Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – February 2010

by Bea Peterson
One of the first items on the agenda of the Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 9, was the Treasurer’s Report. Deputy Mayor Paul Haynes said the Water and Sewer portions of the budget are fine. Income for the General Fund is down. Haynes said even though the budget predicted sales tax funds to be flat, they are $6,000 to $7,000 below that. Income looks good, he said. Court fines are 125 percent over budget. To keep the budget in check, all overtime must be approved by the Mayor, he added.
Recycling Is Important
Haynes said trash removal costs $236,000 a year. “It is very important to recycle. Every item that is recycled reduces what is placed in trash. The cost of trash is weighed and priced by the ton. With the new bins all recycling can be put out every week in one container.
Haynes noted that the Highway budget is $4,000 over for repairs; $21,000 was budgeted and $25,000 has been spent. Thirty thousand dollars was budgeted for new purchases and none have been made, which will help cover the $5,300 cost of new tires. He pointed out that it is important to keep up with repairs so that the Village doesn’t have higher costs for replacing equipment down the road.
“The Village has spent all the CHIPS money,” Haynes said. Now the Village is waiting for the State to reimburse the $92,000 it spent. “The lack of snow this winter has been helpful,” he said.
Benefits have increased 30 percent for some Village employees and others have been moved to a different insurance plan. “We’ll be okay this year,” he said, “but next year is going to be tough. And the following year we expect to see a 40 percent increase and lower state aid. Next year’s budget will be brutal,” he concluded.
Trucks Still Traveling River Road
A River Road resident told the Board that trucks were still traveling down that road in spite of the signs that are now in place. The Mayor said he would have the police look into it.
Trustee Ann Bornt said the matter regarding 108 Church St. has been turned over to the Court and the owner must appear on February 18.
Hoosic River Greenway Community Workshop
Trustee Ric DiDonato said the Hoosic River Greenway has hired a consulting firm to help design the proposed Greenway. A Community Workshop will be held on Wednesday, February 24, at 6 pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. DiDonato encouraged the public and all service groups, such as Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, to attend the meeting and offer suggestions.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
The 19th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will be held in Hoosick Falls on Saturday, March 13. The parade will begin at 1 pm, and other events will follow throughout the afternoon. The Village approved a donation of $500 to support the event.
Lights And New Scoreboards
The Board approved the installation of lights and new scoreboards for the Town of Hoosick Baseball and Softball fields. The Village owns the land the fields are on and allows the teams to use it. There will be no cost to the Village for the new lights and boards.
Grievance Day Changed
The Village of Hoosick Falls tax Grievance Day has been changed to February 18 from 5 to 8 pm. Because it is also Court Night, grievances will be received in the Village Clerk’s office.
Dispatch Public Hearing
The next Dispatch Public Hearing, open to Village and Town residents, will be Wednesday, March 3, at 6 pm, at a place yet to be determined. Mayor Monahan said County representatives will be on hand for this meeting to answer procedural and technical questions. “The budget is a big issue,” the Mayor said. “Our primary concern is for the Village, and what it is, is what it is. Monahan said he and Paul Haynes and Hoosick Falls Fire Chief Ted Senecal were the only ones who attended the Town Board meeting Monday to address the shutting down of Dispatch. The Mayor said the Town Board told him they would have to talk with County Legislators before making any decision.
Purchase Tabled
Since three of the Board members, Michael Hickey, Robert Downing and John Hickey were absent, Trustee DiDonato suggested that a motion to purchase a camera locator for sewer inspection be tabled until next month when more members could vote on it. Four bids were received. One was incomplete and the lowest bid was from a company the Village has had problems with in the past. That left a high bid and the second lowest bid. The consensus was to go with the second lowest, USA Bluebook, for $9,847. A decision will be made next month.
Casale Agreement
The Board has come to an agreement with Casale Excavating. The Village will pay a final change order of $11,180 and agree not to pursue $66,000 in liquidation damages. In return Casale will repair several in-ground water valves, replace all the remaining curbing, paint all the new hydrants, make repairs on Manton and Hovey Streets and blacktop driveways on River Road. The Village Attorney said the Village is doing well with this plan.
New Assistant Water Plant Operator
The Board appointed Patricia Gallagher as Assistant Water Plant Operator effective January 21. DiDonato said the Village was very fortunate to have three very good and very qualified candidates apply for the job when it was advertised. Since the appointed person has moved on, the Village is lucky to have someone equally qualified to fill the spot.
Community Development Resolution Amended
The Board moved to amend Resolution #5 of 1999, the revolving loan fund the Village has through Community Development Funds. Mayor Monahan explained that no banks want to provide loans to Alex Koks for restoration of the Dougherty corner, even though, once the work is complete, Koks will be reimbursed for the new structure through a Small Cities grant. Koks has finally found one bank willing to work with him, but he needs help covering interest payments. The Board increased the Resolution amount from $5,000 to $25,000, if the loan is backed by state or federal grants, as is the Dougherty restoration. At this point, not all the paperwork has been completed for the project.
In other business the Board:
• Approved a motion to set up interviews for part time dispatchers.
• Extended congratulations to Danny Merrill, Jr. for working so diligently with the State to eliminate infractions at the water plant that have now all been resolved.
• Awarded the bid for #2 fuel and diesel fuel to Doug’s Oil at 14 cents a gallon over cost.
• Approved a motion to sign a contract with Family Danz Heating for the condensation improvements to the water plant.
• Approved a motion to re-advertise for bids for Village Surplus Property.