Clarkstown Town Board Schedules Public Hearing, Approves Fireworks Display

The Clarkstown Town Board voted on Tuesday to hold an August 21 public hearing on a proposed local law to amend a charter of the town code relating to flood damage prevention. The Federal Emergency Management Agency amended its map of special flood hazard areas.  Officials said the town map must reflect those changes.  The hearing will begin at 8 p.m. 

The board approved a request from Niles Davies Jr. to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with a fireworks display on Sunday, August 19 at Dr. Davies Farm in Congers. Prior to the town board’s vote, the police chief, emergency management coordinator and chief fire safety inspector reviewed Davies’ proposal.  He is required to comply with several conditions including an on-site inspection by the fire inspector prior to the display.

A resolution to amend the salary schedule for 2012 to eliminate compensation as of August 1 for the deputy town supervisor position held by Councilmember Shirley Lasker failed to pass. 

The town board moved the date of a traffic report concerning the closure of Samuel Road in Nanuet to its October workshop. On May 15, the board voted to close the road to through traffic in an effort to control speeding and hazardous driving through the Newport Drive subdivision off Convent Road.  At that time, it directed the police department to gather input from the town’s traffic consultant and report its pre- and post-road closure findings.

Clarkstown Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard said the day after the board vote; he prepared to block the road with a chain and two plow trucks. The barriers were not put into place until school ended for the year. The town board will determine if a breakaway barrier should be installed based on the findings.

The board awarded bids to: 

• Hudson Valley Wild Goose Chasers, Inc. of Nyack for $1,973 monthly for 12 months for Kings Park in Congers, Congers Memorial Park and Twin Ponds Park in Valley Cottage
• Victor Zugibe on Stony Point for up to $84,000 for stream channel stabilization for Nancy Drive in New City
• Marini Brothers Construction Co., Inc. of Hackensack, NJ for up to $61,000 for drainage improvements for Prides Crossing in New City
• WJL Equities Construction Co. of Eastchester for up to $179,400 for culvert replacement for Brookdale Court in West Nyack.

The board referred a proposed local law on multi-family development to the town planning board and the Rockland County commissioner of planning. The law would amend a section of the town’s zoning code to allow multi-family developments subject to conditions including a requirement that 10 percent of the units need to be set aside as affordable housing.