by Gary Danforth
Bennington Paperboard will be closing August 30. Richard Forgea of the Newark Group, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials Andrea Dzierwa, an Environmental Engineer for the Division of Water, Barry Jensen, Division of Solids and Hazardous Materials, and Dan Rightsey, Division of Hazardous Waste Remediation, were all in attendance at Monday night’s Town of Hoosick Board meeting. DEC officials noted that there have never been any complaints regarding the Plant. Forgea said the company is hoping to sell the building to a non-competitor and would like to continue to hold some of its permits should a sale happen. DEC will oversee all the permits and make sure the closed plant meets all NYS standards.
Supervisor Douglas said she is concerned about the two lagoons where sludge is pumped and where the sludge in the pits will be transported. She was assured that the Town will receive monthly reports about these issues. The plant will maintain 24 hour security after its closing.
Before the discussion of the Bennington Paperboard Plant, the meeting, which took place in the Hoosick Falls Armory, had been called to order by Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas at 7:03 pm. After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, the minutes of last month’s meeting were approved without having them read. Councilpersons Mark Surdam, Kevin O’Malley and Bob Ryan were present as was Town Clerk Sue Stradinger. Councilperson Mark Cottrell was absent. Town Attorney Tom Kenney was present.
The Town Clerk’s report was accepted with 14 new dog licenses, 22 dog license renewals, ten death certificates, 11 building permits and 410 garbage stickers purchased being noted. Stradinger distributed a brochure to the Board containing phone numbers of the most asked for assistance agencies within the township. She put the brochure together for families in need at the request of Councilperson Surdam and the Board. Copies are available at the Town office.
The Assessor’s report was in order.
Unfair Impoundment?
Scott Thompson addressed the Board and said he had been visiting in Hoosick and had his car impounded. He sought a public apology and restitution. His written complaint will be forwarded to the Town Attorney.
Unpaid Bills
James Martinez asked the Board for clarification as to why a person providing services to the Town had not been paid in over one year. Aimee Allen spoke on the same matter saying she had submitted a bill to the Town for $3,000 for the care and boarding of five dogs for an extended time in the Summer of 2007. She had removed the five dogs from a residence at 457 Hill Road.
According to Douglas, the Town contract says the Town will pay ten dollars per day for dog care for seven days, plus thirty dollars per dog for dog food over that same period. For the five dogs that would amount to $500 before euthanasia was permissible.
Allen said she kept the dogs for an extended time because she felt the Town gave her the impression they might fear reprisal from the dogs’ owner should the dogs be destroyed while an ongoing issue between the Town and property owner was in progress. Martinez asked why a person providing services to the Town had not been paid, even the smaller amount. The Town will work to resolve the matter.
Bill Shiland, Superintendent of Highways, said the rainy weather had caused water runoff damage just this evening to a culvert on Wilson Hill Road and also damage to Cottrell Lane. The old Town garage had some flooding as did the new changing room at the Town skating rink. Despite the rainy weather the Town crew was busy patching potholes, though the weather had held up this activity. The weather also prevented fill from being stockpiled at the Town’s usual sites due to wet conditions.
The Weir-Reynolds swimming pool will close August 29. Seasonal memberships increased this year to 54. Last year there were 42 memberships.
The Building Inspector’s report was in order. The Town re-passed a motion to put clean up costs of $15,423.44 for removing a condemned trailer and restoring the land at 457 Hill Road and back taxes and water bills in the amount of $5,847.62 onto the owner’s tax bill. The same motion was passed last month, but the Board had not waited the required 30 days after notice of the action was delivered to the owner.
The Court Clerk’s report was in order though the Board noted that revenue is being lost when County Sheriff and State Police officers don’t show up for Court appearances after issuing tickets, thereby negating prosecutions.
History Picture Board
From the Supervisor’s report, Town Historian Phil Leonard, with assistance from Charlie Filkins, submitted a picture board showing recreational areas within the township in the 1930s. Santo’s, Pickerings on Route 22 and the Ehmler’s estate, which housed a zoo, pond and tea rooms were noted. Leonard noted that boxers once trained at Ehmler’s. Also, Leonard had a newspaper clipping of when buffalo got loose from the zoo and had to be rounded up.
Plans for the reconstructing the covered bridge over the Walloomsac River, adjacent to the Barnett Homestead, have been put on hold since the cost of a new bridge has jumped to $950,000 from the original $750,000 estimate.
Upcoming Events
Douglas said there will be a band concert by William Gaillard and the Community Band at the Barnett Homestead.
The Corn Maze at Tammy’s Candy Kettle on Route 7 in Hoosick will open this coming weekend with an official opening on September 6. There will be a Community Day, a Farm Appreciation Day and, on September 28, a Blue Grass music festival. The Corn Maze will be the largest on the east coast.
The Hoosic River bicycle ride will take place over some Town roads on August 23 with the Town receiving a certificate of insurance for liability coverage.
Other Business
Douglas said she had received a letter from Senator Chuck Schumer’s office concerning posters for school districts. Also, the Town and Village of Hoosick Falls have joined the Lakes to Locks organization with a meeting planned in Lake George at 10 am on September 16.
Cable TV Negotiations
Councilperson O’Malley said there is ongoing negotiation with Time Warner Cable over programming and where service might be provided. Usually, 20 houses within one mile is what the company looks for to make the cable available in a particular area. O’Malley said the cable company said it would cost $729 per household for 11 households on a .55 mile stretch of South Street in Hoosick for cable to be installed and $758 per household for cable to be installed on Cottrell Road for a three mile stretch with 28 households.
Grant To Protect Farmlands
The Board passed a motion to have the Agricultural Stewardship Association write a farmland protection implementation grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The grant would be to develop a plan for participating farms to keep their agricultural rights while selling developmental rights within the township. The latest such farm interested in doing so is the 135 acre Philpott parcel on Route 95.
The meeting adjourned at 8:04 pm.