State of the town

Pier and playground top 2020 list of projects

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 1/15/20

Last week the Town of Marlborough swore in their officials for 2020. In quick succession Town Clerk Colleen Corcoran administered the Oath of Office to Al Lanzetta as Town Supervisor, Scott Corcoran …

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State of the town

Pier and playground top 2020 list of projects

Posted

Last week the Town of Marlborough swore in their officials for 2020. In quick succession Town Clerk Colleen Corcoran administered the Oath of Office to Al Lanzetta as Town Supervisor, Scott Corcoran and Ed Molinelli as Town Councilmen and John Alonge as Highway Superintendent.

At earlier dates, Tom Corcoran was sworn is as Marlborough’s new Ulster County Legislator for District 11 and Judge Daniel C. Jackson III was sworn in by fellow Judge Michael Kraiza.
Lanzetta highlighted a few key projects that he wants to complete or at least see started in 2020.

“The all-inclusive children’s playground, which the late NYS Senator William Larkin gave us $150,000; we had to stop last year because of the weather and hopefully we’ll start again in March,” Lanzetta said.

Lanzetta also wants to begin work to rehabilitate the south pier at the Milton Landing Park, noting that he recently signed contracts for Arden Construction to start the project.

Lanzetta said it is hard to predict if the pier work can be completed in one building season but all of the permits have been obtained with the assistance of Rosemary Wein and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

“The main thing with the pier is they have to pull one of the pylons out to see what its actual length is and from there they will have to determine whether they can vibrate [a new one] in or if they can bang it in. I think the vibration is detrimental to the spanning of the fish,” he said, adding that once this has been determined the actual reconstruction of the pier will not take that long.

Lanzetta said he has submitted all of the paperwork for work that is needed at the TOMVAC building. The town will couple $375,000 from NYS James Skoufis and $175,000 from NYS Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson to the $250,000 the town has already received from the late NYS Assemblyman Frank Skartados, for a total of $800,000, that will bring TOMVAC back into active use for the residents of Marlborough.

Lanzetta noted that another $250,000 member item from Assemblyman Skartados was used to pay for Phase I of a sewer line project from the traffic light at the Elementary School on route 9W, north of the soon to open Chestnut Market convenience store. He said he has a contract with NYS for Phase II that will move the sewer project, “along on the west side as far as we can go and hopefully we can get up enough and cross under Route 9W to the industrial park.” Lanzetta said the late NYS Sen. William Larkin secured $250,000 for Phase II of this project that he is cautiously optimistic can be done in 2020.

On Monday evening Lanzetta delivered his State of the Town 2020 address. He began with infrastructure work that was done in 2018.

“With the help of the Town of Marlborough Highway Department and members of Laborers Local 17, we were able to complete the installation of sidewalks on the eastern side of West St. from Western Ave. to the Marlboro Free Library. This work was funded through a member item from Frank Skartados,” Lanzetta said.

Lanzetta said by working with Skoufis and Jacobson, “the Town negotiated with NYSDOT to receive over $6 million to resurface Rte. 9W from the Orange County line to Highland and improve safety issues in the hamlet areas, starting in 2020.”

Lanzetta said the Town also worked with Ulster County Planning and DPW to prepare for safety improvements for Western Avenue from the hamlet of Marlboro up to the Marlboro High School.

Lanzetta said, “The Town was also party to negotiating an agreement with NYSDOT and CSX to upgrade the emergency crossing at Dock Road in Milton and build a new pedestrian crossing for the use of Milton Landing Park. The costs will be born by the State and not the Town of Marlborough.”

Lanzetta said the Town Board adopted new design standards for development of the Route 9W corridor. He noted that the, “town government works tirelessly with Ulster County Planning, IDA and representatives of NYSDOT and Central Hudson to facilitate movement on projects like the recently completed POD storage facility or the Chestnut Petroleum/Dunkin Donuts.”

Lanzetta said that the town has recently negotiated a 25 year lease for the public to use the Tilcon/Christian Hill Trail that will start at the St. Mary’s parking lot on the east side of Route 9W and wind its way down to the Hudson River. By securing the lease the town can apply for grants to make the trail safe for hikers.

Lanzetta said the town has improved parking and the ADA areas at the Cluett Schantz Park, installed LED lights under the pavilion and improved drainage issues at the South Ball Field using a grant from Assemblyman Skartados.

Ever mindful of the bottom line, Lanzetta said the town has brought in additional revenue from a company that erected a cell tower next to the Highway Department. He said adding this to money from a cell tower on the Milton Water tank and a mini tower on Rte 9W in Marlboro brings in a total of $43,200 annually into the town coffers.

Lanzetta said the town is in the process of negotiating a lease with a company to establish a solar farm at the town transfer station. He also noted that Marlborough has received a $50,000 member item from Sen. Skoufis that will be used to pay for a new police car.
Lanzetta concluded his remarks by acknowledging many who have helped make Marlborough a beautiful place to live, work and raise a family.

“Thanks to our Town Board members, our Highway and Water Departments, and the extraordinary staff of the Town government, the Town has been able to offer quality services and accomplish improvements; all while keeping taxes down,” he said. “Another important part of the money saving equation is the many volunteers who serve on committees, boards, and our fire departments. We cannot emphasize, enough, how important Community Involvement is. Thank you all.”