The best source for local news from Marbletown, Rochester & Rosendale
Published the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month | Vol. 27, Issue 7
April 1, 2022 | $1.00
Rondout to create Capital Reserve Fund Fund capped at $20 million for a 'probable term of 10 years' supplemented by state aid Amber Kelly BSP Reporter The Rondout Valley School District Board of Education met on March 23 in the high school cafeteria; the meeting was also streamed live via YouTube. Dr. Joseph Morgan, district superintendent, read the first proposition on the agenda: “The Board of Education of the Rondout Valley Central School District is
authorized to establish a capital reserve fund pursuant to section 3651 in NY education law, to be known as RVSD 2022 Capital Reserve Fund, for a probable term of 10 years and ultimate amount of $20 million, whose purpose shall be to fund in whole or in part the construction or reconstruction of school district buildings and additions there, to site work and acquisition of land, original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus.”
“The Budget Committee has reviewed this,” board member Nicole Parete said. “Just to reiterate that the reason we want to do this is to better prepare for our future. Future generations will need to use this building. We can put money into this account like a savings account. We are not putting $20 million in it, that is the cap.” Representing the Budget Committee, Parete said, “We looked at our revenues and it’s of note that we are getting more
state aid than last year, so we are starting at a really good place. The legislature will finalize that number sometime after April 1. We looked at our tax caps, as that changes from year to year. We anticipate a budget that will come underneath our tax cap. We talked about our fund balance in the reserves, which Dr. Morgan mentioned
See Rondout BOE, page 8
Saving the salamanders Page 9
Michael Schatzel, a Grade 3 student at Marbletown Elementary School, recites” Captain Hook” by Shel Silverstein. The Marbletown Elementary School Grade 3 Drama Club presented a show entitled “Poetry Performance” in the school’s gymnasium on March 18. The show presented student actors reading a variety of poems while dressed in theme.
4-H FUNFEST at High Falls Firehouse Page 20
Separate filings in connected lawsuits filed on March 17 The legal battle between Marbletown supervisors present and past continues Staff Reports BSP
Kerhonkson producers have a new film on PBS Page 16
Both an Article 78 lawsuit and a legal filing in support of a libel lawsuit were recently filed by Duchess Farm Equestrian Community LLC and former Marbletown supervisor Michael Warren against the Marbletown Zoning Board of Appeals and current Marbletown supervisor Rich Parete. The Article 78 seeks to annul deci-
sions made by the ZBA regarding Duchess Farm in February. The suit claims, “… the Code Enforcement Officer that issued the underlying notices of violation-orders to remedy lacked Parete the requisite authority to do so under the town code.” Additionally, the suit claims that even if the CEO is determined to have the “necessary authority” each notice still fails to provide adequate notice and proper articulation of measures Warren needed to “rectify the violations.”
Parete stands by the town, saying in an email on March 25, “Marbletown’s ZBA board did an outstanding job with their decision. There is undisputed evidence backing up the violations Mike received. The entire situation would go away if Mike channeled his energy and money into building the roads and storm water to the approved plans and filed maps. Mike isn't disputing the roads and storm water [abatements] aren't built correctly, he’s saying time has passed to make him comply with the approved plans. We disagree with him.” A filing by Kelly Pressler, an attorney for Marbletown, says that Duchess Farms’ “arguments are misleading, disingenuous
See Lawsuits, page 6