Government

A collection of 71 posts

Government

Town Updates

* At yesterday's work session, the Town Board issued the fee schedule for residents seeking permits for their short-term transient rentals. Homeowners will need to pay $500 for the application for the special use permit and another $500 to the Planning Board for its review. Once approved, the annual

Government

A Republican Primary!!

For the first time in at least forty years, there is a primary contest for who will be the Republican candidate for Putnam Valley Town Supervisor. Stephanie Waters, a longtime Putnam Valley resident, has thrown her hat in the ring. In the election on June 24th, she will face incumbent

Government

It's Almost Time to Vote Again

Four weeks from today Putnam Valley residents will determine the outcome of several important questions. How much money should the school district have in its budget next year? How much should it be able to spend on capital projects to improve the schools' facilities? And should the town library

Environment

What a Mess!

Thirty-eight years ago, Christie Kroll and Peter Kirchner bought a little red house on 39 acres directly across from Camp Combe on Peekskill Hollow Road. Although their attorney warned them that living across from a children’s camp could be challenging, they decided they were game. They became regular donors

Government

Regulating Outdoor Events?

What kind of regulation should be required for outdoor community events in Putnam Valley? That is the question raised by a new law proposed by the Town Board, which is holding a public hearing on the subject on April 16th at 6pm. At issue is a proposal unveiled at the

Government

New Vote on School Bond Issue

Putnam Valley's Board of Education agreed last night to put a new bond proposal up for consideration at the district's next voting opportunity on May 20th. In January, the board's $14.2 million proposal to support capital improvements at the school district's

Government

Town Updates

Last November, Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi announced that to make Putnam Valley more business friendly, the board was creating a Neighborhood Business Committee. In January, after receiving eight applications for the committee's seven seats, the Town Board appointed five residents and allocated the remaining two spots to Town

Government

County Legislators Turn On Each Other

Four of Putnam County's nine legislators have joined together to publish a scathing critique of the practices and culture currently on display in the Putnam County legislature. The three Republicans and one Democrat accuse their colleagues of engaging in "a pattern of misconduct and self-interest". In

Government

A Look Back - And Ahead

When asked to summarize how this year went for her, Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. After a long pause and obvious consternation, she finally exhaled, saying "2024 was a whirlwind." It certainly started off badly, with the death on January 15th of

Government

How Did Putnam Valley Vote?

You probably think you know already, but the batch of certified election data released last week by the Putnam County Board of Elections reveals some interesting tidbits. Let's start with the trivia item that always seems to surprise people: There continue to be more registered Democrats in Putnam

Government

Making PV More Business Friendly

At this month's Town Board meeting, Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi announced a new initiative designed to encourage more business activity in Putnam Valley. The Town Board proposed a resolution to create a "Neighborhood Business Committee" that would advise on the "creation, enhancement, attraction and retention, marketing

Government

Planning Your Vote

While the national political contest has been omnipresent for at least two years, it's time for Putnam Valley voters to focus on some key local elections we are being asked to decide in November. This week, the Putnam County Board of Elections released its sample ballot, which you

Environment

Seeking Albany's Help

On September 23rd, Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi took an important step forward seeking funding support from New York State to help lakeside homeowners defray the cost of replacing their aging septic systems. Supervisor Annabi invited NY State Senator Rob Rolison and NY Assemblyman Matt Slater to join in conversation at

Government

Things are finally heating up!

And no, that isn't a reference to the weather. Putnam Valley sits in one of the most hotly contested Congressional seats in the country. Yet, for the last few months, you wouldn't have known it. But with Democrats energized by their likely new presidential nominee and

Government

Commemorating the Town's Black Cemetery

Putnam Valley residents who were not able to attend the unveiling on Juneteenth of a historic marker for the Larksburg Cemetery missed something special. Deputy County Historian Sallie Sypher gave a detailed account of the history of Sumner Lark, a civil rights lawyer who established the cemetery in the 1920s

Government

New Public Hearing Scheduled

At Wednesday's work session, Town Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi announced that she would be adding a third public hearing to the agenda for the June 19th Town Board meeting. This new hearing will focus on the board's desire to impose a 12-month moratorium on applications for lithium

Government

June Town Hall Updates

Two public hearings are scheduled to take place at the next Town Board meeting, which falls on Juneteenth, a federal holiday. Earlier that day, there will be an unveiling of a marker commemorating the town's historic all-Black cemetery. The first public hearing relates to a proposal to place

Government

School District Election Results

The people have spoken, or about 1,358 of them, to be exact, out of the 7,600 who were eligible to vote in today's school district election. The school budget passed, with 750 voting in favor of the administration's proposal and 608 voting against it.

Government

Your School Board Candidates

On May 21st, the Putnam Valley Central School District (PVCSD) will hold an election for two trustees to the board that governs the district's three schools. Four people are competing for those two seats: Barbara Parmly, Maranda Zocchi, Alexandra (Sasha) Hayes, and Zayd Eljamal. The district's

Government

Voter Apathy Puts PV School Budget at Risk

An important decision is looming for many residents of Putnam Valley. Will they choose to vote in an important upcoming election that could have major implications for the state of their community or will they stay home? On May 21st, the town's school district will hold an election

Government

Town Hall News

At the March 20th Town Board meeting, Supervisor Jacqueline Annabi scheduled a public hearing for 6pm on April 17th to review a proposed 2% occupancy tax on rooms rented for less than 30 days. The full text of the proposal can be found on pages 5-15 by clicking this link.

Government

Political Dispatches

January has been a relatively quiet month in Putnam Valley, but here are a few notable developments worth sharing: **On January 15th, the town suffered the devastating loss of Town Clerk Kimberly McKeown. Although she had only been elected to that position in November, after running unopposed, McKeown had worked

Government

Grants Galore!

When Jacqueline Annabi took over as Town Supervisor in January 2022, she made it clear she wanted to make securing grants for the town a signature element of her administration. With Putnam Valley facing a daunting array of critical infrastructure needs, this was key to her strategy to limit the

Government

It's a done deal!

At its meeting on November 15th, the Town Board voted unanimously to adopt its proposed regulation of short-term rentals. The board's vote took place following five public hearings since July during which numerous residents weighed in both for and against. Now that this new regulation has been adopted,

Government

Morning-after Election Insights

In the cold light of day, it's clear that candidates who were able to earn the endorsement of the town's Conservative Party had a big advantage over their opponents in yesterday's election. Highway Superintendent Shawn Keeler received 528 votes on the Conservative line, nearly