping into the drink and state Route 214 is next, residents say, and this week those that live on the dead-end road are warning a host of governments that they would be liable if something happens.
Mack Lipkin and Bruce Barry have sent a letter to everyone from Shandaken Highway Superintendent Eric Hofmeister to Congressman Maurice Hinchey and Governor David Paterson stating that the problem is now years old and that something needs to be done.