Mayor’s Message June 2023
The Rhinebeck Memorial Day Parade serves as our unofficial kick-off to the summer season. Once again, this year’s parade drew many of us together to honor U.S military personnel who died serving their country. This annual tradition is organized by American Legion Post 429 with support from the Village, and this year a record number of you took part in the parade, in the events, or joined the crowds of people who lined our streets. It’s always a special day. The OFFICIAL start of summer this year is June 21st (10:58am to be nerdy).
Official or not, it's summer vacation time for many of our students! A big congratulations to all our high school and college graduates! We wish them the best as they start the next phase of their lives.
Our wonderful community turned out in force for this year’s “Taste of Rhinebeck” brought to us by the Chamber of Commerce. It was a huge hit, and the Chamber donated half the proceeds to the Village of Rhinebeck Autism Supportive Community Committee. A check for $13,244 was presented to Committee Chair Joe Phelan who expressed gratitude on behalf of us all:
“Partnerships like these help foster community inclusivity. This donation along with the grant from the Thomas Thompson Trust will be used to continue the work with the Village businesses, promoting awareness, education, training with equal access for all individuals with neurodiversities.”
It’s “grant season” again for us on the Village Board, and we are hard at work preparing our submissions for a new round of New York State grants. We are re-applying for the proposed upgrade to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the range of $3 Million to $5.5 Million. Since June of 2022, we have been working with Delaware Engineering on the scope and schedule for the project. The Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1984, and the sewer collection system needs upgrading. If our application is successful, construction will begin in 2025.
Speaking of construction, we will soon be ready to take bids for the Village of Rhinebeck accessibility improvement projects. Funded in part by both the Dutchess County Community Development Block Grant and the Municipal Investment Grant, this project will make accessibility improvements to sidewalks and the Village Hall/Fire Department Building. The areas surrounding Village Hall, including Center and East Market streets will be brought up to ADA accessibility compliance, along with the building itself. That means we will install new ADA compliant sidewalks, curb ramps, parking spaces, driveway aprons, and upgrade the entrance to the building, as we work to improve handicap accessibility throughout the Village.
We are also going to be taking bids on the new water main installation along Center Street, pending approval from the Dutchess County Department of Health. The project will replace 550 feet of water main, as well as customer lines, along with repaving the street to improve drainage.
The Village of Rhinebeck has installed a municipal bathroom in the southwest corner of the municipal lot for residents and visitors from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2023. The facility is ADA approved and accessible to all.
We ask all interested residents to join us for a public hearing during the Village Board meeting at 6pm on June 13th as we discuss a LOCAL LAW TO AMEND VILLAGE CODE CHAPTER 64: HISTORIC BUILDINGS PROTECTION” and CHAPTER 120 ARTICLE VIII: HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY. The purpose of this local law is to update the Village’s protection of historic buildings and neighborhoods in recognition of the expanded Rhinebeck Village Historic District. This change will reflect the 2021 decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior which expanded the historic district and governs demolition or modification of historic buildings. Chapter 120 Article VIII, which establishes the Historic District Overlay, will also be amended to reflect the revised Historic District boundaries and to make updates.
The Village Board is continuing to work on ways to lower our environmental footprint. New York State has begun mandating composting for larger communities and facilities, but, even without mandates, our Village is planning to stay on the cutting edge of good environmental policy. As most of you know, we were unable to reach consensus with the residents on our proposal to build a compost facility at the Village Highway garage located in the Town. Trustee Bertozzi says: “This is not the end of our compost journey. It's just time to regroup.” We will keep you posted.
Culture Connect is once again partnering with Bulkeley Middle School to have the students create a large-scale art project related to “Juneteenth” that will be displayed on Village Hall lawn from June 16th-20th.
It may seem just a bit early, but we are getting started on planning for the annual “Holiday Tree Lighting Event”. It’s a Village tradition to kick-off the holiday season with tree lightings, a parade and an event at the Rhinebeck Village Parking lot. Many people and organizations have expressed interest in getting involved in making this annual event even more special. Gail Saucier has volunteered to chair a committee to organize and work with community members, organizations and vendors. If interested please contact Gail at gsaucier@bhhshudsonvalley.com
Carol Urban has fulfilled her duties as chair and member of the Village Ethics Committee. We are thankful for her dedication for the last six years serving in this important role. Her replacement will be announced soon.
We have also kept open the alternate position to the planning board. If interested, please contact the Village Clerk Martina McClinton.
Kyle Eighmy is celebrating his one-year anniversary as our Superintendent of Public works. Congratulations Kyle ! We look forward to many more anniversaries for you in your continuing service to the Village.
Public notice: The Astor Pedestrian Bridge, located on Route 9 at Crystal Lake will be closed for some time as we work with insurance companies on plans to repair and restore it. We are sorry for this inconvenience.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or comments. You can reach me by phone 845-876-7015 ext 2 at Village Hall or via email to MayorBassett@Villgeofrhinebeckny.gov
Gary Bassett
Mayor Village of Rhinebeck