RV Camping At Village Park Being Reviewed - Water Infrastructure Discussed

By Mary A. Crisafulli

FLEISCHMANNS - Fleischmanns village officials are reviewing a contract with Belleayre Mountain for an RV campsite at the park during the Mountain Jam Festival, June 20-22.

Mayor Samuel Gil assured residents no contract has been signed yet and if it does not meet village needs there is no obligation to sign.

The request is for roughly 50 RVs to park in the parking lot and soccer field and use the concession stand bathrooms. Belleayre will be responsible for generators, water, and sewage removal.

A main concern is field damage after large vehicles are parked there for several days. Trustees will ask the contract to stipulate the area must be returned to its original state.

RV campsites are already being sold on the Mountain Jam website for $906. The advertisement states sites are 20' by 50' with electrical hookups with water and waste removal for an additional cost. A shuttle service is planned to transport visitors to and from the festival.

Gil believes the village has leverage in negotiations since the sight has already been advertised.

In other business, the board reviewed water infrastructure issues. Gil reported a home and business off New York Route 28 has failing water pipes. The situation is unique because the pipes are the municipality's responsibility instead of the owners, explained Gil. Roughly 11 years ago a contract was signed where officials agreed to take sole responsibility and connect the home to the water system taking on a 150,000 debt, he said. Now those 11-year-old pipes need to be replaced.

All those years ago, Trustee Miguel Martinez-Riddle explained, the homeowners were awarded a MARK Project infrastructure grant. Then they discovered the property was not hooked up to village water. Martinez-Riddle believes MARK Project officials fought for the agreement with the village. It's a strange project as the pipes need to cross above a creek leaving them exposed to the elements, he explained. "It's complicated," he noted. Martinez-Riddle revealed the property as the Fleischmanns mansion.

Members of the public protested that the village should not be responsible for the project. "Contracts can be broken," one individual said.

Joe DeVitto, owner of the Print House, has volunteered time to review the contract.

Gil noted another water infrastructure project that officials are working to find other funding sources for. A failing culvert, across the street from Goatie Whites on NY Route 28, requires repair, said Gil. It appears to be the responsibility of the village, he explained, but he is working with Middletown and the County on alternative options. Although the culvert is on property owned by the Delaware and Ulster Railroad, officials have expressed no interest in helping with a tight budget themselves, reported Gil. Railroad President Todd Pascarella and Middletown Supervisor Glen Faulkner will be invited to discuss the issue at the next regular village meeting on April 14 at 6 p.m.

A NYClass representative is also expected to present and answer questions at the April meeting. NYClass is a local government and non-profit investment fund.

Long time resident Yvonne Reutter is working to beautify the village trash cans with wooden enclosures decorated by local artists. Reutter is seeking volunteers to assist with the effort. The board is expected to approve the project at the next meeting.

Gil wrapped up the meeting noting that Fleischmanns is a beautiful place to find oneself. “It’s peaceful, quiet, and friendly,” he said, “We can agree to disagree but we can still be friends, not enemies.”