Metered Water Bills In Hoosick Falls To Start In August

by Bea Peterson
The last order of business at the Hoosick Falls Village Board meeting on Tuesday, May 11, was to set a Public Hearing to discuss metered water in the Village starting with the new billing cycle in August. The Public Hearing will be at 6 pm on Tuesday, June 8, before the regular monthly Board Meeting.
Residents and businesses were encouraged to install water meters as early as 2005. In 2007 the Village started reading meters. At that time many places still did not have them. Those without meters were charged one and a half times the regular water rate. Construction of the new water plant further delayed a change to a metering payment system. Now everything is in place. How residences and businesses will be assessed will be discussed at the Hearing.
Coincidentally, commercial property owner Herb Loretan and rental property owner Fran Downing were at the meeting to complain about the unfairness of their water bills. Mayor Matt Monahan told them that the June Public Hearing would outline the new billing plan which will include metered water usage and line items to cover the bonds that have to be repaid for the new water plant and the wastewater treatment plant. By billing in this manner, the Mayor said, the Village can be reimbursed by the County for the bond monies if owners default on their property.
Fran Downing was irate that the Village should be planning a Greenway when its finances were in such dire straits. Loretan defended the Greenway saying it will be an asset to the community. Once again Trustee Ric Didonato and the Mayor explained that the Greenway was purchased with donations and the agencies working to plan it have received $200,000 in grants that can only be used for the Greenway and for nothing else. There has been no cost to the Village at all. Comments were made about policing the Greenway, and the Mayor responded that it is already being policed. DiDonato said many volunteer organizations have already come forward to help maintain the trail. Higher insurance rates were also mentioned, and to date there has been no increase in rates caused by the Greenway.
During the meeting the Board also voted to allow no motorized vehicles on the Greenway at this time.
Fund Raising For Plaques
Robert Becker asked the Board’s permission to place a fund raising sign in Wood Park for the bronze plaques to be placed on the new brick walls next to the World War I memorial. Total cost for the brick walls, landscaping and six bronze plaques is $45,000. So far more than $10,000 has been raised, including in kind services. Becker thanked the Board for receiving and distributing the funds to date. He said now the American Legion, a not-for-profit, has opened an account for the money. Checks made out to the American Legion Veterans Memorial may be sent to Walt Zwinge, 26 Fairbanks Ave., Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. An information table, with a lottery ticket raffle, will be set up in Wood Park on Memorial Day. Becker also mentioned that an authentic WW II encampment display by Jim McCormick will be in the Park as well that day.
Bernie and Patti Zilinskas inquired of the Board what action was being taken regarding the property on 1 School Street, owned by Bill Ingwersen. The Mayor told them Ingwersen will be appearing in court on May 20. The couple wanted to know to whom they should report violations. The Mayor said they should call Building Inspector Dick Weeden first. If they do not get a response, they should call Trustee Ann Bornt and then him.
River Road Issues
The owner of property at 29 River Road said his driveway still has not been fixed since the new water main was installed last year. He said all the top soil on the hillside of his property has washed away and the grass seed that was planted hasn’t grown. The Mayor told him there are ten properties on River Road that need paving and top soil. He said the work should be underway by the first week of June.
During the Committee Reports Trustee Bob Downing noted that a property at 2142 Route 22 wants to hook into the Village water line. Other properties on that stretch of road are already connected to the Village system, he said.
When Trustee John Hickey inquired about summer help the Mayor told him they would be cutting back on it this year. The Mayor said they already had applications and hours would be discussed in Executive Session.
Trustee Bornt said she believes they may finally have found the owner of the abandoned property at 43/45 Center Street and he is being ordered to Court.
Mayor Monahan asked the Board to accept the resignations of part time Police officers Rob Snyder and Jack Houghton. They did, and they also approved the appointment of part time police officer Aaron St. Gelais. The Board also accepted the resignation of Patricia Gallagher as assistant Water Plant operator.
Trustee DiDonato said the Planning Board approved plans for the former Half Time Bar to become Dollar Deals, a retail store containing items $5 and under.
Trustee Mike Hickey said he has been to oversee the new Tee-ball field.
Deputy Mayor Paul Haynes said the Waste Water Treatment Plant has a broken SBR tank. The cost for it is $36,000 and, hopefully, it will be covered by insurance. The Board approved his request to put out a five day bid to replace it. The Plant also had a blocked pump. Aqua Waste pumped out the blockage in return for some free dumping into the system.
The Mayor said, the metal detector should be up and running for the next Court session.
In other business the Board approved:
• Allowing the Second Annual Pumpkinpalooza to happen on Saturday, September 25, with a rain date of September 26.
• By unanimous voice vote, transferring funds formerly set aside for a trash compactor to the general fund in the amount of $28,319 to be used toward the purchase of a front end loader.
• Payment of $19,142.50 to Family Danz Heating and Cooling for work at the Water Plant.
• Final payment of $5,642 to Malone and Tate Builders for the Water Plant.
• Payment of $1,900 to Clough Harbour for design of water tank and looping connected with the Water Plant.
• A Village Revolving Loan Application for $3,000 submitted by Kim Revet for cosmetic furnishing for 21 Church Street, the former Elks building.
• A Village-wide cleanup effort by fifth and sixth grade Hoosick Falls Central School students on Thursday, May 20.
• A refund to Hyde Properties for a utility payment at 43 Wilder Ave. They were being charged for three units and the building can only have two units.
The Board also tabled a request by St. Mary’s Academy to paint murals on the sidewalk on Parsons Avenue until they have more information on the project.
The Board declined a Revolving Loan application for $3,000 by Greg Zora for the Back Street Saloon until all the information on the application is completed.