by Bea Peterson
Jim Martinez who lives with his family in the Thorpe Block and has businesses in the same building on Church St. complained to the Village Board at Tuesday evening’s Board meeting about the noise and profanity coming from the recently opened Half Time bar across the street. The urinating and vomiting in the adjoining parking lot was extremely offensive, he said. “What is the law, and what can be done?” he asked. Residents who live in the house across from the Firehouse Restaurant also complained about the noise and loud music. “I’ve lived in that house off and on for 51 years,” the wife said. “There’s always been a bar there, but it’s never been like this.” The Mayor added that she was outside her house on Parsons Ave. at 1 am Sunday and the noise from downtown was very loud. “I thought there was a fight going on.”
Bar owner Angelo Benardo was defensive. He said they are making every effort possible to be good neighbors. The Mayor told him “we want your business to succeed, but there has to be a compromise. Something has to change.” She added that the police have been there ten times in the last three weeks.
Benardo said they have three security people on Fridays when they have a DJ and on Saturdays when they have a band. They work hard to maintain order and to keep the front door shut to cut down on the noise. They have established a smoking area behind the building to eliminate people congregating in the front. “We are open to all suggestions,” said Benardo. Mayor Reynolds said again, “We want your business to prosper. We want it to work out well for all of us.” She added that there have always been bars in Hoosick Falls, but there have never been problems like this.
Benardo said everyone is quick to complain about the business, but no one has anything to say about the Veterans dinner they held that day or the senior dinners they offer on Tuesdays. It doesn’t help his business, he said, to have a police cruiser parked across from the bar for 25 minutes straight. “That’s happened three times,” he said.
Trustee Ric DiDonato said people can’t hold a grudge. “If you chose to live in a business district, you have to keep an open mind.” The Mayor said the Village does have noise, loitering and open container laws.
Brook Again
Pam Benkoski appeared before the Board again asking for an update on the brook situation on Hall St. She said that years ago they were told the Army Corps of Engineers would be able to look at the situation in 10 years. Well, that time is almost here and are they going to look? One of the problems, said Mayor Reynolds, is that the brook runs on private property. Another problem is that records tracing responsibility, either owners or the Town or the Village, were lost in the fire years ago and finding responsibility is difficult.
DiDonato suggested that the property owners get together and hire their own independent engineer. That way you would have “proof of the problem” to show, he said.
Trustee Mike Hickey said he will ask County Engineer Fred Howard to walk the brook with him.
McAuliffe Resigns
Recently appointed Trustee Jerry McAuliffe has resigned from the Board. “This is a huge loss to me,” said Mayor Reynolds. “Unfortunately there is bad information out there. Rumors start, and rumors grow. Jerry is extremely knowledgeable about water, sewer and the highway department. I want to thank him for helping us.” A member of the highway crew said people don’t realize Jerry was always there to help them sand or plow or do many other jobs when they were short handed.
Computers And Wires
Trustee Matthew Monahan said, “They had an issue with computers this month and the issue was in the pole.” He said the Dispatch telephone number does not roll over. “This is a major cost issue. The wiring is pretty bad.” He estimates it to be a $15,000 to $20,000 expense.
He said he had also met with Trustee Bob Downey and Jim Hurlburt regarding the Water Law.
Water Plant Behind
The Water Plant building should be going up by the end of November. Mayor Reynolds said the Teamsters strike set everything back a week. Some jobs had to be rebid. The Board approved change orders in the amount of $75,602. She said Clough Harbour anticipated 9 percent in change orders and at this point they are at 2 percent. The Board also approved payment to Clough Harbour of $41,108.29 for engineering and observation. “We couldn’t have constructed the wastewater plant properly without them, and it’s the same for the water plant,” she said. Electricians were also paid $22,325.
Public Hearings
A public hearing on the Village’s new Water Law will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, December 9, and at 6:30 pm a public hearing will be held on the new Point System Law regarding nuisance properties. The regular meeting of the Board will follow the hearings.
Election Date Change
The Board approved a change to the Village Election day to Wednesday, March 18, 2009, instead of St. Patrick’s Day.
Hoosick Falls Mayor Laura Reynolds had opened Tuesday evening’s Board meeting by wishing everyone a happy Veterans Day. “We know it is a special day for all our veterans,” she said.