WAWARSING – The town board, like several other New York municipalities, recently passed a resolution supporting the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In doing so, they unanimously protested the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 (NY SAFE Act), which passed both houses of the state legislature on January 15, after which it was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

"As a lifetime gun owner, and after thirty-five years as a hunter safety instructor, I thought New York State was a little hasty" in passing the SAFE Act, Councilman Steve Bradley said.

Supervisor Scott Carlsen concurred, saying he believes any proposed change to the Second Amendment deserves public input and hearings.

The board also passed two more resolutions, one of which changes the name of the Sewer Reserve Account to the Kerhonkson Sewer District Short-Lived Asset Account. That resolution also requires that $7,163.35 be deposited to the newly-named account, and that an amount of $14,370.00, or more, will be deposited therein annually. The second resolution approves a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. on March 7 on a proposal to designate as a local landmark "the Vernooy Burying Ground (also known as the Reformed Dutch Church at Wawarsing Burying Ground, the Lefevre Cemetery and the Wawarsing Cemetery) located in the hamlet of Wawarsing." The Historical Preservation Commission is recommending that designation.

The town has to shell out more than $5,000 to cover emergency repairs to sewer lines within the town — all because of people flushing "disposable" wipes, Bradley said.

"'Disposable' does not mean 'flushable,' people," Bradley remarked, adding that he wanted that fact publicized. Sewer lines at Webster Avenue, 42nd Street and Green, and at the Kerhonkson Bridge and Minnewaska Trail all had to be pumped out because they were clogged with grease and those wipes.

Also on the subject of sewers, the board will pay Blauer Associates $24,000 for administrative services related to the Napanoch Sewer District improvements. The money comes out of a state Office of Community Renewal grant. Another $50,000 t0 $76,800 will come out of that grant to pay Brinnier & Larios for engineering services for the Napanoch sewer improvements.

The board voted to hire Stephen Yarabek of Hudson Pacific at a maximum of $4,000 for planning services regarding easements and trail linkage of the proposed rail trail through prison property. Councilman John Gavaris left the room before the vote and returned after the rest of the board already voted.

The board withdrew a vote on reappointing Councilman Dan Johnson's son, Daniel Johnson, to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The reappointment would have lengthened his term to Dec. 31, 2017.

The Town Clerk will advertise for a number of positions for this year's Ellenville Wawarsing Youth Commission Summer Program, after the board unanimously voted to post the positions. Later in the meeting, Gavaris proposed a motion to rehire staff members of the Youth Commission, and the board agreed.

Taxpayers will soon be able to charge their tax bills to their credit cards, after the Town Board voted to contract with a company called Power Pay to allow such payments. A surcharge, however, will be added for the convenience, Town Attorney William Collier noted.

Carlsen said construction on Walmart is proceeding, with officials hoping to keep the construction schedule on target for opening this year. He said neighbors have complained about noise and vibrations, some strong enough to rattle their windows, due to the construction. Carlsen said he spoke with the contractor, who answered that he would monitor vibrations at the site.