Village of Hoosick Falls Board Action – Three Month Trial Period For Existing Zoning Laws

by Bea Peterson
In October Hoosick Falls Village Mayor Matt Monahan asked Trustees David Borge and Jeremy Driscoll to review the Village’s zoning laws. At the January 8 regular meeting of the Board Borge reported that the 1992 amended law stated there would be no development in residential zones. Single houses that had been converted into duplexes or apartment houses prior to 1992 were grandfathered. However, since that law was put in place, several properties in the zone have added apartments. [private]Building Inspector Ed Holland said he has inspected several buildings and found more apartments in the building than the Village has listed. In many instances the owners have not been paying taxes on the additional apartment(s), nor have they been paying increased water and sewer fees. Holland said during his routine inspections he has seen 284 properties with almost 900 apartments. He said another 140 more structures have the potential to increase that number of apartments to over 1,000.
Borge pointed out there are a lot of properties for sale in the Village. He also noted that sales have increased in recent months. He and Driscoll would like to work within the present law for the next three months, then look at it again and decide if it should be repealed or modified.
Of course, the often stated problem is absentee landlords. “We need some way to make property owners responsible for their properties,” said Borge. “We cannot legislate pride, but we can legislate accountability.” He and Driscoll want to see the 2009 Nuisance Law enforced consistently. It will take the combined efforts of the Building Inspector, the Police Department and the Village Court. “This law could go a long way toward solving many of the ongoing community problems,” said Borge. Every landlord has received a copy of the Nuisance Law, he added. The Law has a point system. Unkept property has a point penalty as do unruly tenants. “If enough points are accrued, the certificate of occupancy can be pulled,” said Borge. “We have to get the word out to the community that this is important,” he added.
Holland believes it will take two years at most to reassess buildings that have more than the listed number of apartments in them. Were those additional apartments to be closed they estimate it would displace about 200 families. “We cannot go backwards,” said Borge. “We must go forward.” Borge said issues regarding the Nuisance Law will begin to be resolved immediately. “Let’s give the Nuisance Law an opportunity to work for all. After three months we may have other recommendations.”
Solar Power
Borge and Driscoll have also undertaken a study of the possibility of solar power for the Village. Borge said they have spoken with a half dozen solar providers and met with three of them. They have also spoken with several individuals who have installed a large number of solar panels. They also visited Johnsonville, which has just completed the installation of solar panels.
Borge pointed out that between street lights, the water plant, the sewer plant and other Village buildings, the annual cost for electricity is $200,000. He said one option is for the Village to purchase solar panels outright at a cost of approximately $350,000. The Village would save 100 percent of its electrical cost, but it would be responsible for the maintenance of all the equipment. Complete payback would be within eight to ten years.
Another option is for a solar company to put up the panels and lease the space for them from the Village. The Village would have no financial outlay and would see a 30 percent drop in its electricity costs. Borge said the companies usually offer a 20 year contract which can be renegotiated at the end of the 20 years. Borge feels this is a “very attractive” option since the Village would have no responsibility for maintenance of the panels.
Borge noted that municipalities cannot get write-offs like those available to homeowners and businesses. Borge feels this is basically “free money.” Mayor Monahan thanked Borge and Driscoll for all they have accomplished in two months and said he would like to see the matter discussed further. “Thirty percent is tempting,” he said, “but we have money in the fund balance and in Economic Development that might defray the initial cost.”
Water Rate Questions
Cheryl Downing told the Board that she runs a registered day care from her home. It is not a commercial residence, she said, yet she pays a commercial water rate. The property is primarily her home, she said, lamenting the higher rate lowers her already low income generated by the day care. Mayor Monahan said the Village Attorney would respond to her in writing.
One landlord at the meeting said that tenants use as much water as they want without considering the cost. He asked how to limit the amount they use. The Mayor responded that some landlords have installed meters for each tenant and charge them accordingly. The landlord also complained about the amount of chlorine in the water. The Mayor said the chlorine added to the Village water supply is down to the very minimum the State allows. Water Supervisor Jim Hurlburt said the water is so clear of minerals now with the new system that the chlorine doesn’t break down as quickly. The houses that the water supply reaches first tend to have the strongest amount of chlorine.
Greenway
The contract for the cleanup of the northern section of the Greenway was awarded to Pat Bakaitis of Hoosick Sand and Gravel for $6,480. Work will begin in the spring.
Trustee Ric DiDonato reported that all the tickets were sold for the New Year’s Eve party at the Hoosick Falls Country Club. There was also a silent auction at the event. He said the final figures aren’t in yet, but it appears both the Greenway and the Country Club will benefit from the event.
Someone asked why ATVs and motorbike riders can’t use the trails since they kept them cleared for many years after the railroad abandoned the beds. He pointed out that snowmobiles can use the trails. The Mayor responded that the vandalism caused by ATV and motorbike individuals at the landfill and other sites in the Village has not favored their cause. They have also been riding on the Hoosic River spillway, which is strictly prohibited by DEC, he added. He said if an organization of ATV and motorbike riders, similar to the Snowmobile Club, which has its own insurance, etc. approached him, they might consider other trails. DiDonato pointed out that all the grants received for the Greenway have been for a pedestrian trail.
Hoosapalooza
The Mayor noted that HAYC3 will be holding Hoosapalooza on Saturday, February 2, throughout the Village and particularly in the Armory and the Youth Center. He also mentioned that volunteers are needed this Saturday and Sunday for the first session of upgrading the Armory. Skilled and unskilled people are needed for a wide variety of tasks. Everyone is welcome to help.
The Board approved the following motions:
• to schedule Property Tax Grievance Day on Tuesday, February 19, from 5 to 9 pm;
• to advertise for diesel and #2 heating oil – Bids to be received by February 12;
• to sign a term rental services agreement with Pitney-Bowes for 48 months at $131 a month for the postage machine;
• to sign the 2013 DWI agreement with Rensselaer County in the amount of $3,000;
• to purchase a new fully outfitted police cruiser through the NYS Purchase Program for $31,000. The Department has budgeted $25,000 for the purchase and expects the remaining $6,000 to come through the sale of the old cruiser.
The Board passed a resolution stating there would be no Voter Registration Day for the Village.  Village residents must register to vote with Rensselaer County.
The Board passed a second resolution stating that all Village Wards will vote at the Municipal Building on Main Street for the Tuesday, March 19, election. Voting will take place between noon and 9 pm. A motion was made to publish a notice designating offices to be filled and terms of office for the March 19, 2013, election. Positions to be filled are that of the Mayor and Trustees Ric DiDonato, Paul Haynes and John Hickey. The Mayor said the reason for one polling place was the low voter turnout in recent years and the decreased number of people available to serve at polling sites.[/private]