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1. How do I file a notice of claim with the City?

A Notice of Claim Form can be printed off the website or picked up at the City Clerks Office. It should be completed and submitted to the City Clerk's Office either in person or through the mail with any bills, estimates, photos, police reports, etc. attached. If submitting through the mail, it should be sent Certified Return Receipt.

2. How do I obtain a Marriage License or Marriage Certificate?

To obtain a Marriage License both parties have to come into the office together with Birth Certificates and Identification. Both must be over the age of 18 and if either have been married before we will need the see the Death Certificate or Divorce Decree. The fee for a Marriage License is $40 and we do them between the hours of 8:30 am and 3:30 pm. Monday through Friday.

If you obtained your Marriage License here in the City of Newburgh, you can obtain a copy of your Marriage Certificate either by coming into the office or sending a written request with identification and the fee is $10 per copy. Note that your Marriage Certificate will be filed wherever you obtained your Marriage License.

3. How do I obtain a copy of my Birth Certificate?

You can obtain a copy of a birth certificate if you were born in the City of Newburgh either by sending a written request or in person. A Birth Certificate is releasable to you if you are 18 years of age or to the parent listed on the record. To obtain by mail we require a written request including name, date of birth and parents names along with a copy of identification, the $10 fee per copy and a self-addressed stamped return envelope.

4. How do I obtain a copy of a Death Certificate?

A Death Certificate is releasable only to the surviving spouse, parent or child (over the age of 18) of a deceased person or an Attorney for a proper legal purpose. If the death occurred here in the City of Newburgh a copy of the record can be obtained either by sending a written request or in person. The fee is $10 per copy and identification is required.

5. How do I obtain a Dog License?

If you reside in the City of Newburgh you can obtain a Dog License at the City Clerk's Office. We will need proof the rabies vaccination and if the dog is neutered or spayed. If the dog is neutered or spayed the fee is $8.50 and if not the fee is $15.50.

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1. What does an Engine Company do and what are their jobs on a fire scene?

The job assigned to an Engine Company at a fire is determined by the arrival sequence of the engine. For this discussion, we will consider an assignment to a report of a house fire. This type of assignment would include two engines, one ladder, and one assistant chief.

The first engine company to arrive on the scene of a working fire is charged with extinguishment. Newburgh Fire Department policy is for a quick interior attack on the fire whenever possible. This includes making quick entry to the fire building to find and extinguish the source or seat of the fire. Throwing water at smoke from outside a window will not put out the fire. The old adage is "you have to put the wet stuff on the red stuff." Of course every fire is different, there is no such thing as a normal fire. Initial fire line placement, method and location of the entry point, and fire line size are just a few of the variables that must be considered on every scene.

The second engine company to arrive on the scene of a working fire is charged with water supply to the first engine and then backup for the first crew in the building. The "usual" procedure for the second engine company is to stop at a hydrant closest to the fire and lay a 4 inch diameter supply line on the way to the fire building. This size supply line should be large enough to supply the first engine with water to spare. Once the second engine is at the fire building part of the crew will complete the hook up of the supply line to the first engine. The third engine will be called to fill in any gaps, often stretching a 2nd or back up attack hose.

2. What kind of tools and equipment are on the different trucks?

The Engine companies are responsible for fire suppression, so on the engine they carry 500 gallons of water. Each engine also carries about 1,000' of 4" hose, which can be connected to a hydrant and used to run water from the hydrant to the engine once the engine's 500 gallons has diminished. The engine, also known as a pumper, has a pump on it, which can pump over 1,500 gallons a minute. Also on the engine there are several hand lines which can be taken inside the building. The standard hand line is 1 3/4" in diameter. In comparison, a garden hose is approximately 5/8 inch in diameter.

The ladder companies carry equipment that will assist with ventilation, forcible entry, search and rescue, and overhaul. Ventilation is important because it allows the superheated toxic gases to escape and also allows the firefighters inside to do their work safer and more efficiently. All ladder trucks carry chainsaws and circular saws. These saws are used to cut holes into roofs and walls.

To be able to get into a building you need the right kind of tools, therefore ladder companies carry many different types of tools. A couple examples are the hydraulic rabbit tool, which pulls a door away from the jamb, and tools to snap even the strongest padlocks. For search and rescue the technology is now available to have handheld thermal imaging cameras. These cameras allow firefighters to see through the smoke and see the victims. Our department has one on each of our companies. Overhaul is basically cleaning up and removing all the debris that was destroyed in the fire and making sure all hot spots are extinguished.

3. What does a Ladder Company do and what are their jobs on a fire scene?

The job assigned to a Ladder Company at a fire is determined by the arrival sequence of the ladder. For this discussion, we will consider an assignment to a report of a house fire. This type of assignment would include two engines, one ladder, and one assistant chief.

The first ladder to arrive at the scene of a working fire will assist the first engine with gaining access to the building: "forcible entry." Once entry is made the crew will do a quick search of all areas which can be entered. They are looking for victims and for fire. They will advise the engine as to where they should stretch hose lines. As they search, they will ventilate the building as they go opening windows to remove the smoke. If the fire is on the top floor, the ladder crew will go to the roof to ventilate it. After the crew has completed a primary and a secondary search they are assigned to open up the walls, ceiling, and floors to look for fire which may be burning out of sight.

The ladder operators (drivers) are assigned to position the truck to be able to use and if needed raise the aerial ladder. It is critical and often very difficult to position properly as it must be close enough to the building to reach it and due to obstructions, like parked cars, trees, overhead power lines and in some cases other emergency vehicles. Once that is completed, the drivers team up to perform outside ventilation and to set up portable ladders, and lighting. Outside ventilation usually includes breaking the windows in the fire room from the outside. This ventilation will remove some of the heat from the fire area allowing engine companies to get close enough to extinguish the seat of the fire.

4. Why do firefighters break windows and cut a hole in the roof at a fire?

As a fire burns, it generally moves upward, then outward. Removing windows and cutting holes in the roof, or "ventilation" in firefighting terms, stops that damaging outward movement and enables them to fight more efficiently, resulting in less damage in the long run. It also reduces the amount of carbon monoxide and Hydrogen Cyanide from the building, which "buys" victims more time and reduces the chance of a "backdraft" or smoke explosion.

5. Why do firefighters cut holes in the walls at a fire?

This is called overhauling and the Fire Department has to be sure, absolutely sure, that ALL the fire is out and that there are no hidden fires inside the walls or partitions. Some fire departments use the term "rekindle" to describe when they are called back to a second fire (sometimes hours later). The Newburgh Fire Department does not believe in "rekindle", we believe that the only way a fire gets going again is the FD failed to properly overhaul and they left while some pockets of fire were still burning. Newburgh firefighters pride themselves on the fact that if we get called back to a fire it is only because an arsonist tried to finish the job.

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1. What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is an assembly of computer hardware, software and geographic data for capturing, managing, displaying and querying various forms of spatial referenced information. In GIS all information has a geographical or spatial component. GIS is often used as an analysis tool to combine mapping with multiple databases, which in turn allow people to make educated, precise and efficient decisions.

2. What is the purpose of GIS?

Geographic Information Systems support the following:

• Visual communication, allowing patterns and anomalies to be quickly identified.
• Automating activities involving geographic location.
• Better decision making and planning through querying, mapping, analyzing, and modeling with the whole picture.

3. Where does the information come from?

The City of Newburgh's GIS obtains spatial-referenced data from a number of sources, including the following:

• Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• US Geological Survey (USGS)
• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development
• US Census Bureau
• NYS Empire State Development
• NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)
• NYS Office of Real Property Services (ORPS)
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
• NYS Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination (CSCIC)
• Cornell University Geospatial information Repository (CUGIR)
• NYS Department of Transportation (DOT)
• NYS Department of Health
• Orange County Real Property
• Orange County Water Authority
• Selected private vendors

Data types range from aerial photo imagery to designated wetland areas. Many of the City-maintained GIS data layers and attributes are created and enhanced internally, such as housing, proposed zoning, building vacant registry, property value, neighborhood, water supply protection zone and landmark.

4. What is Map Scale?

Scale is defined as the relationship between a distance measured on the map and the true distance on the ground. It can be presented in three different ways:

• Graphic scale or bar scale
• Representative fraction ("1/250,000") or ratio ("1:250,000")

5. What is a Projection?

A mathematically based process for converting locations on the three-dimensional earth surface into two dimensions. Spherical coordinates are converted to planar. Different projections will have different impacts on various aspects of area, distance, and shape.

6. What is an Orthoimage?

An aerial photograph processed to remove the effect of planimetric shift. It has the correct scale throughout.

7. What is an Attribute Table?

An attribute table is a database table containing information about geographic features in a GIS dataset. One column typically contains a primary geographic identifier while others might contain additional information. It can often be linked to excel or DBF files as well as PDF or JPG files based on a common ID.

8. What are some of the common data formats?

Shapefile, DEM, TIFF, Dwg, Sid, Mdb. Many of these formats are binary and therefore readable only with GIS software.

9. What is Vector Data?

Vector data is the storage of X, Y, and Z coordinates connected to define points, lines, areas, or volumes. They are best suited to store discrete, well-defined data that can clearly be delimited.

10. What is Raster Data?

Raster data consists of rows and columns of cells where in each cell is stored a single value from 0 to 255. They are characterized by pixel values. For example, orthoimagery, aerial photography, digital elevation models, and digital raster graphic (USGS Topo DRG) are often stored as raster data.

11. What is a Mapsheet?

A mapsheet is a geographic unit or identifiable spatial area for which one or more data themes are available. Mapsheets are grouped into a spatial series. For example, there are more than 900 7.5 minute quadrangles that include the 62 New York counties as a whole.

12. What is a GPS?

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a radio emitting and receiving Satellite Navigation System that measures location, velocity and time on earth. Different GPS devices are often used in navigation, mapping, or surveying. For more information, view the Introduction to GIS (PDF) or the slide presentation slides How GPS Works (PDF).

13. What is Metadata?

Metadata are data about data, used to evaluate digital databases. They document the origin and characteristics of:

• Attribute
• Data quality
• Distribution
• Each data set
• Entity
• Identification information
• Spatial reference

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1. How do I pay my city water bill?

Answer goes here...

2. How do I get a new trash can lid?

Answer goes here...

3. How do I apply for a job with the City?

Answer goes here...

4. My trash didn't get picked up, what should I do now?

Answer goes here...

5. How do I get a garage sale permit?

Answer goes here...

6. How can I see the agenda for an upcoming City Council or Board meeting?

Answer goes here...

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1. How can I make a payment 24/7?

• Online Payments are accepted and processed 24/7
• Phone Payments are accepted and processed 24/7 by calling 866-449-7584

2. What is the mailing address?

City of Newburgh
Citation Processing Center
P.O. Box 3214
Milwaukee, WI 53201

3. How do I dispute the summons I received?

You may plead "Not Guilty", mail it to:
Parking Violations Bureau
83 Broadway
Newburgh, NY 12550

We will schedule a time for you to appear and notify you by mail. Parking tickets cannot be contested on the grounds that the operator is unable to pay. Also a ticket cannot be contested solely on the grounds that you believe that the Parking Regulation you violated is unfair.

4. Who do I contact if my vehicle has been impounded?

Call the City of Newburgh Police Department at 845-561-3131 and notify the representative that your car is impounded. Any outstanding tickets under the registered owners name and/or the titled owner must be paid, the vehicle must be registered and insured and all towing and storage charges satisfied in order to obtain a release form. If the police have a hold on the vehicle you will also need written authorization from the Police Department in order to retrieve the vehicle.

5. When do you have to follow parking regulations?

You have to park legally every day of the year, no exceptions for holidays.

6. Who do I make the check payable to?

City of Newburgh

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1. If I have a question about my water bill, who do I call?

Questions related to billing regarding meter readings should be directed to the Water Department at 845-565-3356. For other calls related to billing - for example, past due amounts, penalties, etc. - please call the Tax Collector's Office at 845-569-7330.

2. If I am experiencing a problem with water in my building (rusty water, low pressure, no water, etc.), who do I call?

Call the Water Department at 565-3356. We will investigate, so we can document the problem you are having at your location. Our office staff will be able to inform you if we are working in the area or flushing hydrants, which may be causing your problem, or if the problem is internal and the responsibility of the building owner.

3. If I'm selling my house, do I need a closing reading?

Yes. A closing reading records the amount of water the present owner has used up to the date of closing and the amount the new owner will receive as credit towards their next bill. A closing reading also protects the new owner from any past due amounts that may be owed. The Water Department does a physical inspection of the water meter at closing to ensure that it is working properly and up to city code.

4. If I have a leak on the service line feeding my building, what do I do?

Maintaining the service line - the line directly connected to our water main that feeds water to your building - is the owner's responsibility. If you have a leak, contact a city-licensed plumber to do the repairs. If it is made of lead or galvanized steel, the line cannot be repaired and must be replaced.

5. If I'm buying a house in the City, what should I do? Do I need a closing reading?

We strongly recommend that you call the Water Department to schedule a final reading of the water meter, so that as the new owner, your first bill will be credited for any amount of water used by the previous owner. At the time of closing, we also conduct a physical inspection to make sure that the meter is working properly and up to city code.

6. Who's responsible for the safe keeping and maintenance of the water meter?

Water meters are the property of the Water Department. They are supplied to residents at no cost. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the water meter and the reading devices attached to them. At the time of installation, a water meter is sealed, and that seal must not be broken. The meter also must be insulated so that it does not freeze or break, and it must be secured so that it is not stolen. The owner will be charged a fee for any damages to, or loss of, the meter and reading devices.

7. How does the City read my water meter?

The Water Department reads meters four times a year. Meters are read several different ways. We are in the process of installing newer meters that can be read with a radio device or MXU unit. Currently, most locations have a remote reader attached to the meter from the outside of the building. The newer style MXU units are attached directly to the meter inside the house, so they are less vulnerable to weather, damage and vandalism. The MXU units also allow our meter readers to read faster and more accurately.

8. What does the City do if they can't get a reading at my building?

The Water Department strives to obtain accurate meter readings for all our accounts. However, if we were unsuccessful in obtaining a reading at your location, we will notify you right on your next bill. We ask that you contact the office within 10 days, so that we can schedule an appointment to read your meter and determine the reason why we were unable to obtain a reading. If we are not contacted and unable to read your meter, we will estimate your bill, and your service may be terminated.

9. What are estimated and minimum bills?

If we are unable to obtain a meter reading, City Code dictates that we average the four previous reading and send you an estimated bill. If you receive an estimated bill, you have 10 days to contact this office to schedule an actual reading.

A minimum bill is a minimum set amount that we charge our customers each quarter based upon the size of your meter. Minimum billing amounts by meter size are listed on the back of your water bill. You are billed the minimum amount plus the actual usage over the minimum.

10. Is there a charge for the water meter?

The City supplies the water meter at no charge to the customer for meters up to and including two inches in size. Meters over two inches in size are supplied by the City at the expense of the property owner. New installations or damaged meters are installed by a licensed City plumber at the property owner's expense. The City maintains the water meter periodically replaces it if the plumbing of the building will support the replacement.

11. Where or how do I make payment for my water bill? What form of payment do they take?

Payment for water bills can be made by cash or check if made in person at the Tax Collector's Office at City Hall, 83 Broadway, between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Water bill payments can also be made by mailing your check (send no cash in the mail) for the exact amount with the payment stub from your water bill, using the envelope that is enclosed with your water bill.