Village Dispatch Faces Elimination

by Bea Peterson
At the regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board on Tuesday, January 12, Mayor Matt Monahan announced that a special public meeting would be held at the Senior Center on Thursday, February 4, from 6 to 8 pm to discuss consolidating Village Dispatch with the Rensselaer County 911 system. “This is an informational meeting open to Village residents,” the Mayor said. “It is strictly informational and will be strictly limited to two hours.” Village residents wanting to speak at this meeting may register in the Village Clerk’s office. Residents who wish to speak without registering will be allowed to speak on a first come, first serve basis until time runs out. The Mayor said the Village is looking at a $200,000 budget deficit for the coming year. Some changes will have to be made to avoid a 17% tax increase. The Mayor anticipates State financial cuts, a decline in CHIPS money and a loss of revenue in the coming year.
In giving the Treasurer’s Report, Deputy Mayor Paul Haynes, Jr. reported that water and sewer funds were on track. The Village is waiting for money it is owed from the State to balance the general fund. “We’ll be in bad, bad shape without that money,” said Haynes. “Health benefits have increased 30%. We’re looking at decreasing revenues and increasing expenses next year. We can’t keep raising taxes.” He noted that water and sewer are two sources of revenue for the Village. So far this year the wastewater plant has made $25,000 from accepting outside waste, and it is expected that the total for the year will be $50,000.
Fiske St. Parking Change
The Board began the meeting with a Public Hearing on Local Law #1 of 2010 prohibiting parking on the west side of Fiske St. No one made any comments on the change. Village Trustee Ann Bornt said one resident told her she preferred to see the street be one way instead of no parking on one side. Many Board members felt this would cause even more problems. At the end of the Village meeting the Board voted unanimously to approve the Local Law.
Water Plant
Mayor Monahan said, “Hats off to Jim [Hurlburt] for receiving his Water Treatment Plant Operator’s license.” Board members applauded his efforts as well. The Mayor also thanked Tom Gerard who has been the licensed Water Plant Operator since work on the plant began. “He has done an exceptional and outstanding job, above and beyond what could be expected,” the Mayor said. Gerard will be backup operator at the Plant when needed.
Low-bidder for Contract 3-Mechanical Improvements for the Water Plant was Family Danz Heating with a bid of $25,800.
Police Officers Must Be Certified
Ken Colombraro asked the Board to vote on his status as a part time Hoosick Falls Police Officer. The Mayor suggested the vote could be taken in executive session. Colombraro said he was entitled to have his case heard before the public. The Board agreed, if that was his choice. Colombraro and another part time officer have been placed on administrative leave because they are not NYS certified police officers. The officers could be reinstated once they have completed Police Academy training and are State certified. Colombraro has many years of police experience and has been certified at three Academies. The Mayor explained that the Village is liable for any complaints against an uncertified officer while the State and State insurance are responsible for a certified officer. Colombraro said he would not be ready for the January academy training program, but he would like to start the training in July. The training is six months long. Because of his previous experience, Colombraro only has to do three months of training. He wanted to stay on the force until the July training. “I can’t allow it,” the Mayor said. “My hands are tied. I am not comfortable having anyone on staff that is not certified.” Colombraro pointed out that there had been an officer on the force for years that was not certified. The Mayor said that would not happen again. It was suggested Colombraro see if there is a certification transfer policy in place. The Board voted unanimously that Colombraro would be unable to work for the Police Department until he either completes Academy certification or receives a lateral certification transfer. Since Colombraro is a part time officer the Board also declined to pay for him to attend the Academy.
Merge No Easy Task
Jim Martinez asked the Board if they had considered merging the Village and the Town into one. Mayor Monahan said he had spoken to both former Mayor Bogardus and Mayor Reynolds about it. “Right now we are examining shared services and looking into a $25,000 State grant regarding shared services.” Merging the Village and the Town is a lot of work. Another option may be to make the Village a hamlet. With a merge the Town would have one post office, not three as it does now. “There are a lot of laws in the Village which the Town doesn’t use,” the Mayor added. Trustee Ric DiDonato said the median income of the Town is higher than the Village and the merging might make the Village ineligible for some grant funds. Martinez said he believed they should all work together. The Mayor said Corinth was in the process of a merger. “It’s a tremendous amount of work,” he said, particularly for part time individuals. For example, he said, the Village needs to do an assessment and that could cost $20,000. The Town needs to do one too, he said. “The Town and Village have different tax exemptions for businesses,” he pointed out. “It’s a major undertaking, but it is probably what will happen one day.” The Mayor stated that over the years 108 Villages have tried to complete a merger and so far only eight have succeeded. His answer to Martinez was, “Yes, it is being looked into.”
The question was asked about the property on Griffin Ave. The Mayor said he and DiDonato had met with the owner before Christmas. “We told him our expectations, and we discussed options. It’s up to him now. He has a lot of thinking to do.” He will not be allowed to rent any of the apartments until improvements are made to the building.
The Mayor thanked Niel [Stowell] and the highway crew for the great job they did on snow removal throughout the Village.
DiDonato reported that plans are progressing on the Hoosic Riverwalk. An informational public meeting on the Riverwalk will be held on Tuesday, February 23. No site has been selected at this time.
No bids were received for the Village’s surplus property.
Grievance Day
Grievance Day for the Village will be held in the Municipal Building on Wednesday, February 10, from 5 to 8 pm.
In other business the Board approved:
• Agreements with the Country for Stop-DWI patrols for 2010 in an amount not to exceed $5,000 and for a handicap parking patrol not to exceed $250.
• Appointment of Election Inspectors for the March 16 election. For Ward 1 at the CEO Center it will be Joan Rogers and Paulette Sukuskas. Wards 2,3 and 4 will vote at the Municipal Building, and inspectors are Doris Auernig, Esther Baker, Delight Cullen, Isabel McGuire and Alice Shiland.
• Appointment of Aaron Gagliardi as Assistant Water Plant Operator for a probationary period of 90 days, which began December 12.
• Appointment of part time police officer Gido Gabriel.
• Motion to purchase a multi-gas detector for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $1,287.95.
• Motion to advertise for bids for a locator camera for Wastewater use and to advertise for sealed bids for #2 fuel oil and diesel fuel. Bids must be received by 6 pm February 9.