Millbrook finishes retaining wall, hires new cop
MILLBROOK — The Millbrook Village Board has already met for August, but prior to that it met on Wednesday, July 13, at 6 p.m. at the Millbrook firehouse, where meetings are held for more space. Mayor Tim Collopy invited Dutchess County Legislator Deirdre Houston (R-25) to address the audience as she often does.
Among other items Houston discussed included that many local groups have received county funding through its Learn, Play, Create Grants program, spearheaded by County Executive Marc Molinaro.
Other county money has been earmarked for veterans whose Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFWs) or American Legion groups were financially strained during the COVID pandemic, as their halls and facilities could not be rented out for private parties and other purposes, which is a major source of their funding. Houston said that’s why the county is offering grants up to $15,000 for such veteran groups at this time.
Millbrook Fire Chief Ted Bownas and fire department President Matt Rochfort reiterated their need for a new LED sign at the firehouse. The old sign malfunctions, they said, and must be replaced. (For more on this story, please read Page A3.)
Millbrook Police Sgt. Jared Witt announced a new hire with the Millbrook Police Department (MPD), as Officer Kelly Aluisio has accepted a position elsewhere. She will be missed, said Witt. New Officer Bill Ricci has been hired, primarily for the day shift but also for back-up coverage. Ricci is also employed as a full-time police officer in The Bronx. Witt said the MPD still intends to hire another officer to fill the gap left by Aluisio’s resignation.
Northern Dutchess Paramedics (NDP) provides 24/7 ambulance service to both the Village of Millbrook (VOM) and Town of Washington (TOW) through a contract with the VOM. Since the start of that contract in June 2019, NDP has rented space at the corner of Halcyon Road and Route 343 in Millbrook.
Due to the pending sale of the building and other issues, the private ambulance service moved last month to the corner of Little Rest Road and Route 44 in Mabbettsville. However, the TOW Planning Board has since stated that location is not zoned for such a use and is requiring NDP to relocate yet again. NDP is remaining in Mabbettsville until it can find a suitable location.
The mayor reported that the retaining wall project, which sealed 800 feet of the wall holding up the southern portion of Harts Village Road, is done. It cost the contracted price of $240,000 and was done by Con-Tech Construction Technology Inc. The project is being partially paid for with the total $144,000 payment from the federal American Rescue Plan funds that came out of the COVID pandemic and most of a $150,000 bond from the Bank of Millbrook.
The village also purchased a radar speed sign to monitor and remind drivers of local speed limits. While it records drivers’ speeds, it does not take photos of speeding vehicles. It does, however, go into record mode if it detects the device is being tampered with.
The sign is also portable, and can be moved from place to place. It has been spotted by driving motorists along Alden Place and on Harts Village Road.
Village Board meetings are held in person, aired on Channel 22 and posted online, at www.villageofmillbrookny.com.
