Hoosick Town Hall And Domes, Part Two

by Bea Peterson
At the Hoosick Town Board meeting on May 24 the two main topics discussed were the proposal of a sports dome and the dilemma caused by NYS National Guard closing the armory in which the Town Office are currently located. Residents who live near the site of the proposed sports complex on South Street voiced a series of objections, notably Evan Wilson. The story was cut short in last week’s issue due to space considerations, but now we pick up where we left off.
Anita Wilson said that events such as weddings and parties, boat shows and concerts all are a normal part of what it takes to make it in the dome business.
Another resident said she lives five houses from the traffic light on Route 7. “There are times I can’t get out of my driveway because of the traffic,” she said. She also pointed out that the road is flat, “kids ride their bikes, people walk their dogs or run on that road. All that will be gone with year round traffic,” she said. She also noted that the road was ruined when traffic was diverted through Hoosick because of the propane accident. Schmigel suggested they contact the County to have the road fixed.
Evan Wilson further added that the fields proposed for the domes are very wet due to the stream flow, neighboring wetlands and a generally high groundwater table. He said those areas have become even wetter in recent years due to the altering of the stream channel. The channel is listed by the NY State’s Dept. of Environmental Conservation as a Class-C tributary to the Hoosic River which was altered to make room for a recent soccer club parking lot expansion.
Wilson said Native American people once inhabited the fields. “Every year, after a good Spring rain and the first plow by the farmer, collectors can be seen in the fields picking up Native American artifacts,” he said.
“In residential areas with domes near them property values go down 25 percent or more,” he concluded.
At one point former Mayor Don Bogardus spoke up. “People promise anything,” he said. They (the South Street residents) don’t want it. Listen to your people. Take care of them.”
Kate French said she and her husband moved to a rural area to get away from urban sprawl. “I’m all for the kids,” she said. “Soccer is great. Since moving here we’ve worked to improve our property. Everybody around us has worked to improve their property. We enjoy the solitude, the night sounds and the night skies. We would love to see income come into the area. We need a draw, but please find another place for it.”
John Helft spoke as a Soccer Club Board member. He said it is important for soccer to proceed with the sports dome. As an aside he said he wasn’t sure he would want it in his back yard. He went on to say the soccer program benefits 350 kids. “In the winter many of those kids travel an hour, an hour and a half to play soccer. It will help the Soccer Club if this project goes through,” he said. He pointed out that with the skiers traveling Route 7 in the winter, it will be easier for the soccer people to pull out at a traffic light, rather than pulling out further up Route 7.
Matt Philpott stood up and said, “I’m the guy who wants to put in the complex. I respect your opinion. I’m not here to create animosity. This is a wonderful opportunity for the Town. I’m a hometown boy, I want to see this project somewhere in Hoosick.” When asked if he would consider the Bryce property, he said, “absolutely.”
If the former Bryce property is considered, the most cost effective way to handle it would be for Bryce to take back some of the property he gave the Town and then sell it to Philpott. If the Town were to lease the land to Philpott, then he would be forced to pay prevailing wages for the construction.
As the meeting ended, Wilson told the Board, “Thank you for allowing us to speak.”
After the meeting Philpott said he is willing to do whatever the Town Board decides is appropriate. He said he has looked at 20 to 30 sites. What he wishes to do is have two domed facilities, one for kids, one for adults, and he would like room for expansion. That requires anywhere from 10 to 20 acres.
He will be addressing the Pittstown Zoning Board on June 7 regarding the project.
Armory
Hoosick Councilman Mark Surdam had opened the more than two hour meeting by stating he felt the Board should look seriously at the $1 offer of the Armory to the Town. He expressed concern about the 2,500 gallon in-ground fuel tank presently in use. In no way does he want the Town liable for that tank. He believes the State should take care of it, one way or another. Councilman Louis Schmigel expressed concern about lead paint in the building. Councilman Bob Ryan wondered how much asbestos was in the building. Surdam said, “We need definite clarification on all these points.” He added that each place the Board has looked at will have some environmental issues and each building needs a fair assessment. Buildings under consideration include the Armory, the Harrison Vending building on Main Street, Baker’s Nursery on Route 22 and Patire’s on Church and Main Streets.
Schmigel wondered what the laws will be if they stay in the Armory. He asked if the bathrooms had to be made handicapped accessible. Since the Armory is an historic building will the Town be able to change the windows or put another door in the side of the building. Surdam said the Armory offers a spot for the community. “We could never build something like this; never equal the size,” he added. Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly said the building’s heating system would have to be re-zoned so they could afford to heat it. “We could move all the offices to the first floor and partition it,” said Ryan.
Ryan and Schmigel noted that every building they looked at needs work and would have to be modified. Ryan added that as renters the Town had limited use of the gym. “We have never had the luxury of renting the space to generate income,” he said. They came up with several rental activities that the building could accommodate, including roller skating.
Surdam estimated that whatever they decided they were looking at roughly $100,000 in renovations. Schmigel felt that was a safe number to use for all the buildings.
When asked, Bill Shiland, noted the Town currently uses 2,795 square feet of the Armory. Therefore, whatever they look at requires about 3,000 square feet. Harrison Vending is 4,860 square feet. Baker’s Nursery is not in the Village. “How many town offices are in downtowns,” asked Cipperly. Ryan said the Town offices have been in the Village forever. Schmigel added that the Village is right in the center of the Town. “What concerns me,” said Cipperly, “is Court night. Do we want people standing outside smoking on Rogers Avenue?” As it is now, said Schmigel, we don’t have rooms for clients and lawyers to talk privately. They stand in the hallway with everyone else. Ryan noted that separate space for them is a luxury, not an option.
Supervisor Cipperly listed the pros and cons of the Armory. One, he said, there is plenty of space and two, we are already here. The cons he said include the cost of a new boiler and the underground tank. They again agreed the Town should not take responsibility for the tank. Cipperly pointed out that the three year old 1.3 million dollar roof leaked this winter. Others said that it was a tough winter and places that never leaked before did this year.
Cipperly said he had spoken to Paul McDonald who put the Board in touch with Chuck Shaffer regarding the sale of State property. Shaffer told them if the Town did not purchase the Armory they would definitely close it up but never destroy it. Or they would find a new use for it, such as storage. Cipperly said the Hudson Armory was sold and became an antique center. The Malone and Ticonderoga armory was turned into a community center. The Amsterdam armory became a private home and a Bed and Breakfast. Ryan added that “people are not knocking doors down in Hoosick to buy places.” Cipperly added that if the Town is to buy the Armory they need special legislation to get it for $1 and the legislators will only be in session until some time in June. Ryan said, “The Town is still going to be in this building during the upcoming heating season, no matter what.”
Surdam said they have to move forward and it makes sense to hire an engineer to look at all the properties and give them an assessment. Schmigel said he had talked with Bill Cottrell. “He had questions, and I was only one person. How much do we want him to do on the four properties?” Schmigel said since he didn’t have any specifics, Cottrell told him, in general $90 an hour. Cipperly suggested Schmigel invite him to attend the next Board meeting on Monday, June 13, when the Board can ask him questions and tell him what they want. For example, he can tell them if a building needs a new heating system or not. If a new system is needed, then the Board can research what heating system to purchase.
Surdam’s final suggestion was that they look into the cost of a new building on Town land, either building onto the skating rink, which, Schmigel added, already has handicapped bathrooms or on land across the street from the Town garage that has Village water and sewer. Surdam added, “If it’s going to cost two million dollars, then we’re not going to do it.” Ryan reminded him that municipalities have to pay prevailing wages for new construction.
Schmigel suggested the Board consider meeting at least twice a month and that Sue Stradinger, the Town Clerk be at all the meetings in case the Board wants to make a decision. Ryan added, “Time is of the essence.” Surdam said, “Then at the next regular meeting we should have a resolution to hold workshop meetings.”