Armory And Sports Complex Topics At Hoosick Board

by Bea Peterson
At the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday evening, May 9, Councilman Mark Surdam said Board members have begun getting feedback on the Town staying in or leaving the Armory. He said, “Recently there was a huge issue in Berlin that completely divided the community. I don’t want to see that happen here. We can respectfully agree to disagree. We have to keep the ball rolling and do what’s best for the majority in the Town.”
Councilman Bob Ryan said, “We are making a lifetime decision here.” Councilman Louis Schmigel said, “We have to do our homework first. We all agree we are not qualified to make these feasibility decisions.” Councilman Jeff Wysocki, affirmed that, adding, “We need to get our ducks in a row.”
They agreed their best bet would be to hire an engineer such as Bill Cottrell to do a feasibility study. He has done work for the Town in the past. They all know the Armory needs a new heating system. What will it take to get the building up to code? What will a new building cost? Board members said they had recently looked at four buildings as Town Hall prospects. Is any one of them the most suitable for Town offices? Jessie Stevens addressed the Board and said he has one acre of land for sale on Hill Road that already has power and Village water and sewer, if they were interested.
Ryan said he had been in touch with Chris Burnstein from US Senator Gillibrand’s office and with NYS Senator Roy McDonald’s office and Assemblyman Tony Jordan’s office, plus the Historical Preservation Society about obtaining grant funds to save the Armory. Cipperly has been told the Armory will close October 1, but the Board is confident the State will work with them to keep it open, providing, of course, the Town pays the heat. Board members hope folks in the community will let them know their opinions by contacting them or calling the Town Clerk at 686-4571.
Sports Complex
Matthew Philpott came before the Town Board looking for a height variance to build a dome type sports complex in the hamlet of Hoosick. He has been meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals on the subject. The current Town zoning law states that no structure in a hamlet can be more than 40 feet tall. The domed structure he is proposing needs to be 60 feet tall. Engineers have told him the structure he wants will not work with a height of 40 feet. At the moment he is considering property adjoining the soccer complex. The land is in a depression and would not be visible from nearby properties as a 60 foot high structure.
The Board was in agreement they did not want to change the law to allow 60 foot structures throughout the hamlets, and they wanted time to consider a variance. Town Attorney Debra Young noted the variance may be difficult to achieve.
Supervisor Cipperly asked the Board to consider leasing some of the 40 acres of land given to the Town by D. Wallace (Wally) Bryce in 2005. The land is roughly located behind the Sunoco station on Route 7. Cipperly said he had spoken with Bryce about the idea as it would provide entertainment for the Town and Bryce was receptive to such a use for the property. The structure could then be placed on the tax rolls. Since this was the first any of the Councilmen had heard of that idea they asked for time to consider the request. Councilman Surdam said it sounded like a great location for it, but he wanted time to consider it. Councilman Ryan said it was a lot to absorb that minute and he wanted time to look into it. The others agreed.
Philpott said he would also consider it one of his options, but there were many questions that had to be answered first. Philpott said his investors don’t care what town he puts the complex in, but as a local, he would like to see it somewhere in the Town of Hoosick. “I’m involved in youth sports,” he said. “My daughters are into sports. It’s an opportunity to do something for the community and for the kids.” He estimates the cost of the complex to be between $750,000 and one and a half million dollars. He said it will be a for-profit business, “but I can’t quit my day job.”
He added, “Business runs on a budget and timing.” The structure will take 14 weeks to construct, and he wants to open by November. August 1 is the latest he can hand over a check.
Cipperly said, “We can’t let this opportunity slip through our hands.” Surdam said he thought it was a good idea, “But we need some time to get some feedback.”
Philpott noted that this was not a quick and easy process with the ZBA and Planning Board, though they have been very helpful. “If there is an opportunity to put this in Hoosick, I want to do it,” he said.
Fran Downing, who was at the meeting, spoke up and said he didn’t want to see any more congestion on South Street in Hoosick. He was adamant the complex shouldn’t go in the hamlet.
Workshop Meeting
In an effort to proceed on both the Sports Complex and Armory issue, the Board will hold a workshop meeting on Tuesday, May 24, at 6 pm. Since this is a Board workshop, there will be no comments accepted from the floor, though the public is entitled to attend.
In other business Town Clerk Sue Stradinger noted that during April she collected $1,678 in Conservation licenses, issued ten building permits and received $1,582 for summer camp. The total collected for the month in fees and licenses was $5,454.90. Of that amount $3,792.34 was turned over to the Town Supervisor. She noted the Town has received $6,897.43 from interest and penalties on 2011 property taxes. She said 418 properties were unpaid this year, with less money collected than last year when 335 properties were delinquent.
Highway
Town Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland reviewed the bid from the Gorman Group for calcium, which was the same price as last year. The bid from William E. Dailey Blacktop was the same base price as last year, with the inclusion of fuel escalation pricing. The Board approved both bids.
Shiland said he had a request from residents on Emmons Road, a narrow dirt road in the Town, for a 40 mph speed limit on that road. Shiland noted, unless posted, the speed on any road is the NYS limit of 55 mph. Shiland was told that a youngster waits for the school bus on that road and a car with Vermont plates comes through there at an excessive speed. The Board authorized Shiland to write a letter to the State requesting a speed study, but no one is optimistic that the State will make any change.
Another resident requested that Fox Hollow Road be put on the paving list, not just patched.
Vandals Will Be Prosecuted
Shiland said there has already been vandalism at the Town playground and pool area this year. He has filed a complaint and, he said, the Town intends to prosecute the vandals when they are caught. He said a dumpster has been flipped over as well as the stone markers. “The vandalism is getting greater and greater,” he said.
Veterans Names On Display
Town Historian Phil Leonard said there are boards in the Armory and the Municipal building with the names of all the veterans that have been collected over the past year for the memorial wall in Wood Park. He hopes people will come and check out the names so any corrections can be made. The boards will be on display in Wood Park on Memorial Day. After June 1 they will be cast in bronze as they are.
Leonard said he is still receiving money for the memorial wall. The amount is over $35,000. And that amount, with the amount previously collected, puts the project over its goal. Leonard said the community support in these economic times “has just blown me away.”
Bob And Ray Eberle
Leonard’s history board for this month focused on Bob and Ray Eberle, local popular singers in the 1930s and 40s. Leonard said in national popularity in 1941 Frank Sinatra was number 1, Ray Eberle number 2 and Bob Eberle number 3. The following year Helen O’Connell was number 1, Ray number 2, Frank number 3 and Bob number 4. Leonard said the Eberles missed out because they entered the military while Sinatra did not. Sinatra and his music evolved during those war years while the Eberles never regained their status because when the war ended so did the big band era.
Bridges
The Board approved a motion by Councilman Schmigel to secure the services of Creighton Manning Engineering Firm to start the paperwork on the White Creek Bridge.
Councilman Jeff Wysocki said he had talked to US Congressman Chris Gibson regarding the $37,000 the Town has not been reimbursed for the Caretaker’s Bridge. Shiland sent all the information to then Congressman Murphy’s office. Congressman Gibson has seen none of it and has requested the Town resubmit all the material to him.
Dispatch
Supervisor Cipperly told the Board he has spoken to Hoosick Falls Mayor Matt Monahan regarding payment to the Village for Dispatch services. The yearly amount the Town gives the Village is $5,500. Since Dispatch has been closed Cipperly feels the Town should give the Village only $1,833.32. He has asked the Mayor for a letter explaining how the entire amount would be spent as opposed to just the first four months of the year.
Town Summer Camp Staff
Camp Director for 2011 is Landon Nelson, Counselors are Connor Hemeon, Ryan Hyde, Nicole LaCroix, Megan McEachron and Erin Shea. Arts and Crafts Director is Sarah Gleason. Pool Director is Janet DeLuca, Assistant Director is Emily Ciuk. Water Safety Instructors/Lifeguards are Emily Ciuk, Nicolas Downing, Ayla Graney, Adam Lowe and Sara Magin. Lifeguards are Katherine Danforth, Sean Dingman, Sarah Gleason, Megan McEachron, Jacob Meerwarth, Allison Philpott, Evan Thurber and Tyler Thurber.
Town Events
The North Hoosick Fire Department received approval to hold a dance at the Town Pool on Friday, July 8, from 7 to 10:30 pm, pending completion of a facility use form.
The Board approved use of Town facilities for the HAYC3 third annual Pumpkinpalooza on Saturday, September 24, from 8 am to 9 pm.
The fifth annual Hoosic River Watershed Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, August 20, from 9 am to noon.
The Memorial Day Parade will be May 30 at 10 am.
In other business the Board:
• tabled a suggestion by Hoosick Falls Fire Chief Robert Bornt that a Knox box be placed on the Town Garage at a cost of $305;
• approved a request from Peg Baratto for a pool membership as part of the Coach Baker Scholarship fund drive;
• appointed Jim Morier to fill the Everett Quackenbush vacancy on the Planning Board from May 2011 through December 31, 2012;
• approved another ten hours for Emily Kinde of the Donadio Group to review various accounting computer programs for the Town.
Planning Board Regulations
A handful of people came to the meeting expecting to hear that the Town had approved a change to the Planning Board regulations regarding property subdivided and given to family members. Supervisor Cipperly and Attorney Young said before the meeting that the Town Attorney and the Planning Board attorney want to clarify the language on that change, look into some other issues and bring them all before the public at one time.