Warwick adopts local law affecting campground
By Sharon Sellers
WARWICK — Following the completion of a public hearing, the Warwick Town Board adopted a local law that amends the town code affecting campgrounds.
Prior to the town meeting, Supervisor Michael Sweeton met with adjacent property owners to Black Bear Campground, who have expressed concern over how the campground has affected their property.
In empathizing with the land owner’s issues, Sweeton proposed the following changes: the original zoning clause was reinstated as it applies to the towns’ authority regarding review, approval of sewer and water systems and retaining the authority of the town engineer in conjunction with the Health Department’s standing authority.
Also, the 50-acre standard was revised to 45. Additional complaints involved traffic inside, leading to and from the campground and the distance between the camp sites.
“It is still the town’s contention that Black Bear Campground maintain the original approval for 72-74 sites,” Sweeton said. “They must go to the planning board for additional sites.”
Sweeton also noted that the town will be back in could in December regarding a complaint that the campground is in violation of the allowed 72 to 74 campsites. That action is pending pursuant to an application for additional campsites from the campground to the planning board.
Don and Terry Karlewicz, owners of the Estates at Mirabella in Florida and adjacent landowners to the Black Bear Campground were present at the public hearing stating.
“We are not against growth and changes for the campground,” Terry Karlewicz said. “We want to protect our property and feel there is a working solution to everything. Please consider our business needs, it is us and other adjoining landowners.”
“We share the goal that you have,” Sweeton said, “to make this work for the town, for you as a property owner and the campground.”
Later in the meeting, the Town Board approved local law #4 amending chapter 164-22 entitled “Campgrounds” and other minor modifications.
Wickham Woodland ParkTown Councilman Russ Kowal applauded September’s grand-opening of the Wickham Woodlands Park at the site of the former state prison. He estimated at least 1,000 people came through. “We are off to a great start,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting, Sweeton read a letter from Doug and Betty Hurd, longtime Wickham Lake residents. The Hurds expressed their gratefulness to the DPW crew in opening up the shoreline, resurrecting and preserving the chapel structure and many countless improvements. For 40 years, the Hurds wrote,” the lake was left forgotten... we are very grateful for the establishment of this wonderful park.”
Buy localTown Clerk Eileen Astorino said the town received four bids for a three-quarter ton four-wheel drive pickup installed with a Boss 9’2” V Plow.
Sweeton noted, however, “We decided to visit local dealerships. We were successful in obtaining bids under the state bid contract, thereby saving money and boosting local businesses.”
As a result, the town accepted a bid from Leo Kaytes Ford for the pick-up vehicle at $26,597.50 and a bid from Pine Bush Equipment, Inc. for the plow at $6,005.38.
Tentative town budgetThe tentative town budget for next year is a compilation of department requests for such things as investing in roads, police equipment, upgrades and the like. That tentative spending plan, Sweeton said, is about 9.7 percent higher that last year’s $17 million budget. Work continues on reducing spending to meet the state tax cap. “With mandatory increases in retirement and health care costs this won’t be an easy task,” Sweeton said, “but both the Town Board and town employees are working hard to get under the cap. A preliminary budget, reflecting this effort, will be presented to the public on the evening of Nov. 5. It is our goal to get to the cap and under it, as we have done since then the cap’s inception.”
Bricks, mortar and moviesTown Councilman James Gerstner motioned to adopt a resolution to accept a proposal from KC Engineering & Land Surveying, P.C. for the architectural and engineering services to complete the design for Warwick Public Transit Garage Project not to exceed $179,900. This projected is 90 percent funded through the federal government in partnership with Orange County. The last design phase will be for construction.
The town supported a 2015-16 Justice Court JCAP Grant Application for $29,485. The money will be used for new vertical blinds, carpeting for the courtroom, painting the hallway and refinishing the bench.
The town approved a motion to allow Crazy Famous Productions LLC of New York to film at 86 Brady Road in the Town of Warwick from Oct. 13-16.
In other businessThe Town Board appointed Thomas Driscoll as a part time police dispatcher at a rate of pay of $14.75 an hour effective Oct. 10.
The Town Board also authorized the supervisor to sign an agreement with a firm called APPRIS to provide online accident reports.