by David Flint
The Stephentown Highway Department has a new pickup truck. Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt reported at the Town Board meeting on Monday that Highway Superintendent Aldie Goodermote has received the 2014 Ford F250 truck with club cab, a purchase the Board authorized last summer. [private]The purchase bid was awarded in October to Vision Ford of Rochester in the amount of $31,175. The Board okayed payment this month out of the Highway Fund.
Recognizing Food Pantry Volunteers
Eckhardt opened the meeting noting that it was Martin Luther King Day. In that context he said that Stephentown is extremely fortunate to have a large group of volunteers who give of their time and talents in various ways at the Food Pantry located at the Federated Church. “It is very encouraging to see people helping their fellow residents in this way,” he said.
Single Stream Recycling To Start
Councilman Bill Jennings announced that a new steel walkway has been installed at the Transfer Station and single stream recycling is expected to start this week. That means just two stops for most people with cans, bottles, plastic, paper and cardboard all in one container and garbage and trash in the other container. The Board is looking forward to customers’ comments as they use the new process.
Hemlock Ridge Petition
The Board has received a petition from residents of Hemlock Ridge Way and Lower Hemlock Way in North Stephentown to have the Town take over ownership and maintenance of those roads. Eckhardt said he would transmit the petition and related documents to the Town attorney. He cautioned, however, that residents should not expect any action in the immediate future, noting that it took almost 20 years before residents of Nora Way had their road converted to Nora Lane, a Town road. Now that a policy and a process is in place it should not take that long to get a determination and resolution one way or another, but it still can be a complicated and time consuming process to get all the necessary documents and clearances together. He said it helps that there is an existing home owners association for Hemlock Ridge.
Vacancies On The BAR
Town Assessor Tom MacVeigh pointed out that there are two vacancies on the Board of Assessment Review but the advertisement was made for only one. Town Clerk Stephanie Wagar said she would add a second one to the advertisement, and the Board authorized the extension of the deadline for response to Saturday, February 15.
Assessor Work Days And Public Hours
State Retirement law requires that each elected and appointed position have a stated number of days per month assigned to it. These assigned days per month must be validated by submission of a record of activities (ROA) for at least a three month period. MacVeigh took issue with the number of days assigned for the Clerk to the Assessor position which at the recent Organizational Meeting was given five days whereas the Assessor was assigned ten days. He said they should both be the same and the number should be eight. Eckhardt advised that he will submit the proper Time of Service calendars and the Board would change the assigned number of days.
MacVeigh noted, too, that his office hours for the public have been changed. They are now Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm and Saturday morning from 9 am to 12 noon at the Town Hall.
End Of Year Funds Transfers
The Town Supervisor having submitted an itemized report on transferring funds among accounts to balance the books for the end of the year, the Board passed a resolution authorizing these transfers. Eckhardt noted that in some instances some money would have to be transferred out of the Unexpended Fund Balance. This information will be made available once all the transfers are done.
New All-In-One Printer
Town Clerk Stephanie Wagar announced that the existing copy and fax machines will be replaced this week by a new all-in-one wireless machine that is a combination color printer, copier, fax and scanner. Town officials will be able to print to it or make copies directly from their computers, scan documents and have them entered directly into their computers and send and receive faxes to or from their computers.
Deposits & Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $539.30 to the Supervisor for the month of December. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $1,472. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $4,093.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $19,009.40 from the General Fund and $39,038.41 from the Highway Account. Included in the claims was $920 for 2,000 Forever Stamps as the Board prudently observed that the price of a U.S. Postal Service first class stamp will increase to 49 cents as of January 26.
The Board set their next workshop meeting for Monday, February 10, and their next regular meeting for Monday, February 17, both to start at 7 pm.[/private]