Hoosick Town Board Action – So Far No Skating

by Bea Peterson
While many folks have been enjoying the mild weather for most of this winter, others want to ski and skate. One very irate resident left a very unpleasant message on the Town answering machine enraged because there had been no skating so far this year. Except for three very cold days, making ice at the Town rink has not been possible, said Highway Superintendent Louis Schmigel. It seemed rather pointless to go through the lengthy process of producing ice when the few cold days were to be followed by days in the high 40s, he said. Schmigel believes the upcoming stretch of consistently cold days will make skating possible.
[private]The Board also approved contacting Prestige Vending Services about putting vending machines in at the rink as a money saving plan. Supervisor Keith Cipperly pointed out that the rink always runs in the red.
Bid And Bookkeeping
The Hoosick Town Board held its organizational meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, January 14, followed by its regular meeting. Highway Superintendent Schmigel, on the job for the last month, reported things were going pretty good with the Department. He said the guys have been real helpful to him, and he appreciates it. He asked the Board to approve his request to advertise for bids for fuel oil. The Board approved the request. Bids are to be submitted by 3 pm on Monday, February 11.
Town Bookkeeper Tyler Sawyer asked the Board for approval to move $5,000 from the Highway Fund balance to the Union Negotiations column. Negotiations, he said, are still underway. That account already has $5,000 in it. The Board approved the transfer. “Wow,” commented Councilman Mark Surdam. “Ten thousand, that’s a lot.”
Sawyer also requested a transfer from fund balance to the Building Inspector account. Supervisor Keith Cipperly noted that interim Building Inspector Ed King has not charged the Town for mileage since he returned to fill that post.
Senior Exemptions
Town Assessor Tony Rice reported all senior citizen property tax exemption applications have been mailed out. He said March 1 is the deadline to return the applications for tax exemptions. “If people didn’t receive one,” he said, “they should call the office.”
Faces Of Entertainment
Reappointed Town Historian Phil Leonard told the Board that so far the Historical Society has a 70 percent renewal of membership. He said they are looking into ways to send the monthly newsletter to members through the internet.
His display board for this month was one he had put together in 2004. It shows famous people from the Town, such as singers Ray and Bob Eberle, dancer Harriet Hoctor, the Surdams and several prominent hotel managers.
Police Again
Village resident and Hoosick Federal Credit Union President Jim Martinez challenged the Board, particularly Councilman Bruce Patire, regarding comments made in the Troy Record on the cost of a Town wide police force. The issue was discussed at some length at the November Board meeting and reported afterwards by several newspapers at some length. Comments flew back and forth, with much of the information exchanged being the same as was said at the November meeting. Should the Village dissolve, the Town does not want to support a Town-wide Police Force. Martinez reminded the Board that it was the first responders (Police) that made the difference in Newtown. Cipperly threw in a comment about townspeople and second amendment rights. Councilman Mark Surdam brought some sanity to the discussion by reminding everyone that sometimes the Town does take advantage of the Village Police Department. “It’s not an us versus them,” he said. “The Village is part of the Town, and we are all a part of the Town of Hoosick.”
One resident asked how people got to have a say on these issues. Cipperly responded it happens every November at election time.
Councilman Reports
Patire said he had reviewed the Town insurance programs and there were no changes needed or increases in cost. Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki reported that the final draft of the Farmland Protection Plan is available for review in the Clerk’s office and will be finalized once it has been reviewed by the Commissioner. He also noted that a banquet for the HFCS Football team will be held in the Armory on Sunday, January 20, at 2 pm. The cost is $10 per person.
Councilman Surdam reported he had one letter in reference to saving the pool. He feels the requests are a little premature at this point, but he is moving forward with it.
Town Supervisor Cipperly personally thanked Hoosac School for inviting him to their Yule Log celebration. He said he and his wife had a wonderful time. He noted that when he was young, there was a real “us and them” attitude about the Hoosac School. He said he has noticed that has really started to change, and he sees the school becoming more involved in the community.
He thanked the North Hoosick Fire Department for inviting the Board to its Annual Installation Banquet, noting they do a nice job with the event.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported she received $2,816 in Conservation licenses in December. Added to that amount were dog licenses, garbage stickers and two building permits. The total for the month was $3,623.75. Of that amount $800.26 was turned over to the Town Supervisor.
Stradinger also read a letter from the Senior Center thanking the Board for its November contribution to the Center of $5,500. Cipperly noted that the donation was made possible through the sales tax money the Town receives.
Approvals
In other business the Board approved:
• use of the skating rink on May 4 by Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation to distribute trees purchased by area people;
• the appointment of Todd Rogers, Tyler Rondo and Anna Restino as cashiers and rink guards;
• CPR training for rink personnel;
• the Kiwanis Club using the rink from 1 to 4 pm for skating on Saturday, February 16, if weather conditions permit, or Saturday, February 23;
• HAYC3 using the rink on Saturday, February 2, from 1 to 4 pm – the skating fee would be a donation to the Food Closet;
• HAYC3 using the rink on Saturday, September 21, for Pumpkinpalooza; the Board waived the fee for that use, and
• a donation to the St. Patrick’s celebration as the Town is now in receipt of the necessary tax identification number.
The Board reported a Court audit was conducted on January 2 and everything was found to be in order.
The Town Clerk’s annual report was reviewed and found to be in order.
No Councilperson Appointed
In a telephone conversation on Wednesday evening, Supervisor Cipperly said so far the people he has asked to replace Louis Schmigel on the Town Board have declined the offer. “We just haven’t found the right candidate yet,” he said. He is hopeful a candidate will be appointed by next month. He also said it is not necessary to have another Councilperson, unless, of course, the Board disagrees on a decision resulting in a two-two vote tie. Otherwise, the Town can function well with the four people serving now.[/private]