Hoosick Town Board Action – January 2011

by Bea Peterson
Snow was the first topic of the Town of Hoosick Board meeting on Monday, January 10. The Town received a thank you from the Village of Hoosick Falls for the whole day of snow cleanup help received from the Town Highway Dept. HFCS was appreciative of the help from Board Member Louis Schmigel when it came to helping clean up snow at the school.
The Board has received several complaints that not all the sidewalks in the Village are cleared of snow by the Town or Village. Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly said the Village has a law that homeowners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks in front of their homes free of snow, but very few do shovel their sidewalks. The Town, in conjunction with the Village, works to keep the sidewalks of the downtown streets, including Church, John and Main Streets, clear of snow, but that is all they can do.
The Board approved a request to publish bid requests for diesel and fuel oil.
The Assessor reported all exemption letters have been mailed out. The deadline for submitting tax exemption requests is March 1.
Names For Wall
Town Historian Phil Leonard said that trying to make sure every name that should be on the Veterans Wall is there is an overwhelming task. He is certain some people will be left out. All the names are needed by April 1.
The historical board he presented this month was of the St. Mary’s Academy smorgasbords that took place from 1956 to 1980. The photos contain many familiar community faces and many people in costume as part of the skits they performed at the smorgasbords.
He said the Hoosick Falls Fire Department has requested photos from the Miller Museum of the old fire trucks for its new website. Leonard complied, giving them copies of many old photos.
The Board approved Supervisor Cipperly signing a Worksite Sponsor Agency agreement with the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services to provide meaningful work experience activities for one or more individuals up to 40 hours per week. The individuals can work for the Town or a not-for-profit agency. DSS will provide the funds to pay the individual. The Town is responsible for providing meaningful work experience.
The Supervisor and Board members thanked the North Hoosick Fire Department for inviting them to their installation banquet and commended them for the fine service they provide their community.
Truck Purchase
The Board approved the purchase of a 2011 Ford F-550 cab and chassis from Carmody Ford of Greenwich for $43,289. Delivery is expected in eight to twelve weeks. It is expected that a flat bed body for the truck will cost approximately $4,000 and a plow will be another $7,500. The bottom line is anticipated to be between $56,000 and $58,000.
Planning Board Meeting Date Change
The Town of Hoosick Planning Board will meet on Tuesday, January 18, at 7 pm instead of Monday, which is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Skating Rink Open
Weather permitting, the Reynolds-Gilchrest Skating Rink will have public skating Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm. On Wednesday there will be public skating from 3:30 to 5 pm and skating lessons from 5:30 to 8 pm. On Saturday, skating lessons are from 9 am to noon and public skating is from 1 to 4 pm and 6:30 to 8:30 pm. On Sunday public skating is from 2 to 6 pm. Fees are children, $1, adults, $2. Skate rentals cost $1; skate sharpening costs $4.
To sign up for skating lessons call Sue Hyde at 686-3371.
Girl Scouts To Operate Thrift Shop
The Girl Scouts will operate the Thrift Shop at St. Mark’s Church in Hoosick Falls on Friday, January 21, from 4 to 8 pm and Saturday, January 22, from 9:30 am to noon and Friday, February 11, from 4 to 8 pm and Saturday, February 12, from 9:30 am to noon.
Squash Performance To Benefit St. Patrick’s Parade
The band Squash will be performing at the Polish Hall on Saturday, January 22, from 4 to 8 pm. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Town’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.