Streamlining Cochecton in the new year

By TOM KANE

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Running the Town of Cochecton as a business is the agenda for 2003. This includes an exploration of ways to move the town offices into the town hall and the reintroduction of the formation of a Department of Public Works.

“Right now, our town offices and records are in people’s houses,” Supervisor Sal Indelicato said. “When a person leaves office in this town, the records move. It should be that when a person leaves office the person moves.”

Officials with offices in their homes are the town clerk, the code enforcement officer, the tax collector, sewer superintendent, dog control officer, planning board chairman and zoning chairman. At the town hall, there is a court room, the offices of the town assessor and a kitchen used mainly by senior citizens.

While the issue of the formation of the Public Works Department was put to a vote last November and was defeated by 100 votes, some town board members want to reintroduce the concept.

“I strongly believe that this is the way to go,” said town board member Daisy Smith. “People must make educated and informed decision about this,” Smith said. “I don’t think enough people knew what was at stake.”

According to Smith, many voters found it hard to see the referendum on the ballot and many didn’t vote on it because of this difficulty.

“This issue was not about Brian [DuBois the current highway superintendent whose position would be dissolved if a DPW chief was approved],” Smith said. “It’s about consolidation of services that is necessary.”

Smith said that board members didn’t work hard enough to sell the idea.