Kariann Pisano and Adrienne Holden came before the Lloyd Town Board last week to discuss Project Hope.

The organization’s literature states they are a “community outreach program to assist those whose lives were impacted by Hurricane Irene. Staff members are available to provide free crisis counseling, educational sessions to organizations and referrals to appropriate resources.”

The services of Project Hope are available to individuals, families, community groups, business and service organizations and are funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA].

Pisano said they have been going door to door, checking on people who have been seriously impacted by last year’s storms.

“We help people find the resources that they need and we also listen and talk to people about their experiences,” she said.

Pisano said they have already visited Reservoir Road and Brecia Boulevard – an area that was hit “pretty hard by the storms.” Holden said their goal is to make people aware that besides FEMA assistance, there are additional grant opportunities available. She said they have been to school districts talking about disaster preparedness programs on “what is a disaster and how can you support your community and be more aware that these things actually happen.”

Holden said they point out that while a disaster can bypass one family and their home, it may seriously impact their neighbor.

Pisano said additional information can be obtained by calling (845) 336-4747 ext. 150.

Highland Landing Park
Matt Smith, who is project manager at the Highland Landing Park, told the Town Board that he is working with Ray Jurkowski, of Morris Associates, to compile the bid packages on the work that is needed for the bulkhead, the dock and the boat launch ramp. Once this is done and the bids are sent out, there will be more time to attend to other grants opportunities. Smith thanked Jurkowski who is donating his time to compile the bid packages.

Smith said landscaping and parking lot work is on hold until after the bulkhead work is completed because heavy duty machinery, such as cranes and trucks, would damage any new work while trying to reach the riverfront.

URGENT memo approved
The board unanimously approved a Memo of Understanding between the Town of Lloyd and the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team [URGENT] and will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2012.

Presently, Lloyd has one part-time officer who serves on the URGENT task force team.

Ulster County Sheriff Frank Faluotico, who attended the board meeting, said that the Town of Lloyd receives money from the sale of seized assets at the state and federal levels that not only offsets their officers’ service but funds the entire URGENT program. He cited a recent case of a seizure of $278,000 “from one unhappy drug dealer” that will be used to pay for undercover vehicles for the agents, with some being sent to the towns’ police agencies to cover expenses for police supplies, overtime reimbursement and equipment for narcotics investigations.

Faluotico said the amounts allotted to each of the towns vary because an officer in one town may be more active than one in another town. He said he expects Lloyd’s share will be a little more because their officer is very active in the program, in part due to Lloyd’s crossroads location between Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie and the NYS Thruway.

Supervisor Paul Hansut said he has also asked for shared services assistance from Faluotico “as far as training for Law Enforcement here in Highland.”

Faluotico said the Ulster County Sheriff’s office will also continue “with the data in your cars [and] providing the equipment and the services for that at no cost to the town.”

“They’re here and they’re doing a lot of work,” Hansut said. “The officer is very active and as we get complaints from the community, I call up there [Kingston] and pass it on. I feel very comfortable working with the Sheriff’s Department. It’s a great bunch of guys up there.”

Local Zoning Law tabled
The board tabled local law M of 2011 that is intended to change the zoning for three properties on Salk Drive and one on Meyer Drive from Local Business [LB] to General Business [GB]; 12 parcels in the area of Chapel Hill, Route 9W and Mack’s Lane, listed as LB, were to change to Residential quarter-acre but instead are revised to Residential half-acre; two parcels are to go from LB to Residential one-acre in the Chapel Hill and Vineyard Avenue area and one parcel along Havilland Avenue is designated to change from Light Industrial [LI] to General Business.

Hansut said the Town Board is holding off on these changes since there were many questions raised at a previous public hearing. The board will be bringing this matter before the next public tri-board meeting of the Town, Planning and Zoning Boards that is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 23. Hansut said the board is taking this action “in order to address this in a manner that we feel is going to move the town forward … We want to make sure that everybody’s concerns are heard before we move on this.” Hansut said he is hopeful this law can be thoroughly reviewed and passed in 2012.

Election costs rise
Hansut said that he was informed that the town costs for elections in 2012 may reach $50,000, however the town has only budgeted $27,000. He said 2012 will be a busy election year with a special election on March 20 for the Assembly seat that is vacant due to the passing of Tom Kirwan; a presidential Primary in April; a Federal primary for congressman and NYS primaries for the Assembly and Senate because of this year’s redistricting; and the general election in November.

“We have nothing to say [about it],” he said. “Now you can feel and wrap your arms around those unfunded mandates that everyone talks about.”

Hansut said the Ulster County Board of Elections suggested that each town designate one central voting location as a way to save money – “So that’s something we’ll have to look at.” Presently, Lloyd’s seven districts vote in three locations – at the firehouse, town hall and the high school.

Court Officer hired
The Town Board passed a resolution to reappoint Lawrence Fuhrman as Court Officer for the Town of Lloyd Justice Court at a salary of $16.50 per hour at the recommendation of Town Justices Eugene Rizzo and Terry Elia.

By MARK REYNOLDS
mreynolds@tcnewspapers.com