by Bea Peterson
Hoosick Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly’s final meeting as Supervisor on Monday, December 30, was contentious and punctuated with heckling.
Reserve Funds Take A Hit
It heated up when he requested approval for Laberge to start getting estimates and permits for pool repairs. [private]They would charge an hourly rate for this service. Cipperly mentioned that estimated costs to repair the pool and bring it up to code would be approximately $793,000. Incoming Supervisor Mark Surdam was astounded at the cost. Cipperly responded that the price should have been no big surprise as it has been talked about for months. Surdam said the last amount he heard mentioned was $450,000. “A project involving this amount should be presented at a public meeting,” said Surdam. He also said such a decision should be left for the next Board.
Outgoing Councilman Kevin Allard said the engineering and permit work needs to be started as soon as possible. He pointed out that this vote was just for the engineering services. He said, “Do the engineering first, then have a public hearing.” Councilman Bruce Patire added, “We really want to get it [the pool] done.” The heckling included remarks that the engineering study itself had never been put out for bid. In the end, Cipperly, Allard and Patire voted to proceed with the study. Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki and Surdam voted no. The request for the study passed.
Pool
The meeting became more heated, with more heckling, when Cipperly looked for approval to take $640,000 from the General Reserve Fund and $153,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund and put it into a special Pool Improvement Fund. Cipperly and Allard voted for, Surdam, Wysocki and Patire voted against. The request failed but not without considerable discussion and heckling.
Truck
Next a request was made to move $200,000 from the Highway Capital Reserve Fund to a fund specifically for the purchase of a heavy duty plow truck. Surdam said he knows the Town needs the truck, but he did not feel this was the appropriate way to fund it. He was also upset because this leaves only $23,000 in the Highway Reserve Fund. Surdam said no, the rest of the Board voted yes, with Wysocki commenting he thought it was going to be a Highway equipment fund, not just for the purchase of the truck.
Salt Shed
Next Cipperly requested $300,000 be taken from the Reserve Fund to build a salt shed at the Highway Garage. The building of a salt shed has been an off-again, on-again issue since 2009. Surdam said he felt this was not in the best interest of the taxpayers. “What you’re doing is wrong,” he said. “I vote no.”
Wysocki and Patire also voted no. The motion failed.
Playground
Bruce Patire said he had toured the playground with a representative from the Town’s insurance carrier and he believed the playground, with all that wood, had to be torn down. Cipperly then requested $85,000 be taken from Reserve Funds to fund a new playground. Surdam said he had also spoken with the insurance carrier representative and he had an entirely different take on what the representative had to say. He didn’t believe there was as much to be done as Patire thought. “We have had no report from the insurance carrier yet,” said Surdam. “This is just another attempt to tie up funds in a mean spirited sort of way.” Cipperly commented that he had never seen Surdam at the playground. Surdam responded he has been there. He added, “This is taxpayer money, not Cipperly money.” Cipperly, Allard and Patire voted to set the $85,000 aside for the playground. Wysocki and Surdam voted no. The motion passed.
Executive Session
The Board left the room to go into Executive Session to discuss a “personnel issue.” When they returned Supervisor Cipperly stated the Board “approved a motion to turn the matter over to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.” No name was mentioned nor was the issue discussed in the open meeting. However, a series of emails released to the media by incoming Councilman Dave Sutton indicate the matter has to do with Highway employee William Shiland III purchasing for the Town 100 tons of salt for $5,743.08 that was delivered on December 20. Shiland was not sworn in as Highway Superintendent until January 1.
Bank Box
Councilman Allard brought up the subject of the safe deposit box that was taken by the Town at Key Bank in 1995. No fees have ever been paid on the box and no one knows what is in it. The bank is looking to collect $2,371 in back fees to let the Town see what is in the box. Surdam said that issue had been discussed years ago and the Board decided not to do anything. “We let it go,” he said. Allard, Cipperly and Patire voted to pay the bill. Wysocki and Surdam voted no. The bill will be paid.
No Controversy
The Board approved the use of the Town Athletic Field for HAYC3’s Pumpkinpalooza for September 27, with a rain date of September 28.
The Board accepted the resignation of Highway Department employee Charles Thurber as Deputy Highway Superintendent. Councilman Patire thanked Thurber for all his help this past year when Louis Schmigel became Highway Superintendent.
The Board corrected the date of the appointment of Kathy Bugbee to the Town of Hoosick Housing Authority. Bugbee is filling a term that will expire in 2014.
In a case dating from 2007, April Stevens versus then Town Dog Control Officer Matthew Beck and the Town, the Board approved a settlement of $1,000.
There were no reports from the Assessor, the Highway Superintendent or the Town Historian.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that during November she collected $12,368 in conservation fees in addition to other fees, certificates and permits totaling $13,271. Of that amount $1,639.93 was turned over to the Supervisor.
Skating Rink Open
Tom Margiotta requested approval to add Sean Dingman, Todd Rogers, Alyssa Surdam and Kristin Pierce to the skating staff. The Board approved.
Margiotta said skating lesson sign-up will be January 11 from 9 am to 1 pm. Lessons will begin January 15. Sue Hyde will be in charge, and she needs instructors, he said.
The Board approved a motion to hold a Youth Hockey Clinic at the rink for ages 6 to 12 in mid-January. The youngsters must know how to skate and supply their own appropriate equipment. The Clinic will be conducted by Hoosac School Hockey Coach Kurt Colling.
The Board also approved Margiotta setting up a Recreation, information only, website for approximately $14 a month.
Margiotta wondered about putting together a policy to allow individuals to rent the rink for birthday parties, etc.
Done
As the meeting concluded Supervisor Cipperly thanked the Board for its support stating, “I had a lot of fun, but I’m glad I’m done.”
New Town Officials Sworn In
Councilman Mark Surdam, who defeated Cipperly for the Supervisor position in the November election, was sworn in on Wednesday, January 1, along with second term Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki, newly elected Councilman David Sutton and Highway Superintendent Shiland III and longtime Town Justice Tom Restino and Town Clerk Sue Stradinger.
Meetings
On Wednesday, January 1, Surdam announced the Board’s organizational meeting will be held on Monday, January 6, at 7 pm, and a Workshop to audit Town Court Clerk financial records will be Wednesday, January 15, at 7 pm. Regular Town Board meetings will continue to be held on the second Monday of each month at the Armory at 7 pm. The next regular meeting of the Board will be Monday, January 13, at 7 pm.
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