The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton Town Board Action – Questions For Town Government

By

by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board meeting on February 10 was rather short as there was not a lot of Town business to transact, but it was well attended, and there was quite a bit of comment from the public.
Sandy Hasbrouck gave the highway report, describing the Highway Department’s travails in the very snowy weather of the past month.
Supervisor Allison Kirchner said the Youth Commission has purchased a projector so they can show movies for the kids.
First Lieutenant Andrea Chittenden gave the Rescue Squad report. The ambulance responded to seven calls in January, drove 156 miles, and put in 40 volunteer hours. She also said three members of the squad are taking the EMT class at Eagle Mills.
The Rescue Squad recently elected new officers, and Chittenden announced the results. Captain is Donna Baldwin; 1st Lieutenant is Andrea Chittenden; 2nd Lieutenant is Tom Sullivan; President is Jon Hasbrouck; Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President is Beth Wagar and Sergeant at Arms is Tyler Baldwin.
The only business before the Board was a request from the Berlin School District for the Highway Department to plow several specified turn-arounds in the Town for the school buses. The Board agreed to have the Highway Department keep these turn-arounds clear.
Public Comment
Many in the audience had questions for the Board. A variety of issues were raised. Both Rick Bly and Pat Ivory inquired about the salary and benefits of the Town bookkeeper position currently held by former Supervisor Tyler Sawyer and how they set the amount of the salary.
David Buckley asked why none of the Grafton Town officials attended a late January meeting on the Master Plan for Grafton Lakes State Park held at the Tamarac School considering the major impact that the State Park has on the Town. He also found fault with the maintenance of the Town web site. In particular, he wondered why there is no longer a link through the web site to Grafton’s Town laws.
Bill Middleton also raised several issues. He urged the Board to get the word out to the public more effectively about positions available in Town government so they can draw from a wider pool of applicants when filling those positions.