by Bea Peterson
There were a couple of lengthy and confusing discussions during the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday evening, July 9. The longest had to do with the upkeep of the parking area near the rock cut on Route 22, not far from the intersection of Routes 7 and 22.
[private]It began when Councilman Bruce Patire publicly thanked Dave Sutton and the crew from Suttonscapes for beautifying the island with the welcoming sign at the Route 7 and 22 intersection. According to Sutton, who was asked the following day, it took the crew of four about five hours to improve the area, which is filled with many attractive perennial plants. They removed a ton of leaves and debris from the spot.
“We look like fools,” said Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly, “if we [the Town] should be maintaining those and someone else takes care of it out of their own pocket.” The Supervisor delved into the history of the two locations and found two resolutions, numbers 40 and 41 of 2008 that dealt with the subject. Apparently the resolutions stated that the Town would maintain the two spots. However, the parking area, it appears, does not belong to the Town. It belongs to Hoosac School. At the time the lot was improved, the State did not or could not take the land from the school by eminent domain. Hence the lengthy discussion in which Councilman Louis Schmigel strongly voiced his opinion that the issue of ownership should be clarified in respect to liability and responsibility. At the moment the State, while mowing that section of Route 22, does not mow the parking area. So far this season the Town has not taken care of either area. The Town has been mowing the fishing and swimming area next to the parking lot for many years and continues to do so.
In any event, Patire said he would speak to the Hoosac School Headmaster to see if there could be some resolution to the matter.
The Need To FOIL
The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) allows citizens to access any public document and have a copy of that document made at 25 cents a page. However, the request must be very specific. At the meeting Michael Batcher told the Board he had been exchanging requests for information with Town Attorney Debra Young and was frustrated by the outcome. He was referring to the recent land use law changes. He was specifically looking for the reports submitted by the Town Zoning Board and Planning Board with their opinion of the changes. As those reports had been submitted several months before, Young did not have copies of them. She told Batcher that by law she must respond to any FOIL request within five days. Batcher could have reviewed the pending law in the Clerk’s office at any time, but he could not get a copy of it, since it was yet to be a valid Town law. Batcher claimed it was hard to get things. “It makes it difficult for people to participate in the democratic process,” he said. Young pointed out there was a notice on a public hearing regarding the changes in the law. Batcher admitted he missed that hearing. He was particularly concerned, he said, because as a resident of the Town, the law directly affects him.
Let The Political Season Begin
NYS Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin introduced himself to the Board and those attending the meeting. He is from
Schaghticoke and is running for re-election. As a result of the recent redistricting, if re-elected, he will be representing the Town of Hoosick. Tony Jordan remains the Town’s representative until the end of the year. McLaughlin said he has a great working relationship with Jordan. He was impressed with the Armory and said he didn’t know if the Governor had signed the bill turning the building over to HAYC3 yet. “Once the Governor signs it, you will be off and running,” he said.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported during the month of June payment was received for six building permits, $755 for conservation licenses, $1,010 for basketball camp, $9,195 for summer camp, $1,820 for pool memberships, $495 for school field trips to pool, $4,140 for swim lessons, $420.50 for daily pool admission and $1,453 from pool concessions for an overall total of $20,397. Of that amount $19,490.29 was turned over to the Town Supervisor. Stradinger noted that many people are signing up for swimming by the day and for camp by the week, as opposed to season passes or seasonal camp. She also said the Town of Hoosick camp is the least expensive camp around and that people from other towns are bringing their children to the camp.
Town Assessor Tony Rice reported that the final tax roll is complete and available for viewing any day during regular business hours.
Town Building Inspector Charlie Kovage reported he issued four building permits for the month. He also completed six site inspections, issued two certificates of occupancy, completed one fire inspection, attended one seminar on zoning and planning and completed the last of six basic training sessions. In response to a question from the Board, Kovage said most of the permits issued this year were for additions or small structures, like sheds. He said, to his knowledge, there are only two single family structures under construction in the Town at this time.
Town Pool Director Emily Ciuk requested long sleeved T-shirts be purchased for the life guards at $9 per shirt. The Board approved the request for 20 shirts, which provides some extras for the future. Ciuk reported that a new Life Saving course will begin next week.
Phil Leonard said he has been Town Historian for ten years. During that time he and Charlie Filkins have put together 120 boards of the Town’s history. He brought the fifth board he put together back in 2002 to this meeting. It showed scenes from the Town of Hoosick, with a couple additional photos on it. He related a story from an old newspaper article in which a young girl described the owners of a hotel telling the neighbors they were going to burn the building down so they should take care their properties didn’t catch fire. And that’s what they did, burned the building down. Of course, doing so is illegal in this day and age, but who knows back in the “old days.” The hotel was at the site of the current Moose Deli.
Wrestling Tournament
An enthusiastic Michael LaPorte addressed the Board regarding the Youth Wrestling Tournament to be held at the skating rink July 28 and 29. He said the community support, from the Town, Village, School, Youth Center, youth football and cheerleading and businesses has been outstanding. He said wrestlers will be coming from California, New Jersey and several other states. He noted that the Hoosac School has offered dorm rooms at a nominal fee. LaPorte said the pool is a definite asset at the end of the day. “This is the number one kids tournament in the country, and we’re very proud of it,” he said. The seven foot first place trophy is currently on display in the Hoosick Federal Credit Union, and the fifth place trophy is on display at Cumberland Farms. He again thanked the entire community for its support. “We really have a great community here,” he said.
Home Town Days
Councilman Schmigel said plans for Home Town Days August 2 to 4 are coming along. He said the Girl Scouts are trying to put together a world record setting hand shake event on Saturday at 5 pm. He said there will be a chicken barbecue from 4 to 7 pm and then fireworks at 9.
Councilman Patire wondered aloud if the Town had ever checked into having people from Project Hire, a County program, do work for the Town. Those who do the work are paid by the County as part of the benefits they receive. Deputy Highway Superintendent Charles Thurber said they had used such people in the past to do manual labor but not to operate any equipment.
Schmigel then asked if the Court was still offering community service options as opposed to paying fines. For a while there were many folks performing community service, but not recently. In any event, a motion was made to look into Project Hire.
Roadway Issues
Board members had received requests from Town residents to look into several roadway issues. Patire requested the Highway Department remove some of the sumac trees that are blocking visibility at the corner of Eagle Bridge Road and State Road. Supervisor Cipperly requested that missing street signs be counted and replaced. This is an ongoing problem in the Village and Town. Street signs are frequently stolen/removed and are costly to replace. The lack of street signs, however, makes it difficult for rescue personnel unfamiliar with the Town to reach individuals needing aid.
Schmigel said it had been reported that there are no school bus stop signs west of the Bennington Battlefield on Route 67. Members noted that that section of highway is difficult to traverse as it is and the lack of a bus stop sign adds to the problem. A course of action will be taken at next month’s meeting.
Several people had noticed an issue with the old yellow lines on River Road. After a rain the old lines are much more noticeable than the new lines. The old lines could direct a vehicle into the road barriers. The problem will be checked into.
There was a complaint about rainwater getting into a driveway because ditching has not been done. Thurber said the Highway Department has been working on road patching and was just beginning to work on ditching.
The Board passed a resolution to request the County undertake a study to reduce the speed limit on Routes 95 and 100 in the Town of Hoosick.
Supervisor Cipperly requested the Board approve a resolution submitted by Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki to New York State DOT to remove the fence from the parking lot across from the Senior Center. Cipperly said the fence makes it difficult for drivers to see people using the crosswalk in front of the Center. Schmigel asked, why stop there, why not more fences? All of them, he said, limit visibility to drivers and pedestrians. The resolution for the removal of the one fence was approved.
The Board approved use of the Town Park for the Pee Wee Football program from July 30 to October 31.
The Board appointed Steven Colvin and Parker Hassenflug as life guards for the remainder of the summer. The members also accepted the resignation of Rick Ferrannini from the Planning Board.
The Board approved a request by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for $600. Schmigel noted the event is by far the biggest one in the Town and should be supported. Patire suggested they were probably counting on that money and the request should be approved. Schmigel did recommend that in the future someone from the committee come to a meeting with a request and with an operating budget.
Family Subdivision Now Two Acres
The Board passed Local Law #2 of 2012, reducing the size of a family subdivision lot from five acres to two acres.[/private]