by Bea Peterson
During the January 13 meeting of the Hoosick Town Board Supervisor Mark Surdam suggested the public be given an opportunity to inspect the condition of the Town pool on Saturday, January 18, from 10 am to noon. “This will be an adults only visit as there is no water in the pool,” he added. He further suggested that a Special Town Board Meeting be held on Thursday, January 23, at 6:30 pm, in the Armory, specifically to discuss the pool. The Board approved the two events. For several months repairs to the Pool have been a topic of discussion at Board meetings. The Laberge company has done a preliminary study to repair and upgrade the pool to meet the latest ADA and State standards at an estimated cost of $793,000.
[private]The intention of the inspection and special meeting is so that a resolution can be passed at the February meeting outlining the work to be completed with budget figures, financing and the authorizing of Laberge to move forward with the project.
Councilman Bruce Patire suggested people come with pen and paper to write down what they see on Saturday. Councilman Dave Sutton said, “If it [the pool] doesn’t open on Memorial Day it is not the end of the world. We should go into this with open eyes and see that it is fixed for decades.” He also said that Laberge requires many high-priced people to get the job done. He wondered if there might be other less expensive ways to accomplish the same thing. It was certainly agreed that this is a good-sized project and it will be expensive.
Supervisor Surdam noted that more workshops and emergency meetings may be needed before the next regular Board meeting.
Cooperation Between Town And Village
At the opening of the meeting Supervisor Surdam welcomed Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge and videographer Charles Filkins to the meeting. During the public comment segment of the meeting Mayor Borge congratulated the new Board and pledged the Village’s collaboration with the Town. “We can do so much more together. We need to look at the entire community and go forward,” he said. He noted that the recently established Community Marketing Committee has set up a Facebook page for the Hoosick Community – “not Hoosick, not Hoosick Falls, but the community together.”
He pointed out that NYS Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin has a bill in the works that would make tributaries such as Woods Brook inland waterways. That bill is supported by NYS Senator Kathy Marchione. Putting Woods Brook in this category would make the Brook eligible for funding. He said U.S. Congressman Chris Gibson and his staff are working to get different departments in the State together for a meeting on the Brook. He hopes these efforts will lead to getting an engineering study done and he hopes the Town Board will consider a resolution supporting these efforts. He noted that the Brook flooded Hall Street again this past weekend.
The Mayor added that the Village has access to the television cable channel 14 and the Town is welcome to use the channel for releasing information to the community.
Joyce Brewer addressed the Board, on behalf of the HFCS Performing Arts Council, inviting the community to a concert by Sharon Katz and members of the Peace Train from South Africa. Katz will have workshops and perform for the students during the day and have a concert for the public in the evening of Thursday, February 13. Tickets will cost $10. She hoped the public would support this Council fundraising event. As a footnote, she added that Girl Scout cookies are available.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that for December she collected $2,339 in conservation licenses, plus other licenses and fees in the amount of $2,832.50. Of that amount she turned $428.18 over to the Supervisor.
Stradinger received skating rink use requests from the Girl Scouts and the Hoosick Falls First Baptist Church for February 7 and the Kiwanis Club for February 15. Both requests were approved.
Town Assessor Tony Rice said exemptions are the big issue at the moment. The deadline to submit requests is March 1 and, he noted, that is only six weeks away. If anyone has questions they should call his office.
Superintendent of Highways, Bill Shiland III, thanked the Village for lending the Town two tandem truckloads of salt recently, which will be replaced as soon as possible. The Board approved his request for bids on fuel and diesel oil. Bids must be submitted by 3 pm on February 10.
Town Historian Phil Leonard presented a beautiful new board of the Walter A. Wood High School and mansion. The board displayed photos and a history of the school with one section devoted to the school and another section devoted to the mansion.
Recreation Director Tom Margiotta said that though the weather had been very warm there was still ice. He said the first skating lessons would begin on Wednesday. Since Nick Downing is returning to college he requested that Molly Hyde be made Rink Director at $9 an hour. He also requested that his wife Lynn be appointed as an emergency fill-in person at the rink. The Board approved both requests.
The subject of family discounts at the rink was discussed. Margiotta was in favor of a coupon book worth $25 that could be purchased for $20. He and the Board agreed that a season pass was not a good idea as the weather is so unpredictable. He had some prices on printing coupon books, but he didn’t believe it would happen this year. Sutton suggested something be implemented, the sooner the better. Sutton wondered how many people were using the rink and how usage could be increased. Supervisor Surdam said any ideas to increase usage were worth pursuing.
Margiotta presented the Board with a waiver hockey players will have to sign to use the rink. The Board approved the waiver and will have it reviewed by a lawyer. Use of the rink for private parties will cost $50 an hour and fees will be waived for non-profits. Margiotta suggested expanded use by hockey groups could help pay for rubber matting still needed at the rink. Patire said it is important to keep up the facility.
Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Surdam reported that he, Town Treasurer Emily Sanders and Payroll Clerk Janet DeLuca have been busy learning the computer software, setting up bank accounts with new passwords and signature cards, training on the accounting software and reviewing bank accounts.
He said he met with Margiotta two Saturday mornings to review and discuss rink operations, policies and procedures. He also met with Town Web Page Administrator Bob Phelps of RBP Web Designs to arrange posting meeting minutes and agendas on the site. The documents will be sent as PDFs as this is the most economical form. Surdam hopes local photographers will occasionally send Hoosick scenes to the site so the look of the page can be changed periodically.
Surdam mentioned that he had met with Mayor Borge and others regarding Woods Brook, and they are developing a plan to obtain funds. He added that he had spoken over the phone with State Police Investigator Bango in reference to the previous Town Board’s request for an investigation of actions taken by a Town employee. That investigation is ongoing.
Surdam said he had attended the North Hoosick Fire Department Installation Dinner and would be attending Newly Elected Officials 2014 Training School on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Deputy Supervisor Wysocki had a contract from the Farmland Trust regarding a local farm. He requested it be signed and sent back to Agriculture and Markets. The Board approved, and the Supervisor signed it.
Councilman Bruce Patire said he had been in touch with Marshall and Sterling and the insurance premiums were up a little. He will be reviewing the policy in the next month, but he believes the insurance is on an even keel.
Councilman Dave Sutton said sand received by the Town should be a washed product. He hoped the company he talked to would donate a sample of their product to the Town before they purchased it.
The Board also approved $12,000 for the Right of Way Acquisition Phase of the White Creek Bridge project and a donation of $600 to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee.
Playground Repairs
Supervisor Surdam said funds have been appropriated and they should get the ball rolling on evaluating, planning and budgeting repairs to the Town playground. All agreed that the walls need to be lowered. Surdam mentioned that a Boy Scout had requested doing the work as an Eagle Badge project. He believes the scope of work goes beyond such a project. He thought a Community Playground Committee should be organized. Other ideas will be pursued as well. Sutton said he would check with the school about what has worked in the school playgrounds. He and Patire agreed to be the Town representatives on a Community Playground Committee.
Hoosick Housing Authority Board
There are two volunteer, unpaid vacancies on the Town of Hoosick Housing Authority Board. The Board agreed to advertise, with a brief description of responsibilities, to fill these positions if necessary. The Board noted there are three facilities affecting hundreds of people that must be overseen.
Supervisor Surdam asked the Board to consider eliminating the Resolution requiring resolutions be submitted ten days in advance of a meeting.
Surdam said that a communication from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation stated that after an inspection of the skating rink it was noted that the signs were missing that indicated the assistance of that Department in financing repairs to the facility. The Board passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of two signs in the amount of $158.24 to be placed on the building.[/private]