by Gary Danforth
The regular monthly Town of Hoosick Board meeting took place this past Monday evening, January 12, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with Supervisor Marilyn Douglas calling the meeting to order at 7 pm. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of last month’s regular monthly meeting were accepted without corrections. 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 nine new dog licenses, thirteen dog license renewals, one marriage certificate, seven death certificates and $987 in conservation fees collected being of note. The Assessor’s report was in order as was the Court Clerk’s report and the Building Inspector’s report. The Board passed a motion for a limited 10 percent tax exemption for veterans who served during non-wartime eras. Rensselaer County has already passed this so called “Cold War” exemption. The County exemption will go into effect in 2010 while the Town exemption will go into effect in 2011.
Bill Shiland, Superintendent of Highways, recommended the Board accept bids for 2009 for fuel oil at $1.73 per gallon and diesel fuel at $1.83 per gallon from Doug’s Oil. The Board passed this motion and also approved a motion for Peckam/Dailey to furnish 800 tons of sand at $9 per ton. One thousand tons of road salt will also be purchased from Peckam/Dailey. Shiland said twenty large trees and numerous small trees were taken down by this past December 11th/12th ice storm with cleanup to continue once the snow is gone. Shiland said the Town skating rink will have its third opening this Saturday, January 17, with warm weather limiting the rink’s usage to a handful of days so far this winter. Douglas said skating lesson sign up will be from 9 am to 1 pm on the 17th.
Douglas said she had received a monthly update from Bennington Paperboard with the final employees to finish their work on Friday, January 16, with the exception of the site manager. Security will be at the plant 24 hours per day.
From the Supervisor’s report, Town Historian Phil Leonard, with assistance from Charlie Filkins, submitted a picture board showing pictures of Church Street buildings in Hoosick Falls. They also handed out copies of a booklet with 150 pictures of buildings within the township. The booklet will be on sale for $5 with proceeds to defray printing costs. Leonard and Filkins have put together 80 historical picture boards to date.
Douglas reported that last month’s meeting with the Rensselaer County Executive in Troy was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.
There will be a public meeting concerning the proposed land use/zoning law at the Armory on Wednesday, January 21, at 7 pm. A large map of the Town regarding same is on display in the meeting room in the Armory which is open from 8:30 am to 4 pm for public review. The meeting will only be for land use law comments. After the law is adopted a person will be able to go to either the Town Planning Board or a land use Zoning Board of Appeals for satisfaction if they are not satisfied with the Building Inspector’s reply on a land use issue.
In other news, there is a community calendar for events on the Town website with events to be sent or brought to Douglas or the Town Clerk on information forms for screening.
Douglas said a thank you letter for the $5,300 the Town donated to the Senior Citizens for transportation to the Bennington Recreation Center swimming program was received.
Douglas also said that the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) fares would be increasing soon.
Time Warner has been in contact about a contract renewal and changes to their programming.
Douglas said she and Town Clerk Sue Stradinger had been given a plaque at the North Hoosick Fire Department’s recent installation banquet recognizing the Town Board’s continued support of the Department.
The Board voted to appoint Eric Sheffer, Jeff Wysocki, Eric Ziem, Carl Cipperly, Beatrice Berle, Terry Hoag and Mark Cottrell to a newly formed agricultural farmland advisory protection committee and to hire American Farmland Trust of Saratoga to be a consultant to same for $25,000. The monies will come from a grant.
Councilperson O’Malley asked Shiland if cleanup costs of the recent ice storm could be recouped from federal funds. Shiland said that that is still to be decided. The total cost for overtime and machine rental was $68,653 for 80 hours. O’Malley reported that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be March 14. A new sign may be put up on the Bennington bypass as you enter the township from Vermont.
In other business, the Board passed a motion to allow the Kiwanis Club to use the skating rink on Saturday, February 14, to hold kids’ races with the contingency that the Kiwanis show proof of insurance. The Kiwanis will also make a donation to the Town.
Finally, the Board passed two motions to amend resolutions 33 and 35, eliminating wording and correcting dollar amounts for back taxes from the County.
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 pm.