Large Trucks Banned On River Road

by Bea Peterson
At the regular monthly meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board on Tuesday, December 8, Trustees Ann Bornt, Bob Downing, Michael Hickey, Ric DiDonato and John Hickey unanimously approved Local Law #5 for 2009 forbidding trucks over 26,000 pounds from traveling on River Road. Deputy Mayor Paul Haynes was absent. Trucks traveling the three tenths of a mile from Route 22 to Wilson Hill Road to deliver or pick up fuel from the Doug’s Oil storage facility will be exempt. Mayor Matt Monahan assured owner John Cooney that “We aren’t going to impact your business.”
Several River Road residents pointed out that heavy trucks began utilizing the road when, first, the railroad bridge and then the Mechanic Street bridge were rebuilt. Before that there was little truck traffic, they said. Now that the new water lines have been installed, they feel it is time for the heavy traffic to stop, pointing out that there are no sidewalks on that road and the guardrails on the Hoosic River side are practically useless.
Mayor Monahan said they will work with DOT (NYS Department Of Transportation) to see that signage is properly placed so truck drivers know well in advance they cannot use River Road. That step will be followed by police enforcement of the new law.
Another River Road concern voiced at the meeting was the placement of the  new fire hydrants. Hoosick Falls Water Department Head Jim Hurlburt said the hydrants were placed according to DOT specifications that the Village must follow. All of the hydrants will have flags on them and, in answer to the concern, he doubts that Village plows will knock them over.
The owner of property on 39 River Road wanted to know when the problem with his driveway will be resolved. Hurlburt said the drainage ditch will be dug very soon but the driveway will not be blacktopped until spring. There was a general grumbling regarding the River Road project contractor, and the Mayor responded that he has received several complaints about them.
The final question brought up regarding River Road was when was the dumping going to stop. Three Village projects have dumped debris on the flats near the railroad bridge. The Mayor responded that that stretch of land is private property and contracts are signed with the owner to dump there. The Mayor said the materials have been EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) soil tested and it’s all clean stuff.
Mechanic Street Lights
It was pointed out that there are old and new light poles side by side on Mechanic Street. If the old poles were removed, the appearance of the street would be much improved. The Board will check into it.
That brought up the issue of lights that don’t stay on. Anyone concerned about these lights can check the pole number and call Dispatch with the information, and it will be reported to the electric company.
Griffin Avenue Property
A neighbor to the neglected Griffin Avenue property asked the status of that project. Mayor Monahan said there have been “significant communication breakdowns” between him and building owner, Timothy Girdis. “Until he wants to make the repairs [required in the engineering report] he won’t get a CO (Certificate of Occupancy) and we’re at a standstill right now. At least he has no tenants.” When asked about improvements to the outside of the building the Mayor responded, “We have no beautification law, and, unfortunately, there is not much we can do.”
Panel To Be Considered
David Borge of Wilder Street thanked the Board for clarifying the owner occupancy issue with single houses converted to apartments. Since there are so many rental properties that must be owner occupied for sale in the Village, he wondered if a committee of people with vested interests, such as home owners and realtors, could be put together to study the issue. Perhaps they could look for incentives for buyers, he suggested. Mayor Monahan noted that there was a staggeringly low number of houses sold in the Village this year. He thanked Borge for his suggestion and said the Board would brainstorm the idea. Trustee DiDonato said the 1992 law is so finite, he wondered if it shouldn’t be amended. “There are good investors,” he said. The Mayor responded that the Village “can’t hand pick landlords.”
Outside Waste Creates Revenue
A resident representing organized sportsmen was concerned about trucks from other states dumping their sewage into the Village wastewater treatment plant. He was worried the waste would pollute the Hoosic River. He cited the Oak-Mitsui plant and the one mistake that dumped chemicals into the  Hoosic River and inflicted terrible damage on the River. It took years for the company to make restitution, he added.
As an ice fisherman, he said he cannot dump his bait fish or the three gallons of water they come in into any waterway, yet we can take in extra sewage. The Mayor responded that the state of the art wastewater treatment plant functions above and beyond all standards. Outside waste is taken in because the plant is currently operating at only 60 percent capacity. So far revenue from that waste has been more than $40,000. “The River has been tested by DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and it is fine,” the Mayor said.
Snowmobiles Off The Beaten Path
A question was asked if snowmobiles can leave the approved trails through the Village. They have been seen parked at other places. The Mayor said the only stop off the trail snowmobilers can make is to Cumberland Farms.
Public Hearing On Fiske Street Parking
A public hearing will be held at the start of the Village Board meeting on Tuesday, January 12, to discuss Local Law #1 for 2010 regarding parking restrictions on Fiske Street.
In other business the Board approved motions to:
• Advertise for sealed bids on old Village equipment. Some of the equipment will require minimum bids.
• Accept the low bid of $73,238 from SolarBee in North Dakota for the sludge holding tank upgrade.
• Make final payments to Malone & Tate for the Water Plant in the amount of $114,619.05, contingent on a final Clough Harbour review with the Mayor and Water Department Head Jim Hurlburt.
• Sign the certificate of substantial completion for Casale Excavating, contingent on completion of bridge work.
• Hire Laberge Group to write the grant application for the 2010 program for income qualified home owners to receive funds of up to $40,000 for property repairs. Since the Village did not receive a grant last year, the Group reduced its fee to $4,200 to apply for the grant this year.
The meeting concluded with the Board retiring to Executive Session to discuss personnel issues.