by David Flint
With word having leaked out over the weekend that the Stephentown revaluation project had been scrapped, a good size crowd came out to attend the Town Board meeting on Monday evening. Town Supervisor Tom Sherman started the meeting with a resolution stating that, with the Board and the Assessor in agreement, the project is tabled. After some discussion the resolution passed 4-0, Councilman Larry Eckhardt being absent.
Letters have been sent to all taxpayers informing them of this fact. Assessments remain as they were in 2008 unless current improvements warrant some change. Sherman said that at a meeting in Troy with State and County officials, he and Councilman Mark Prescott and Assessor Tom MacVeigh agreed that it was not economically feasible at this time to go ahead with changing assessments to full value. He noted that if the revaluation were to go into effect, 79% of taxpayers would have an increase of more than $400 in taxes.
MacVeigh said the problem was that with other towns not revaluing at the same time, it had become clear that Stephentown would have a 21% increase in school taxes because of the apparent redistribution of property wealth in the Berlin School District. Stephentown’s full value would jump from $297 million to $336 million, shifting more of the school tax burden to the Town. He attributed the problem to erratic sales prices in recent years. Although the Town was supposedly assessing at 30% of full value, MacVeigh said that was not really accurate and that to go to 100% assessment, a lot of people would find their assessment increased considerably more than 70%.
MacVeigh emphasized that the project was not “killed” but tabled and that he had the authority to decide when it would be reinstated. Sherman disagreed with that saying that the Board would decide when and if it would be reinstated.
In response to questions, Sherman said that people can still challenge their assessment, as they can every year, at the meeting of the Board of Assessment Review, which meets this year on Wednesday, May 27, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm.
Frank Curtis, Director of the Rensselaer County Bureau of Tax Services, reached later by phone, said he had called the meeting in Troy in response to a flood of rumors, questions and concerns from State and local officials as well as residents. Attending also were several representatives from the State Office of Real Property Services. Although there was some question that there might have been some gaps in the data put into the computer, Curtis confirmed that the reason that everyone agreed on for tabling the project was the expected shift in school taxes, placing much more of the burden on Stephentown. He advised that the Town explore the possibility of a multiple municipal reassessment. He was aware that both Petersburgh and Berlin had recently discussed revaluation, and he thought Grafton might be interested as well. By revaluing together, he said, the chances of such large shifts of the tax burden would be much less.
Highway Department Unionized
The Board passed a resolution establishing a fund called a Medical Insurance Bank for the purpose of reimbursing medical co-pays up to a maximum of $500 per year for each Highway Department employee. To be reimbursed, employees must turn in the proper voucher information.
Sherman explained that medical insurance premiums had been increasing at a rate of about 12% a year. They were now costing the Town $67,000 and another 12% increase was expected. Going with a new policy with higher co-pays – $25 instead of $12 – would result in a savings of 38%. It should not cost the employees more because the Town would reimburse co-pays up to $500 per year.
It turns out, however, as Janet Atwater spoke up to point out, that the Highway Department employees have now joined the United Public Service Employees Union. The Board members received a letter just before the meeting informing them of this action and demanding that the Board recognize and collectively bargain with the new local chapter. Atwater said it was apparent that the employees felt they were losing benefits and that the Town would now incur greater expenses for having to deal with the union.
Sherman said he had brought all four employees in, thoroughly discussed the change with them and told them he would not implement the change unless all agreed in writing to it. He said that they all signed the agreement. Sherman said the Board had worked hard to provide benefits to the employees in the face of limited resources, mentioning by way of example the recent changes made with sick time and vacation time accruals. He and Councilman Chris Demick regretted the fact that the employees did not express to any Board member the discontent they might have had with the insurance change and that they did not have the courtesy to inform the Board beforehand of their intent to form a union.
Highway Superintendent Aldy Goodermote said there had been talk of forming a union for many years but that he had always been the holdout. He said he had no problem with the change in insurance, but he felt he should have been more involved in the discussions from the start and as a result he was not able to answer all the questions his staff had. He also expected the Board would wait another month before implementing the plan, but “there seemed to be a rush about it.” The employees had other concerns, too, he said, about the switching back and forth on compensation for uniforms and about the different basis for pay raises used by the Board last time around.
Joel Hunt said that it was understandable that the employees would feel more protected as a union dealing with changing Town Boards. He added that dealing with a union, however, is not all bad. He pointed out that the Town gets a three-year contract, both the Board and the employees know where they stand and the employees feel secure knowing that successive Boards cannot unilaterally rescind benefits. “It’s good for them and for you in the long run,” he said.
Library Wants Special Legislative District
Sue Cass, President of the Trustees of the Stephentown Memorial Library, addressed the Board to ask for their support in changing the Library from an association library to a Special Legislative District library. She provided Sherman with a sample letter of support that would encourage the legislature to authorize a town-wide special election to approve or disapprove the Library’s request for the change. If residents voted for the change they would then vote each year for Trustees and on the Library budget. They would pay for this with another line item on their County property tax bill.
The Library, she said, is doing well now but must do extensive fundraising each year – $22,000 this year – just to be able to pay staff. The Special Legislative District would provide stability for employees and enable payment of benefits. She pointed out that towns in the Upper Hudson Library System support their libraries on average in the amount of $35 per capita, but Stephentown currently provides support at $12 per capita.
Taxpayers now pay that $12 but have less say because the Town Board appropriates it and taxpayers don’t vote on the budget.
Sherman asked Cass to provide the Board and citizens as well with a more detailed proposal describing all the pros and cons of the Legislative District idea and indicating how much exactly the Library would be asking for in a tax levy. He said the Board would then do some due diligence, consider the ramifications and discuss it at the next meeting.
Cormier Still Seeking Payment
Tony Cormier is still seeking payment for sand taken from his yard back in 2005. This was the unpermitted gravel mine that figured in the conviction and removal from office of former Highway Superintendent Neil Gardner. The Town paid half of a bill from Russ Freeman stating that the payment was solely for rental of Freeman’s screening machine, not for the sand. So Cormier is still awaiting payment for the sand taken from his yard that was spread on Town roads.
Sherman said the Town had received a release from Freeman’s widow to the effect that any payment on the outstanding voucher would go to Cormier but the Town’s attorney has advised that the Board also needs to secure a release from the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This would “take the Town off the hook,” Sherman said but DEC has not provided the release yet. Cormier was not happy with this explanation, asking why the Town needs DEC’s permission when there is no longer an ongoing investigation and urging the Board, in vain, to vote on paying the bill before storming out of the meeting hall.
Road Problem
A resident of North Moore Hill Road complained that truck repairs were costing him money because of washouts on the road. He wanted a major fix and not just “band-aid” repairs. Goodermote said the road was supposed to have fabric and gravel installed last year but it didn’t happen.
Transfer Station
Sherman reported that ERCSWMA congratulated the Town for increasing their recycling rate slightly in 2008, but they also noted that Stephentown’s recycling rate of 21.6% is below the national average rate of 32%. Councilman PJ Roder noted that the Transfer Station will no longer take electronic equipment since E-Lot backed out of their agreement . It now costs the Transfer Station $50 to dispose of a television and $40 for a computer monitor. Roder advised people to take their used electronic equipment to Best Buy for recycling.
Fuel System
Sherman said the automatic fuel system is now installed at the Highway Garage. PJ Roder will meet with the Fire Department and Rescue Squad to work out an arrangement for them to use the Town’s fuel system.
Dog Report
Dog Control Officer Lynne Burns reported four calls for February, including one stray and three running free. Burns plans to have another rabies clinic at the Town Garage some weekend in May.
Funds To Restore Frequently Flooded Lands
Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick reported that federal Stimulus funds have become available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to acquire and restore frequently flooded land to its natural state. Sign-up is required by March 27. Restoration, paid for by NRCS, will help retain flood waters in floodplains and associated areas, restore water quality and provide habitat for wildlife. Information can be found online at www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov.
Saving Community Schools
John Nash of Grafton addressed the Board to ask that people of Stephentown consider standing up for their community school and fight to keep it from being closed. The Berlin School District is planning to close Stephentown Elementary School at the end of this school year. Nash said it is not just a convenience to have a small school right in your community. The trend, he said, was toward consolidation 25 years ago but that trend has reversed, at least outside of New York State. Research, Nash said, has shown the benefits of small community schools and that consolidation does not work. He said the School Board had not done due diligence in this matter and they have not made the case that closing the outlying schools will save that much money or solve a fiscal crisis that he said does not really exist.
Trouble On Gentile Road
A resident of Gentile Road complained that a neighbor’s goats were destroying her shrubs and before that his chickens destroyed her flower beds. She is also being harassed by the neighbor; her dog was shot with a pellet gun and her mailbox has been blown up with some sort of bomb. She said the State Police had been out multiple times and seem not to be able to take any action. Sherman recommended she speak with one of the Town Justices.
Trouble On Garfield Road
A resident of Garfield Road reported that some sort of memorial shrine has been set up on Garfield Road near the East Nassau line at the site of a fatal accident last August. The problem is that lit candles have been set out and the resident was worried that open flames with wind and leaves make for a dangerous situation that could set the hillside on fire and endanger a nearby house. Sherman recommended he speak with the County Highway Department.
Deposits & Spending
The Town Clerk reported she had turned over to the Supervisor the sum of $385.81 for the month of February. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $3,030. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $2,861.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $14,862.41 from the General Account and $13,734.18 from the Highway Account.
The Board set their next regular meeting for Monday, April 20, at 7 pm.