Grafton Town Board Action

Route 2 Not To Be Paved Until 2014
by Erin Hogan
At the Grafton Town Board meeting on Thursday, October 8, Supervisor Allison Kirchner announced that she had been informed that Route 2 isn’t on the top priority list of the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT). Apparently, the DOT doesn’t plan to repave the main road through Grafton until 2014. Supervisor Kirchner is out to change that. The Supervisor and Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck want to try to work with the DOT to make Route 2 a higher priority. There is stimulus money in the State budget for roads, and Supervisor Kirchner is going to try and get some of that for bumpy old Route 2.
Permits
There was a misunderstanding for the permits for wood stoves and other such devices. A permit is only needed for new installations of wood stoves, gas furnaces, etc. This permit, with a fee of $50, is mostly for homeowner protection and to make sure everything is installed properly.
Rensselaer County Electronics Recycling Day
On Saturday, October 17, from 9 am to 2 pm there will be an electronics recycling day. This event will be held at the upper parking lot of the Rensselaer County Office Building, 1600 7th Avenue (Congress Street Entrance), in downtown Troy. For most items such as computers, copiers, printers, refrigerators and the like there will be no charge. For televisions and computer monitors there will be a $50 charge. For more information call 270-2888 or 270-2880.
New To Grafton
Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey reported that there are 34 new building permits. Along with that, there are three to four new homes to be built in Grafton, which Withcuskey said is a “good sign.” He also wanted to remind everyone of the new burning ban and to follow those new procedures.
Supervisor Kirchner also followed up on a request from last meeting that there be a Household Hazardous Waste Day in Grafton. This would allow community members to safely dispose of items such as, but not limited to, paint, light bulbs, batteries and mercury. She did her homework and found that it would cost the Town some money to have such a day but the Department of Environmental Conservation does give out grants for such occasions. She’s going to look into perhaps having one in 2010 and merging with nearby towns to help cut the cost.
Highway Report
Herb Hasbrouck presented the highway report to the Board, reporting that the County helped put in the culvert on Johnson Road. At this point it’s “all cleaned up and nice,” he said. Also, on Dunham Reservoir Road, a 10 foot 30 inch pipe that was rotting was caught early and got sleeved. It was a great save, and catching it early saved the Town the money to replace it. Hasbrouck informed the Board that an employee has returned to work after an automobile accident which kept him from work.
Communications
Renee Merrihew, the Duanesburgh Town Supervisor, sent an email to the Board regarding the Highway budget comparisons. In this comparison, Duanesburgh, Grafton, Poestenkill, Charlton, Chesterfield and Lewis were all compared on different aspects of the Town Highway Department Budget. Grafton had the most miles of road with 49.83 miles to cover and not the most number of workers to cover that mileage with only five employees. Grafton spent the least out of all the towns on capital improvements with $39,120, on employee benefits with $90,471.00, on debt service principal with $30,400 and on interest with $3,594. Grafton spent the most out of the three towns on machinery with $116,770 compared to the least spent by Lewis with $60,254. Overall the comparisons are interesting, and the Supervisor took this time to thank Merrihew for putting together this great chart. She also said, “Herbie [Hasbrouck] does a great job!”
Resolutions
Resolution #75 of 2009 was presented setting the 2010 Town of Grafton Tentative Budget with changes as the 2010 Preliminary Budget. The Resolution passed. Next, Resolution 76 authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign an agreement with ECB Communications in the amount of $480 for the period 1/1/09-11/1/10 for the telephone system passed with Supervisor Kirchner abstaining from the vote. Lastly, Resolution 77 scheduling a Public Hearing for the 2010 Budget on October 29 at 6:45 pm was passed.
After all bills were audited this Board Meeting was adjourned in memory of Shirley Fowler, Norma Edlemann, Betty Hathaway and Ron Warika.