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December 14, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey, Chairman
Dave Strayer, Member
Tim Marshall, Member
Jerry Baker, Member
Nikki Caul, Secretary
The meeting, which began at 6:00 p.m., produced a fairly large crowd with some new faces. Josh Mackey gave a brief overview of the function and the history of the town’s master plan.
Mr. Mackey explained that after each meeting the committee prepares a report of the discussions held at that meeting.
November 28, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Karen Mosca
Maureen King
Jerry Baker
Tim Marshall
Nikki Caul, Secretary
Ms. Mosca announced that the purpose of tonight’s meeting is to discuss Goal #4, Strengthen the Village Center.
Ms. Mosca read the five draft objectives prepared by Consultant Maureen King:
1.
We talked a little about growth in general. I think the sense that I have is people feel like if it's not broken we should not try to fix it. That quality of life here is very high and people want it to stay that way.
Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan Consultant Margaret Irwin of River Street Planning & Development
I would say almost all of the groups I talked to said they thought affordable housing should not be provided by new development or by building of new development projects or homes; that we have a lot of opportunity to reuse buildings and to build on the strength of rental units in the village.
Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan Consultant Margaret Irwin of River Street Planning & Development
Regarding the creation of new hamlets and business areas in the town:
Almost everybody said no to that, so we got a loud and clear [answer to the] question. I guess the underlying thing was that most folks felt that they would like to see the town's effort go to support [Village of] Millbrook businesses and not start creating other business districts in town, including even Mabbettsville.
Town of Washington Comprehensive Plan Consultant John Holehan of River Street Planning & Development
October 27, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey, Chairperson
Jerry Baker, Member
Dave Strayer, Member
Tim Marshall, Member
Maureen King, Member
Nikki Caul, Secretary
Josh Mackey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He stated that he, Karen Mosca and Maureen King participated in a conference call with Margaret Irwin from River Street Consulting Group. A formal protocol was adopted which stipulates that at the conclusion of each meeting one of the committee members will submit an outline of what was discussed to Ms. Irwin.
September 29, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey, Chair
Tim Marshall, Member
David Strayer, Member
Jesse Baker, Member
Karen Mosca, Member
Maureen King, Member
Nikki Caul, Secretary
Mr. Mackey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He stated that since Margaret Irwin, consultant from River Street Consulting firm, was unable to attend tonight’s meeting, the agenda item relating to Quality of Life will be postponed until the next meeting.
At the last meeting, David Haight, a representative from Farmland Trust, gave a presentation to the committee members where he offered many ideas and suggestions as to how the town’s comprehensive plan might help protect farmland.
September 09, 2011
Hug a Farmer - Family Farms Need You
Local News
dinerdialogues.com
You’ve joined a CSA (and have learned to prepare vegetables you’d never even heard of five years ago). You frequent the weekly Farmer’s Market, not just in your town, but in the surrounding towns. You know the local farms and brands and buy them whenever possible over commercial milk, cheese, eggs and other food products. What else can you do to keep local family farms vital and sustainable?
August 18, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey, Chairman
Jerry Baker, Member
Dave Strayer, Member
Tim Marshall, Member
Leila Jabour, River Street Consulting
Margaret Irwin, River Street Consulting
Nikki Caul, Secretary
Josh Mackey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The meeting began with a review of the June 13 and July 25 minutes.
Mr. Mackey reminded everyone that at the conclusion of the previous meeting, it was agreed to continue discussing Goal #3.
July 25, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey, Chairperson
Karen Mosca, Member
Jerry Baker, Member
Dave Strayer, Member
Tim Marshall, Member
Leila Jabour, River Street Consulting
Margaret Irwin, River Street Consulting
Nikki Caul, Secretary
Josh Mackey called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm and said the committee’s agenda consists of a discussion of Goal #3, Protect Land, Water and the Natural Environment. It will also consist of a short discussion on old business.
Mr. Mackey reminded everyone of the ground rules: raise your hand and wait until you are called upon before speaking and keep comments brief and to the point.
May 25, 2011
Smoke, Mirrors and Lack of Transparency - Insider Trading on the Town Board
Letters to the Editor
An Open Letter From Didi Barrett
Last week a letter from Town of Washington Supervisor Fussy Prisco was sent to me. It was not sent to my home in Millbrook, where I live full time, but to the apartment in NYC where my husband lives during the week. It said, “I appreciate your willingness to serve on the Town Council, and complete the term left vacant with the resignation of William Murphy. The Town Board had a very lively and spirited discussion, as we had very qualified people expressing their interest.
May 02, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Meeting
Town Comprehensive Plan
MM Notes
Present: Josh Mackey
Jerry Baker
Maureen King
Karen Mosca
Leila Jabour, River Street Consulting
Margaret Irwin, River Street Consulting
Josh Mackey called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Public Participation Rules: Josh explained that in order for the committee to effectively and efficiently perform the work that is before them, the committee has established rules for the public where they must: 1) raise their hand if they wish to speak, wait to be acknowledged and then identify themselves. 2) Not speak over one another so what is being said can be heard by all, and 3) not engage in personal attacks or arguments. This will provide the public ample opportunity to speak while allowing the meetings to proceed in a more orderly fashion, said Mackey.
April 22, 2011
Comprehensive Plan Committee Endorses Vision Statement - We Think
Town Comprehensive Plan
The role of new visioning statement in determining the goals for the comprehensive plan was the main topic of discussion at the April 4th comprehensive plan workshop.
Vision Statement Discussion Margaret Irwin of River Street Planning said, "As an advisor to the Committee I would see no reason to change a word of it."
Yet she submitted a fifteen page compilation of comments and recommendations, many of which were no longer relevant. For example, even though housing and commercial development in the town are not part of the new vision statement, they STILL continue to appear on Ms.