Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – Problems With Neighbors

by Bea Peterson
Residents of Griffin Ave. spoke again at the Hoosick Falls Village Board meeting on Tuesday, July 14, regarding a rental property in disrepair on the street. Trustee Ann Bornt told them she and Mayor Matthew Monahan had talked with the landlord and addressed the issues of siding, branches, trash, debris, weeds and the number of people residing in an upstairs apartment. “We did not give him the go ahead for a fourth apartment,” she said. “There were no agreements made. He has to draw up a plan of action. Then he has to go through the Planning Board and the Zoning Board and then there would be a public hearing,” Bornt said. The Mayor and the Building Inspector Dick Weeden will look at the building again to see that the foundation is as sound as they have been told. One couple said the house is an eyesore and disrespectful to the other homeowners on the street.
The neighbors also have issues with the building’s tenants who, they say, are disturbing the peace, using foul language and making threats. Police Chief Robert Whalen said disturbing the peace is a tough thing to prove in court, “But we can arrest them for making threats.” The neighbors have a concern about liability when the children are playing in other yards without permission, particularly when the property owners are not home.
Trustee Bob Downing said he has a similar problem in his neighborhood. “They’re destroying the Village,” he said.
Residents of Wilder Ave. thanked the Board for the follow through on previous complaints, and they thanked the Police Dept. for working to resolve the parking problems saying there was a significant difference on the street now. Part of the difference may be the fact two families have moved from the nearby rental property and only one remains. The house is for sale and neighbors are concerned the buyer will be another absentee landlord.
They pointed out that there is a drainage problem on the street with stones from one driveway being washed into the road with every rainstorm. Some blacktop needs to be put in to divert the rainwater into the catch basins. In two locations on the street the runoff misses the basins completely. Trustee John Hickey said he will speak with the Public Works Dept. about the problem.
Demolition Payment
Tom Reed of Champagne Demolition, which took down and removed the building on Elm St., asked the Board when the company could expect the final payment of $9,000. Mayor Monahan said they would cut the check within the next week. Reed also asked about the additional $12,000 due for disposal of friable materials. Bornt and Mayor Monahan both said the Board did not authorize the change in scope and any change must be approved by the Board before the work is completed. Reed stated emphatically that they were directed to do the work by the Board’s representative C.T. Male. A subcontractor had originally bid $500 to remove the bricks, but once the material was determined to be hazardous, it had to be hauled to a hazardous waste site. The Mayor will meet with Reed to work out a solution.
During Committee Reports Downing asked about destroying brush that is collected. The Mayor said a rate should be established for brush left at the Transfer Station. Someone who brings a car trunk load of brush should not be charged the same as someone who brings a truck load of brush, he said. They will check with other towns and set a rate at the August meeting.
John Hickey reported on the various projects that the Public Works Dept. has undertaken during the past month. Mayor Monahan thanked Superintendent Niel Stowell and everybody “who put in some real long hours” to repair a series of water line breaks that occurred recently.
Trustee Ric DiDonato said he has been working with HooRWA on the greenway. They are looking into purchasing some land along the river not far from the Shop Bridge. DiDonato said he now has contacts to see about removing brush and trees left behind after the Route 22 project. The greenway is progressing slowly, he said.
Dog Park
Trustee Mike Hickey said he and the Mayor had looked at land near the old water treatment plant on Waterworks Road and it appeared to be an appropriate site for a dog park as it is flat and being mowed already. There will be a public hearing on the park at the August Board meeting. People interested in having such a park will have to raise funds for the fencing. Melvin Dessler, who is very interested in having such a park, volunteered to help get it going.
Hickey said he has also continued to work with the Hall St. people on the Woods Brook problem.
At the request of Trustee Paul Haynes, the Board approved Safe Haven Boarding and Grooming of Greenwich as the facility to keep stray dogs found in the Village.
Bike Sale
The Police Department will be holding a sale of found bicycles from 10 am until noon on Sunday, July 26, at the Village Highway Garage on Waterworks Way. At least 30 bikes will be on display.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Class
The Board approved Officer John Sotile attending a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Class in Albany County. Chief Whalen noted there are countless trucks going through the village daily “and many that should not be on the road.” Sotile will be the second officer with this training. “With two officers we can do better safety checks,” he said.
Mayor Monahan told the Board that the Corner Stone phone system proposal was in excess of $10,000 and he was going to do away with the proposal because there was no way the Village could fund it.
In other business the Board:
• Adopted Resolution #7 of 2009 to be part of the Green Innovation Grant Program. The grant  would provide repairs to prevent freezing of lines at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Appointed Nathan VanFleet as a part time police officer.
• Appointed Nancy Martelle to the Planing Board to fill a vacant seat with her term expiring 2010.
• Appointed Al Bornt temporary head of Dispatch from July 18 to August 3 while the Dispatch Department Head is on vacation.
• Approved Koseter Associates to inspect the equipment they have supplied for the Waste Water Treatment plant for the budgeted amount of $2,778.
• Approved the renewal of applications to NYS Liquor Authority for the Sand Bar & Klub House Inc. and for the Olde Firehouse Tavern.
The next regular Board meeting will be Tuesday, August 11, at 6 pm with several Public Hearings scheduled as well.
The meeting adjourned and the Board went into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues.