Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – Water Could Be Shut Off If Bills Are Not Paid

by Bea Peterson
The regular monthly meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board was held on Tuesday, March 13. Mayor Matt Monahan requested and received approval from the Board to send water and sewer collection notices to Town residents who use Village water and, in some cases, sewer, and are in arrears. The Mayor said there is as much as $50,000 owed. [private]”Some of these Town residents haven’t paid their bills in three to eight years,” he said. He pointed out that the County reimburses the Village for uncollected taxes from Village residents but not from Town residents. Notices will be sent to the homeowners regarding the overdue payments stating they should be paid in full. If that is not possible, the homeowner should contact the Village to work out a payment plan. The Mayor said they are willing to work with people as long as they show good faith. If, however, the first bill is ignored after 30 days, another bill will be sent. The second bill will also state that should a payment not be made within the next 30 days, the water will be shut off. If the Village is forced to shut off the water, then the house becomes uninhabitable.
Bids
The Village received two bids for fuel oil. The first was from Doug’s Oil for seventeen cents a gallon above cost. The second, from G.A. Bove in Mechanicville was for sixteen and a half cents over cost. For a half cent a gallon, the Board chose to stay with Doug’s since it is local and employs local people.
Several bids for curbside solid collection and recyclables were received. They ranged from $549,800 to $288,800 from County Waste. The Board chose to stay with County Waste.
High bidder for the Village’s recycling truck was John Sotile who bid $2,000. Sotile was also the high bidder for the dump truck at $1,500.
New Youth Football Field
The Board approved construction of a Youth Football field as close to the Youth Baseball and Softball fields as possible. An agreement will be forwarded to the Village, reviewed by the Village Attorney John Patterson and the paperwork approved at the April meeting. Practice will begin August 1, and the season will run through the last week of October.
Resignations
The Board accepted the resignation of part time police officer Joseph Turoski and full time Assistant Water Treatment Operator Ryan Hemendinger. Hemendinger will be available part time until a replacement can be found and trained.
The following motions were approved:
• to publish job opening for Assistant Water Plant Operator;
• to sign the 2012 DWI agreement with Rensselaer County to fund DWI patrols for $4,000, and
• to advertise a public hearing, pertaining to the River Road Project Plan, for April 10 at 6 pm.
Good News
Mayor Monahan had two good news announcements. First, he said the County is looking, with C.T. Male Associates, into grants for property owners living on a brook. This will be beneficial to the Hall Street residents along Woods Brook. Second, he said he had talked to contractor Craig Kennedy, and work will begin on the Dougherty Corner the end of next week.
Important Saturday Dates
April 21 is the statewide Volunteer New York Day. The Hoosick Falls Fire Department will be holding an Open House from 11 am until 4 pm.
April 28 is Prescription Take Back Day, sponsored by HAYC3 and the Hoosick Falls Police Department. Drugs may be dropped off in the Municipal Building between 10 am and 2 pm.
May 5 is Village-Wide Clean Up Day. The Mayor received approval from the Board to wave charges at the Transfer Station on that day for lawn debris only.
May 26 is the Village-Wide Tag Sale.
The next monthly meeting will be April 10 at 6 pm.[/private]