By Lourice Angie
During the Warwick Town Board meeting on Thurs., June 25, it was announced that the Warwick Town Hall, located at 132 Kings Hwy. in Warwick NY, is open to the public.
Residents will notice some physical changes within the departments and will need to wear a mask when visiting. This will help keep visitors and employees safe.
“The only portion of the Town Hall that is not fully operational is the court. This is not under our control because it is run by the court administration. They have just recently allowed dog, civil and small claim cases before the local justice court,” said Supervisor Michael Sweeton,
The court office is staffed Monday through Friday and closed from 12 noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. The Town is currently in Phase 3 of reopening, and industries listed under this phase include: food services and personal care services such as spas, nail salons and tattoo parlors that can have a 50% indoor capacity.
The public is asked to respect the rules that the businesses have set in place, as it protects them from State-imposed violations of the distancing guidelines. The Town Board continues to urge the public to adhere to these guidelines and to help do their part in avoiding additional restrictions.
July 7 Tentative Date for Phase 4 Reopening
Supervisor Sweeton announced an updated change for Phase 4 of reopening which is anticipated to begin on July 7. As per Governor Andrew Cuomo, gyms and movie theatres have been ruled out while data is being evaluated.
“We don’t have any direction for gyms at this point and that is a big concern since we have several in the Town of Warwick. We are still doing very well in the Hudson Valley in terms of low numbers of positive cases, so we urge residents to please follow the guidelines, practice social distancing, wear a mask when six feet or less from others and wash your hands,” said Sweeton.
Community Preservation Fund Extension of the Expiration
The Board submitted a request to the assembly and senate to extend the Community Preservation Fund which has preserved over 42-acres in the Town of Warwick, including 37 farms, Winstanley Park and the Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park. Supervisor Sweeton says that the Town asked for an extension from the expiration year of 2026 to 2050.
“Senator Metzger did move it in the senate and it was passed by the senate, but it is being held up by the majority office of the assembly. Their explanation is there is plenty of time,” said Supervisor Sweeton. “The process is quite lengthy to prepare for a referendum, which is required to extend it. The voters get the right to decide to extend it, not the Town Board. They won’t have the right to exercise that until the state legislature allows that bill into the assembly.”
Sweeton said he reached out to the offices of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther in a bipartisan manner to get the bill on the assembly floor and at this moment the majority council’s office in the NYS assembly refuses to bring it to a vote.
“I ask that any resident in the Town of Warwick that finds that the Community Preservation Fund has been beneficial to the Town and its residents, to contact the NYS Assembly Councils office, the majority office, and ask them to move the bill to the floor for a vote,” said Supervisor Sweeton.
Congratulations to all Warwick Graduates
The Warwick Town Board would like to congratulate the 2020 graduates of the Villages of Warwick, Florida and Greenwood Lake.
“You have been remarkable in keeping your chins up when all the excitement of senior year was abruptly taken from you by the pandemic. We are proud of all of you and wish you much success in the years ahead,” said Sweeton.
Playgrounds Reopen
The Town Board wants to ensure parents and families that the playground equipment and bathrooms in the parks are once again open. They are sanitized daily and signage, as per the Orange County Department of Health, is in place to ensure everyone’s safety.
Town Beach
The Town beach is now open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Warwick Town residents only. This, of course, includes Florida, Greenwood Lake and Warwick Village residents.
The beach is limited to 50% occupancy while the Town and Village monitor how beachgoers observe social gathering regulations. Season passes can be obtained from the Warwick Town Clerk by calling 986-1124 or by downloading the 2020 Beach Membership Application online at www.townofwarwick.org.
Next Regular Meeting
As per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.1, the Town Board meeting will be closed to the public, but can be viewed live via the Zoom app on Thurs., July 16 at 7:30 p.m. A link to the meeting will be placed in the Warwick Valley Dispatch, and on the Town’s website – www.townofwarwick.org.
The Warwick Town Hall has reopened to the public.
