4 March Update on questions regarding latest utility billing March 4, 2020 By Patrick Mangan General 0 There is an over abundance of questions regarding high utility bills for this quarter. As we transition with this new billing system AND into the new meters, some factors come in to play that may have caused a resident to have a high bill. One thing to note before reviewing the factors is that the “Service to and from” dates are a generic billing period and do not represent the true reading cycle for most. Once all the meters in town have been changed to the new technology, there will be a town wide reading/billing period of 3 months then the billing system will be able to import all meter reads at once at the time of applying charges. For a number of years, each quarter the town has had unbilled water in the amount of 35%-40% of the treated water because of failing and inaccurate meters. Those with high bills are mainly due to the meter change outs that were done between 11/10/19 and 2/7/20: • A longer reading cycle. The old meter read was combined with the new meter read which was obtained on 2/27/20 to move into the consistent 3 month reading schedule. This caused some reading period to be longer than 3 months, some up to 5 months which would have the potential to double your average bill. • Many of the readings obtained from the “old” meters were done so after many years of customer estimates. If it turned out the billing was UNDER estimating, charges for unbilled water will cause higher bills. If the account was OVER estimated, it resulted in a credit applied. • The new meters are extremely accurate as opposed to the meters that are being replaced. Many of the old meters have not been accounting for all the water going through them. Please feel free to contact the water billing department with questions regarding your bill at 845-563-4625. Related Articles Notice Public Hearing: Comprehensive Master Plan Update March 10, 2021 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR LOCAL LAW AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 300 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR ENTITLED “ZONING” AND AMENDMENT OF ZONING MAP IN FURTHERANCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TOWN’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Town Board of the Town of New Windsor will hold a public hearing at a Special Town Board Meeting on the 10th day of March, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in Town Hall, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York, to consider a Local Law entitled “A Local Law Amending Chapter 300 of the Code of the Town of New Windsor entitled “Zoning” and to Amend the Zoning Map in Furtherance of the Implementation of the Town’s Comprehensive Plan Update.” Said proposed Local Law furthers recommendations made in the Town’s draft Comprehensive Plan Update, includes modifications to its AP, CL-2, PI and R-1 bulk tables, and anticipates rezoning the following parcels within the Town of New Windsor: Town tax map parcels identified as 56-1-22.32 and 56-1-20 shall be rezoned so they are fully within the R-1 zone; Town tax map parcels 26-1-1.1, 26-1-1.2, 40-2-8 and 44-1-14 shall be rezoned from R-5 to R-4; Tax map parcels 29-1-20.31, 29-1-20.32, 29-1-91.22, 29-1-92.22, 29-1-93, 31-3-1, 31-3-2, 31-3-3, 31-3-4.2, 31-3-7, 31-3-8, 31-3-9, 31-3-10, 31-4-1, 31-4-2, 31-4-3, 31-4-4, 31-4-5, 31-4-6, 31-4-7, 31-4-8, 31-4-9, 31-4-10, 31-4-11, 31-4-12, 31-4-13 and 31-4-14 shall be rezoned from OLI to R-1 Town tax map parcels 4-1-31.22 and 4-1-26.2 shall be rezoned from R-5 to R-4; Town tax map parcels 100-1-1, 100-1-2, 100-1-3, 100-1-4, 100-1-5, 100-1-6, 100-1-7, 100-1-32, 100-1-33, 100-1-34, 100-1-35, 100-1-36, 100-1-37, 100-1-38, 100-1-39, 100-1-40, 100-1-41, 100-1-42, 100-1-43, 100-1-44, 100-1-45, 100-1-46, 100-1-47, 100-1-48, 100-1-49, 100-1-50, 100-1-51, 100-1-52, 100-1-53, 100-1-54, 100-1-55, 100-1-56, 100-1-57, 100-1-58, 100-1-59, 100-1-60, 100-1-61, 100-1-62, 100-1-63, 100-1-64, 100-1-65, 100-1-66, 100-1-90, 100-1-92, 100-1-93, 100-1-94 and 100-1-96.2 shall be rezoned to CL-2; and Town tax parcel 95-1-21 shall be rezoned from R-3 to Parks. The hearing will be held on March 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., however, due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 and in accord with Executive Orders issued by the Governor of the State of New York, the Town intends to conduct this hearing remotely, with board members participating via videoconferencing technology from various locations. Please check the Town’s website and Facebook page prior to the Public Hearing for updates, which may be necessary due to a lifting of the Governor’s Executive Orders. If conducted remotely, the public will be able to view the hearing on the Town’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NewWindsorNY/) or listen by telephone. Information on how to listen by telephone will be posted before the meeting on the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/New-Windsor-Connect/Online-Meetings (a link to this page can also be found on the top right hand side of the Town’s homepage at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/). Every effort will also be made to give the public the opportunity to participate in the hearing via videoconference. Instructions on how to participate will be posted before the hearing on the Town’s Facebook page and on the Town’s website, at the web address listed above. Any member of the public that wishes to be heard may email questions or comments, before or during the hearing, to questions@newwindsor-ny.gov. Further comments will also be accepted via this email address for up to 10 days after the close of the March 10, 2021 public hearing. A copy of the proposed Local Law is available at the Town of New Windsor Town Clerk’s Office, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, NY and can be found on the homepage of the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/ BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR KELLY ALLEGRA, TOWN CLERK 30 Day Public Notice Review and Comment Update Hazard Mitigation Plan TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR TOWN BOARD NOTICE OF THIRTY (30) DAY PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN UPDATE TO TOWN-WIDE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN The Town of New Windsor is preparing an update of their previously adopted 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update to the Plan allows the Town to remain eligible for future Federal and New York State mitigation and disaster funding. Public notice is hereby given that the Town of New Windsor Town Board is soliciting public review and comment on its Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan for a period of thirty (30) days commencing on January 15, 2021 and continuing through February 15, 2021. The Town Board has therefore directed the Town Clerk to post a complete copy of the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan on the Town of New Windsor’s website at: www.newwindsor-ny.gov for public review and comment. In addition, a complete copy of the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan is on file and available for inspection in the Town Clerk’s Office located at the Town of New Windsor Town Hall, 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York 12553. Current Town Hall business hours are, by appointment only, Monday through Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Town of New Windsor Town Board is holding a public hearing on the draft Plan at its March 3, 2021 Town Board Meeting at 555 Union Avenue, New Windsor, New York 12553, at 7:00 p.m. Due to public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19 and in accordance with Executive Orders issued by the Governor of the State of New York, the Town intends to conduct this hearing remotely. Please check the Town’s website and Facebook page prior to the Public Hearing for updates, which may be necessary due to a lifting of the Governor’s Executive Order. If conducted remotely, the public can view the hearing on the Town’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NewWindsorNY/) or listen by telephone. Information on how to listen by telephone will be posted before the meeting on the Town’s website at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/New-Windsor-Connect/Online-Meetings (a link to this page can also be found on the top right hand side of the Town’s homepage at http://newwindsor-ny.gov/). Any member of the public that wants to be heard regarding the Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan may email questions or comments, before or during the hearing, to hmpc@newwindsor-ny.gov. Every effort will also be made to give the public the opportunity to participate in the hearing via videoconference. Instructions on how to participate will be posted before the hearing on the Town’s Facebook page and on the Town’s website, at the web address listed above. The Town Board and the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee are inviting input on the Plan from surrounding municipalities and all interested parties. All persons wishing to be heard will be given the opportunity to speak at the public hearing, in accordance with above protocols, or may submit written comments to: hmpc@newwindsor-ny.gov on or before March 3, 2021. Updated hours at local supermarkets in New Windsor Updated information on our three local supermarkets regarding hours, and special shopping times: Shop Rite, New Windsor: 845-863-1051 Seniors Only: 6am-7am Store Hours: 7am-10pm Deli hours: 7am-7pm Price Chopper, New Windsor: 845-565-8637 Seniors over 60 & people with disabilities: 6am-7am Store Hours 7am-10pm Hannaford, New Windsor: 845-562-5169 Store Hours: 7am-11pm Town Court Update- May 28th Court Updated Status: May 28, 2020 The Town of New Windsor Court Room is still closed until further notice for in-person trials, hearings, and pre-trial conferences, including Vehicle and Traffic Offenses, small claims, and summary proceedings. If you have received a suspension notice from DMV with an effective suspension date during the time of the courts closure, those suspensions have either been lifted or removed. If you are concerned about an unpaid fine please know the court will NOT be enforcing any penalties to unpaid fines during the courts closure. We will be extending payments a minimum of 30 days from the courts re-opening. ALL court matters have administratively been adjourned until further notice: **If you had a court date during the courts closure, or have an upcoming court date while the court remains closed, we will be sending each person a notice with a new court date once we get the directives that the courts can re-open. *** UPDATE: The Court Lobby will be open Monday through Friday 11 AM – 3 PM to file new cases, answering Vehicle and Traffic Tickets ( initial plea to the summons; providing documentation that insurance and/or registration was in effect when issued the VTL Summons; vehicle defect issues have been corrected and paying fines. We thank you for your cooperation in the effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to the others in the community. Town Court Update - October 15th Court Updated Status: October 15, 2020 *** UPDATE: The Court Lobby will be open Monday through Friday 11 AM – 3 PM to file new cases, answering Vehicle and Traffic Tickets, which include: initial plea to the summons; providing documentation that insurance and/or registration was in effect when issued the VTL Summons; vehicle defect issues have been corrected and paying fines, along with any court filings. When visiting the court lobby 11 AM- 3 PM, you must enter through the front entrance of Town Hall. All court appearances 3 PM or later must enter through the side Courtroom entrance. The Town of New Windsor Court Room is currently limiting in-person appearances for criminal arraignments, hearings and trials, small claim matters, Town Code violations, vehicle and traffic and civil proceedings. We thank you for your cooperation in the effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to the others in the community. Message from Supervisor Meyers Regarding Town Finances From Supervisor Meyers: I want to give a quick synopsis of where the Town of New Windsor is heading next year as it relates to the town’s finances/taxes. The town, as is the case with many businesses and residents, is not in great financial condition. The town comptroller has cautioned me a number of times regarding his concerns as it relates to the town’s fiscal condition going forward next year. Two huge issues/problems facing the town are the economy and our union contracts with our unionized employees. These contracts were negotiated a couple of years ago during different economic times. An attempt was made to seek some concessions from the PBA and the CSEA - to no avail as of this time. Many of our businesses and residents are struggling (nationally 25% of businesses have gone out of business and are not coming back). I have been told many times recently by owners and residents: “I don’t know how I am going to pay my taxes.” We cannot continue going forward as if nothing is wrong. I will update our taxpayers over the coming weeks as to what steps I am going to propose to the Town Board to address this situation. To me, raising taxes is not an option. Comments are closed.