MARLBLETOWN – The Town of Marbletown was legally able to relocate its offices to the Rondout Municipal Center in the former Rosendale Elementary School, as of Monday, October 26, at approximately 11 p.m., in literally the 11th hour, and after nearly two years of delays.
The Town of Rosendale moved its offices to the Municipal Center in 2013 to share services and location with the Town of Marbletown. Marbletown was expected to quickly follow. But, because the building is outside the town limits, it took an act of the state legislature to authorize it.
Rondout School District closed the Rosendale Elementary School in 2011
Through the efforts of state Senators John Bonacic (R, Mt. Hope) and George Amedore (R, Rotterdam), and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D, Kingston), the legislation was signed into law Monday night just an hour before the time expired.
The official announcement was made Tuesday afternoon at the Municipal Center with Rosendale Town Supervisor Jeanne Walsh, Marbletown Town Supervisor Michael Warren, Cahill, Amedore and in attendance.
L-R: Cahill, Walsh, Warren, Amedore
Cahill and Amedore delivered to the two supervisors the copy of the bill signed and sealed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Amedore was pleased the results of the day.
“I think this is the municipal envy of the world right now when it comes to shared services, working under one roof, and to benefit the taxpayers in both municipalities and in the Rondout Valley School District,” Amedore said.
Walsh joked that Warren and she would have their first fight over where to hang the framed bill.
Both town supervisors acknowledged that without the move to the Municipal Center the taxpayers in their towns were facing $2 million to $4 million in construction costs. Both towns’ offices would have needed to be rebuilt in the next few years.
Warren said thanks to this, his budget will come in under the two percent tax cap placed on municipalities by the state.
“For me and the Town of Rosendale right now it’s just about saying thank you,” Walsh said. She thanked the school board for their vision and the legislators for their efforts. The Municipal Center is also shared with three not-for-profits, according to Walsh.
“About three years ago I got a phone call out of the blue,” Warren recalled. “It said, ‘I got a deal for you.’ And it’s finally coming true.”
Rondout Valley School Superintendent Rosario Agostaro and board member David O‘Halloran spoke about the difficult decision they made when they closed the Rosendale Elementary School and how important it was to give the building back to the community that paid for it.
The former elementary school has been given new life, two towns have reduced the burden on taxpayers by sharing location and service and three not-for-profits have a home.
