by Bea Peterson
A Town safety deposit box came to light last year when the Town received a bill from Key Bank for $2,379. It appears the box was established when Sean Casey was Town Supervisor. No one has any idea what is in the box, and there is no record of any bills being sent to the Town before 2011. No one knows where the key to the mysterious box is. It takes at least two people to be present to open it, and none of those who rented the box are on the Board any longer. The Board members were not inclined to pay the fee. Councilman Bruce Patire said he would talk to people at the bank. Otherwise the box may be turned over to the State.[private]
Town Adopts Farmland Protection Plan
Two public hearings were held before the regular Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday, September 10. The first hearing was regarding the Farmland Protection Plan, which has been under review for some time and has been finalized. Laura Ten Eyck, Senior NY Project and Outreach Manager for the NYS Office of American Farmland Trust was on hand to help answer any questions. There were none, and at the close of the regular meeting the Board adopted the Farmland Protection Plan.
The second hearing was in regard to the Town’s Local Law #3 of 2012, adopting the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law in its entirety. The adoption was tabled pending further investigation into the issue.
Upcoming Dates To Remember
Because of Monday holidays in October and November the next two Town Board meetings will be held on Tuesday, October 9, at 7 pm and Thursday, November 15, at 7 pm.
Public Hearings on the Fire Department budgets will be held on Monday, October 15, at the West Hoosick Fire Department at 6 pm and at the North Hoosick Fire Department at 6:45 pm.
A brief Budget Workshop, when the Town Clerk turns over copies of the tentative Town budget to Board members, will be at 7 pm on October 22.
Two inspectors from the Board of Elections will be at the Armory on Thursday, October 4, from 5:30 to 9 pm and on Saturday, October 13, from 2 to 9 pm for voter registration.
The Board approved the use of the Town Park for the St. Mary’s Academy Cow Plop on Saturday, October 7.
The Board approved HAYC3 using the Armory and outside area for a Block Party on Saturday, October 27, from 9 am to 4 pm.
The Board also approved funding HAYC3 for the October 30 Halloween Parade for no more than $500.
Recycling Halted
The Town no longer has anyone to pick up paper for recycling. And there is no space for other items. Thus, the recycling site at the Town Garage is closed. Councilman Louis Schmigel will talk with County Waste and talk with the Hoosick Falls Mayor Matt Monahan about using the Village’s recycling facility. Schmigel noted that if they had a scale for weighing trucks the Town could be competitive and, he believes, there is money to be made in recycling.
Town Pool
The Town Pool is closed for the season. Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly said that the cost of electricity for the pool was $1,300, which is more than it costs for Town streetlights.
There was some general discussion about the need for removal of the fence around the children’s castle playground and improvements to that playground. The Laberge Group is presently looking into grant sources for a new pool. The Board believes the pool package should include improvements to the playground and the basketball court.
Resolutions
The Board passed resolutions
• to request that speed be reduced on Route 67 in Walloomsac and school bus stop signs be placed along that road,
• that the Town Supervisor’s compensation be $16,400 for the year 2013, and
• that Hoosick Falls Water Supervisor James Hurlburt be paid $75 per month to do water testing for Hoosick residents connected to the Hoosick Falls water system.
Postcard Board
Town Historian Phil Leonard presented his latest history board. It consists of old postcards, some from 1904, some comic, some showing Thayer’s Pond, others showing the first Bennington Battlefield on Cottrell Road, the original Village Park, which is where the fountain now stands, trolleys and more.
Leonard also mentioned that there has been some holdup on getting the individual plates with the 45 additional names for the Veteran’s Wall made. “A lot of stuff has changed,” he said. He is still hopeful they will be ready by Veteran’s Day.
He asked that everyone to take a minute to think about 9/11 on Tuesday. He suggested bringing food to the Food Closet in remembrance of those lost that day 11 years ago.
As the position of Building Inspector is now vacant, former Building Inspector Ed King has stepped in to help out until a replacement is found.
Clerk’s Report
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that fees received for August included $7,396 for conservation licenses, other various licenses and permits, six building permits, swim lessons for $2,545, pool concession $1,111.88 and pool admissions $2,071.50 for a total of $16,602.13. Of that amount $9,205.71 was turned over to the Town Supervisor.
When giving his report Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki reported he had concluded his work on the Farmland Protection Plan for the Town but was still working with the County on its Plan. He also noted that the solar panels on the Wysocki farm are now working and in the first week they generated 100 more kwh than they used. But, of course, it will be at least a year before actual benefits can be judged.[/private]