by David Flint
The Town of Stephentown was the successful bidder in an online auction to purchase a 1.2 acre property across the street from the Town Hall for $45,000. Two years ago the Town Board had offered $95,000 for the land and a house on it which together at that time were appraised at $115,000. The offer was refused. By 2012, with Fannie Mae now the owner following foreclosure, the asking price was down to $65,000.
[private]At the Town Board meeting on Monday Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt reported that having been authorized last month to offer up to $25,500 for the property, he made that offer to a realtor acting for Fannie Mae. The realtor said it wouldn’t fly noting that they had just turned down an offer of $40,000.
But the property was then placed for sale in an online auction with a minimum bid of $15,000 to be increased only in $5,000 increments. Eckhardt registered as the Town of Stephentown and bid $15,000. He subsequently went to $25,000 but was overbid at $30,000. “Well, we’re done,” he recalled saying to Councilman Bill Jennings.
Then came a call from the Stephentown Library. Three anonymous donors were willing to donate up to $50,000 to purchase the property. The Library also was applying for a grant that could more than cover the cost. There was no time for any formal guarantees, but the Library Board realized there would be nothing in the Town budget for them if they did not come through. Eckhardt took a deep breath and raised his bid to $35,000. Overbid at $40,000 he went to $45,000, and there it stopped. The Town had won. A closing date has been set for September 24.
Eckhardt said that neither the Town nor the Library has any use for the house. It will eventually, within a year or two, be demolished and removed. In the meantime the Fire Department has expressed interest in using it for training purposes. Some of the land will be used by the Library for a rear entrance and possible expansion and for parking space. Most of the land will be used to add on to the adjacent Town Garage site. Currently to access the salt shed, trucks have to either back in and drive out or drive in and back out onto Grange Hall Road. The additional land will provide room for a more convenient circular driveway.
Councilman Jennings said that the Library had already submitted their application for the grant in the amount of $100,000 to purchase the land, demolish the building and construct a parking area and they have received encouraging news from the Upper Hudson Library System indicating the likelihood of their receiving at least a good portion of that. The grant stipulations would include 25% matching funds from the Town. Formal approval will not come until late October. A lot of negotiations remain, he said, between the Town and the Library around divvying up the property and the costs.
Issues Remain Regarding School Purchase
Eckhardt said that the Berlin School Board had submitted a revised proposed contract, signed by four members of that Board, for turning over the Stephentown Elementary School property to the Town for $1. Several items in this contract, he said, “gave us quite a start.” He did not wish to elaborate on these items because as elements of potential contract negotiations he felt they should be discussed at some point in executive session. Eckhardt and Jennings agreed that there were “some real deal breakers” in the language of the proposed contract but at this point they are not inclined to follow the Town of Grafton’s lead in turning it down flat. They still look at it as “something we want to pursue.”
Jennings said that he could not support the Town taking over ownership of the property under the proposed conditions, conditions that would not be in the best interest of the Town’s citizens, “but discussions have started and we will see where we end up.”
Eckhardt noted that they had received a detailed asbestos report on the building and it turns out asbestos could be more of a problem than was thought. It is in the floors and ceilings as well as on the pipes. The asbestos has been well contained, but if the building is to be demolished it would be very costly.
Budget Time
The 2013 budget process has started. Eckhardt said tentative budget requests from Town departments and organizations are due by September 20. The wish lists are compiled and given to the Town Clerk who prepares the Tentative Budget for the Board’s review by October 5. The Board then develops the Preliminary Budget and presents it at a public hearing which the Board set for Monday, October 22, at 7 pm.
Eckhardt said budgeting for the General Fund should not be difficult but the Highway Fund is getting to be more of a problem. The Highway Department cannot control the increasing costs of fuel, tires, parts and repairs. It is becoming very difficult to do any long range planning. County and State and Federal help is needed, he said, especially for bridge repairs. Even a minor repair on a bridge, he said, can cost $150,000.
Joel Hunt, who works with the Sand Lake Highway Department, confirmed this, noting that blacktop prices have increased from $23 per ton in 2002 to $58 per ton today, and they spike along with spikes in oil prices. He pointed out also that Stephentown has seven State inspected bridges that may need to be replaced within 20 years or sooner. These bridges were owned and maintained by the County until 1980 when they were turned over to the Town. Some are up to 80 years old. They will need at least a major rehab or very likely total reconstruction, which for any one of them could easily cost a million dollars.
Eckhardt said the Board has been considering ways to save money on energy consumption. He said he was intrigued by the Berlin Fire Company’s installation of a solar photovoltaic system. The Stephentown Town Hall, he noted, has a very inefficient radiant heating system installed in the ceiling.
Public Hearing On Revised Land Use Regulations
Revisions have been proposed by a committee for the Town’s Land Use Regulations and are posted on the Town website at TownofStephentown.org. The Board set a public hearing for Monday, October 29, at 7 pm.
Detours
The work on replacing the decking on the Route 22 bridge across East Creek has required a detour of heavy traffic via Grange Hall Road and Route 43. Eckhardt said that the construction company was given 60 days in their contract to finish it but they hope to have it completed by Columbus Day weekend. He said the detour has so far been relatively painless, though it is sometimes hard to get out of the Town Hall parking lot. Traffic taking another detour via Madden Road has spurred a renewed request for a speed limit on that road. Jennings said that the Fire Department has been fearful about the Grange Hall Road detour but so far there has been no problem.
Jennings reported that the bridge repair at the south end of Garfield Road is just about completed. Bette & Cring Construction Group had hoped to have that road open by Labor Day, but that target was missed.
Asked why Provost Road is still closed, Eckhardt replied that the Town Highway Department has prepared it for paving, which the County will assist with, but the equipment has not yet arrived to finish the job. He said Highway Superintendent Aldie Goodermote wanted to keep traffic off the road until the paving is done and sometimes with shared services you have to wait in line.
ZBA Clerk Tabled
The Board has advertised for applications for the position of Zoning Board of Appeals Clerk. Only one application was received. The Board tabled action on this to get more information on the applicant.
Pictures On The Wall
Eckhahrdt said the walls in the Town Hall are bare and would look better with some historical pictures such as he has seen in other town halls. Pat Flint, former Historical Society President, noted that the Society is in possession of a collection of original land indentures signed by Stephen Van Rensselaer and also photos and awards provided by Elroy Face, the famous Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher. She suggested that Eckhardt contact the current Historical Society President, Marilyn Osgood, or the Curator, Beverley McClave.
Deposits & Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $854.02 to the Supervisor for the month of August. The distribution from the office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $2,445. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $8,355.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $13,982.47 from the General Account and $34,183.11 from the Highway Account.
The Board set their next regular meeting for Monday, October 15, at 7 pm.[/private]