Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – Next Winter – Towing

by Bea Peterson
Trustee John Hickey said Board members have received many complaints this winter about cars left on the streets during snowstorms. “The law hasn’t been enforced in several years,” said Mayor Matt Monahan. “We have given a few warnings and tickets, but that is it.” The Board agreed that later this year signs will be put up indicating odd and even side of the street parking during storms and that towing will be enforced. “We’re looking at more of these 1950s winters,” said Hickey. Trustee Ann Bornt added that it had been a nasty winter and she can’t wait for it to end.
A Youth Football Field
Ken Marbot of the Hoosick Youth Football Program asked the Board for permission to build a youth football field on Village property near the waterworks plant. Board members suggested they use the land where the National Guard formerly stored equipment and granted the request with stipulations. Marbot said they will need a minimum of 40 yards wide by  80 yards long, with about another 20 yards all the way around for bleachers. They also want to put down a cement slab for their portable refreshment trailer, which will be stored elsewhere during the week. The Mayor said he, Trustee John Hickey and Water Superintendent Jim Hurlburt would walk the property with Marbot at the end of the month.
Marbot said contractors will volunteer their time to build the field and Youth Football will pay for the materials. They want the field ready for this fall and are instituting the plan since Hoosick Falls Central School will be closed on Sundays beginning this fall.
The junior teams will play Sunday mornings at 11 and the senior teams will play at one o’clock. The teams will practice at the field on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 7 pm.
Building Demolition
Trustee Bornt said someone is interested in the property at 43/45 Center Street. “The building is a total loss,” she added. She has been in touch with the Rensselaer County Tax Department, and they told her they are willing to make a deal with a buyer regarding past taxes owed. The back taxes are over $30,000. If a deal is reached, then work to demolish the building would begin when the weather breaks.
Bornt said a tax package and other information has been sent to the new owner of the American House on the corner of Elm and Lyman Streets. The Board approved hiring Ernie Galore to inspect the Center Street property and the American House to confirm they are irreparable and should come down. A Public Hearing on their demolition will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 12, the evening of the regular monthly Board meeting.
Contracts Awarded
Mayor Monahan said many bids were received for the third and final phase of the Village’s water project. Low bidder for replacement of the Rensselaer Street water tank was Casale Excavating with a bid of $574,500.
They will be doing some excavating, foundation work and will reroute water lines for the new tank.
Carvel was awarded the contract for placing water line loops in various sections of the Village. They were low bidder with a bid of $1,256,044. Both projects will be overseen by a representative of Clough Harbour.
Low bid for fans in the Village Highway Garage was JA Bradley. Their bid was $3,205. Trustee John Hickey said the garage is in bad shape and the fans should help. The Mayor said the fans should reduce the heating costs in the building enough in one year to pay for themselves.
Greenway Plans
Shelly Stiles from the Hoosic River Watershed Association (HooRWA) brought several display boards to the meeting with five plans for the Hoosic River Greenway. The boards are currently on display in the lobby of the Municipal Building and will be displayed elsewhere in the Village in the future.
This spring the Greenway Committee will be starting on phase II of the project which will encompass the stretch from the old water plant to the River Street bridge. Plans include a clean up of the old dump site to make it a picnic area and covering the trail with stone dust. Stiles said they are planning a number of events to highlight the Greenway. She added that the intent of the Greenway Committee is to remain true to the original trail ideas put together at public planning sessions. Mayor Monahan pointed out that the Greenway has received two $100,000 matching grants toward completing the trail. He added that any and all in-kind services toward matching the grants will be accepted. No local funding has been used or will be used, for the Greenway.
Trustee Ric DiDonato reported that the Greenway will have a website beginning in the next week or so. It is hoosicrivergreenway.org.
No Parking On Carey Ave.
The Board would like to see no parking on Carey Avenue from Church Street to the former Richmond House. A Public Hearing on the plan will be held at 6:15 on Tuesday, April 12.
Grant Application
The Board approved a motion to sign a professional service agreement with Laberge Group to write an application for the Local Government Efficiency-High Priority Planning grant. Mayor Monahan said almost everyone he requested a letter of support from regarding this grant gave him one.
In other business Trustee Bob Downing noted that the garbage contract will soon be up for renewal and should be put out for bid.
Bornt said they are moving on the parking problem on Fiske Street. The issue will go before the Zoning Board and a change may be made to angle parking. The Board also approved the settlement agreement with NYS DOT on the Village’s High Street property and approved the Mayor signing a permit application for use of the Flood Control Structure as part of the Greenway.
Billing Change For Businesses
The meeting began and ended with the public hearing on billing businesses three times a year for water and sewer instead of twice a year as they do now. This puts businesses in the same time frame as residential properties. No one was present to comment on the change, and it was unanimously approved by the Board.
The meeting concluded with the Board going into executive session to “discuss several personnel issues,” said the Mayor.