by Alex Brooks
The Petersburgh Town Board met on December 30 and adjusted the Town accounts to move money to accounts that are overdrawn from ones that have a surplus.
[private]The General Fund overall was not overdrawn – it had a surplus of about $4,000. In the General Fund the largest overdrawn account was for demolition of unsafe buildings, which showed a deficit of $28,208. This represents the cost of taking down the leaning garage on Route 2 in the middle of town. If that were to be reimbursed by the County, the surplus for the year would be over $30,000.
Highway Fund Overdrawn
The Highway Fund was significantly overdrawn. The Town Board was shown seven Highway accounts that were overspent by a total of $137,672, and five Highway accounts which had a surplus, totaling $78,212, so the total highway deficit seems to be $59,460. However, Supervisor Siegfried Krahforst said the Town is due about $30,000 in reimbursements for expenses on the Broken Wheel bridge project so when that comes in the deficit may be only half as large as it now appears.
In the meantime, the Highway Fund does have cash on hand because the CHIPS money to be used for road improvements in 2014 has arrived in a check for $82,000.
Supervisor Krahforst also read a letter from Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison informing the Town Board that its 1998 International plow truck caught on fire while plowing. The fire was extinguished without injury, but the truck is now out of service. It is at Delurey’s in Hoosick Falls, but Harrison did not yet know what it would cost to repair it or how much of that insurance would pay.
Harrison said the Ford plow truck was fixed and is now back in service.
Solar Panels
Krahforst was asked about the solar panels to be installed behind the Town Hall. He said they have been delivered, and are waiting for Monolith Solar to come and install them. Krahforst said he has been trying to call them to find out when they are coming but they have not called him back.
Krahforst also said the Town is still waiting for approval from NYSERDA for the solar project at the waterworks.
Resigning To Be Rehired
The Board also accepted the resignation of Craig Surprise, at his request, and they will be re-appointing him at the organizational meeting next week. This has something to do with his eligibility for retirement.[/private]