Grafton Town Board Action – Conflict On The Board

by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board meeting on Monday was run by Deputy Supervisor Cathy Goyer because Supervisor Ray Darling has a medical condition which makes him temporarily unable to do the job. Goyer said she has been handling the day to day business of the Supervisor for two or three weeks so far.
Toward the end of the meeting Deputy Supervisor Cathy Goyer read a statement which outlined a surprising level of conflict on the Board. [private]She said since she has become involved in Town Government as Ray Darling’s choice for Deputy Supervisor, she has met with disdain and roadblocks, to the point of being locked out of meetings. She said she saw the bookkeeper “verbally attacked” by Councilwoman Barbara Messenger. She said she has been the object of a “vendetta” and of backstabbing and disrespect from some of the Board members. She said, “What I have described in just the tip of the iceberg.” She then thanked Councilmen Crandall and Rick Ungaro for their cooperation and support and urged the voters to demand the immediate resignation of Councilwoman Messenger.
During the meeting, there were several instances when Goyer and Messenger talked at the same time, the cacophony resolved only by Goyer furiously banging her gavel for order.
Grafton Trail Riders Variance
The topic which received the most attention through the evening was the proposed variance for the Grafton Trail Riders to allow camping and camper trailers on their property during their special events, which happen about once a month through the summer.
Grafton Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey has been working with the Trail Riders organization to see that they meet the Town’s requirements before the Town grants the variance. Withcuskey said the two outhouses on the property have been removed and the holes where they were have been filled in. Councilwoman Messenger noted that they are still on the site. Withcuskey said the smaller one will be dismantled completely, but the larger one will be recycled for use as a storage shed.
A resolution granting the requested variance was presented to the Board. Councilman Mike Crandall made a motion to pass it, but he didn’t get a second. Councilman Rick Ungaro said he only received a copy of the resolution an hour earlier and said he wanted more time to review it and consider the matter. Messenger said she believed there were many people in the audience who wanted to speak about the Trail Riders variance, and she wanted to hear what they had to say before voting on the motion. The motion was tabled.
The text of the motion specified dates when camping is allowed. These are April 28-29, June 23-24, July 27-29, September 21-23 and October 20-21. The Club agreed to have its water tested at the beginning of the season and to have its 2,000 gallon sewerage tank pumped out on a regular basis. Club members are allowed to camp on the property at times other than the specified weekends, but they must notify Withcuskey in advance before doing so. If the Code Enforcement Officer finds that the Club is not following the provisions of the variance, he can declare them in violation and camping privileges will be immediately discontinued for the remainder of the year.
Many people spoke at great length on the subject during the public comment period. Linda Laveway again expressed her concerns as a neighbor, mentioning bonfires at 2 am, drinking and 40′ luxury motor homes. However, this month there were a great many members of the Grafton Trail Riders present at the meeting, and they painted a very different picture. Club member Marin Richards said the members are mostly 45 years old and up. “We go to bed at 10,” she said. She said they have a party once a year, for the Over the Mountain event, and that’s the only night they might be up late with fires and drinks.
Trail Riders President, Mr. Buttino, thanked the Town for working with his organization and pledged to follow the guidelines laid down by the Town’s resolution. Another Club member said she had never seen anything unsafe or unsavory going on at a Club event. “These are good people,” she said.
Connie Alderman, one of the founders of the Club, said it hurts her to hear about “all this bickering.”
The Board will vote on the variance at their next meeting.
Town Secretary
After interviewing three candidates for Town Secretary, the Town discovered that there was some kind of bureaucratic problem with the position. Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo said the position does not exist. The Board could create a position, but it would be a civil service position. Applicants would have to take the Civil Service exam and the Town would hire from a list. Ferlazzo said the Town could have a residency requirement attached to the position, but it would have to use the civil service hiring procedures. The Board wanted to know more about what those procedures are. In the meantime, Nicole Hemendinger continues to work as Secretary. She is secretary to the Supervisor, and she serves at the pleasure of the Supervisor. Both Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck and Tom Withcuskey praised her work and said they were pleased to see her continue.
Councilwoman Messenger apologized to the applicants for the mixup.
Planning Board Secretary
The Board received a letter of resignation from Planning Board Secretary Jessica Crandall. The Planning Board is engaged in a search for a new secretary but did not discuss any details about that search.
Grafton School Property
The Grafton Elementary School Committee, consisting of Barbara Messenger, Jim Goyer and Doug Sauer, gave the Board an interim report. Their conclusion was that the facility can accommodate all Town offices and the Court, and there is sufficient property for the Fire District to construct a new facility. The Committee has received three letters of interest from local groups. The Grafton Library is interested in expanding into the facility as they are outgrowing their space. The Dyken Pond Center said the facility would make an ideal site for their Summer Youth and Food program, and the Grafton Baptist Church expressed an interest in paying a “reasonable fee” to use the facility for some of their program activities.
The Committee said it has not yet worked out issues of financial feasibility and remains sensitive to concerns about how their actions might create more vacant buildings in the center of town. They pledged to go more deeply into these issues once the School District voters approve transferring the building and the District formally offers it to the Town.
Website
Councilman Ungaro said the Town website has 14 pages on it now, but he is still gathering information and “we still have a long way to go.” He thanked Barbara Messenger, Marie Claus and Matt Kirschner for their assistance with the project.
Grant Writer
Ungaro said he had found a grant writer who is willing to write grant applications for the Town on a contingency basis – meaning he will be paid only if the Town actually receives the grant. His name is Michael Brown, and several people in the room knew his work and spoke highly of him. Ungaro made a motion to appoint him as the Town’s grant writer for one year, and it passed by a vote of 4-0.
The Board also appointed Russ Reeves as Town Engineer. His assistance is needed on some of the FEMA projects.
Dog Control
Dog Control Officer Rick Bly thanked the Board for sending him to a conference, which he found very informative. He said he has responded to 16 calls so far this year, and, “All lost dogs have been returned to their owners.” He said a rabies clinic will be held Thursday, June 28, from 5 to 7 pm, cats first hour.
Bocce
A Bocce court which had been proposed for the Town Park, was proposed for a new site behind the Senior Center. Marie Claus asked Tom Withcuskey to take a look at the proposed site and report back to the Board, and Withcuskey agreed to do so.
Bly House Fire
A letter from Lisa Bly was read thanking the firefighters and others for their response to the fire at her house. Fire Chief Jim Goyer said a benefit will be held on May 26 to raise funds to help Rick and Lisa Bly to rebuild their house, and he urged the community to come and take part in it.[/private]