by Gary Danforth
The regular monthly Town of Hoosick Board meeting took place this past Monday evening, September 8, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with Supervisor Marilyn Douglas calling the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of last month’s meeting were approved. Councilpersons Mark Surdam, Mark Cottrell, Kevin O’Malley and Bob Ryan were present as was Town Clerk Sue Stradinger and Town Attorney Tom Kenney.
The Town Clerk’s report was accepted with seven new dog licenses, including a pure bred license for $48, nine death certificates, eight building permits, 282 garbage stickers bought and four marriage licenses being of note. The Assessor’s report was in order.
Under people to be heard in the public comment session, James Martinez asked the Board for clarification as to whether former Town employee Aimee Allen had been paid for dogs she had boarded and cared for last year. Martinez was told the matter had been resolved, and Martinez was also told, after he asked, that the Town Attorney did not receive extra compensation for resolving the matter as it was in the course of his normal duties. Also, Everett Quackenbush and Louise Ciuk complained about litter on the roads near their homes and were told the Sheriff’s Department would arrest persons who litter if townspeople could get a license plate number to track such individuals.
Bill Shiland, Superintendent of Highways, said the Town crew was busy putting gravel on Cottrell Road which had been damaged by a heavy rainstorm last month. Some repaving of the road may take place in a couple of weeks. Also, a firm will winterize the swimming pool at the end of this month. The pool is already drained. There also was discussion as to whether a fence was needed between the existing tennis courts and basketball court at the athletic complex as errant tennis balls were finding their way onto the basketball courts and not being thrown back.
Bennington Paperboard closed August 29 with the Town receiving its first monthly report about the closed plant. There are eleven employees still doing clean up duties with security at the plant seven days a week.
The Court Clerk’s report was in order.
From the Supervisor’s report, Town Historian Phil Leonard, with assistance from Charlie Filkins, submitted a picture board showing bridges in the township using an evolutionary approach, showing the bridges as they had evolved over time to present day. The Buskirk Covered Bridge, the Eagle Bridge Bridge, the Dublin Bridge, the Route 7 Bridge, the Route 22/Church Street Bridge, the North Hoosick Bridge, the Paper Mill Bridge by the old Flomatic Company, the Caretaker’s Bridge by the Barnett homestead in Walloomsac, the “Shop Bridge” going over the Hoosic River on the north end of Church Street, the Route 7 Bridge (Long/Short Bridge) in Hoosick, the Shingle Hollow Bridge and the River Street Bridge were all featured.
Douglas noted that the Barnett Homestead had twenty five visitors from New Hampshire. The corn maze in Hoosick, the largest corn maze on the east coast, opened last weekend. September 13 is Community Appreciation Day with anyone bringing a canned food item for the community food closet getting a dollar off admission. September 20 will be Farm Appreciation Day at the maze with the Hill Country Cloggers being at the maze. On September 28 a Blue Grass festival will be held at the maze.
Quackenbush Appointed To Planning Board
When Quackenbush’s name was brought up for a vote to appoint him to the Planning Board to fill a vacancy created when Mike Batcher submitted his resignation Councilperson Surdam raised the issue of having an interview process to familiarize Board members with possible appointees. After some discussion the Board voted 5-0 to appoint Quackenbush, a land surveyor.
Councilperson Cottrell said residents were pleased with the work done on Cottrell Road and reminded people to call him about street lights which are out.
Councilperson O’Malley said the previous public hearing with Time Warner had to be cancelled which opened the way for the Board to set another public meeting about the cable TV franchise for October 14 at 6:30 pm in the Armory. Councilperson Ryan reminded voters of Primary Day.
In other actions, the Board approved a motion to let St. Mary’s Academy utilize the Town athletic field for their Cow Plop/Car Show event on October 4 and 5. The Board passed a resolution to apply to the Justice Court Assistance Program for money to buy furniture. The Board passed a motion to have the October regular Town Board meeting be on October 14 so as not to conflict with Columbus Day.
Land Use Meetings
Finally, Douglas informed the public that there will be a Land Use/Zoning Plan meeting on Thursday, September 11, at 7 pm in the Armory. Other meetings regarding same will take place at fire houses within the township as follows: Buskirk Fire Hall – September 18, North Hoosick Fire Hall – October 8, Hoosick Fire Hall – October 15 and West Hoosick Fire Hall – October 22. All meetings will start at 7 pm with the time spent to set up land use laws and divide the township into zoning districts where certain things can or cannot take place.
The meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm.