by Bea Peterson
When Hoosick Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly couldn’t get a vote to table withdrawing money from the fund balance to put in play the next phase of the White Creek Bridge project, he closed the Monday, August 8, regular Board meeting on the grounds that no new items could be added to the agenda. The request for funds by Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland was not on the agenda, but the matter of the bridge has been ongoing for several months and could easily have fit in the agenda under old business, which had nothing listed in that category for the evening. Approving the transfer would have allowed Shiland to give the go-ahead to the engineer to design the bridge and would have kept the project ahead of schedule, possibly leading to construction ahead of time as the bridge is red flagged. His request was to use the same procedure that had been used for the last three bridges constructed for the Town. Councilman Bob Ryan questioned if the Supervisor should be involved with the vote as he is employed by NYSDOT. Supervisor Cipperly responded that he could certainly voice his opinion.
As it was, Board members appeared stunned by his action and after the meeting more than one of them commented he was embarrassed to serve on this Board.
Supervisor Cipperly, not content with Shiland’s assessment of how the next phase of the bridge should be funded, said the reason he wanted the matter tabled was that he wanted time to review the proposal and discuss it with the Town’s accountant.
This was the second time during the meeting the Supervisor had challenged Shiland’s request for funds. When Board members prepared to make a motion confirming the $180,000 they had discussed at the workshop meeting on August 2 to pave the entire length of Burgess Road and chipseal all of Wilson Hill Road, the Supervisor distributed copies of Shiland’s highway budgets from 2006 through 2010 for their review, noting when those budgets reflected over expenditures and under-use of CHIPS funds. Board members were confused by the additional material since they had already agreed to expend the $180,000, taking money needed to cover the additional cost to pave all of Burgess Road from the highway fund balance.
In both cases Cipperly stated the current changing economy, the fact that the stock market had dropped considerably, the need for a new pool liner and the fact they as yet have no idea what the costs would be for the Town Hall as his reasons for not tying up the fund balance. Board members said these issues were separate from the highway budget and all four voted for the Burgess Road and Wilson Hill projects. Supervisor Cipperly voted nay.
Shiland, on the other hand, felt abused by all the discussion of his budget and said in the 30 years he had worked for the Village and the Town highway departments, he had never been treated in such a manner.
Building Inspector Receives Apology
Shiland’s comments came on the heels of a letter read at the meeting by Hoosick Building Inspector Ed King expressing his dissatisfaction on how the matter of the Cahill junkyard was handled during the July 11 Board meeting, which he was unable to attend. He reiterated the steps he followed in regard to denying a permit to Cahill’s and stated he was expecting a simple response from the Board. What he did not expect was “to be publicly humiliated without being able to defend myself.” He felt much of the commentary should have been carried on in executive session. The Supervisor and every member of the Board apologized to him. Councilman Louis Schmigel told King it was not a reflection on him or his work, it was a lack of understanding of the procedure. Councilman Mark Surdam assured King he had done more good work during his tenure with the Town than had been done in many years. King accepted the apologies.
Trees At Cahill’s
The Board was in receipt of a letter from Cahill stating this was not a good time of year to replace the trees that had died. The Board gave him until November to replace the trees before they would consider renewal of his junkyard permit. Councilman Bob Ryan noted he ran the place for two years without a license while the Town had a court case against him, and Ryan was sure the business would function without a license into November.
Town Assessor Tony Rice reviewed for the Board the information he had regarding WCW, which was printed in last week’s Eastwick Press.
Summer Camp
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that 209 children were signed up for summer camp this year. That is 39 more than last year. Only 31 pool memberships were issued this year compared to 47 last year.
The Supervisor told Stradinger he had a phone call in which a Washington County person said she called the Town and was told her child could not attend summer camp. Stradinger replied that there was no way that would happen. “We never turn a child away,” she said. Out of town campers are charged $5 more than Hoosick residents, she added.
Stradinger reported that funds received for the month through conservation licenses, dog licenses and renewals, marriage licenses and death certificates, garbage stickers, junkyard licenses, summer camp, pool memberships and six building permits amounted to $6,445.50. Of that amount $5,869.81 was turned over to the Town Supervisor.
The Board approved Court Clerk Jan Kimball applying for a grant for Court equipment.
Armory Update
Councilman Ryan said he had verbal confirmation from the
State that the Town would have a six month extension to stay in the Armory after October. Ryan added that the Armory is on the National Historic Register and that there is money out there for work on the building and there was a possibility of grants. He added that since it is an historic building it may be exempt from some building code requirements, such as closing in the stairway.
All Kids From 1958
Town Historian Phil Leonard’s latest history board is photos of every child that attended school in Hoosick Falls in 1958. Some of them were still in one room schoolhouses. “Anyone from age 59 to 70 now is pictured here,” he said.
Leonard said he brought a fifth book to the Schaghticoke Fair for their Veterans Building. He said they have a lot to do before that building is ready to use as a veterans display.
“The (Hoosick Falls) veterans wall is going ahead full steam,” he added. He said within the next two weeks the cement will be poured and a granite type finish will be put in some places. He said J.A. Bradley & Sons have donated and installed in-ground lighting for the wall. The plaques have been ordered and the dedication is still planned for 11/11/11.
Leonard noted the Town of Hoosick Historical Society is paying to have the eight to ten blue and yellow historical signs in the Town refinished. “They were put in by the State in the 1930s,” he said, “and when they are put back they’ll be A1.
More Cameras In Town Park
The Board approved the request by Councilman Louis Schmigel to purchase two additional cameras for the Town Park at approximately $1,500 each. They will fill in the dead spots that are not presently covered by the other cameras. Supervisor Cipperly said he didn’t think the quality was particularly good. Schmigel said it was good enough to spot a drug deal going down that the police are now investigating.
Councilman Jeff Wysocki reported that the Farmland consultant doesn’t have the Project draft ready and it will be another month at least before it is ready for the Farmland Committee to review.
Zoning Changes
Supervisor Cipperly said he would like to discuss with the Planning Board changes in the zoning laws regarding setbacks and ham radio towers. “Right now the towers can only be 100 feet high,” he said. If there was an emergency in the area and the 911 system failed, the ham radio towers would not be helpful. But, he added, if they could be 125 feet high, it could make a difference.
The Supervisor also noted that the second annual Wrestling Tournament held July 30 and 31 at the skating rink was a big success and made great use of the facility.
He said Hometown Days, with a carnival and fireworks will be August 25 through 27. Bob Ryan asked who was sponsoring the event. Schmigel responded that St. Mary’s Academy was the organization that originally invited Amyland but now many non-profits are participating and more are welcome to participate.
Supervisor Cipperly said the maze at Tammy’s Candy Kettle will be open Monday, September 4, through Monday, November 7. Prices will be the same as last year.
The Supervisor said he had been approached by Bobby Brownell of Brownell’s Junk Yard about purchasing the former Bennington Paperboard building and using it as an indoor recycling center. The center would create 15 to 20 jobs.
Cipperly had a letter from the Cheney Library inviting him to become a charter member of the Friends of the Library and attend their organizational meeting on Tuesday, September 6, at 7 pm. The letter said all members of the Board were invited.
He read a letter from the Coach Baker Fund committee thanking the Town for the swimming pool pass offered at the recent Coach Baker golf tournament. The letter stated that thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community the fund has grown to over $75,000. Six scholarships have been awarded over three years using just the interest from the Fund.
Cipperly has asked the accountant to set up two sessions to explain the budget to him and to Board members. The first session, scheduled for August 16 at 5:30 pm, will focus on expense reports. During the second session a breakdown of the audit will be explained.
Next Workshop Meeting
The next workshop meeting, at which engineer Bill Cottrell will have floor plans of the three prospective Town Hall sites, will be held on Monday, August 29, at 6 pm in the Armory.