Hoosick Town Board Action – Voting For Hathaway’s Drive In

by Bea Peterson
The meeting room was filled for the September 9 meeting of the Hoosick Town Board. Many HFCS students were in attendance to fulfill their Government class obligation. All the Town Board candidates were there as well as Town employees and many others.
After the Pledge of Allegiance Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly asked everyone to pull out his or her cell phone and vote for Hathaway’s Drive-In in the Honda sponsored contest. It was the last day to vote for a drive-in to win digital projection equipment. The winners will be announced every day this week.
[private]Recreation Facilities
Councilman Kevin Allard reported he had a long list of items regarding the Town’s recreational facilities that needed attention. “There is more than enough work to be included in budgets for the next five years,” he said. He had prioritized the list, with work related to the pool at the top of that list and the playground second. He and Councilman Bruce Patire said there is electrical work to be done in the pump house and there are tree roots buckling the sidewalk and preventing the pool house doors from closing properly.
Cipperly said he had talked with the Laberge Group about a kiddie pool. He said they told him a spray pad wading area, with water coming from the pool would be a lot less expensive than a separate wading pool that would require its own pumping station.
Removing The Pool Liner
The Board approved a contract with Korandace Pool Builders to remove the pool liner at a cost of $2,200 per day. The project is expected to take just one day. Dumpsters for the liner material have been donated by Brownell’s metal recycling in Walloomsac. Some heavy equipment may be needed and, depending on what it is and where it will be used, may be supplied by the Town.
Walls A Concern
Another major concern of the Board is some of the walls around the Castle play area. Cipperly said that when parents come to watch their older children play baseball or football, there is no way they can watch their younger children playing in the Castle area at the same time. Pictures they had showed that there are walls that also prevent the lifeguards at the pool from observing what is going on in the playground. Cipperly said he has been approached by members of the nearby Fire Department who keep an eye on the playground. They have told him that parents are not utilizing the area very much. They would like to see something done about making it more usable. Removal of some of the walls was taken into consideration.
Basketball Court
A bid from Copeland Coating for coating and sealing the Town basketball court was opened. The bid was $12,000 for coating, plus $1,750 for sealing. The Board accepted the bid, with the funds to come from the Town’s fund balance. Councilman Mark Surdam opposed the proposal because, he said, he felt this should be a budget item for next year as enough money had already been taken from the fund balance this year. The rest of the Board accepted the bid because the contractor said he would only hold the price until October. When asked by Margaret Casey why they didn’t wait until next year, Councilman Jeff Wysocki said they had been led to believe the price would hold until next year, but last month they were informed the bid would only be good through October. Casey asked why they didn’t do the whole area at one time. Allard responded that they wanted to see how good a job Copeland did on the tennis courts first.
Patire said he would get contractor estimates on the repair of roof leaks on the skating rink and the pool house. It is hoped, he said, that the repairs can be done before winter.
Plaque Bill Overdue
Supervisor Cipperly noted that the plaque Armand Rousseau gave to him last month in memory of Rousseau’s son will be placed on a wall at the skating rink. He added that the plaque was ordered in 1999, never picked up and never paid for. It was recently given to Rousseau. The Board agreed to pay for the plaque, with an apology included. The plaque will be installed next month.
Margiotta Appointed
The Board approved the appointment of Tom Margiotta as Recreation Supervisor in charge of maintenance at $15 an hour for 25 hours a week.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported licenses and fees totaling $14,244.05. Swim lessons were $2,244, pool admissions were $1,526.05, camp $1,260. The amount turned over to the Supervisor was $6,265.45.
STAR Registration Not An Issue
Town Assessor Tony Rice said he has been busy updating the Town property inventory. He said he has had several calls from seniors concerned about their enhanced STAR program. He said seniors are not affected and do not have to register. He said he had tried to register online over the weekend and the system was down. He said that evidently many people are trying to comply with the new system and file online for the STAR exemption.
Paving This Year?
Town Highway Superintendent Louis Schmigel informed the Board that low bidder Gorman Brothers Paving told him they were unable to perform their obligation to the Town of Hoosick this year. Schmigel has been in touch with Peckham, the next lowest bidder and was told they would try to meet the price and they may be able to pave Town roads this year, depending on the weather.
Schmigel thanked the Village of Hoosick Falls for mowing the athletic field last Friday. He said the steering is gone on one of the Town mowers and the second two cylinder mower is mostly operating on one cylinder. He said there is not enough money left in the Highway budget for a new commercial grade mower. He noted there is still another month and a half left in the mowing season. Patire said he would look into pricing for a new mower. Schmigel said State contracts indicate the cost of a commercial grade mower is between $7,400 and $8,000.
Schmigel added that in preparing his 2014 Highway budget he is uncertain as to the stipulations in the new Union contract and who will be doing vehicle maintenance. In the past it has always been done by the Highway crew. The Board said they would look into it.
Moment Of Silence
During the public comment session Ellen Scott told Supervisor Cipperly that it was very nice last month when he asked for a moment of silence for a Vermont resident with local ties who passed away. She asked why he did not do the same for Mark Surdam’s mother who recently passed away. Cipperly expressed his sympathy to Surdam and apologized for the oversight and then asked for a moment of silence in Surdam’s mother’s memory.
Meeting Dates
The Board approved the following meeting dates:
• October 1, Tuesday – 2014 budget available for pickup for Town Board members;
• October 8, Tuesday – 7 pm, Regular Town Board meeting;
• October 10, Thursday – 7 pm, 2014 Budget Workshop;
• October 17, Thursday – 6 pm, Public Hearing, West Hoosick Fire Dept. 2014 budget; 6:45 pm, Public Hearing, Buskirk Fire Dept. 2014 budget;
• November 7, Thursday – 7 pm, Public Hearing, 2014 Preliminary Budget;
• November 14, Thursday, 7 pm, Regular Town Board Meeting (adopt 2014 budget).
Walking Tour Brochure
Town Historian Phil Leonard distributed copies of an attractive color brochure of a walking tour of the Village from the Armory, along Church, John and Main Streets and back to the Armory. He said this is the first in a series of four or five brochures. There are photos of past buildings, their uses and locations. Leonard received a round of applause for his efforts on this project. He said a HAYC3 grant paid for the printing of 250 copies.
Leonard said the Historical Society has more members than ever. Many have been gained through the Society’s website. He added that the Society’s newsletter is now being emailed to members.
Upcoming Events
HAYC3 and the local Veterans group are sponsoring a Town Hall meeting with NYS Senator Kathy Marchione from noon to 2 pm on Saturday, October 26. The Board agreed to participate in the event.
The Town Halloween Parade will be held on Wednesday, October 30.
Pumpkinpalooza – PeeWee Field Conflict
Supervisor Cipperly noted there was a conflict with Pumpkinpalooza and PeeWee football using the Town athletic fields at the same time on September 21. Cipperly commented that the proper paperwork had not been submitted by HAYC3. After the meeting HAYC3 Director Aelish Nealon distributed copies of the request for use of the field submitted in January 2013. Minutes from the January 14 Town Board meeting indicate the rink and athletic fields were requested for Pumpkinpalooza for September 21 with a rain date of September 22. The minutes indicated the use form and insurance verification had not yet been received. Town Clerk Sue Stradinger said she never received those forms. Cipperly spoke to School Board Member Dave Sutton to see if the PeeWees could use the high school football field. Sutton said he would speak to the School Board President the following day. It is hoped the issue can be resolved.
Music Jam
Hathaway’s Drive In is holding an all day Fall Music Jam on Saturday, September 28. The rain date is October 5. Tickets in advance cost $10; at the door they cost $15.[/private]