Town Of Hoosick Board Meeting

by Gary Danforth
The regular monthly Town of Hoosick Board meeting took place Monday evening, May 11, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with Supervisor Marilyn Douglas calling the meeting to order at 7 pm. 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 six death certificates, six building permits, 20 dog license renewals, 22 dog licenses, one marriage license, and $2,148 in conservation fees collected. The Assessor’s report was in order as was the Court Clerk’s report. Building Inspector Ed King reported that three properties within the township had been cleaned up by their owners and two other properties still needed to be cleaned up.
Dog Control Officer
April Stevens addressed the Board, expressing concern over a recent issue with the town Dog Control Officer and two missing dogs. Ms. Stevens was told by Supervisor Douglas that the Board is still waiting to hear from the New York State Police regarding the matter and until the situation is resolved, no further comment could be made on the situation. In a related matter, Curt Bogardus expressed concern whether it made sense to have either Supervisor Douglas or Bill Shiland, Superintendent of Highways, accompany the dog warden on his calls since they were not being paid to do so. Bogardus was told until the situation was resolved, it would most likely continue to be done. Mr. Bogardus also asked the Board about debris which had been dumped on his property on Wilson Hill Road and if the Town could clean the area up.
Dog Park
Mel Dessler, inquired to the Board about the possibility of starting a dog park. He said dog parks “bring communities together. They help animals and people socialize.” He said the park would have to have rules and that he was president of a dog park in Florida. He said the park sponsored tag sales and sold hot dogs with proceeds going toward the upkeep of the dog park. The Board said the Town Attorney would have to look into legalities for a park and that a sufficient parcel of land would have to be found before the idea could be further explored.
John Costanza asked the Board for water meter clarification on meters installed some two years ago and wanted to know about billing for them. Mr. Costanza was told some meters on some homes still were not installed and that billing may occur in August on a test basis.
Bids Opened
After reviewing bids opened earlier in the meeting for stone and blacktop for paving and calcium for road dust control, Highway Superintendent Shiland recommended the Board accept bids submitted by Dailey-Peckam Materials for stone and blacktop and Gorman Brothers, for calcium. The bids were accepted for 750 tons of stone and 2000 tons of blacktop along with 7-10,000 gallons of calcium at $.98 per gallon.
Shiland said that FEMA would reimburse the town over $84,000 for salt, sand and overtime hours for workers related to the ice storm damage in December 2008.
The Board passed a motion to approve Pat Bakaitis to clean up and demolish a structure within the township. The Board also passed a motion to allow the owner of the former Redden property on Route 22 to keep a trailer on the property for another year.
90th History Board
Town Historian Phil Leonard, with assistance from Charlie Filkins, submitted a picture board of all school classes from both Hoosick Falls Central School and St. Mary’s Academy for the school year, 1957-58. It was the 90th historical board the two men have collaborated on.
Douglas noted that the Army Corps of Engineers would be meeting with town officials at the Woods Brook on May 13 at 1 pm.
In other news, opening day for the Barnett Homestead will be Saturday, May 26 for visitation. Mike Lilac will once again be running the summer basketball program from June 29 to July 3. The Town’s summer camp will run for six weeks starting June 29. History camp at the Barnett Homestead will be July 6 through July 10. The Town pool will have reduced memberships through June 15. Adult and morning and night swim signups are available. All are invited to the Memorial Day Parade on May 25.
Bridge Bids
Bids for the Caretaker’s Bridge will go out June 1 and be back around June 29 with bids for the steel bridge and a covered bridge top going out separately. The top will only be done at present if the bids for both come in under the state’s allotted monies. Otherwise, the town would have to cover the bridge at a later date.
Councilperson O’Malley reminded everyone of the upcoming 25th Annual Lions Club Wood Memorial Road Race on Saturday, May 16.
Councilperson Surdam had nothing to report. Councilperson Cottrell expressed concern over shrinking monies to local farmers for milk prices. Councilperson Bob Ryan will be looking for speakers to talk with Town campers for their summer sessions.
Dance May 25
There will be a dance at the Town skating rink/all purpose building on May 25 to raise money for tables and chairs to be used for future Town events. Tickets will be $10 per person and are on sale at the Town office, The Ice Kreme Cafe and Thorpe’s Pharmacy.
The Board passed several motions. Danielle Bohmer, Tim Bornt, Mary Donahue, Sarah Gleason, Sara Magin, Kaila Mattat, Krista Mattat, Mallary Meerwarth, Meg McEachron, Tyler Thurber, Evan Thurber, Alex Bugbee and Sean Dingman were approved as pool lifeguards. Angela Deluca and Erin Shea were approved as camp counselors. The Board okayed the Town of Schaghticoke for swimming lessons at the town pool from July 13 to July 24. Further, the Board passed a motion allowing use of the pool for St. Mary’s Academy on June 15, Hoosick Falls Central School’s second grade on June 17, HFCS’s 7th and 8th grades on June 23, HFCS’s 5th and 6th grades on June 24, Cambridge Central School on June 16 and 19 and Woodford School on June 22.
Finally, the Board passed a motion to appoint Steve Griffing to a vacancy on the Town Planning Board.
The busy meeting adjourned at 8:53 pm.