ROCHESTER REPORT March 2019

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Town of Rochester Report, a new monthly online newsletter from the Town Board.

Subscribe by adding your name to our email list through the Town website, townofrochester.ny.gov/subscribe-to-news/

In this edition:

Kudos Korner
Assessor’s Update
Solar Signup
St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon
Harold Lipton Community Center News
Recreation Dept. News
Save the Date
Dog Control Needs Used Blankets
Fun Facts with Kate
Highway Dept. Snow Report
Zoning Board of Appeals
Elder-Care Program
Town Constabulary
Town of Rochester
Cable/Broadband Survey
Trails Committee
Volunteer for the Town Rochester
Food Pantry
Friends of Historic Rochester
Little Ones Learning Center
2019 Ulster County Agricultural District Applications
Rondout Valley School District Petitions for School Board
March Meeting Calendar

Kudos Korner

Town employees who go above and beyond serving the Town residents
A big shout out to Assessor Aide Angelina Hasbrouck. Angie makes it her mission every January and February to contact each senior who must refile their STAR application so nobody loses their exemption. Searching relentlessly to find contact info for those who might be away during the winter months, Angie is a valued employee who makes sure no senior is ever forgotten. THANK YOU Angie! for your dedication and perseverance.

January brings about a large volume of work each year for the Town Clerk staff. Collecting taxes, issuing new transfer station permits, DEC permits … on top of the regular daily activity that flows through the Town Clerk office. Town Clerk Kate Gundberg and her staff of Christina Ferrara and Bettina Post withstood the busiest week of the year collecting over 2.5 million dollars, despite being met with a child with the flu, snow storms, engines blowing in vehicles, emergency vet appointments and a family death. The ladies went above and beyond each day, all with excellent service to the residents and a smile and sense of humor always.

Assessor’s Update

The Assessor’s Office has completed a review of all assessments in the town for the 2019 Roll. Notices were mailed out the first week of March to all property owners with the both the 2018 and 2019 assessments.  The 2018 Assessments were based on 93.5 % of market value and the 2019 Assessments are at 100 %. The last town-wide review of assessments in the town was for the 2011 Assessment Roll. If any property owner has questions about their assessment, they should contact the Assessor’s Office at 845-626-0920

Solar Signup – Go Green It’s not too late to subscribe!

Tell your friends, family, and neighbors. Residents of the Town of Rochester and any Central Hudson customer are eligible to subscribe to two solar farms that are managed by Nexamp and going live in 2019. The solar farms, located off Route 209 near Samsonville Road and off Airport Road, will add nearly 14 megawatts of renewable energy to Central Hudson’s electricity grid in 2019. Nexamp’s farms are part of New York’s community solar program, which allows residents to subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and go solar without rooftop panels.  Subscribers receive credits on their electrical utility bill for the energy produced by their solar farm share.  Those who subscribe will be eligible for Nexamp’s standard 10% discount on their credits.  With Nexamp, there’s no upfront cost or long-term commitment – you can cancel your share at any time. To learn more or sign up, please visit www.rochestersolar.info or call Nexamp at 800-945-5124.

Get Your Green On – Annual St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon

Friday, March 15th, 11:30AM-1:00PM at the Harold Lipton Community Center. Join us for this FREE St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage luncheon!  Enjoy some of our delicious Rueben sandwiches along with some other traditional Irish sides. While you dine enjoy some beautiful Irish music played by our very dear friend Deborah Martin. Don’t Forget to Wear Green! Call 626-2115 for a reservation.

Harold Lipton Community Center News

Youth News

Summer Program registration will begin April 1, 2019. This program is extremely popular and tends to fill up rapidly. Registrations must be done in person this year. Office hours are 9:00AM-4:00PM. Registration forms will be available on the Town’s website on March 11, 2019. Call 626-2115 with any questions.

February 14, 2019, the kids in our After-School Program participated in a Valentine’s Day party where they played various games, had treats and danced the afternoon away at The Harold Lipton Community Center.

The Town of Rochester Basketball season will be coming to an end soon. We’d like to thank everyone who helped make this season a success, especially Mike Smith and The Baul Family!!  We had a ton of sponsors this year! We are so thankful for all the local businesses who continue to support our program! To all the players and their dedicated parents, we hope you enjoyed yourselves and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

Recreation Dept. News

Community Bus Trip April 6, Resorts World Casino Do you like to gamble? Then we’ve got a trip for you!! Join us for an adventure to the Resorts World Catskills Casino in Monticello, NY.  The cost will be $10 per head and will include $25 slot play money and $15 in food money! You can’t beat that! Call the Recreation Department to sign up at 626-2115! The bus will depart from the Harold Lipton Community Center promptly at 9am and will return at approximately 5pm. We hope you can make it!

“Line Dancing with Goldie.” Join us Thursdays at the Harold Lipton Community Center for an introductory class for fun and fitness. The cost per class is only $2. Walk-Ins welcome. Call 626-2115 for more info.

“Move More, Live Better” Exercise Classes every Tuesday sponsored by the Rochester Senior Group. FREE to the community. Consists of light exercises such as aerobics, strength & flexibility training.

Modifications are offered so the class is appropriate for most. Sitting or standing, the class will keep you moving. Come join us! Walk-Ins welcome!  Call Rita at 626-2115 or just drop in.

Save the Date April 13, Easter Egg Hunt April 20 and 27, Road cleanups for Earth Day May 4, Riversweep Rondout Creek Cleanup More details in next month’s newsletter.

Dog Control Needs Used Blankets Do your Spring cleaning a little early. Jill could use some used blankets for the dogs at the pound.(no sheets or towels please) Call Jill for more info.

Fun facts with Kate >From the Town Clerk

DID YOU KNOW? The First Known Description of Rochester Area Comes Through the Journals of Capt.- Lieutenant Martin Cregier Who Was In Charge of the Esopus Militia In 1663. Interested in learning more?

Join us for Archival Day this fall as we pay tribute to the history of our Town brought to us by our founding fathers. These documents have been restored allowing us the opportunity to appreciate the art of scripture from centuries before.  Don’t miss out on this public display of the treasures of our local history.

Highway Department Snow Report

Although we haven’t had any large storms this winter season, we’ve had quite a bit of wintry weather and mixes of snow and ice. As of March 1, the Highway crew has been called out 69 times to serve the residents keeping the roads safe with plowing, salting, and sanding. These workers give up holidays and weekends with their families and are ready to go on a moments notice each day November through April each year. Thanks to Superintendent Antonino Spano, Foreman Jeffrey Frey, and drivers Steve Ballard, William Farrell, Robert Freer, Wayne Gray, Jared Gundberg, Rich Hasbrouck, Tim Hornbeck, Leonard Krom, and seasonal drivers Chad Cooper and Harm Miedema. Thanks for all you guys do!

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of Appeals has updated its application packet. To better explain the process a Procedural Guideline document was developed and will be included in the packet. The hope is that applicants will better understand what will be expected of them thereby making the process more efficient and able to move more quickly along.

Elder-Care Program Administered by the Town Constabulary, the Town Board believes in a “neighbor helping neighbor” philosophy. If any seniors are in need of assistance or have special concerns and would like semi-regular visits, please Call: (845) 204-8404 or E-mail: eldercare@townofrochester.ny.gov

Town Constabulary

Town Constables are NYS Peace Officers who assist the Town by providing required security at the Courthouse, assisting the building and zoning department with violation notices, and helping residents of the Town of Rochester. In event of an emergency, always dial 9-1-1, but in a non-emergency situation, please call (845) 204-8404 for assistance.

Town of Rochester Cable/Broadband Survey

Town of Rochester Cable Internet Improvements Urgently Needed Online Survey to assess cable and broadband deficiencies in the Town of Rochester. Town of Rochester residents can fill out a simple online survey: bit.ly/TOR-cable-survey
Not having Internet-cable service in the modern era is like not having phone or electricity service in earlier eras—what starts as a modern convenience transforms into an economic, educational and social necessity. That’s where Internet is now—a necessity. All citizens are entitled to Internet service that allows them to earn an income, educate their children and to participate meaningfully in society.

Trails Committee

Interested in trails in the Town of Rochester? The Trails Committee has openings for 2 more resident volunteers. We are looking for people to represent the canoeing or kayaking enthusiasts and equestrian trail riders. Email the Supervisor mbaden@townofrochester.ny.gov if you are interested.

Volunteer for the Town

The Town is looking for volunteers to serve on the Historic Preservation Commission, Environmental Conservation Commission, and the Youth Commission. Just a few hours a month commitment of time. Email the Supervisor if you are interested. mbaden@townofrochester.ny.gov

Rochester Food Pantry

We’re getting new neighbors: The Rochester Food Pantry! You’ve probably noticed a lot of construction going on at the side of the Harold Lipton Community Center. After 25 years cramped in a very small quarters behind the Accord Fire House, the Food Pantry is moving next door. Funded entirely by a grant from the NYRising Program, the new addition will allow the Food Pantry to better integrate its services with the Community Center and be readily available in the event of a community emergency. The Rochester Food Pantry is entirely funded through grants and local donations and staffed by nearly 40 volunteers. Call (845) 626-7501 if you are in need of services or to volunteer.

Friends of Historic Rochester

Do you like to write, or research local history, or transcribe old letters and diaries into digital format, or do any other kind of Museum work?   Would you enjoy a visit to our Museum at 12 Main Street, Accord?  If your answer to any of these questions is “Yes”, please call Alice Schoonmaker at 845-626-7104, or contact Alice Cross at 845-256-5587 or n613a@aol.com.

Little Ones Learning Center

CLIFFORD COMES TO SKATE TIME March 30th-Saturday 1-4PM Skate Time 209, Accord Admission-$10 for all entrants (even non-skaters)-2 & under are free. Skate rental is not included. Come skate with Clifford and enjoy games, prizes, balloon animals and more. There will also be a silent auction.

2019 Ulster County Agricultural District Applications

March 1 thru March 29, 2019 is the Application Period for Adding Land to Agricultural Districts. Ulster County will accept applications from landowners to have their predominately viable agricultural lands included within a New York State Certified Agricultural District. Applications are due no later than March 29, 2019. Contact Burt Samuelson, Ulster County Planning Department, 845-339-2490.

Rondout Valley School District

Petitions for School Board Petitions for nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education of the Rondout Valley Central School District will be available online at Rondout.k12.ny.us and at the District Office, Kyserike Road, Accord, beginning on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.  Completed petitions, with the signatures of twenty five (25) qualified District voters, must be filed with the Clerk of the District not later that 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2019.  The term of office is for three (3) years.  The following vacancies, expiring on June 30, 2019, are to be filled:  term of Elissa Jury, term of Dawn Van Kleeck, term of Rebecca Versace. The election will be held on May 21, 2019. Candidates for the Board of Education must be at least 18 years old, qualified voters in the Rondout Valley Central School District and able to read and write.  They must have been residents of the District continuously for one year before the election.   Please call District Clerk Debra Barbiani for additional information at 687-2400, ext. 4803.

Meeting Calendar

March 11, 7pm     Planning Board     Harold Lipton Community Center
March 12, 7pm     Rondout Valley School Board District Office
March 14, 6:30pm Environmental Conservation Commission  Town Hall
March 18, 2pm     Historic Preservation Commission    Town Hall
March 19, 7pm    Ulster County Legislature        County Office Bldg., Kingston
March 20, 9:30am Youth Commission        Harold Lipton Community Center
March 20, 6pm    Trails Committee  Town Hall
March 21, 7pm    Zoning Board of Appeals        Harold Lipton Community Center
March 26, 7pm     Rondout Valley School Board District Office
March 28, 6pm/7pm       Town Board Audit/Workshop Meeting Town Hall
April 4, 6:30pm    Town Board Meeting              Town Hall

Have info for our next edition?

Contact Mike Baden, Town of Rochester Supervisor
845/626-3043 Office
845/663-4006 Cell
mbaden@townofrochester.ny.gov