by Bea Peterson
Charges and countercharges were bandied about during the Public Comment period of the regular Hoosick Town Board meeting held on Tuesday, October 8. The public comments were sometimes heated, and all were directed at the Board or at Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly directly.
[private]Dennis Casey read a letter from his wife Margaret, who was unable to attend the meeting. The letter asked what changed from June to September that made the Board decide to do both the tennis courts and basketball courts this year. The June minutes, she wrote, showed the Board waiting until next year to do the basketball section as the $12,000 price would hold. Councilman Patire responded saying that the company said it would only hold the price for this year. He said they asked the company to do the tennis courts; the Board liked what they did, and they chose to have the basketball portion done was well.
Jim Martinez addressed the Supervisor regarding a handout he received at the Schaghticoke Fair stating that Cipperly had been “left with virtually no fund balance in four major Town Funds in 2010.” The handout stated that the Town Fund Balance has grown from $151,000 to over 1.2 million dollars in just three years. Martinez wanted to see proof of this. He also was unhappy about Cipperly speaking for the entire Town against the NYS Safe Act, which was also stated in the handout.
Carol Ryan reprimanded Cipperly and Town Attorney Joanne Monagan for smirking during Martinez’s presentation. Cipperly responded that they were smiling because they could barely hear Martinez above the music being played downstairs in the Armory. Ryan demanded he apologize to Martinez. Cipperly declined.
Dennis Casey respectfully requested that the Board put the minutes of its meetings on the Town website. He also respectfully requested that Charles Filkins, or someone else, video the meetings again for the community to view. He also requested that the Board present, at or before the budget public hearing, the current fund balance and a chart of how the two percent tax cap is calculated. He added that he made a FOIL request on September 16 for information on the fund balances and budget transfers that have been approved, and for what purpose, from the beginning of the Town’s fiscal year. He said that on September 20 he received a letter that said he would have that information within two weeks and he has not received it yet. He added that that information should be readily available.
David Sutton was outraged at some Facebook® comments made by the Supervisor stating Sutton and HFCS Board President Greg Laurin had banned him from school property. Sutton said this was not the case at all. It related to an incident three weeks ago at a football game when it was felt Cipperly and other party candidates were campaigning while selling 50/50 raffle tickets at a football game and that there should be no campaigning on school property. Sutton became quite agitated and shouted about the “lies” told by Cipperly.
Chris Stevens of Seward Street came to the meeting to see about his street being repaired. He quoted the Supervisor as saying to him that “the streets that have the most voters are fixed first,” and that’s not right, he added. Cipperly denied saying such a thing. The Supervisor added that the Board never decides what roads get fixed as that is the responsibility of the Highway Superintendent. Stevens added that the Village made water line repairs under the road and they didn’t finish repairing the road itself. He said the Town and the Village should be working together. He added that his road has been neglected for years, and he hoped the Board could help him “get the darned thing fixed!”
Regular Business
Supervisor Cipperly announced that the Rensselaer County Legislature had voted that evening to allow Towns with fewer than 50 employees to participate in the County’s Health Insurance Plan. Cipperly said he hoped that the employees would jump on this plan. “It could be a win/win situation for both the employees and the Town,” he said. A meeting to review the insurance plan was tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 16.
The Board also approved a resolution for employees to be part of a flexible benefit plan being instituted by the State. This allows employers to take out employee’s insurance payments prior to taxation.
Cipperly also noted that the Town’s CHIPS funding for next year will be $126,000 instead of the anticipated $99,000 budgeted for the upcoming year.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that she took in $19,898 in Conservation licenses for the month of September. Of that money, $19,138 was turned over to the Department of Environmental Conservation and $760 was retained by the Town. Other fees received included five building permits, 17 marriage certificates and licenses, dog licenses and renewals and one death certificate. Turned over to the Town Supervisor for the month was $1,428.75.
Councilman Kevin Allard had asked for comments on his proposal for a Policy Procedure Review. Councilman Mark Surdam had not reviewed the proposal so the Board agreed to review it at next month’s Board meeting.
Councilman Bruce Patire said he had walked the skating rink with Fran Wilwol, who walked the roof. Patire said Wilwol noted that many of the screws were rusted allowing water to leak in. Wilwol will give a cost estimate on repairs that he believes will last from five to ten years.
Patire went on to say he wants to contact the Sheriff’s Department about having a crew come out to paint three of the backboards and posts on the basketball court. He noted that all the hoops have new nets.
Patire mentioned that he had received a call from a Town resident who had run over a tree limb and damaged his car and was wondering if the Town was liable. The Town is not liable, and the car owner should be covered for the cost of repairs under his own insurance policy, said Patire.
Value Of Town Properties
A survey of Town properties was conducted for free by an independent firm titled NYNER, and the firm agreed to set the value of the properties. The Town also received a free one million dollar flood insurance policy with a $25,000 deductible.
Pool Scan
Supervisor Cipperly said the pool scan was complete. He said the ground under the pool is in a lot better shape than they thought. He again thanked the crew from Walloomsac Metal Recycling for the use of dumpsters to haul away the pool liner.
Rink Supplies
Cipperly said 75 three by four by 1/2 inch mats are needed around the entire skating rink entrance at a cost of $1,500. He said there was an issue with the safety of the Town’s rental skates, particularly the women’s skates, and he asked for $2,500 to purchase new skates and $1,500 for new mats. The requests were approved.
Trees Near Poolhouse
The Supervisor said he had spoken with property owners whose trees are encroaching on the Town Poolhouse. The owners agreed to allow the Town to remove the trees. The Board is looking for two quotes to remove the trees and roots.
The public meeting ended with a reminder that NYS Senator Kathy Marchione will be at the Armory for a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, October 26.
The Board went into executive session to discuss “dog litigation.”[/private]