North Salem · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in North Salem, NY public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lobdell House porch repair
The Capital Planning Committee suggested the town think harder about whether Lobdell House is the right home for town offices, since fixing the porch, windows, insulation, and roof could total around $400,000. The board will consider shorter-term fixes and other options.
Hewlett Property Wetlands Permit / Floodplain Fill
The board toured the Hewlett property and the chair is pushing back on a plan to bring in 380 yards of fill and push a retaining wall into the floodplain, worried about water pushing onto neighbors and emergency access. The applicant was urged to redesign within the already-disturbed area.
Verizon Equipment Upgrade at 73 Crosby Road
The board is pushing AT&T and other tower tenants to produce accurate as-builts and lease-area maps after a past incident where a contractor dug through a homeowner's septic field — plus a locked gate the ambulance corps can't open.
Dish Wireless Bond Default and Cell Tower Removal Security
Dish Wireless, which holds approvals for antennas on two North Salem towers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and its surety is canceling the bonds that guarantee equipment removal. By calling the bonds in default while still valid, the town protects roughly $64,000 in removal funds if the antennas are ever abandoned.
Delancey Hall renovation and reopening
Delancey Hall is getting new carpeting while the town works out of rented trailers. The board picked the low bidder but is still sorting out colors and whether stair runners are needed — with a goal of being back in the building before the end of October to avoid another $2,000 in rent.
Hawley Woods subdivision approval
A proposal to create three house lots on 40 acres off Hawley Road with a shared driveway, private wells, septic systems and 10,000-gallon fire-suppression water tanks per lot. Downhill neighbors worry a septic system sits about 12 feet from their property line and that drainage may reach their land.