MAMAKATING – The Town Board of Mamakating saw two presenters propose projects before the board in their Work Session during their regular meeting on February 6.

The first of the presenters was Eleanor Peck, Program Manager for Mid-Hudson Clean Energy Communities, who spoke to the town about the Clean-Energy Community designation.

She said that this is a designation from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to show that the town is participating in programs.

She talked of the Hudson Valley Regional Council, of which she works for. She said she works under areas such as Economic Development and Water Quality. Peck said that the community is welcome to reach out to them regarding these topics and more.

Regarding the Clean Energy Communities program, Peck stated that there are almost 900 communities statewide participating in the program.

According to Peck, this program is designed to help lower utility bills, provide funding for clean energy projects and to start opening jobs.

In her presentation, she displayed a chart which shows ‘ranks’ in the program and participation in the program. Peck explained that points are earned for each action and destination levels are reached.

It was clarified that more information on the actions that can be taking and the points that would be awarded can be found on the NYSERDA website (www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities). 

According to their website, the Town of Mamakating currently accrued 200 points and completed the Energy Code Enforcement Training - Leadership Round.

Real Term Energy

Steve Harriman, Senior Director of Business Development at Real Term Energy, also presented before the board. Harriman had previously spoke in July of 2022 about replacing the current street lamps in the area with LED ones.

Harriman told the board that the town would buy the streetlights from Orange and Rockland and his company would convert those lights to LED technology.

Regarding the last time the proposal was presented, the concern was recalled in how this would affect cellular service for WiFi. When asked if anything has changed, Harriman stated that a company would come out and do a test on whether the cell signal is good enough. If it is sufficient, they would give advice if Smart Controls would be a good idea.

Harriman emphasized that implementing LED Lights with Smart Plugs would be both cost and energy-saving.

“Think of it this way: if you buy your streetlights from Orange and Rockland, [for] over 7 years, the first year you would get nothing at all,” Harriman explained. “You’d be paying the same as you are paying now. The second year you would be ahead by over $5,000.” 

“Over the seven-year term, you be ahead by almost $44,000 because the energy savings are that considerable,” she said.

Budget Modifications

Additionally, the Mamakating Town Board reallocated money to fund various projects and factors within the town. The projects seeing a bump in funding includes:

• Trooper Barracks Addition

• Part-time Dog Control Officer

• Parks (for the D&H Canal Project)

• Youth activities

• Buildings and grounds

• APPA building renovations

Public Comment

Resident Chris Leser spoke before the board about an invitation on a newspaper clipping that invites the reader to a Public Information Session.

According to Leser, this he attended discussed plans for Route 17 between exit 113 and all the way to the Thruway.

Leser used this meeting as an example for why he was ‘livid’ over the concept behind Public Information Sessions. 

He stressed that there are talks of what should be cut, what should be scrapped, what should be added, as an example. Leser said he has never seen ‘such undemocratic stuff’ in his life.

“I was here before the quickway was here, I don’t see the need for it,” said Leser.

“We have no say in a damn thing. This town here has pages and books of things we can’t do. I’d like to see something we can do without paying for it.”

Town Supervisor Michael Robbins said that due to the nature of public comment, the Town does not have any response on Leser’s comments at this time.