Grafton Town Board Action – Route 2 Partially Resurfaced

by Bea Peterson
At the monthly Board meeting on Thursday, November 12, Grafton Town Supervisor Allison Kirchner reported that Route 2 had been partially resurfaced and the timetable for further work had been improved. Supervisor Kirchner said she had arranged for a meeting with Frank Bonafide of the NYS DOT, James Church from NYS Senator Roy McDonald’s office, Grafton Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck, representatives from the Brittonkill and Berlin School Districts and Petersburgh Town Supervisor Peter Schaaphok on October 16 to discuss the deterioration of Route 2 through Grafton. The following Monday the resurfacing took place. “The work was done in a very timely manner,” said Supervisor Kirchner.
As a result of that meeting, and further study of the Route, Supervisor Kirchner was informed that ditching on Route 2 would be done in 2010 and complete repaving would be done in 2011. The Board is pleased with this schedule as they had been previously told paving would not be done until 2014.
Seniors Disrespect Lawn Near Memorial
A Grafton resident complained that seniors coming to the Everett Wagar Senior Center were parking on the lawn and ruining the drainage put in when the veterans memorial was moved to the site. “The Town made something of the place,” he said, “and it’s being ruined. They’re not showing any consideration for the Town.” Councilman Ed Fredricks said he didn’t understand why there should be a shortage of parking for the seniors as the Town had contracted with the Grafton Baptist Church to use their lot for additional parking. Evidently many people don’t want to walk that far. Supervisor Kirchner said she would speak to Senior Center Director Penny Jones about the problem.
Bids Received
Estimates of $4,500 for siding materials for the Grafton Post Office and $9,800 for Town Garage roof materials were received. The Board does not have labor costs for the projects yet. Supervisor Kirchner said representatives from Senator McDonald’s office suggested she submit a request for funds for the projects.
Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck was not at the meeting as he was attending the retirement party of Rensselaer County Engineer Fred Howard. Supervisor Kirchner said Hasbrouck had noted in his report that all lighting fixtures in the Town are up to date. Kirchner said the highway crew is “gearing up for the big [snow] season.”
Building Inspector Thomas Withcuskey reported 21 new building permits with 40 outstanding from previous years. He noted the change in the State’s outside burning laws and said Grafton had such a law on the books before the State. A copy of that law is on the front desk of the Town Clerk’s Office. DEC is also out looking to see that the law is followed, he added.
Supervisor Kirchner said a request for funding for youth programs for the Town had to be submitted by November 18.
The Rescue Squad reported several calls for 208 miles and 29 hours volunteer time.
Supervisor Kirchner read an informational letter from Mariner Tower regarding the proposed 150 foot wireless cell tower they want to put up in Berlin.
Kirchner read two letters from Marcia Trask. The first was to praise Penny Jones and the improvements she has made at the Everett Wagar Senior Center. Trask wrote that the van now comes to the Center three times a week allowing more people to visit the site and there are several new programs at the Center, including yoga. In her second letter she requested the Town allow line dancing at the Center on Friday nights as well as Wednesday nights. The Board approved the request.
The Board adjourned the 15 minute long meeting at 7:15 in memory of Marilyn Buckley and Gail Wescott.