Town Board plans for new, permanent courts
It’s a done deal: Cornwall will spend $22,875 to install new pickleball courts in Riverlight Park. They’ll use space previously occupied by one of two basketball courts, and probably be done in early June, Supervisor Josh Wojehowski said.
The Town Board awarded three bids on May 16 for the work to be done. A+ Line Striping will lay down the acrylic surface and paint the lines; John Falvella Fencing will fence in the courts; and RPC Electric will upgrade the lighting in that area. That amount, coupled with heavy duty portable nets purchased by the Recreation Department means that in another couple of weeks, the community’s pickleball players will have their own, regulation, place to play pickleball!
The issue has been talked about at Town Board meetings for nearly a year; when the work was approved last week there was a cheer from the audience. Included with the documents for the meeting were letters from Sassan Safay, David Leach, Sheila Reed, Buffy Heldt, Jackie Gaillard, Rob Kirkpatrick and Jay Zayatz urging the installation of the courts.
Debate through the past year had revolved around replacing a basketball court with designated pickleball space, or converting part of the tennis courts into pickleball courts. Temporarily, on something of a trial basis, the tennis courts had been used by pickleball players.
The vote was unanimous to spend the money for the pickleball work, but Councilmember Virginia Scott did ask that a bit of work also be done on the remaining basketball court, noting the backboard shakes when hit by a ball. Wojehowski said that would absolutely be addressed by the town’s Highway Department.
The May 16 meeting of the board was a busy one.
Wojehowski read a letter from Highway Superintendent Tom Gschwind, noting that micro-paving will take place on the following roads in the weeks ahead: Maple St., Ferguson Rd., Secor Lane, Rose Hill Park, Perry Rd., Peter Scott Dr., Lee Rd., Murray Rd., Isro Dr., Halvorsen Rd., Currie Rd., Grand St., Walnut St., Hickory St., Oak St., Cantebury Ave., Poplar St., Laurel Ave., Willow Ave. extension, and Browns Lane. The overall cost of the project is $150,604.
Also:
— In a public hearing on allowing police officers to work for other departments, there was no public comment. The hearing was left open and will resume at the board’s June 13 meeting, where the board is expected to act on it. The move was recommended by Chief Joe Gebert.
— In a public hearing regarding a 9 Tamara Lane property violation, there was again no comment, and, during the regular business portion of the meeting the board authorized clean-up work to be done by a private contractor with the property owner being billed.
— The board agreed to spend $10,000 to hire appraiser Kevin Schick to evaluate/appraise the New York Military Academy grounds.
— The purchase of two new wing trucks for the Highway Department was approved at a cost of $275,322.36 each. Gschwind said in a letter the town could have them in time for the winter 2023-24 season.
— Gschwind was also given permission for town vehicles to participate in a June 10 Touch-A-Truck event at Highland Engine.
— The resignation of Eileen Hartmann — after 15 years — from the town’s Economic Development Advisory Council was accepted, with gratitude for her service. The Greater Cornwall Chamber of Commerce will appoint her replacement on the EDAC, Wojehowski said.
The entire meeting is available to watch via a YouTube link on both the town website (www.cornwallny.gov) and Facebook.
