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Supervisor’s Desk

April 1, 2024 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

Honor Flights Application

We have copies of the application printed out at Town Hall, both in the Veteran’s Information rack in the vestibule and in the Town Clerk’s office. You can also use this link https://hvhonorflight.com/veteran-application/ I have been told there is a two-year waiting list for Veterans, and they are currently sending WWII through the Cold War and Vietnam. They will make exceptions for Veterans who are ill, and also informed me that any Veteran who was in the service during the period described above [which includes the Korean War] is eligible. You do not have to have been in combat.

March 28, 2024 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

HONOR FLIGHTS Dutchess County

Due to the diligent eye of Sandra Bilski, we have found out that Dutchess County Honor Flights have resumed their flight program for Veterans. The criteria they are looking for are Veterans who served either in World War II or in the Vietnam War. I am looking for suggestions on Veterans to nominate for this show of gratitude. If you are a Veteran or know of one who would be interested in a trip to Washington, D.C. please contact me at wburton@townofstanford.org

Here is their mission statement:

Hudson Valley Honor Flight (HVHF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which “Honors American Veterans” for all their sacrifices. We transport these heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials at no cost to them.

We are a local hub of the National Honor Flight Network (which consists of over 100 independent non-profit “hubs” across America).

Hudson Valley Honor Flight flies multiple times a year out of Stewart International Airport & Westchester County Airport. HVHF serves veterans from the following counties: Orange (NY), Ulster (NY), Dutchess (NY), Westchester (NY), Rockland (NY), Sullivan (NY), Putnam (NY), Pike (PA), Bergen (NJ), and Fairfield (CT). Veterans from other surrounding counties will be considered as well.

March 8, 2022 in Supervisor's Desk

Dutchess County is Collecting Supplies to Assist Ukraine.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYDUTCHESS/bulletins/30dc851

Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County, in partnership with the Afya Foundation, will be hosting a humanitarian supply collection site to gather items to help those affected by the invasion in Ukraine, including wounded soldiers, civilians and refugees. Donations will be collected at the former JCPenney location (lower level) at the Poughkeepsie Galleria at 2001 South Road (Route 9) in Poughkeepsie over the next two weekends.

Donation collection schedule is as follows:

  • Saturday, March 12th from 9am-1pm
  • Friday, March 18th from 1pm-5-pm
  • Saturday March 19th from 9am-1pm

No appointment is necessary and Dutchess County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers will be on hand to assist those bringing donations.

Afya has provided a specific list of needed items. Only new, unopened and non-expired goods will be accepted from the list below. No other supplies are being collected at this time. Needed supplies are as follows:

  • Flashlights and Flashlight batteries
  • Baby and Adult Diapers
  • First Aid Kits
  • Face Masks
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Personal Hygiene Kits (Soap, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Floss, Deodorant, Shampoo, Razors and shaving cream)
  • Basic Health Supplies (Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Cough medicine, Oximeters, Ace bandages and Compression bandages)

September 7, 2021 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

Broadband Survey

Stanford is working to improve broadband service. Fast internet has become critical for students to pursue their education. To this end, Stanford is launching a broadband survey, and we hope every household will participate.  The online survey is available here, and on Stanford’s Facebook page, here.

 Alternatively, you can pick up hardcopies at the Stanford Free Library, McCarthy’s Pharmacy, Big Rock Market, Roosters Hardware and Town Hall.

August 20, 2021 in Supervisor's Desk

Whitlock Preserve is Open

Stanford’s Whitlock Preserve, located off of Route 82 on Knight Road, has two short trails for walking and bird watching. This spring both trails were blocked by overgrowth, but not the west trail has been cleared and is hikeable. The eastern trail will be next, as well as clearing tree debris off the western footbridge. The Preserve is a gem. Please bring mosquito repellent!

August 11, 2021 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

Marijuana Legislation

Town of Stanford Legalization of Marijuana
Dialogue on Dispensaries and Lounges in the Town of Stanford
Your input on the following is requested. Please read carefully and send your comments via email to wburton@townofstanford.org.

New York State, through the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) [Cannabis Law Article 4], has legalized the possession and use of cannabis.  However, the regulated retail sale of adult-use cannabis is not expected to begin until late 2022 or early 2023.

The State regulatory framework being created is analogous the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law and the New York State Liquor Authority.  The framework is not complete, but several components are known.

  • There will be retail stores (sometimes called dispensaries – analogous to wine and liquor stores) and on-site consumption sites (sometimes called lounges – analogous to bars).
  • The State is prohibiting retail sale and/or on-site consumption within 500 feet of a school and 200 feet of a house of worship (analogous to alcohol sales laws).
  • All cannabis sales will be subject to a 4% local sales tax which will be distributed to the county where sales take place.  Counties are entitled to retain 25% of the local tax collected and must distribute the remaining 75% to the municipalities within the county in proportion to sales in each locale.  (Communities without sales will not receive revenue.)
  • Under State law, cannabis smoking and vaping is treated the same as smoking or vaping tobacco products and is prohibited in all the same places.
  • Towns may pass local laws and land use regulations governing the time, place and manner of the operation of retail dispensaries and/or on-site consumption sites, provided such laws or regulations do not make operations unreasonably impracticable.
  • Peace officers will be able to inspect all licensed or permitted premises and all records of licensed operators.

At the local level, State law for retail and on-site consumption will be deemed automatically approved unless the municipality passes a local law (opt-out) preventing cannabis sales prior to December 31, 2021.

If the municipality opts-in; retail and/or on-premises sales cannot be prohibited but can be subject to local zoning, which cannot place unreasonable restraints on the business.  Other aspects of marijuana production and distribution have been pre-empted by state law and cannot be prohibited.

A town can opt in for one option [e.g., dispensaries] and opt out for the other [e.g., lounges]

If the Town opts-out, then it may opt-in later, but the Town cannot opt-out of either retail sales or lounges unless it passes a local law.

  • To effectuate an opt-out, local governments must adopt a local law subject to a permissive referendum on or before December 31, 2021.
  • No city, village or town may opt-out after December 31, 2021.

March 1, 2021 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

Supervisor’s 5 Year Strategic Plan

Supervisor’s 5 Year Strategic Plan

I have created this as a fluid document, to articulate a mission statement and set goals and actions to accomplish this vision.

My greatest hope has been to help unify the Stanford Community.  I view my role as Supervisor as broader than being the C.F.O. of the Town – which includes stabilizing our taxes and being an honest and transparent steward of our tax payers funds, along with the Town Board.  I post this document with the hope that it will be read, and that we can answer your questions and take your suggestions at our Town Board Meetings.  We are here to serve this Community, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

Stanford Supervisor’s Five Year Strategic Plan 3.3.21

December 29, 2020 in Supervisor's DeskTown News

A Poem for the New Year

CONTINUE: a poem
By Maya Angelou
 

My wish for you
Is that you continue

Continue

To be who and how you are
To astonish a mean world
With your acts of kindness

Continue

To allow humor to lighten the burden
Of your tender heart

Continue

In a society dark with cruelty
To let the people hear the grandeur
Of God in the pearls of your laughter

Continue

To let your eloquence
Elevate the people to heights
They had only imagined

Continue

To remind the people that
Each is as good as the other
And that no one is beneath
Nor above you

Continue

To remember your own young years
And look with favor upon the lost
And the least and the lonely

Continue

To put the mantel of your protection
Around the bodies of 
The young and defenseless

Continue

To take the hand of the despised
And diseased and walk proudly with them
In the high street
Some might see you and
Be encouraged to do likewise

Continue

To plant a public kiss of concern
On the cheek of the sick
And the aged and infirm
And count that as a 
Natural action to be expected

Continue

To let gratitude be the pillow
Upon which you kneel to
Say your nightly prayer
And let faith be the bridge
You build to overcome evil
And welcome good

Continue

To ignore no vision
Which comes to enlarge your range
And increase your spirit

Continue

To dare to love deeply
And risk everything
For the good thing

Continue

To float
Happily in the sea of infinite substance
Which set aside riches for you
Before you had a name

Continue

And by doing so
You and your work
Will be able to continue
Eternally