Hoosick Town Board Action – The Armory Issue

by Bea Peterson
One of the final issues at the Monday, April 11, Town Board meeting was a discussion about the National Guard closing the Armory and the possible relocation of Town Offices. Supervisor Cipperly said he had a copy of what it cost to run the Armory in 2010. The total cost was $55,549. He noted that some repairs had been made to the furnace in the past and added that one of the churches in town put in a new furnace at a cost of $100,000. He also pointed out that oil costs are going up. Councilman Louis Schmigel said he hoped the Guard would give the Town a year to decide what to do. The Supervisor believed it would be more like six months. Councilman Mark Surdam said, “It would be a crime to close the doors and shut down the building.” He said it is important for the Town to have a backup plan and it is important to figure that plan out now. The Board agreed it should cover all bases at one time and get moving.
The Supervisor said he will be meeting with a guy from the Office of General Services within the next two weeks. Councilman Mark Surdam asked if they would know by the next meeting what was happening. Cipperly said yes. The Board appeared to agree a new building or a building needing major repairs was out of the question. “We  would be looking in the million dollar range,” said Schmigel. He and other Board members said they have already received building suggestions such as the former Elks Club and the Harrison Vending building. Convenient parking is essential, said Cipperly. There were suggestions at the meeting, such as lowering the ceiling in the Armory gym and using only that section of the building for Town offices. Schmigel said they are open to all suggestions, and he hopes the public will let him know their ideas.
Town Wide Event
Jerry McAuliffe addressed the Board requesting use of the Town Park for an event in August that would include a carnival, DJs and fireworks. The idea for the event started out as a family oriented fund raiser for St. Mary’s Academy, he said, but now they want to open it to other non-profit groups. He requested use of the skating rink bathrooms rather than using portable toilets. He said he would take responsibility for the rest rooms seeing they were cleaned through the day. He offered a deposit for their use should vandalism occur. The event would be held August 24 through 28. Wednesday would be setup, Sunday breakdown. It would be open from 4 to 10 pm on Thursday and Friday and from noon to 10 pm on Saturday. The fireworks would begin at dusk on Saturday. McAuliffe said that if sponsors for the fireworks fell through, he would like support from the Village and Town for them. Cipperly said he would like to give it a shot at making this a community event. The Board approved the request, pending receipt of a facility use form and certificate of insurance. Louis Schmigel has been working with McAuliffe on this project.
The meeting began with the approval of the March minutes and the Clerk’s report. Sue Stradinger reported receiving $749 in conservation licenses in March and $1,585.50 in other licenses and permits. She submitted $787.26 of that amount to the Town Supervisor.
FEMA Funds
Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland reported that the Town will receive 75 percent reimbursement from the federal government and 12.5 percent reimbursement from the State for the cost of the December 26 and 27 snowstorm. He expects the Town will receive more than $32,000 in four to eight weeks.
Playground Open
Shiland said they have been busy sweeping and grading roads. He said he expects to put bark mulch in the castle playground on Thursday and that it will be open for the season this weekend.
He said the ball fields won’t be ready until early May as he doesn’t want to have trucks on the field before then.
During the people to be heard portion of the meeting Louise Ciuk asked the Board how they could fairly vote to merge the Town and Village when so many of them are Village residents. Surdam pointed out that they had not done so. What they approved was the Village applying for a grant to see if such a merger was feasible.
Armory Display Board
Town Historian Phil Leonard said he thought his latest display board was apropos. It is dedicated to the Armory, which was built in 1889 for $40,000. The board has various pictures of the Armory and of the soldiers that left for WW I. Twenty-one of them didn’t come home, he said. Of the soldiers that left for WW II, he said, five were killed on Saipan. Other photos are of the bowling alley in the Armory that was the only one in town for many years and the flood of 1898. Leonard added that the Armory closed in 1980 and it was reopened and rededicated in 1982. The Town offices moved into the building in 1985.
Veterans Wall
Leonard said the Veterans Wall is coming along. So far $34,366 has been raised. He said 226 people have contributed and 22 of them have given over $500 each. Leonard expects the plaques will be done between June 1 and June 15 and they will be installed and the landscaping completed for dedication on 11/11/11.
Thank You
Supervisor Cipperly said the Town received a thank you letter from the youth baseball people. One was also received from the Hoosick Falls Kiwanis Club for use of the skating rink, with a check for $300.
The Supervisor extended a thank you to all the volunteer services involved in the propane tanker rollover on Route 7. “They always answer the calls,” he said.
Resolutions
The Board approved a resolution appointing Karen Jennings as secretary to the Planning Board, Zoning Board and Farmland Protection Board for 2011.
Supervisor Cipperly asked the Board to approve a resolution freezing the Supervisor’s salary at $16,480 from 2011 to April of 2013. Board members seemed confused by the request but supported the Supervisor and approved the resolution.
The Board also approved a change in the Planning Board subdivision regulations. They added to the existing law the stipulation that land of 10 acres or more may be subdivided and gifted to a family member or members without coming under the standard subdivision regulations as long as the property meets the NYS Health Department standards.
The Supervisor asked the Board to approve additional time for Emily Kinde of the Donadio Group to complete the Town audit. The Board approved an additional 10 hours at $175 an hour.