Hoosick Town Board Action – Allard Replaces Folgert On The Planning Board

by Bea Peterson
At the monthly Board meeting on Monday evening, December 13, Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly asked the Board to appoint Kevin Allard to the Planning Board to replace Carol Folgert whose seven year term expires the end of the year. Councilman Ryan asked the Supervisor if he had asked Folgert if she wanted to stay on the Board. The Supervisor replied he had not. Ryan was confused, he said. “If she is doing a good job, why does she have to be replaced,” he asked. He said he felt the Board currently had a good variety of representation. Cipperly’s response was, “Change is good.” Councilman Louis Schmigel said he would abstain from a vote as he had no lead time to review the change. “When the people ask me why I voted for something, I want to be able to tell them why I did so,” he said. Ryan voted no on the appointment. Councilmen Mark Surdam and Jeff Wysocki and the Supervisor voted yes. The appointment was approved, effective January 2011. Folgert was the only woman on the Planning Board.
Bid For Truck
Town of Hoosick Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland took time from plowing roads Monday to make his report. He said the new truck with a dump body and a reversible plow ordered this past summer to replace a 1992 truck had just arrived but was not ready for use that night. He asked the Board to approve a request for bids for a new pickup truck with a plow to replace a 1997 vehicle that will no longer pass inspection. Shiland said since DEC has no problem with the way the Town currently stores its sand and salt, money set aside to build a storage shed at a cost of $54,000 to $56,000, will not be needed for that purpose. That money could be used to purchase the truck, he said. The Board members, who had all taken a look at the truck, agreed to the request. Shiland said his truck is eight years old and if that breaks down, there is no backup and the Town will have to pay someone to plow the roads he plows. Those roads require a smaller truck. Supervisor Cipperly, who had not seen the truck, was not in favor of the request. He pointed out that there has been no resolution on the pilings for the Caretakers bridge, which may cost the Town $36,000, plus the pool is in need of repairs and that will be a considerable expense. Board members noted a request for a bid does not mean a purchase. Once before when the Town wanted to buy a truck none were available and all those manufactured were sold out. This truck will be wanted for next winter, and they felt planning ahead was a good idea. The resolution passed. Shiland invited the Supervisor to come to the Town Garage to look at the truck he wants to replace.
Shiland said he had been in touch with Karen Gordon Williams from NYS regarding the pilings on the Caretakers Bridge. The State will represent the Town in dealing with the Federal government. He was told the final $22,000 owed the Town for the building of the bridge is being held back until the matter is resolved. Williams believes there is no fault by the Town and that the money should go to the Town.
Shiland said he has been in touch with the electric company regarding the street light on Routes 7 and 22. It may be moved, but the utility cost has yet to be established. He said the corner marker on the Town property near the Sunoco station on Route 7 has been replaced.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that six building permits were issued in November. Funds from conservation and various other licenses collected during the month amounted to $25,620.25 and $13,080.84 was remitted to the Town Supervisor.
Assessor Tony Rice said his office will be mailing out another batch of exemption renewals on Tuesday, December 14. All other renewals will be mailed the first week of January 2011. Those renewals will include agricultural and age exemptions.
Building Inspector Ed King said construction of the new Subway on Route 7 next to the Sunoco station is underway and the shop should be open in January. Carmody’s used cars, on the other side of the Sunoco station, is officially opened as well.
Town Historian Phil Leonard reported that funds for the bronze plaques and landscaping for the Veterans Memorial in Wood Park have now reached $32,200. “It’s just great; unbelievable,” he said. The committee is now verifying the list of names for the plaques. He believes there are about 1,300 names. He said some of the names submitted did not include the necessary 214 form or a copy of an honorable discharge from the military.
Leonard then spoke about his latest historical board. It contained aerial views of the Town taken in 1963, 1970, 1985 and 1992.
Ben Gaines, President of the Hoosic Trailmasters Club, Inc.(snowmobilers) asked the Board to approve the Trailmasters use of Town property along the National Grid route. He submitted a permit for trail use from National Grid. The Board approved the request. Gaines noted that the Club maintains 65 miles of trails that are groomed in the winter and cleared in the summer. He said there are 14,000 snowmobile trails in New York State.
Barona Powers returned to the Board again this month to find out if the Board had learned why a representative from the North Hoosick Fire Department was not present to speak about the Department’s budget when it was submitted in October. Supervisor Cipperly said they don’t know why someone was not there as all the other Departments had representatives present. He said next year they will make it mandatory for a member of every Department to be present. Councilman Bob Ryan said the fire departments make their contracts with the Town, not the people. However, it’s the taxpayers that support the departments. “It’s not right that you can’t ask questions about the budget,” he said. “You should have a  voice.”
As he said he would at the last meeting, Surdam sent a letter on November 18 to NYS DOT stating the Town’s dissatisfaction with the new intersection of Routes 7 and 22. He has had no response.
Schmigel reported that he has been representing the Town at Hazardous Mitigation meetings in conjunction with FEMA. He said, “The people from the County are well in touch with our area, with all the areas in the County.” He added that the meetings cover preparedness should a tornado or major flood occur locally and FEMA funds be requested afterwards.
Schmigel and Surdam will be meeting with North Hoosick Fire Department members Ed Bornt and Eric Amidon to review the Penflex Service Awards.
Organizational Meeting
The Town will hold its Organizational Meeting at 6 pm on Monday, January 10, followed by the regular monthly Board meeting.