Authorizes the town of Hyde Park to convey easements over parkland for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a public water supply system

Title of bill

An act to authorize the town of Hyde Park to convey to the Greenfields Town Water District, a special district of the town of Hyde Park, an easement through land located in the town's Greenfields Park currently utilized as a public ground water supply with underground water mains, electrical lines and well heads as a part of the existing public water supply system

Purpose

This legislation authorizes the town of Hyde Park to convey an easement through a town park for the purpose of enabling the Greenfields Town Water District to own, construct, and repair when necessary, public water supply wells, water mains, electrical lines, and associated infrastructure as a part of the existing water supply system.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Authorizes the town of Hyde Park to convey to the board of commissioners of the Greenfields Town Water District a permanent easement in Greenfields Parks for the purpose of enabling such water district to own, construct, and repair when necessary, public water supply wells, water mains, electrical lines, and associated infrastructure as a part of the existing water supply system. Upon completion of any repairs or construction, the surface of the lands and the lands shall be restored and continue to be used for park purposes.

Section 2: Provides that the town of Hyde Park shall dedicate an amount equal to or greater than the fair market value of the easement interest being alienated to the acquisition of new parklands and/or capital improvements to existing park and recreational facilities.

Section 3: Specifies the boundaries of the easements to be conveyed by the Greenfields Town Water District.

Section 4: Provides that, in the event that the town of Hyde Park received any funding support or assistance from the federal government for the purchase, maintenance or improvement of the parklands set forth in section three of this act, the discontinuance and alienation of such parklands shall not occur until the town of Hyde park has complied with any federal requirements pertaining to the alienation or conversion of such parklands.

Section 5: Provides the effective date.

Justification

This legislation was requested by town of Hyde Park in order to authorize them to convey an easement in Greenfields Park as part of an effort to transfer the Greenfields Water System from Hyde Park to the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority (DCWWA). Benefits of such a transfer could include an improvement in efficiency and quality of service of delivery, maintaining rates as low as possible, as well as improved efficiencies, services, and savings town-wide as local officials will no longer need to concentrate their efforts on operating and managing the Greenfields Water System.

The town of Hyde Park has expressed concerns over their ability to adequately finance and maintain the water system, especially given its aging infrastructure. In the view of the town, the DCWWA is better equipped to manage such a water system and ultimately, a transfer of the Greenfields Water System to the DCWWA will be beneficial for those currently serviced by the Greenfields Town Water District. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.