A Cutting Edge Idea
During the petitioners and correspondence portion of the meeting, Dr. Richard Craft spoke about a proposed knife museum he and other knife enthusiasts have been working on. He said that a museum remembering the area's legacy with the cutlery industry, including the local presence of the Imperial Schrade Corporation, ought to be established sooner rather than later to ensure that a major part of the region's history be preserved. Dr. Craft talked about his difficult search for a suitable home for the museum, as its proposed permanent home of the Hunt Memorial Building won't be ready for use for another five years because of necessary renovations. Armed with $5,000 in seed money that was donated by Wawarsing's Town Council, Dr. Craft asked the village board to consider renting them the as-yet unfinished fifth floor of the village's government building.

Mayor Jeff Kaplan expressed support for the idea and all of the benefits it would bring to the community, but said that renting the building's fifth floor to an organization with not-for-profit status would be unfair to taxpayers. He said that the board owes village residents to ensure that the government center be financially solvent, and that they would be remiss to deny the opportunity of renting to a taxpaying entity in the museum's favor. He asked the Building Department's Brian Shug about the floor's current status, and he responded that there were still a number of expensive renovations necessary before it could be rented.

A man named Richard Langston, author of the Collector's Guide to Switchblade Knives, spoke up to discuss the benefits that a museum would have on the community, and of the high interest collectors would have in a knife museum. He advised that the community seize the opportunity to capitalize on the high level of interest, and not let that interest fade over the five years it will take to get the Hunt building ready.

An Alarming Public Hearing
The village board held a brief public hearing regarding a new local law that will fine residents and business owners who have multiple false alarms in the village that require police attention. The board discussed possible registration costs, and asked attorney Phil Cataldi to revise the proposed law's language before they would vote on it.

Playtime
The Ellenville Playground Committee appeared before the board to ask for the use of Berme Road Park on May 26, when they plan to hold a fundraiser for their group. The board voted to approve the request.

New Kids On the Block
The village board met and approved the hiring of three new part-time police officers who were brought to the meeting by Chief Phil Mattracion. Mayor Kaplan asked the three if they would be able to commit to certain days and times when they would be available for duty, making reference to the police department's current difficulties in ensuring part-time officers' availability to cover shifts. The three said they would be able to commit, and the board approved their hiring, welcoming them to the community.

Pool Party
The village board discussed the current informal practice of the Ellenville Fire Department to fill up privately owned pools for residents living within the fire district — residences which may not be within the village's borders. The issue stems from the fact that the fire department does the service and asks for a donation, while the village does not see any revenue from the water which is brought to the pools. On the other hand, the benefit to the fire department is that it enables firefighters the opportunity to train on how to use the pumps and hoses without the pressure of a fire call, and it also provides the department with a donation they wouldn't otherwise have had. When Acting Ellenville Fire Chief George Budd told the board that most fill-ups don't exceed one truck's worth of water, the mayor asked that if fill-ups do exceed that amount, that the department inform the village and that arrangements be made in terms of compensation. Village Manager Elliott Auerbach warned that taking this kind of official stance sets up a difficult precedent, and village resident Diane Krulick expressed concern that her water bill indirectly subsidizes the water for pool owners who may not even live within the village.

Finance Fight
During Manager Auerbach's report, he expressed his unhappiness with the recent appearance of a Central Hudson bill collector in the village's offices, laying blame on Treasurer Linda Polkoski and her lack of attention to the bill's payment date. Polkoski said that the bill had arrived late, and as such, she wasn't aware that the threat of a power shutoff was imminent. Auerbach began to speak heatedly about what he perceived as Polkoski dragging her feet in implementing the oft-discussed computer program that will help keep track of village finances, and Polkoski countered that the group that will train her in the program's use has been unresponsive and slow in setting a training date. Eventually, Mayor Kaplan reigned in their discussion, and he asked that Polkoski make sure that when bills are going to be paid late, that the collectors be notified.

Odds and Ends
The village board authorized the Assistant Street Department Foreman permission to attend 2008 Highway School at Ithaca College at a cost not to exceed $250.

The board authorized expenditures to advance up to $10,000 for garbage cans, benches, etc., to be reimbursed from the Main Street Grant.

The board authorized the dedication ceremony for the Government Center Flag Pole, donated by the Cook Taylor Post American Legion, for 6 p.m. on Monday, June 9.

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