What’s Up With That?
by Bea Peterson
While the Hoosick Town Board awaits results of a feasibility study by engineer Bill Cottrell as to the cost of staying in the Armory with renovations or buying the Patire building and renovating it or possibly putting up a new building, they have received conflicting information from the State. At the Town Board meeting on Monday, July 11, Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly told the Board he received an email from Chuck Sheifer, Chief of the Bureau of Land Management stating that he expected the Town to vacate the building by October 1. Cipperly had previously had a conversation with Paul McDonald of the Division of Military Affairs in which McDonald said the Town could start paying utility expenses October 1 and stay until January 1.
This brought about a lengthy discussion with no resolution. Cipperly said he emailed Sheifer regarding the situation and will pursue the issue so that the Town can remain in the Armory until at least January.
Road Work Falling Behind
Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland told the Board he would like to pave the 1.1 mile long Burgess Road. He said he has a quote from Peckham Materials Corp. to grind, add calcium and pave the road at a cost of $120,000. He would also like to chipseal three miles of Wilson Hill Road. He said the road should then be in good shape for about eight years. The cost to do that is $60,000. He would like to discuss these costs with the Board at the Workshop meeting on August 2 as the total exceeds his highway budget. He said that last year paving and chipsealing cost $143,000 and, he believes, he can come close to that figure again this year. He said “I’m going backwards on keeping up with the roads. I should be paving three miles of road a year, and I’m paving one. The roads are worse now than when I started this job.”
“Blacktop is not the same quality as it was years ago,” he added. “And everybody is in the same boat,” he concluded, referring to County and State roads as well.
Shiland also reported that a new baby swing, requested by several parents, has been installed in the Town playground. He said 121 kids attended the North Hoosick Fire Department dance at the Town Pool. He added that pool attendance has been up this year. Over 200 kids attended one week, making it the biggest week in years.
New Plow
A bid of $7,564 from T&T Sales, Inc. of Latham for a plow for the new truck was accepted, including an additional $143 for a deflector. Shiland said this is the same model plow that is on the 2003 truck and it works well. The total cost for the truck and plow is $51,425.17. That is less than the $55,000 anticipated cost.
Zoning Regulations Changed
A public hearing was held before the Board meeting on Local Law #1 regarding changes to the Town of Hoosick Subdivision Regulations. The Board approved the addition of a category for family simple subdivisions. This allows for the gifting of more than one lot to family members without it becoming a major subdivision project. However, they did make a change to the new law removing the line stating “at least five acres” to “no less than two acres.” That change will require another Public Hearing for next month and will become Local Law #2. Local Law #1 also included changing the length of time to hold public hearings on zoning issues from 45 days to 62 days.
Supervisor Cipperly questioned several other zoning regulations and then wondered aloud if some property couldn’t be re-zoned as commercial property as he feels there is a shortage of such property in the Town. He also commented that people have told him the Zoning and Planning Board processes take too long. “It’s not always the Board’s fault,” he said, adding that sometimes the requestors don’t have all the information they need and sometimes then don’t attend the monthly meetings, which then prolongs the process. He also mentioned that the site of the Soccer Dome in Pittstown will be in the HFCS tax district, so the school will benefit from the new facility.
Ric Tinkham spoke from the floor stating that the Town is 90 percent more friendly toward businesses than it was a few years ago. He said he has found the Zoning Board and the Planning Board to be cooperative and helpful. “The more I see how the zoning is working, the more I am impressed. From my standpoint the Boards are doing a good job.” He believes the problem is more of an education process for the public.
Cahill Scrapyard Should Be Cited
The Board approved renewal permits for five scrapyards in the Town. The sixth permit, for Cahill Scrapyard on Route 7, was not renewed. Last year Cahill planted a row of trees as a natural barrier in compliance with Town regulations. Since then half of the trees have died. Councilman Jeff Wysocki visited the facility, and John Cahill told him he would replace the dead trees. Cahill was unaware he was noncompliant regarding the barrier. The Board agreed the Building Inspector should have issued Cahill a citation for non-compliance.
Veterans Wall
Phil Leonard reported that he and Marilyn Douglas have submitted all the names to Morris Wheeler of A.M. Tech, Inc. for placement on bronze plaques. Leonard said they had 13 names submitted at the last minute, but now it is finished. They are having holes drilled into the plaques so that name plates may be added if necessary. He said they have 866 names from WW II, 159 from Korea, 143 from Vietnam, 27 who served in peacetime and 14 who have served since 1990.
He also showed the Board four books with copies of clippings he has prepared for the new Veterans building at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds. He is still working on more books. “We’ll be well represented at the Fair,” he said.
His display board this month was created by Charlie Filkins showing cemeteries throughout the Town. Leonard said the Town has six active cemeteries, Maple Grove, St. Mary’s, Hoosick Rural, Island Hill, Maple Hill and West Hoosick Baptist. The Town also has 32 family cemeteries, he added. He said Mabel Hewitt, who catalogued these cemeteries, was a real true historian. The photos were taken by Mike Chapman.
Supervisor Cipperly reported that the Challenger British Soccer Camp was successful and he thanked everyone for their support of the event. He thanked Leo McGuire for, once again, conducting the CPR and life saving course at the Town Pool. He also extended his appreciation of the Hoosick Falls Fire Department and the Hoosick Rescue Squad for hosting the Town Camp kids last Friday afternoon.
He said the Rensselaer County Dairy Princess is tentatively schedule to attend the Town Camp on August 5.
Carnival Growing
Councilman Louis Schmigel reported that the carnival coordinated by Jerry McAuliffe, which appeared to be getting nowhere at one point is now growing every day. He said the Golub Corp. has agreed to cover a percentage of the cost for fireworks for the event but not the entire $4,500 for a 35 to 45 minute show. He said the carnival will include local bands, a car show and, possibly, a muster event. The plan is to make the carnival grow into a major annual event for the Town. The Board approved contributing $1,000 toward the fireworks.
Councilman Jeff Wysocki reported that the Farmland Protection committee will meet Wednesday evening for a final review of its Plan so that it can be presented to the Board before the next meeting. A tentative Public Hearing has been scheduled for approval of the Plan for 6:30 pm on August 8, before the regular meeting.
Councilman Mark Surdam thanked the Hoosick community for its support in the recent loss of his nephew in an automobile accident. “The Bennington community can be proud of the way they responded,” he said. Surdam is also recovering from rotator cuff surgery.
Councilman Bob Ryan thanked the community for their support of the project honoring veterans. “The committee, especially Phil Leonard and Marilyn Douglas have done an unbelievable job,” he said. He was without a sling from his recent rotator cuff surgery.
The meeting concluded when the Board went into executive session to discuss a litigation issue.
Farmers Market
Supervisor Cipperly reminded everyone that the Farmers Market on Route 7 is open every Friday from 3 to 6:30 pm.
The Workshop meeting will be Tuesday, August 2, at 6 pm.
The next Town Board meeting will be Monday, August 8.