ALTAMONT - Discussion will continue on what has become an evolving plan for zoning in the village.

Following the village's second public hearing on the draft, the board decided to keep the public-comment period open until its next meeting, on Dec. 11.

Village residents spoke en masse at the Oct. 2 board meeting against the historic overlay district, a new addition to village zoning that would put restrictions on what some homeowners could change on their houses. The board then held a special meeting, on Oct. 16, to discuss the criticisms. Trustee Dean Whalen, an architect who chairs the committee that wrote the proposed law, read from a synopsis of the board's findings from that meeting at Tuesday night's board meeting.
"The section, as written is inappropriate as too restrictive given the public and board comments," the summary statement says. "The board is leaning towards softening the section to be perhaps only a guideline or only having requirements for new construction, not maintenance. However, there is still a feeling that removing the section in its entirety should be taken."

The board took no action on Tuesday night, but heard praise from residents who had been critical of the historic overlay district section earlier. Some residents also expressed concern over a possible change in the zoning designation in one area, following a remark during the first public-comment session.

The board is leaning towards eliminating the M designation - for multi-family use - from the plan's originally proposed change to an R-20M and R-10M designation in three areas, its report said. Steven Simmons spoke at the Oct. 2 meeting on the issue since he owns property in an area to be designated M. He said that the property is some of the only green space left in the village and wondered why it would be zoned for multi-family use.

At the time, Whalen answered that the committee was conforming to a desire expressed by village residents for diversity of housing options in the village. The M designation would encourage clustering if it is to be developed, he said.

At Tuesday night's meeting, though, another property owner whose land had been slated to be changed to an M designation asked the board to keep the proposed change. Carl Schilling is concerned that he won't be able to develop the land as he'd like to, that taking away the M designation would limit him to building single-family houses.
"It's a real pretty spot," he said. "It seems ideal" for a cross-section of citizens instead of one or two families."

If the board does decide to take away the possibility for multi-family use, apartments couldn't be built on that land, Whalen said.
Resident Jeff Perlee, who supported Schilling, asked the board to "lean back to the good work that the committee did."

Lawyer leaves

Altamont's village attorney, Guy Roemer, handed in his letter of resignation this week.

The village board accepted the resignation following an executive session after Tuesday night's village board meeting.
Roemer has taken a job providing counsel to judges in the Fourth Judicial District of the State Supreme Court, he said. And, he said, the job "does not allow me to have a private practice."

After serving as counsel to the village's planning and zoning boards from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Roemer returned to the village as its attorney about three years ago, just before Mayor James Gaughan took office.
"There were a number of balls in the air when I was retained," Roemer said when asked what he was most proud of in the time he spent as the village attorney. "Those issues have been smoothed out," he said.
"I think Mayor Gaughan and I melded very well," he said.

He's enjoyed his time with the village, he said, but wants to take the opportunity for the new job while it's available.

The village doesn't have anybody in mind to replace Roemer yet, said Village Clerk Jean LaCrosse, but, she said, the board authorized the mayor to spend up to $175 per hour for legal services should the village need them.

Other business

In other business, the board:

- Voted unanimously to begin sending out a village newsletter at an estimated annual cost of $1,200. Trustee William Aylward expressed some concern over the village government's bias in favor of itself, asking, "Would we be able to give an objective view of ourselves to the village""
When asked yesterday about the content of the newsletter, LaCrosse said that it would provide residents with contact information for village officials, list hours of operation for places like the museum, and alert people of upcoming village events. Basically, she said, it will be a one-page flier sent out about three times a year. According to Tuesday night's meeting agenda, the newsletter will be sent "at strategic times";

- Voted unanimously to accept a bid from Richard Grant of $1,050 for a 1993 Toro Grounds Master 325-D Riding Mower with blower attachment;
- Voted unanimously to accept the resignation of part-time police officer Scott Mannarino, effective Oct. 5. In his letter of resignation, Mannarino cited his "personal work schedule" as the reason for his resignation;

- Voted unanimously to appoint Robert W. Bennett Jr. as a part-time police officer starting on Nov. 6. He will be paid $15 per hour;

- Voted unanimously to accept the Altamont Fire Department's members' vote to appoint Paul Miller as chief, Mark Wertman as first assistant chief, and Robert White as second assistant chief;

- Voted unanimously to approve the Library Lights Holiday fund-raiser that will benefit the building fund for the library's renovation of the train station, its new home. The event will be held in the gazebo in Orsini Park;

- Voted unanimously to grant the Altamont Community Tradition's request to hold its annual Victorian Holiday event on the weekend of Nov. 30;

- Voted unanimously to approve change orders related to the new wells on Brandle Road;

- Voted unanimously to pay $7,825 for a replacement generator in the waste water treatment plant; and

- Voted unanimously to hire a structural engineer to assess damage to the floor and drains in the firehouse at a cost not to exceed $1,500.