Bonacic presses for floodplain buyouts

ALBANY, NY — State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mt. Hope), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, is pressing for millions of dollars in aid to help purchase flood-stricken properties and take low- and middle-income families out of flood plains if they desire to move.

Bonacic is pushing for up to $15 million of the funds being prioritized by the senate to be used for flood relief. The remainder of the funds prioritized by the senate would be allocated to build housing for senior citizens and main street re-development efforts.

The senator called in Sullivan County’s Dick Martinkovic to help develop the state budget language.

“Getting people out of flood areas is key to stopping the recurring flood problems in our region,” said Bonacic. “By buying out the most vulnerable properties we will not only save lives, but also be able to install wetlands and water detention facilities on these properties to protect whole neighborhoods.”

Bonacic believes FEMA’s initiatives to improve the situation have been inadequate. “If we wait for FEMA to act, we might as well build an arc,” he said.

Search continues for missing boaters

DELAWARE WATER GAP — Two of three boaters who were thrown into the water when their boat capsized on Thursday, April 3 near Dingmans boat access were still missing as of press time. The two men, Timothy Panella, 57, and Richard Skoland, 62, both of Morris County, NJ, were on a fishing trip on the Delaware River in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Also in the boat was Ronald Priest, 58, also of Morris County, who succeeded in getting to the shore. A passing motorist came to his aid, and he was treated and later released from a hospital in New Jersey.

The three men embarked in their 12-foot boat at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, and the accident occurred about one hour later when the anchor snagged on something and the men tried to free it. The boat overturned in the process.

The river level as of Monday was at 10 feet compared to a normal five feet in the search area, and the high and rapid water flow and cold and muddy water have hampered search efforts.

Congestion study on Route 6

PIKE COUNTY, PA — From Monday, April 21 through Monday, April 28, a contractor will be manually collecting traffic data along Route 6, from the Delaware Valley High School to the signal at the Price Chopper in Matamoras, and also at the Milford exit on Interstate 84.

Automatic traffic recorders will be installed, and information will be manually collected by the consultant observing the intersections. It is not expected that traffic or pedestrians will be disrupted, but officials want residents and motorists to be aware of the activity in this area.

Information is being collected for the Route 6, Milford to Matamoras congested corridor improvement project, which is in an early stage of preliminary design.

Sullivan to get increase in highway aid

ALBANY, NY — New York State Senator John Bonacic (R/I/C – Mount Hope) has announced that Sullivan County and its localities will receive over $4.9 million in local assistance to maintain and improve its local road and highway infrastructure.

The county will receive over $2.2 million in state aid, representing a 14.5 percent increase over last year’s funding, and the towns will receive over $2.4 million, an increase of over 23 percent. Villages in the county will receive over $260,000 in highway improvement funding, a 21 percent improvement over last year.

“Every state dollar we invest in our infrastructure results in a lesser demand to increase local property taxes for important local needs and services,” said Bonacic.

Bill would give volunteers tax credit

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), along with a number of colleagues, has introduced the Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts act (SERVE). It would provide volunteer firemen and emergency medical services volunteers with a $1,000 federal tax credit.

“Day after day our volunteer firefighters and emergency service personnel risk their lives in order to keep us all safe without receiving any compensation. This bill is the least we can do to express our gratitude,” Hinchey said.

If enacted, the SERVE Act, which has bipartisan support, would provide a $1,000 federal tax credit to individuals who are active members of volunteer fire departments and emergency service crews for the full tax year. Those who serve for part of a year would receive a pro-rated amount. The credit would be refundable, meaning that if it is in excess of an individual’s tax liability, they will receive the remainder as a tax refund.

The National Volunteer Fire Council, which has endorsed the SERVE Act, reports that the number of volunteer firelighters in the U.S. has declined by more than 8 percent since 1984. That figure is estimated to he even higher in New York.

Cappelli expects approval in 90 days

MONTICELLO, NY — On Monday, April 7, developer Louis Capelli said he expects state approval for his plan to build a new resort at the site of the old Concord Hotel within 90 days.

He is asking the state to provide him with a four percent “capital reimbursement” over 30 years, which he says can be paid for out of greater revenues the state would receive as a result of changing the formula for the amount paid by the state to Empire Resorts out of video gaming machine income.

Payment of the state money would depend upon certain conditions including showing that the new racino generated at least 50 percent more revenue from video gaming machines, creating 1,000 permanent union jobs and demonstrating that the project generated $50 million annually spent in the local economy.