Mayor’s Message for May 2021
Our Village is bustling with visitors again, but we are still facing the reality that we are not “there” yet in terms of the percentage of people who are vaccinated. We must continue to protect our most vulnerable community members with the mask requirement for the downtown section of the Village. Our older population remains understandably nervous about COVID-19, so for the sake of the community and your neighbors, so please keep the masks on when you are downtown, whether or not you are vaccinated. The CDC guidance allows municipalities to make decisions about mask mandates, and we must focus on our most vulnerable populations.
In order to achieve herd immunity, we would need 75 to 85 percent of the population to be vaccinated. But, according to a recent poll from the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, one in four adults are planning to refuse the vaccine. That would leave us far short of the threshold. We are urging everyone to take advantage of the growing number of opportunities to get vaccinated. That is how we will reach the level where we can relax the mask requirements downtown, as well as other safety measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus.
For further information on the CDC guidelines: Choosing Safer Activities
We have submitted our outdoor dining plan to the New York State Department of Transportation. We were hoping for fast approval, but they asked for two weeks to review the plan. We continue to work with the DOT on any concerns to sort out the best possible plan -- with the safety of pedestrians and diners at the top of the list. Hopefully, this will result in an approved permit soon. In addition we continue to work with the county and have authorized the purchase of (14), “Jersey barriers” on the condition the plan is approved by DOT. We continue to ask for your patience as we work through the details for the outdoor dining plans. Please see the public read-outs on the Outdoor Dining Task Force webpage where residents and businesses weighed in their priorities.
The Village is legally required to adopt a budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1st, following a public hearing on April 13th. The Village is in strong financial shape. The 2021-2022 budget has decreased the tax rate to $3.15/thousand of assessment and is below the 1.31% tax cap. Meanwhile, we have continued our investments in paving roads, improving our water infrastructure, and replacing old vehicles. We have increased police coverage during peak times and added diversity training for all employees. We will continue our commitment to pursuing grants to pay for infrastructure improvements, historical preservation, and environmental improvements.
While we are on the topic of budgets, a major component of the budget is the state funding we receive for infrastructure improvements. When the 2021-22 budget was adopted we were happy to learn that the amount of the state funding was going to remain flat instead of being cut. I am now even happier to say that we will receive additional state aid for infrastructure work on our roads. The three state programs critical to providing money for local infrastructure work are the state’s Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS), which will provide us with an additional $15,316 this year(after no increases for a decade). The states PAVE-NY program will provide an additional $6,263. Additionally the state’s Extreme Winter Recovery Fund program granted us $5,263. The total increase of $26,941 will be put towards additional road improvements. Deputy Mayor Ric Lewit is developing plans for the coming year.
The Village of Rhinebeck has requested the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) assess the feasibility of implementing a composting program in the village. First, the study will establish a baseline so we know where we are in regards to food waste and community understanding. Then, various options for food waste collection including curbside waste pickup, drop off locations, or private hauling will be evaluated. They will also be asking all stakeholders for input on each option. We should have the report in five months. The total estimated cost is $22,678. A grant to RIT from the Environmental Protection Fund administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has provided full funding for this project.
Another Village focused study is getting underway on our Urban Forest and Sidewalks. BARD CEP Professor Monique Segarra will lead the study with her graduate students. They will be looking at the value our urban forest brings the Village, how it can flourish, and also the current financial burden on individual property owners, exploring different finance and policy options. Meg Crawford, Chair of the Village Tree Commission, plus at least one Village Trustee will be part of the discussions. Monique is not promising the issue will be solved, but the input of bright young minds will be very useful to us. Please visit our Climate Smart website for additional information: Climate Smart Rhinebeck
The Highway Department is already hard at work sprucing up Village Parks including Crystal Lake, Mini-Park, and Rockefeller Park. They recently added dog waste containers. While the parks still remain a “Carry-in, Carry Out” for garbage please refrain from using the dog waste containers for your human waste.
I am happy to report the following events have been approved pending no changes from the CDC, State or County Government.
- Distinguished Gentleman's Motorcycle Ride May 23rd.
- Memorial Day Parade on May 31st
- Porchfest Sept 25th.
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@VillageofRhinebeckny.gov
Gary Bassett
Mayor, Village of Rhinebeck