Hoosick Town Board Action – April 2010

by Gary Danforth
The regular monthly Town of Hoosick Board meeting took place this past Monday, April 12, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with Supervisor Keith Cipperly calling the meeting to order at 7 pm. After the Pledge of Allegiance the minutes of last month’s Board meeting were approved. Councilmen Louis Schmigel, Mark Surdam, Bob Ryan and Jeff Wysocki were present, along with Town Clerk Sue Stradinger and the town attorney.
The Town Clerk’s report was accepted with 21 death certificates being of note. The Assessor’s report, by Tony Rice, was in order.
Redemption Program Benefits School
Paula Camperman of the HFCS PTA, addressed the Board about a label redemption/brand loyalty program in which customers of certain stores can buy products and turn in the labels on those products to the school and earn money for the school. More information can be found at the Town and Village offices as well as stores such as Price Chopper, Thorpe’s, Grand Union, Stewarts and Target stores where brand items can be purchased.
Highway Report
The Board approved Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland’s request to put out bids for paving stone and calcium for Town roads. Shiland said sand and salt use this past winter was down 25 percent. Plows and sanders have been taken off trucks as, hopefully, winter is over.
Shiland added that the athletic fields were in pretty good shape and that high school, Little League and Tee Ball squads were using the fields. The roof on the pool filter room has been replaced. Wiring for the new security system at the castle playground is underway.
Building inspector Ed King reported progress in a property cleanup in West Hoosick, which had been cited for violations.
Veterans Memorial
The Veterans Service Officer reported that in order to get a veteran’s name on the memorial plaques in Wood Park a veteran or family member needs to show a copy of an honorable discharge or a DD2-14 paper. The Memorial Committee needs to raise approximately $35,000 so that the six plaques containing an estimated 1700 veterans names can be done. There will be a meeting of the Memorial Committee on Thursday, April 15 at 7 pm at the American Legion hall. Town Historian Phil Leonard said he believes the task of having all the veterans tracked down is going to be a time consuming project. Veterans names  need to be submitted within the next year to be included on the plaques. Leonard suggested having a meeting for the public to let them know about the memorial plaques and wall and how any donations would be used to complete it.
History Board
Leonard also had a board with historic pictures of Eagle Bridge. This is the 99th board put together by Leonard with assistance from Charlie Filkins. The board contained pictures of the Eagle Bridge Inn and Hotel Eagle Bridge, which was preceded by the Dalton House. Leonard said Eagle Bridge was a transportation hub for three railroads going to Boston, Rutland and Bennington. Also, the mail was sorted on the trains and some dropped off there and some taken to other stops from there. The stained glass window in the church in Eagle Bridge, he said, depicts Pony Express and steam boat travel of the day. Leonard spoke about an article written in 1852 by George Miller which said Eagle Bridge was named for a woman who painted an eagle on the first bridge. At one time Eagle Bridge had stores, two hotels and an opera house.
It was noted that Darwin Devins limousine service gave 72 people rides home during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Kevin O’Malley and Marie O’Neil did another fine job of orchestrating this event.
The Board appointed Janet Deluca as the new Town bookkeeper.
Pool Membership
It was clarified, a family pool membership consists of three children and parents or two grandparents and three children. Extra children, 5 and under, will be charged $5 each. Children ages 6 to 21 will be charged an additional $10 per child.
Census maps have been redrawn with some new roads noted on the new maps.
Green Heights residents will get their water bills when the Village passes its yearly budget and then the Town will add on a $10 fee.
Summer Camp Director
Landon Nielson was named Summer Camp Director and the Board approved a list of new hires and rehires for the summer camp and pool for 2010. Cipperly also read a letter from Geraghty Insurance which reminded the Town to make sure persons using town grounds or facilities have certificates of insurance which will indemnify the town against law suits.
Boards To Meet
The Board discussed a meeting between themselves, the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals with communication issues and better definition of duties for the Boards being on the agenda.
Councilman Surdam said that making the site plan review process go smoother and defining change of use for past and existing buildings was seen as key to the meeting of the various Boards.
Councilman Schmigel said he too believed more communication was needed between the various Boards.
Councilman Wysocki said a farmland Protection Committee meeting was held on March 10 with another meeting to be held on April 14. Wysocki said he attended a rally with 140 other farmers, and politicians, as the state wants to cut the agricultural budget by 54%.
Councilman Ryan said a sign would be needed for the newly renamed Ken Baker Athletic Complex. Supervisor Cipperly said there will be a tree planting at the Route 67 boat launch on Saturday, May 8 from 1 to 4 pm, with volunteers needed for same.
The Supervisor said he attended an American Legion meeting and enjoyed learning about this very worthwhile organization, noting our veterans past and present should not be forgotten.
He reminded residents that the annual tree-shrub pickup and delivery process will be Saturday May 8 at the Town skating rink. The last date to place orders with the Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District is April 28.
Supervisor Cipperly also said he had been in contact with NYS Senator Roy McDonald’s office and was told the Hall Street/Wood Brook line item request is in the upcoming state budget.
Finally, the Board passed a motion to accept a contract for the independent contractor services of the Town Attorney.
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.