Town starts closing the books on 2012

WARWICK — The Warwick Town Board started closing out its 2012 business on Dec. 6, preparing for the final regular meeting of the year on Thursday, Dec. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Here’s a summary of the Dec. 6 session:

Channel 21

The board’s work included accepting bids for video equipment as part of the year-end phasing out of Cablevision sending a cameraman to record board meetings for Channel 21.

The board accepted the lowest bid for the equipment that totaled $33,841 from The Lerro Corporation of Norristown, Pa.

The board dismissed one of the three bids for being incomplete.

According to Supervisor Michael Sweeton, the town is upgrading its video transmission without using taxpayer dollars by getting a total of $30,000 from Cablevision for the project.

Together with Greenwood Lake, Pine Island and Florida Warwick will have the capacity to go live and film events outside of Town Hall; however, whether volunteers or paid interns will operate the equipment has yet to be determined.

Hazardous mitigation plan

The board voted unanimously to grant the supervisor permission to enter into an agreement with the New York State Office of Emergency Management to prepare a hazardous mitigation plan for the town.

Although Orange County has such a plan, it chose to cover only county property and infrastructure.

FEMA agreed with the town that along with its three incorporated villages, Warwick has a large enough area to warrant having its own plan.

The board has chosen Tectonic Engineering to administer the grant, which totals $82,500.

In other news:

The board voted unanimously to authorize the Warwick Valley Pilot’s Association to obtain a building permit to erect a hanger measuring 50-feet by 46-feet and consistent with the Warwick Municipal Airport Master Plan.

A Christmas Tree will be lit on Dec. 14 at the Pine Island Fire House at 5 p.m.

There is word that Santa Claus will be joining the festivities there at 7 p.m.

By Birgit Bogler