Better internet service needed, new leader says
Incoming Supervisor Fred Costello says improving internet service in the town is one his main goals for the coming year.
Costello, in a phone interview Tuesday, said there needs to be better and wider information technology coverage in Saugerties.
“Right now, when residents call me and tell me they can’t get an internet connection faster than dialup, I have nothing to offer them for hope,” he said.
Costello, a Town Board member who was elected supervisor in November, said current internet providers have disappointing expectations for reaching the remaining 25 percent of the town that doesn’t have service. Included in the coming effort will be exploring whether the town can set up a service that competes with existing providers.
“The capital plans for Spectrum are not overly aggressive, and Verizon has waived Saugerties off as a candidate for FIOS completely, and I feel our residents deserve an option,” Costello said.
“People are moving away from the cable model,” he said. “We exploring this because there’s other areas around us that have done this successfully, and I want to know if it will work for us.”
Costello will begin his two-year term as supervisor on Jan. 1, succeeding Greg Helsmoortel.
Helsmoortel is stepping down after leading the town for 16 nonconsecutive years (2000-11 and 2013 to the present).
Among land-use issues, Costello said the town will continue reviewing billboards that have changing video displays, but he said it isn’t clear whether the Town Board will make a decision.
“The Town Board wasn’t prepared to make a decision on it,” he said. “We kicked it back to the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and I don’t think there’s consensus on how to move forward.”
Costello also noted special events scheduled for 2018 in Saugerties.
“Saugerties is going to host the Vietnam traveling memorial wall,” he said. “That’s something to look forward [to] . ... It will be here in July for viewing and will be at Cantine Field.”
Costello said he was not sure whether there will be further action toward developing recreation facilities at Bristol Beach. Draft plans have included construction of a kayak launch, trails and a small performing arts facility.
“Funding is going to be a challenge,” he said. “To the degree that money comes our way, we could do it more quickly; and if money is hard to come by, it’s going to take longer.”
The town also will focus in 2018 on increasing its use of solar energy, but Costello does not expect to resume the search for a large array for town use.
“The community solar project, we just keep running into dead ends because the connection fees are so prohibitive or the rates they offer us are not competitive,” he said.
“We’ll revisit doing rooftop systems for perhaps the water and sewer department or another building in the town that has a pretty high energy consumption,” Costello said. “The obvious facilities would be the water and sewer facilities in Malden and Glasco. They both are pretty significant energy users, and they both have exposure to some quality sunlight.”