· Snow accumulations currently total 12-14” across Dutchess County, with the National Weather Service reporting an additional 2-4” expected before the storm ends.
· Road conditions are difficult throughout Dutchess County. Highway crews made multiple rounds plowing and applying materials throughout the night and continue this morning, but rate of snowfall has been difficult for crews to keep up. It is expected it will be several hours after the conclusion of the storm before roadways are fully addressed as the low temperatures and blowing winds will continue to move snow around.
· Dutchess County 911 Center call volume low overnight
· Minimal issues reported by local utilities throughout the night. Central Hudson currently reporting outages in LaGrange.
· Dutchess County Public Transit service is suspended for the day – Thursday, December 17th. Service will resume on Friday, December 18th. Service updates and status are available at www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit, on the DCPT mobile app, or call 845.473.8424, TDD/TTY: 711.
· Due to difficult road conditions in and around the City of Poughkeepsie, and in consultation with City of Poughkeepsie officials, Dutchess County Government offices will be closed today, Thursday, December 17th.
Individuals who have DMV appointments in Poughkeepsie and Wappinger today will be rescheduled for the same appointment time on Friday, December 18th
· Residents can stay up to date on the County’s storm response online at dutchessny.gov or on the County’s social media pages on Facebook or Twitter.
The Fareground Organization Is Offering Free Holiday Meal Kits
Please review the information below and if you are interested in receiving a Holiday Meal Kit please call the number below. This event is being sponsored by Fareground so you must contact Fareground directly to participate.
This is a winter advisory from the City of Beacon. One foot of snow is expected with accumulation beginning this evening. Please help us keep everyone safe. Do not park on city streets due to plowing operations tonight and into tomorrow. We encourage you to park in city parking lots. Parking lots will be plowed later, and we will post a notice in the lots prior to plowing. Your sidewalks should be cleared no later than twenty four hours after the snow stops falling, Do not throw snow into the road. Please be careful during the snow storm.
Active for next 1 day · National Weather ServiceThis alert has been updated.Posted 2 hours ago…WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 PM EST THURSDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 20 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE…Northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, and Greene, Ulster, Dutchess, and Columbia Counties in eastern New York.
* WHEN…From 4 PM this afternoon to 1 PM EST Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The snow will be dry and fluffy. Snowfall rates approaching 2 inches per hour at times tonight into Thursday morning. Blowing and drifting snow may reduce visibilities below a quarter mile at times.Recommended actionsIf you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.ready.gov
Ways to prepare and stay safe now
Stay indoors during the storm. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause hypothermia. Walk and drive carefully on icy sidewalks and roads. Many injuries and accidents are caused by slippery conditions.
Before driving, let someone know your destination, route, and expected time of arrival. If your car gets stuck, it’ll be easier to find you.
If you lose feeling and color in your nose, ears, hands, or feet, cover the exposed area, avoid rubbing your skin, and seek medical help immediately. You may have frostbite.
When shoveling snow, take breaks and lift lighter loads.Working too hard can lead to heart attacks.
Stay dry. Wet clothes make you lose body heat, increasing your risk of hypothermia.
Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson announced today the release of a comprehensive report by the County’s Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative (the Collaborative) outlining a wide range of law enforcement reforms to eliminate racial inequities and address community needs. The report will serve as a guide as local municipalities create reform plans required by New York State. The report, which follows a series of public meetings, research and community input, can be found online at the Collaborative’s webpage: dutchessny.gov/policereform
“This was a highly constructive process that produced great areas of consensus,” said County Executive Molinaro. “People from diverse backgrounds came together and found a substantial amount of common ground. The Collaborative has created a strong menu of options for municipalities and police departments to consider as they enact their own reforms. We are fortunate to have dedicated police officers throughout our community, who sacrificed and serve us every day. Their commitment to our residents and this process cannot go unnoticed…
The Collaborative’s report follows Governor Andrew Cuomo’s and President Donald Trump’s executive orders for local police review and enhanced training and policy. Local governments with police agencies must enact plans to reform and modernize police procedures, strategies and tactics by April 1, 2021 or risk losing State funding.
County Executive Molinaro and Sheriff Anderson established the Collaborative with a twofold purpose: 1. to develop a plan to help guide local municipalities with police agencies in these efforts; and 2. to create a framework for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office to complete their own reform plan.
The report covers a wide range of issues, from law enforcement accountability and transparency, to modern policing strategies and diversion programs. The report cites best practices and provides guidance for police training, building community trust, developing diversity within the police ranks, and creating citizen advisory boards or other oversight committees, among many other topics.
Among the potential initiatives outlined in the report is the recommendation for the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies. In 2021, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office will join the City of Poughkeepsie in requiring the use of body cameras, and the County is encouraging their use throughout all law enforcement agencies in the county.
“We are grateful to be part of this process and are committed to continually evaluating ways to improve public safety and our connections to the community,” said Sheriff Anderson. “The Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative has provided the community with keen insights, and we look forward to making use of this comprehensive report as we respond to the Governor’s executive order.”
To help guide the process, two workgroups were established as part of the Collaborative – the Community Stakeholder Workgroup, composed of members of the community and County Government, and the Municipal Leaders & Police Chiefs Workgroup, composed of elected officials from municipalities with police agencies and the leaders of those agencies. Both of these groups have been meeting over the last several months, and the Collaborative also held seven public forums and created an online comment forum to gain input from residents on their ideas for reform.
Collaborative Chair Ken Roman, who serves as the County’s Deputy Commissioner of Emergency Response and has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience with the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, said, “The Collaborative did the hard work and has developed a thoughtful and thorough list of realistic solutions. While some of these reforms will require financial investments, many are low or no cost, which should be a particular benefit to our smaller municipalities.”
Over the years, Dutchess County has invested heavily in diversion programs and mental health services, with many nationally recognized best practices already in place. The County continues to adopt recognized reforms, with the recently approved 2021 County budget including several police reforms and other improvements, with funds for localities to undergo police training, an expansion of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team and the addition of community partner organizations to run the Stabilization Center’s day-to-day operations. County Executive Molinaro noted these investments are a key component to carrying out reforms to improve public safety and mental health, and make the community stronger.
The report has been distributed to Collaborative members for their review as they begin to put their own local reform plans in place. Local officials can then solicit further public feedback for their specific municipalities. “The County recognizes that not all the reforms put forwarded in the Collaborative’s plan will fit every community’s needs, and some of the practices may already be implemented in those communities,” said County Executive Molinaro. “The County’s goal is to provide options that are appropriate and to help the municipalities on their path to enacting reforms and to comply with the state guidance. We are fortunate to have dedicated police officers throughout our community, who sacrificed and serve us every day. Their commitment to our residents and this process cannot go unnoticed. We are thankful to them and to all who have participated in this process. Together, we have identified necessary reforms and are building stronger relationships between the community and law enforcement,” concluded the County Executive.
This morning, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo virtually joined Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling, Northwell Health Director of Employee Health Services Dr. Michelle Chester and Long Island Jewish Medical Center ICU Nurse Sandra
Please review the information below and if you are interested in receiving a Holiday Meal Kit please call the number below. This event is being sponsored by Fareground so you must contact Fareground directly to participate.
Dutchess County, NY sent this bulletin at 12/09/2020 05:29 PM EST
Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today hosted his most recent virtual town hall forum, providing residents with updates about the COVID-19 pandemic and answering their questions about the rise in active cases and hospitalizations, quarantine guidelines, micro-cluster zone designations, and other topics of interest.
The County Executive has held four dozen such online discussions since mid-March, and an archive of each of the County Executive’s online conversations, including today’s event, is available on Dutchess County Government’s YouTube page.
Among the highlights of today’s discussion:
• County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data available on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:
o 307,281 tests completed to date o 8,339 confirmed cases to date o 1,094 current active cases o 93 current hospitalizations o 198 deaths to date o 7,047 recovered to date o 6.2% regional positivity rate; Dutchess County’s 7-day rolling average was 5.4% as of Tuesday, Dec. 8th
• The County Executive discussed the growth in active cases and hospitalizations. Dutchess County has seen active positive COVID -19 cases rise from 613 cases two weeks to 1094 current active cases. Hospitalizations have likewise rise, going from 39 hospitalizations two weeks ago to 93 current hospitalizations. “The rate of growth in hospitalization is alarming and not sustainable,” noted County Executive Molinaro. “Each of us has a personal responsibility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The data is clear – wearing a mask, physical distancing and personal hygiene (i.e. hand washing) all help prevent the spread of the virus. Until the vaccine is widely available, we cannot give in to fatigue or impatience, we must redouble our commitment to the preventive measures that help keep our family, friends and community safer.”
The County Executive also clarified that there have been no micro cluster zone designations to date for Dutchess County. These designations are the determination of New York State.
• County Executive Molinaro announced the County’s Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is hiring for temporary positions to assist DBCH staff with data entry, call taking and COVID rapid testing. The positions, which offer up to 30 hours of employment per week, are ideal for college students and others looking for part-time options, and require either graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma/GED; for COVID testing assignment, preferred qualifications include experience as an EMT, Paramedic, LPN, CNA, RN or training in first aid and/or medical training.
• While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated its guidance relating to quarantine for close contacts of those who test positive for COVID-19, County Executive Molinaro reminded residents that New York State has not changed its guidelines. In New York State, close, asymptomatic contacts of those who test positive must still quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether they test negative.
• During today’s online conversation, less than a week after the Dutchess County Legislature adopted the 2021 County Budget, County Executive Molinaro signed the $501.8 million spending plan, which reduces County spending with no layoffs or reduction in services – all while providing a property tax levy reduction for the seventh straight year and a property tax rate reduction for the sixth consecutive year.
• County Executive Molinaro provided residents an overview of Dutchess’ County Wide Shared Services Initiative, mandated by New York State, which identifies long-term property tax savings plans, including initiatives such as shared services, the elimination of duplicative services, consolidation or other efficiency activities that will result in recurring property tax savings. This year’s plan includes two projects – upgrades and consolidation of a sewer facility utilized by the Village of Wappingers Falls and the towns of Wappinger and Poughkeepsie, as well as body camera systems to be used by 15 local municipalities – to be implemented in 2021, anticipated to save taxpayers more than $382,000, and eligible for matching funds from the state in 2022.
A statewide leader in shared services under County Executive Molinaro’s leadership, dating back prior the state’s 2017 initiative, Dutchess County Government has long offered shared services with local municipalities – everything from website development and automotive fuel acquisition, to workers’ compensation and Real Property System assessment administration software – as well as fostering similar collaborations through its Municipal Consolidation and Shared Services Grant Program, saving local taxpayers untold millions of dollars over the last nine years.
• County Executive Molinaro encouraged seniors throughout Dutchess County to take part in the Office for the Aging’s free Holiday “Car-aoke” on Tuesday, Dec. 15th at 1 p.m., hosted by the County’s award-winning Bowdoin Park. Seniors who attend will receive complimentary hot cider and holiday cookies, and will remain in their car and can sing along to holiday music, broadcast for seniors to listen to through their car radio. OFA staff will also hold holiday trivia contests, offering seniors the chance to play for fun and prizes.
• Bowdoin Park will also host a free Story Walk & Holiday Music event each of the next three weekends (Dec. 12th and 13th, 19th and 20th, 26th and 27th) from 3-5 p.m. Park guests can read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats in larger-than-life format as they walk throughout the park and enjoy holiday music from the Ellessdie Chapel.
County Executive Molinaro’s next online forum will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 16th at 3 p.m. and can be viewed on the County’s Facebook page. As with previous virtual forums, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the live conversation.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will hold a press briefing Wednesday to update the public on the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak as it prepares to distribute a Covid vaccine, potentially later this week. Earlier this week, Cuomo said the state might close indoor dining in New York City and slash capacity elsewhere across the state next week if current hospitalization trends hold. He added that it’s not inevitable that hospitalizations will continue to rise, but he believes they will.
The BHA office does close due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions. We recommend that you call ahead if you have an appointment and the weather is questionable.
“This was a highly constructive process that produced great areas of consensus,” said County Executive Molinaro. “People from diverse backgrounds came together and found a substantial amount of common ground. The Collaborative has created a strong menu of options for municipalities and police departments to consider as they enact their own reforms. We are fortunate to have dedicated police officers throughout our community, who sacrificed and serve us every day. Their commitment to our residents and this process cannot go unnoticed…
