POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie officials can’t hide from reality. There are critical infrastructure needs. The fire department needs to replace two old trucks, at high cost.
A handful of residents who spoke during a public hearing prior to Monday night’s council meeting said it is “time we started looking at the city,” in the words of one speaker.
Acting City Administrator Ronald Knapp agreed.
“Many of the comments that came from the public, talking about sidewalks or parking lots or road repaving are included in this capital plan, as well as many other critical needs,” Knapp said.
Fire Chief Mark Johnson appealed for money to cover the balance on two trucks, a ladder and an engine, costing over $1.5 million.
“We only have five pieces of equipment in service, front line, right now,” Johnson said. “With these new projects that the city is approving at Dutton property and down on Rinaldi Boulevard, we’re adding roughly 400 residential units in the next couple of years.”
The good news, Johnson said, is that grant money, obtained by state and federal lawmakers, will offset a big portion of the cost for the new trucks.
The five-year plan, still essentially a wish list that will be implemented piece by piece beginning next year, totals $94 million. For just 2017, the tab runs $41 million, but because of outside funding, the city would be responsible for $27 million, if they do everything on the list.
Council Chairman Christopher Petsas said they have no choice; the city must have a vision moving forward.
“We’ve all been in the city a long time and we’ve all watched the city fall into great neglect,” Petsas said.
Council Vice-Chair Natasha Cherry said during the discussion she was not sure she could support it, arguing there was insufficient documentation in putting this plan together. In the end, however, she voted for it.
The plan passed on a unanimous 8-0 vote.
