POUGHKEEPSIE – There was no support among the many citizens, not connected to Dutchess Community College, who commented, nor among municipal officials.  Some legislators, who said in the long run, they might favor a dorm, voted ‘no’. 

The end result, by a one-vote margin, the county legislature voted to authorize negotiations to lease land, near the college, for possible construction of a dorm.

During more than an hour of public comment, many who spoke asked the legislature to either reject the idea, or take more time to study it.  Legislators who voted against the resolution also said more study was needed before proceeding, even at this level

Some residents living near the Cottage Lane site, said the dorm would further threaten their safety and property values.

Robert Rogers said the project is simply unaffordable. “A 15 percent increase this year; some people paid close to 25 percent if you are in the Hyde Park fire area.  The fact is, we just cannot afford to pay any more money.  It’s about time that all these not-for-profits, be they religious, educational or charitable, start paying for these services.”

Several officials and volunteers in the Fairview Fire District complained a dorm, with more than 400 students, would overburden them. 

By some estimates, 80 percent of the large institutions in the Fairview Fire District, including the community college, and the larger Marist College, are off the tax rolls.

The college did offer to donate $75,000 to the fire district, if the dorm is build.  That led another district member to label that “hush money”.

When it was the legislature’s turn, Republican Suzanne Horn led off.

“Is there something that would motivate us to take this leap to radically change the college.  I really don’t think we need an edifice complex to improve Dutchess Community College.”

Democrat Joel Tyner said he would like to support building a dorm, but agreed with several municipal officials, including Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Patricia Meyers, that the way this is being done threatens home rule.

James Doxsey, a Town of Poughkeepsie Conservative, claimed the cost of fire services would go up $136,000, or $80 a person, and that the number of fire calls to the college, would increase by about 45 a year, if the dorm is built.

Legislators supporting the resolution, including Republican David Kelly, a member of the college Board of Trustees, said the county needs to look at the “global view” of how the college can continue to impact the economy of Dutchess County.

Democrat Minority Leader Sandra Goldberg, said some of the arguments from critics, don’t present a clear picture.

“It’s not additional property coming off the tax rolls.  It is not on the tax rolls.  It seems to me that the community college is trying in good faith to be able to … it may not cover the full cost to Fairview … I’m not going to get down into the number of calls that will occur or not occur … but at least it’s a start in the right direction, and I think it’s an appropriate start.”

Goldberg and other supporters noted that adopting the resolution does not commit the county or college to building the dorm.  It merely starts the study and review process, with much opportunity for public comment.

College President D. David Conklin said they are willing to meet with municipalities to address their concerns.

Goldberg said based on the close 13-12 vote, and the nature of the public comment, Conklin should fully address all concerns when he comes back with a specific proposal.