Watching Putnam Valley

Watching Putnam Valley

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Budget Deliberations Heat Up

Well, that didn't take long. Last Wednesday evening, Putnam Valley Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur released next year's tentative budget to her fellow board members and the public. By Friday, Bill Gouldman, the town's current legislator who is running against Jolicoeur in November, released a statement

Town Hall Updates

• Residents got their first look at the town's tentative budget for 2027 yesterday and it wasn't pretty. It calls for a 7.28% increase in taxes and that's after the town reduces the burden on taxpayers by taking $2.3 million out of its

October Events (curated)

October Events (curated)

Oct. 1st from 3pm to 7pm - Pop-up farm store at the Putnam Valley Grange, 128 Mill St. Oct. 3rd from noon until 4pm - "The Spirit of '76 in '26", a Putnam Valley Historical Society celebration in Town Park with entertainment, games, tavern-inspired food, and

Your Town Justice Candidates

It's almost uncanny. Two 58-year-old men who live just down the road from each other on West Shore Drive are running for Town Justice in Putnam Valley. Both cite their childhood summers on Lake Oscawana where both say their parents first met. Both eschew party politics

Progress in Abele Park

Progress in Abele Park

For what feels like an eternity, residents of the Abele Park district of Lake Oscawana have been watching two buildings essentially fall into the lake right next to their children's beach. They are more than just an eyesore. Residents worry that there could be asbestos, lead, black mold,

Misinformation

Careful observers of the August 19th Town Board meeting might have noticed something amiss. Board Member Christian Russo read aloud the monthly report he had been emailed by Legislator William Gouldman, as can be seen here, beginning at the 38:30 mark. But little of it made any sense. Russo

Your Legislative Candidates

This November, voters in most of Putnam Valley will have an opportunity to choose a new person to represent them in the county legislature. Their current legislator, William Gouldman, has served four, three-year terms and cannot run again. Two people with very different experiences are vying for that position:

Environmental Updates

• At last night's Commission of Lakes meeting, Town Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur said that John Tucci's firm, EverBlue Lakes, which was hired to improve water quality conditions at Lake Peekskill, is going out of business. Tucci installed ultrasonic sonar units on the lake to try to reduce

Bill Gouldman's Work Record

Bill Gouldman's Work Record

William Gouldman has been serving as the primary representative for Putnam Valley in the county's legislature since 2015, a part-time position. He also held several full-time jobs in the private sector during that period, as he was entitled to do. However, as an elected official he&

Town Hall August Update

Bruce Barber, the town's long-serving wetlands inspector and planning consultant, submitted his resignation today. He did not respond to a voicemail requesting more information. While Barber was out on medical leave this spring the town hired an interim wetlands inspector, Max Garfinkle, who has also been serving

Following The Money

One tried and true way to understand what is going on in an election season is to study the financing of candidates' campaigns, the money flowing in and out of their committees' accounts which they're required to reveal publicly. A review of campaign finances of all

Election Season is Heating Up

The signs are unmistakable. The local Republican Party, whose candidates lost their supervisor and town board positions last November by 23 and 31 votes respectively, are pulling out all the stops to move Putnam Valley back into the R column this November. With Congressman Mike Lawler battling headwinds stemming from

Public Transportation Proposed for Putnam Valley

In a welcome break from the flooding that has pummeled the town and caused Supervisor Alison Jolicoeur to declare a state of emergency, Putnam Valley residents got some good news today. A publicly supported shared-ride service that has been running on the eastern side of the county since last

Tompkins Corners Update

Sad news: There will be no more Farmers Markets at Tompkins Corners Cultural Center this summer. The organization has decided to take a pause while it evaluates future options in the face of health issues of one of the key organizers. As Linda Thornton, TCCC's managing director, put

Town Board Briefs

• EV chargers are coming to Putnam Valley! At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, the Town Board unanimously approved the purchase of two dual port Level 2 ChargePoint stations that will be installed at the Town Board campus. The cost of installation will mostly be covered by a grant, with a

Who Is Eileen Myers Really?

Who Is Eileen Myers Really?

To Putnam Valley residents, Eileen Myers is the person most associated with three homes on Lake Drive whose troubled septic systems have long plagued that Lake Peekskill neighborhood and the town, county and state regulators charged with enforcing their use. By all appearances, she is a frail, older wisp of

Fireworks: Love 'em or hate 'em

Fireworks: Love 'em or hate 'em

For some residents of Floradan Estates, July 4th and Town Day are days to dread rather than to look forward to. That's because they hate the smell, the smoke and the pollutants that descend on their neighborhood and its 98 homes after the fireworks are set off at

July News Briefs

• Campaign season has started! On Monday night the town's Conservative Party endorsed Republican William Gouldman for Town Supervisor rather than Democrat Alison Jolicoeur, although the organization does occasionally endorse Democrats such as Shawn Keeler, who is running for Highway Superintendent. In making his pitch, Gouldman told the caucus

Camp Combe at the Zoning Board

Camp Combe at the Zoning Board

It was a full house last night at Town Hall, when residents attended a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to learn more about Camp Combe's plans to expand its operations. Before opening the public comment period Board Chair William Maskiell went to great lengths to assure the audience

Camp Combe's Tax Problem

According to records at Putnam County's Department of Finance, the owner of Camp Combe is delinquent on the property taxes it owes the town, the school district and the county to the tune of $212,811.23. As a result, there are liens on that property. In theory,

Progress in Lake Peekskill!

The owners of the three homes at 62, 64 and 66 Lake Drive in Lake Peekskill signed an agreement today with the Putnam County Department of Health to remediate the ailing septic systems at those properties. Heath Gurinsky, representing Jemab Family Limited Partnership and its partner Eileen Myers, admittted to

Camp Combe, Again

Camp Combe, Again

Last year Putnam Valley faced the prospect that Camp Combe on Peekskill Hollow Road would become the site of Kingdom Faire, bringing with it hundreds of visitors, scores of vendors and even overnight camping. As word of that arrangement and questions about its legality grew, the idea was ultimately quashed.

School Election Results

Putnam Valley's school and library budgets for next year were both approved today and the school board trustee will be Jay Lee. Here are the votes that the school district posted Tuesday night: School district budget: 985 voted yes; 876 voted no. School board trustee: Jay Lee received

There's a New Assessor in Town

There's a New Assessor in Town

Building on her promise to make Town Hall more open and transparent, Putnam Valley's new supervisor, Alison Jolicoeur, has arranged a "Meet the Assessor" session this Saturday, May 16th, from 10am until noon. Why might you want to devote part of what looks like it will

The Town Acts

At a recent "Meet the Building Inspector" session with residents, Richard Quaglietta said he wasn't able to do anything to stop people from living in homes where there were serious septic issues because he hadn't received the necessary paperwork from Putnam County's