by Bea Peterson
In the absence of Mayor Laura Reynolds, Deputy Mayor Matthew Monahan and members of the Hoosick Falls Village Board tried once again to answer questions presented by Hall St. resident Winifred Restino and adjoining property owner Pam Benkoski. Restino said she spent Christmas morning bailing three inches of water from her cellar. Benkoski said they called Dispatch to report the flooding, as they were told to do by the Board previously. She told the Board the response was that no one could come until Friday and, in fact, no one came until Saturday to remove a large log from the brook that was inhibiting water flow. They were told if the flooding was severe to call back, she said. On Saturday the log was only moved to the edge of the brook and not removed from the property, they added. A frustrated Restino told the Board, “I don’t want to hear we’ve had a lot of rain and snow, and I don’t want to hear you can’t do anything!” Benkoski noted that it’s not just the property owners that are affected. “Village police, highway people and the Fire Department respond every time Hall St. is flooded,” she said. “And I regret that the flooding occurred on Christmas day.”
Trustee Michael Hickey told them he has been in touch with the Rensselaer County Engineer, but that the Engineer has been very busy with other issues throughout the County and has yet to return his call to set up a time to visit Hoosick Falls.
Restino said it’s not just Hall St., it’s all the way up the brook, part of which is outside the Village. “We’re hitting a brick wall,” she said. The women wondered about taking legal action. When asked once again if anyone had contacted the Army Corps of Engineers, Trustee Paul Haynes, Jr. responded that when he had served on the Board previously he had contacted the Corps and was told there was no way anyone was coming to assess the situation in Hoosick Falls as long as there was a war going on.
One of the problems is the buildup of silt in the culvert on the Restino property. Trustee Ann Bornt asked, in general, whose responsibility is the silt? This is an issue of concern for her as she has two brooks that converge on her property.
The subject was at an impasse once again. Monahan said how to resolve the problem was undeterminable until the Engineer looks at it. “It’s going to continue slowly,” he said. It was mentioned again that part of the problem is Town related. Board members agreed that once they had something in writing from the Engineer, if it was necessary, they would go to the Town Board with the Hall St. residents.
Benkoski said, “I can’t praise Niel and the Village crew enough for what they have done.”
Greenway Signing
After years in the works, Mayor Reynolds will finally sign an agreement with the railroad on Thursday, January 15, at 1 pm to purchase land along the Hoosic River for a Greenway. Village Attorney John Patterson said the signing will be in the Municipal Building. The Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) initiated the proposal and raised funds to pay for the purchase. HooRWA and the Village have accrued grants to make the Greenway into an attractive asset for the Village.
Grievance Day
The Village Board will hold Grievance Day on Wednesday, February 11 from 5 to 8 pm. Town Assessor Tony Rice will be on hand as the Village Assessor will be out of town.
Local Laws Passed
The Board meeting opened with two public hearings. Local Law #1 of 2009, a Nuisance Abatement law, was approved. Hoosick Falls Police Officers Bob Ashe and John Sotile were appointed to enforce the law and keep track of points accrued. This law allows the Village to deal with problem properties that affect the public’s and the Village’s quality of life. These nuisance properties will garner “points” for every offense and, after accumulating a number of points, will be subject to fines. If a property accrues an excessive number of points in a 12 month period, the Village will have the right to close that property. In the case of rental properties the Village will notify the property owner of the violations.
Local Law #2 of 2009 deals with Village water and was also approved. Its guidelines are consistent with those of the Village wastewater law. One point clarified in the new law is that homeowners are responsible for the lateral lines from their house to the curbside shutoff.
Condemned Building Sold
Trustee Bornt reported that the property at 25 Elm St. was sold one day before final action was to be taken on the structure. Bornt said she will advise the new owner of that fact. The Board was advised by the Village Attorney to continue to pursue its planned course of action as the building has been condemned. Sealed bids for demolition of the building will be opened at the February meeting.
In other business the Board approved:
• A motion to advertise for bids for heating and diesel fuel. The bids will be opened at the February 10 meeting.
• A motion to set polling places for March Village elections as First Ward – CEO Center on River Rd., Second and Third Wards – Municipal Building, Main St., Fourth Ward – Danforth Center, Danforth St.
• A waiver of a portion of the utilities bill due at this time for the Kovage home at 5 Second St. since the home is uninhabitable due to fire damage.
• A motion to advertise for bids for the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Grant funds received will cover the cost.
• A motion to accept bids for maintenance and upkeep of flood walls for the Flood Control project, reimbursed by DEC.
• A motion to sign a Stop DWI agreement with Rensselaer County for 2009.
• A motion to approve payments for the ongoing Water Project.
Monahan concluded the meeting by thanking the Highway Department for all the hard work and overtime they have put in on snow removal. “They have done an excellent job,” he said. The Board then went into executive session to discuss a personnel issue.