Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting

Parking An Issue On Fiske St.
by Bea Peterson
During the people to be heard portion of the Hoosick Falls Village Board meeting on Tuesday, May 12, Dan Thompson of 8 Fiske St. complained again about the tenants and their guests at the adjoining house and the way they are parking their cars and then turning them around onto his property. He said he complained to the Zoning Board fours months ago and has heard nothing. Mayor Matt Monahan said the police chief had looked over the situation and didn’t believe it was a safety issue, though there was property damage. When asked, Building Inspector Dick Weeden said he had copies of the deeds to all the properties involved. The Mayor assured Thompson that the matter would be looked into. Between the Village attorney, the police and Board members, Thompson was told he would have something in writing within 72 hours.
Another concern, said Thompson is the loud weekend parties held at various residences on the street and that as many as 15 cars are parked along both sides of the street and traffic cannot get through. He said the police were called four times last Saturday night. Trustee Ann Bornt told him to continue to complain. “Our residents deserve peace and quiet, that’s why we have this new nuisance law.” She told them to continue to call if they have complaints.
Mayor Monahan said the Board will meet next Tuesday, May 19, at 6 pm to resolve the Fiske St. issues.
Green Heights Questions And Meters
Residents from the Green Heights development, which is just outside the Village, were looking for answers to questions regarding their water bills. Their spokesman said they had written to the Village months ago and had received no response. They attended Monday’s Town Board meeting and were told the Town only sends out the bills and collects the fees, the cost of water and how it is billed is determined by the Village. One of the complaints was that they pay one and a half times what Village residents pay. Trustee Ric DiDonato said that was a cost determined when the development was under construction as the Village is essentially selling its water to them. The residents were upset because they received their water bills and were faced with a 17 percent increase and they had to pay the bill all at once, not in three installments like Village residents do. The Mayor and Trustee Paul Haynes said they would look into billing them similarly. Monahan said this was the first he had heard of their concerns and if they would send him the letter they had previously sent, he will look for answers and schedule a meeting with them.
Another question they asked was when were the water meters going to be used. Monahan said not all the meters have been installed and some that were installed were put in backwards or they were faulty. He said they won’t be used this year but will be in effect for the billing cycle beginning August 2010.
Louise Ciuk said she is the last house on Mechanic St. She said water coming off the hill from the development above her is flowing onto her lawn making it a swamp. It is so wet she can’t mow it. Ciuk told the Board a gully and rocks were put in alongside the road, but they are not working. Trustee John Hickey said he would look into it.
Clean Up And Repairs Not Complete
Trustee Bornt said the demolition project by Champagne LLC of the Elm St. building has not been completed. She has a punch list of items that remain to be done, including replacing some windows, wires and other repairs to adjoining buildings. The Board approved paying the contractor all but 15 percent of the $59,000 for the job. The 15 percent would cover the cost should the punch list not be completed and the work had to be done by others.
Police Contract
At the start of the meeting the Board went into executive session to discuss the contract for part time police officers. They returned after 20 minutes and voted to approve the contract.