by Bea Peterson
At the Tuesday regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board Mayor Laura Reynolds announced the candidates for the March election. All them are members of the Progressive Party and will be running unopposed as the Taxpayer Party did not put up a slate of candidates this year. Matthew Monahan is the candidate for Mayor.
Mayor Reynolds appointed Monahan as Trustee to the Board in 2007 to replace
the late Thomas Barton. Last year Monahan was elected to serve the second year of that term, and this year he was appointed Deputy Mayor. Trustee Ric DiDonato was appointed to the Board in 2006 to complete the term of Mary Bradley following her resignation. He was elected to the Board the following year. Trustee Paul Haynes, Jr. was appointed to the Board in January. He had served on the Board previously.
The only new candidate for a Trustee position is John Hickey of 12 McCaffrey St. When he is elected he will serve on the Board with his son, Trustee Michael Hickey.
The Village election will be Wednesday, March 18. Election inspectors were appointed at the meeting. First Ward inspectors at the CEO building on River Road are Joanie Rogers and Paulette Sukuskas. Second and Third Ward inspectors at the Municipal Building are Doris Auerning, Isabel McGuire and Alice Shiland. Inspectors for the Fourth Ward at the Danforth Center are Esther Baker and Delight Cullen.
Fuel Bids
The Board accepted a bid from Doug’s Oil for #2 heating oil and diesel fuel at fifteen cents per gallon over cost. It was the only bid received.
The Board rejected all three bids for demolition of 25 Elm St. as they did not include plans for asbestos removal or bidding statements. This was a big disappointment to Board members who hoped to have the building removed this month. A request for bids will be published again to be received by March 9.
The Board accepted a bid from GCS, General Control Systems, for $33,023 for the SCADA System installation at the Waste Water Treatment plant. Work on the project will begin in two to three weeks. The cost of this improvement to the system is covered through a grant. A lower bid was not accepted because it was received by fax. A hard copy of the bid was to be received in the Clerk’s office by February 3.
Water Plant Progress Slow
“We are not happy with the situation,” said Mayor Reynolds. Referring to the delays in the completion of the new Water Treatment Plant, she added, “This is not a great situation.” The building was scheduled for completion in December. The new deadline is anticipated to be the second week of March. The contractor has had several excuses for the delays. Village officials are meeting with the contractor more than once a week. At this meeting the Board approved scheduled payments to contractors of more than a million dollars.
Police Officers
The Board approved a motion to canvas the Civil Service police officers list for two full time police officers. Mayor Reynolds cited the difficulties and the costs involved with calling in part time officers from miles away to fill in shifts and sometimes not having them available. The goal is to have four dependable full time officers.
Wood Brook
Pam Benkoski told the Board she and some Hall St. residents had attended the Town Board meeting the previous evening. She thanked Monahan for attending the meeting with them. Some of the points brought out at the meeting included increased run-off on Main St. since housing developments had occurred at higher elevations. She told the Board one Wood Brook property owner said he was constantly cleaning brush, leaves and debris out of the brook placed there by his neighbors. The Town Board suggested the Town and Village apply for a member item grant from NYS Senator Roy McDonald and Assemblyman Tony Jordan. Mayor Reynolds said this was possible. Monahan said he learned at the meeting that a study of the brook had been part of a Town project several years ago and he will look into retrieving that report as a starting point. Trustee Hickey said the County Engineer had toured the Hall St. site last Friday but did not tour the whole brook because of the snow. DiDonato suggested that everyone along the brook join together and form a not-for-profit group that could perhaps receive Federal funds. He had recently heard of a Federal program targeted specifically to areas that had been flooded twice in 12 months.
Mayor Reynolds suggested a committee of residents and Village officials be formed to discuss the Wood Brook problem at a separate time from the monthly Village Board meeting.
Benkoski said the neighbors will hold another Wood Brook neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, February 17, at 7 pm. DiDonato said he would attend. The meeting will be in the Municipal Building.
Nuisance Property
A homeowner on Wilder Ave. complained of an adjoining property with three apartments. His complaints included illegal parking, scattered beer bottles, disorderly behavior by people leaving the premises, accumulated trash in front of the building and vandalism. The owner of the property, he said, lives in Virginia. He was informed that the Village now has a Nuisance Law and he should call Dispatch when one of these violations occurs, and it will be recorded and points applied against the property. The landlord will be notified of the violations, and if that property receives a certain number of points, the Village will have the property shut down.
Clean Sidewalks And Trees
The Mayor reminded businesses and homeowners that by law they are responsible for clearing the snow from sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses.
The Village highway crew has completed removal of Christmas trees. Anyone still having a tree must see that it is taken to the Town landfill.
Water Line Discussion
The new Village water line law states that the property owner is responsible for the line from the residence to the curb box and the Village is responsible for the rest of line. A discussion ensued regarding where a homeowner places the curb box and what cost that could add to the taxpayers when repairs are necessary. Mayor Reynolds suggested local contractors, Public Works Supervisor Niel Stowell and Board members meet to discuss the law and possibly amend it. Public hearings are held to discuss issues like this, said Mayor Reynolds. There had been no comments at the hearings.
Unsightly Corner
Mayor Reynolds said she is waiting to hear when the funds will be available for projects on the Village’s Restore NY grant. She had contacted the State previously and been told the State was “not moving very fast on it.” She said Alex Koch is in the process of purchasing the lot on the corner of John and Main Streets, but the financing is being held up until information regarding the grant is available.
In other business the Board:
• Approved a motion for LaBerge to apply for a $400,000 HOME grant on behalf of the Village for housing rehabilitation.
• Approved a request from the Hoosick Falls Country Club to renew its seasonal liquor license from April 1, 2009, to November 30, 2009.
• Approved a request for funds to support the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the amount of $500. The parade will be Saturday, March 14 at 1 pm.