by Thaddeus Flint
Monday was the first day after the Bella Terra music festival in Stephentown, but as the Stephentown Town Board heard at their monthly meeting that night, not all residents are feeling all that festive in its wake.
Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt said that he had heard some complaints that the music continued until around 4:30 am Monday morning. He was under the impression that the festival was going to end around 10 pm Sunday night.
[private]“Some hangers on,” explained festival organizer Jeffrey Schneider, who hadn’t heard the noise as he was home in his bed in Pittsfield after being up the previous three nights. His security team did eventually find the rogue DJs responsible and shut them down “forcibly” just before sunrise.
That wasn’t acceptable to everyone. The acoustics of the area affect some more than others. “I find the event very intrusive,” said resident and Stephentown Historical Society President Marilyn Osgood, “so intrusive I have to leave my home.”
Vandals Steal Cemetery Sign
One of Osgood’s neighbors, Rick Costa, found not only the noise intrusive but the intruders intrusive as well. Some hooligans showed up on his property in the night and were at work ripping out some lighting before he scared them off. A little while later vandals made off with the Baptist Cemetery sign which they broke into three pieces. Costa rescued the sign and brought it to the Town Hall where it was picked up and is being repaired. He was furious Monday night and directed his anger at Neil Gardner, on whose property the festival takes place.
“I knew I was going to be angry,” said Costa, “that’s why I brought my wife with me.”
Gardner apologized not only to Costa but to all the Town’s residents who might have been inconvenienced over the weekend. “It broke my heart to see that sign,” said Gardner. “But we have to do something to bring people into this town. We are dying here.” Gardner went on to say that the delinquents were probably not even festival attendees – paying ones anyway. Some local youths always try to sneak into the festival. “The people he’s talking about,” said Gardner, “are townspeople – from here and New Lebanon.”
“It is irrelevant where they came from,” stated Costa, who added that he would probably be armed next year in preparation for Bella Terra. “I’m going to do anything I have to protect my property!” he said.
“There are always going to be some jerks, for god’s sake,” pointed out Dominic Carlino who also lives close to the festival. “I’m proud of this guy [Neil Gardner]. We need something to wake this town up.”
Rick McClave, of the Stephentown Fire Department EMS, said that he believed that there is a lead on those who were involved and that the Sheriff’s Department was currently investigating the matter. Overall he seemed satisfied with the event as a whole. With over two thousand attendees and only one actual incident on the site, McClave pointed out that the event was less a problem than some of the block dances held by the Town’s own fire department a few years back.
Schneider said they would work on addressing these problems when they start organizing next year’s festival. “We were upset also,” he said, “it upsets us equally.”
Eckhardt asked that the organizers meet with the Town earlier in 2013, at least by the second week of June, to discuss the details and make sure that residents’ concerns from this year are addressed. “Let’s work together to make it better,” said Eckhardt, who prefers a simpler approach rather than knee jerk reactions like enacting noise ordinances. “If you make a noise ordinance it applies to everyone,” he said. “Next thing you know you can’t mow your own lawn on a Sunday morning.”
Highway Disruption
Stephentown is moving from one disruption to the next. This week marks the beginning of what could be 60 days of construction on Route 22. The NYSDOT is doing bridge construction over East Creek, forcing the closure of Rt. 22 between Rt. 43 and Grange Hall Road. “It’s going to take a little bit of getting used to,” conceded Eckhardt. The bridge on Grange Hall Road just north of the Town Hall is now one lane with a traffic light. Stephentown is now effectively a two stop light town. Pizza Plus will be the business most affected by the construction and residents are reminded that they will be open for business during the construction. “We are just going to have to grin and bear it,” said Eckhardt, who added that he is having “nightmare visions” of what Labor Day weekend traffic could turn into.
The Town is considering purchasing a property at 17 Grange Hall Road. The original price was $95,000. It is currently listed at $65,000 and is owned, due to foreclosure, by Fannie Mae. According to Eckhardt there have been “no takers” even at that price, although the location, which is bordered by sand and gravel piles and the Town Garage might have something to do with that. For the Town though, it is ideal. The Fire Department could burn it down, and the 1.19 acre property could be converted into parking for the Library as well as create more sand and gravel pile space for the Town Garage. A grant, if obtained by the Library, could pay as much as 75% of the project. There are only two problems. First, the deadline before the property goes to auction is Wednesday and, second, the Town will need a decent amount of money to take care of the Stephentown elementary school property should it accept the School District’s offer of acquiring that property for $1. Craig Crist of the Dreyer Boyajian law firm is still reviewing the contract for the elementary school from the School District but has been delayed due to a trial. “I’m struggling with the money,” said Eckhardt. “We are doing so many things now.”
A resolution was introduced authorizing the Town to spend up to $25,500 on purchasing the property. However Stephentown will not be spending $25,500. This is an inflated resolution so the people at Fannie Mae who read newspapers will not know exactly what the real maximum amount is. The Board, with the exception of P.J. Roder who voted nay, were in favor, and the resolution passed. The Board will now talk to the real estate agent about getting a good deal for the vacant building. “Fannie Mae is the Federal Government,” pointed out Eckhardt. “We [taxpayers] own it. So we are buying it from ourselves.”
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