New Village Hall Project
A presentation by Glenn Gidaly, a representative for the village�s engineering firm Barton and Loguidice, showed that the new village hall project that his firm is overseeing has cost the village $845,936.

The original bid amounts submitted by DiLorenzo (general contractor), GH Mechanical, Stone Ridge Electric, and TJ Kempton totaled $468,990. The original estimate did not include architectural and engineering services that have totaled $229,700 to date.

In addition to the initial bids, the various contractors have submitted 24 �change orders� for building issues that, �could not have been anticipated.�

Some of these change orders include lights with emergency back-up and motion detection in both stairwell areas ($17,300) and upgrading the building�s fire alarm system ($20,100).

Micro-Enterprise Grant
The village board announced that it received a $242,000 �micro-enterprise� grant to assist local entrepreneurs with getting their businesses �off the ground.� The monies will be distributed through the village Local Development Corporation (LDC) and with amounts in the $5,000 to $10,000 range per applicant.

�These types of businesses are the kind that a small community can use to alleviate some of the unemployment we are facing,� said Mayor Jeff Kaplan. The board appointed Jason Wurtz as a part-time police officer at $13.00 per hour. Officer Wurtz also holds a part time position in the Town of New Paltz.

Rally Redux
Ivan Orisek, President of Rally New York, Ltd., attended the meeting to thank the board for its cooperation and to say that the race held during the first week of September was the organization�s most successful event.

Orisek then asked to submit a proposal that, if accepted, would allow Rally New York to perform its opening and closing ceremonies in Ellenville for at least one event each year over the next three years.

Trustee Theresa Hyatt shook her head �no� vigorously at the group�s request and Trustee Steve Krulick raised a series of concerns regarding the group�s claims of providing benefits to the area as he referred to the event as, �a bunch of boys playing with their toys.�

Building Code Enforcement Officer, Brian Schug, an admitted race fan, said that he would be very interested in seeing the race event return next year.

Mayor Kaplan explained that a possible scenario exists where four out of the five board members would currently serving could be gone after November so he suggested that the group wait till after this year�s election.

770 Development
Regarding the property at 256 Canal Street, the village sent the bill for filling the large hole to Levi Hecht. Schug reported that Hecht refused to accept the letter causing Schug to request that the village use its police force to serve Hecht with the bill.

Foundation Presentation
Nancy Taylor, a representative from the Rondout Valley Education Foundation, gave a presentation introducing her organization to the town board. The foundation is a not-for-profit organization with a 501C3 tax status that develops funding strategies to enhance learning opportunities within the Rondout Valley School District.

Since the foundation is a not directly attached to the school, it is eligible to accept donations from private individuals and corporate interests, funds that would be off-limits to the school district.

Clean-Up Complete
Harvey Tann, who owns property at 979 Ulster Heights Road, will be given a letter from the town�s building department stating that he has complied with all of the town�s demands to remedy a situation that continued, �to be a danger to the health, safety, appearance and welfare of the residents of the Town of Wawarsing.�

New Zoning
Tom Shepstone, of Shepstone Management, gave a presentation about revising and updating Wawarsing�s Zoning Ordinances. Copies of the zoning packet will be available in the town hall.

Rally Return?
Ivan Orisek, president of Rally New York Ltd., attended the town board meeting with fellow race organizer Rich Otis. Orisek wished to thank the residents of the Wawarsing and said that the general sentiment of the competitors was that this year�s event was, �the most successful event we have ever had.�

Orisek mentioned the �beautiful headquarters� at the Nevele Grand and added that the town�s roads were, �judged outstanding by drivers.�

In addition, Orisek commended the, �outstanding support from local rescue squads and police forces.�

Orisek then requested permission to submit a proposal for a contract with the Town of Wawarsing to allow Rally New York Ltd to hold at least one racing event each year for the next three years.

The town board said it would welcome the submission.

Grant Money Announcement
For the third year in a row Wawarsing has received $400,000 in funding from Governor�s Assocation of Small Cities. This year�s money will go towards the Napanoch Water District and its pump station at Mcbride and Continental. Pool Blues
The board declined to pay half of the $11,950 cost that Ellenville incurred from expanding the deck around the entire perimeter of the school pool.

Bugna Named EWYC Interim Coordinator
The board announced that Cynthia �Sam� Bugna, former owner of the Lock 31 Restaurant, will be taking over as interim director for the area�s Ellenville-Wawarsing Youth Commission.

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