Town Of Hoosick Opposed To Keeping Police Force If Village Dissolves

by Bea Peterson
At the Town of Hoosick Board meeting on Thursday, November 15, Hoosick Falls Mayor Matt Monahan asked the Board members for their opinion of a Town Wide Police Force. He said it was nothing formal and he was not there to lobby the Board one way or another.
He brought up the issue because for several months the Village has had a Dissolution Study underway. The Committee has met on several occasions, and two public hearings have been held. It appears there are several issues that could be worked around, but police coverage is not one of them. [private]Under current State law there cannot be a police district that covers only the Village, like water and sewer districts that cover only the users. Should the Village choose to dissolve into the Town without a police department, they would have to rely on the Sheriff’s Department and the State Police for coverage, just as Town residents do now. Monahan said the Committee has done its homework and they know what the people in the Village want. It was very apparent at the last public hearing that Village residents want to keep their police department.
Town Councilman Louis Schmigel, who is on the Dissolution Study Committee, said he needs more information before he makes any educated decision. The cost right now is only theoretical, he said.
Monahan said to offer Town residents the same coverage as Village residents they would need to hire additional officers. The estimated tax increase to Town residents would be $70 a year.
Councilman Mark Surdam, who also serves on the Dissolution Committee, said businesses outside the Village would like the additional protection but he knows Town residents wouldn’t vote for it at all at this point. He noted that the dissolution option is open for two years and at some point more information may make the option more feasible.
Monahan said he didn’t want the Village spending nine months spinning its wheels.
Supervisor Keith Cipperly said as a Village resident and taxpayer he would vote against dissolution. He said he would also vote no for a townwide Police force. He added that he didn’t like the people of the Town being forced to take on the Police Department. “The people in Town don’t want it,” he said.
Councilman Bruce Patire said that as a Village businessman he loves having police coverage. “The Village would be total chaos without a police department,” he said. Maybe there are ways to consolidate Village and Town services, he added. “The Village does need a police department. But outside the Village, the Town shouldn’t have to support it.”
Councilman Jeff Wysocki said he would have to vote no on a townwide police force.
Supervisor Cipperly added that consolidation in some areas is absolutely necessary.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger said that the Town residents she has heard from are against more police coverage. “They are very happy with the police service they have.” She added that Village residents have told her they don’t want to dissolve and lose their identity. Schmigel countered saying that at the public hearing the majority of those attending were in favor of dissolution if they could keep the police department.
The Mayor reminded the Board that Village residents do pay Town taxes as well. “It is a hard situation, and the Village tax base is shrinking. It’s not what we want to do, but what can we afford to do.” He noted that Village taxes are one thing, but there is also the Fire Departments to support and the school taxes and the County taxes. Members of the Town Board agreed, and a brief discussion followed on who gets what portion of the taxes, agreeing that the Village and Town portions are the smallest ones.
Budget Passed
With little fanfare the Board adopted the 2013 budget with a tax levy increase of 1.7578% over last year. The rate per thousand, excluding the various Fire Departments, is $11.67 per thousand dollars of assessed value.
In other business, the Assessor’s report stated that all Enhanced STAR applications were mailed out by October 31. March 1 is the deadline for all exemption applications to be filed.
The Board approved putting out a bid for winter sand. Bids must be returned by 3 pm on December 10.
Town Historian Phil Leonard said that 45 new names have been added to the Veterans Wall and he is “now out of the name business.”
His history board this month showed some of the events of the Village’s 125th anniversary celebration in 1952. He said the Louis Miller Museum has put together a book on the event, which he described as “the biggest thing that ever happened in Hoosick Falls.” He said they had three parades attended by over 10,000 people. There were 20 floats, 15 Drum and Bugle Corps and 300 local people in the pageant. The book, entitled Hoosick Falls 125th Anniversary August 12 – 17 1952 The Largest and Most Successful Local Celebration, costs $5 and is on sale in Thorpe’s Pharmacy, Parisi Designs and the Louis Miller Museum.
Skating Rink And Swimming Pool
The Board is looking to fill the position of Skating Rink Supervisor. The opening of the rink will be determined by weather conditions.
There appears to be an issue with the pool losing more than a normal amount of water at this time. Board members agreed that the pool is a great asset to the Town, but a million dollars to replace it is a lot for the Town to absorb. Discussion continued regarding applying for grants and getting letters of support from communities that use the pool. Actually, members noted, there is not that much time until the pool will need to be opened again.[/private]