The Daily Mail Copyright 2021, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 230, No. 9
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022
Planning appointments ruled illegal
By Ted Remsnyder Columbia-Greene Media
CAIRO — The Cairo Town Board rescinded a pair of December planning board appointments Wednesday after it was ruled that the appointments were illegal. During the board’s final meeting of 2021 on Dec. 29, the town board voted 3-2 to reappoint Planning Board Chairman Joseph Hasenkopf to a five-year term and Planning Board Alternate Christopher Keff to a oneyear term. Outgoing Town Supervisor John Coyne and councilmen Stephen Kralovich and
Cairo Town Councilman Michael Flaherty
Tim Powers voted in favor of the appointments. Incoming Supervisor Jason Watts and
Councilwoman Mary Jo Cords abstained. In the aftermath of the appointments, Cairo Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea informed that board that the appointments were illegal and must be rescinded. “Unfortunately, because the seats weren’t vacant at the time of the appointment, then there is no appointment because there is no seat to be filled,” Rappleyea said Wednesday. “Now after the first of the year, we can go back and do it properly. The only exception would have been if the entire town board were going to be the same
be basically tying the hands of a future board. Since we had some changes in the board and there were no vacancies in those seats, we have to go back and redo it.” The board went into executive session to discuss planning board personnel. After the board returned from its executive session, the council voted 3-2 to replace Keff with former planning board member Richard Lorenz for a one-year term as an alternate. Watts, Cords and Councilman Michael Flaherty voted in favor of Lorenz’s appointment, while Powers and Kralovich were opposed.
Cairo Town Councilwoman Mary Jo Cords
from last year to this year. Then they could make that motion then because then you wouldn’t
Cairo Town Supervisor Jason Watts
The
board
also
See ILLEGAL A2
BILL WILLIAMS/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA
A side view of the second floor of 44 Partition Street in Saugerties, after a fire on Wednesday morning.
Saugerties blaze leaves several residents homeless By Bill Williams Columbia-Greene Media
SAUGERTIES — Multiple people were left homeless after fire ripped through a multi-family dwelling in Saugerties on Wednesday morning. Eight fire companies from
Ulster and Greene counties including Catskill were called to battle the fastmoving blaze in freezing temperatures. At about 7:30 a.m., Ulster County 911 sent Saugerties Fire Department to 44 Partition St., after receiving
reports of a fire at that location. The first firefighters on scene did not have to travel far because the firehouse is located across the street, at 43 Partition St. See FIRE A2 PHOTO COURTESY OF CATSKILL FIRE COMPANY. PHOTO COURTESY OF CATSKILL FIRE COMPANY.
Dozens of firefighters, from two counties fought a blaze in Saugerties on Wednesday morning.
Residents of 44 Partition Street were left homeless, following a fire in Saugerties on Wednesday morning.
Confident lawmakers predict passage of Adult Survivors Act By Kate Lisa Johnson Newspaper Corp. KATE LISA/JOHNSON NEWSPAPER
ALBANY — Lawmakers expressed confidence Thursday this year will mark the successful legislative session the Adult Survivors Act is signed into law. The Adult Survivors Act would allow New Yorkers who suffered sexual abuse after the age of 18 — including people assaulted by medical providers, formerly incarcerated people or models in the fashion industry, athletes and others — to file civil lawsuits against their abusers for one year, regardless if statutes of limitations on legal claims have expired. “It often takes years to realize the full reach of a
CORP.
Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx;, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, was one of several survivors to rally outside the state Capitol last June for Assembly leaders to pass the Adult Survivors Act. The fight was renewed this week with the start of the 2022 legislative session.
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serial perpetrator’s crimes,” said Marissa Hoechstetter, one of more than 200 survivors of sexual abuse by ex-Columbia gynecologist Dr. Robert Hadden. Hoechstetter was 31 and pregnant with twins at the time of her abuse, and noted the widespread abuse alleged against clergy, the Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. athletic team staffs, to name a few. “We cannot rely on institutions to self-police,” she added. The Adult Survivors Act, sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and Sen. Brad Hoylman, both D-Manhattan, died in the Assembly Judiciary Committee when the 2021 session ended in June.
n LOCAL
SPORTS Bluehawks handle Rams
Better access
Hudson’s Keith Robinson puts up a shot during Wednesday’s game PAGE B1
Legislation to augment access to broadband PAGE A3
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On the web www.HudsonValley360.com
Rosenthal and Hoylman virtually stood with officials, survivors and advocates Thursday to raise awareness for the measure, and expressed confidence the Adult Survivors Act would be passed and signed into law this year. “I’m angry and that’s a good motivator,” Rosenthal said. “... This year, we’re going to get it done in the Assembly.” Assembly leadership has remained vague or largely silent on the reason the bill stalled in the lower house. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie did not provide a clear answer in September when asked about the reason the measure died in the Assembly. See PASSAGE A2
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