by Bea Peterson
While giving his report to the Hoosick Town Board on Monday, February 10, Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland III announced that the Town is out of highway salt and he can’t get any. [private]Shiland said, “I have an order in, but delivery is two weeks out.” Councilman Dave Sutton said this is an issue across the State and in Massachusetts as well. He said, “with cold nights and warm days this is going to be a problem.” Apparently the salt issue is a problem nationwide and may be a big problem in Town with the storm Thursday.
Truck Accident
Shiland reported that in the last storm one of the trucks tipped over on its side. The driver was not hurt and there was minimal damage to the vehicle. A towing bill will be forthcoming. Councilman Bruce Patire wondered if the driver had been given a drug/alcohol test. He had not. After the meeting Supervisor Mark Surdam reviewed the policy and “testing was not required in this case as there was no loss of life and there were no citations issued.” Patire thought such a test would be a good idea anyway for insurance purposes, for example, if a few days later the driver realized he had received an injury in the accident.
The Board and Shiland agreed to an informal meeting on a weekend day to discuss the purchase of new lawn mowers and a new truck. At the final Board meeting of 2013 money was set aside for the truck purchase. Patire also reminded the Board that Delurey is to review the overall condition of all Town vehicles. Surdam concurred.
Donations To Be Studied
Supervisor Surdam said he requested information from the NYS Association of Towns attorney in reference to the Board making contributions of Town funds to local groups, clubs, corporations and charitable organizations. He received two documents in reply. One document, entitled “The Public’s Property: The Constitutions Prohibition Against Gifts and Loans,” is 61 pages long. The Board agreed to review the document and check with the Town attorney so that a policy can be established. It is of particular importance to funding provided to HAYC3 for heat, for example. In the past the Board has given HAYC3 $14,000 toward that cost. Councilman Dave Sutton said it is important for the Board to know where the line is in making local contributions. Councilman Bruce Patire said a contractual agreement with HAYC3 is essential. He also noted that it is harder and harder for the Town to support local groups. “We are handcuffed by what we can do,” he said. “I don’t like it.” Copies of those reports are available by request.
A motion was made and approved to request a meeting with HAYC3 to discuss entering into a contractual relationship to provide services as required. Surdam said this meeting would also be a good time to discuss the Town/HAYC3 lease agreement and short and long term goals and objectives of the two entities.
Sympathy
Before the meeting began Supervisor Surdam requested a moment of silence with prayers and sympathies extended to the family and friends of Stephen Colvin, Leo “Barto” Bartoski and Leo Laroche. At the start of the meeting he commended the HFCS sports teams, wrestling, bowling and boys and girls basketball. “They continue to excel,” he said. “They have done an outstanding job.”
Resolutions
The Board waived the 10 day advance notice for resolutions so as to unanimously pass the following Resolutions:
Resolution #8 to appoint William Ryan, Jr. of Tabner, Ryan & Keniry LLP as the Town attorney at a fee of $11,000 a year. Councilman Dave Sutton said he credits the law firm with resolving the conflicts at the school when the teachers had not had a contract for years. He noted he has used the firm personally and believes Ryan will be an asset to the Town Board. Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki was concerned about a conflict of interest between Town and School but said the firm comes highly recommended.
Resolution #43 to proceed with the 2014 Laberge Pool Proposal. Sutton asked that the words “and volunteer alternatives” be added to the section on new liner systems. He said he has dealt several times with a pool repair individual who has a wonderful gunite bonding system that he has seen successfully used in many upscale pools. He would like this contractor to be considered. “We may not be able to afford him,” he said, “but we need to consider thinking outside the box.” He added that choosing the lowest bidder is not always the best way to go. “If we are going to spend money on the pool, we want it to last for decades,” he said. “And we need to get multiple contractors [to bid].” The words were added to the contract.
Resolution #44 declared Woods Brook to be an Inland Waterway.
Resolution #45 was the adoption of a Cell Phone Policy for Town Supervisor, Highway Superintendent and Building Inspector. There had not been such a policy in the past, and former Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly did not want to relinquish his phone and the Board approved his keeping it.
Resolution #46 approved the purchase of a laptop computer and software for the use of the Town Bookkeeper and Payroll Clerk.
Resolution #47 was the appointment of Mark Folgert to the Hoosick Housing Authority Board of Directors for five years. Surdam said he had been told that Robert Becker was willing to also serve on that Board but he had not spoken with him personally. Both names were approved.
Reports
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger gave Board members preliminary Summer Camp dates and prices for their information. The Board agreed to review them for the next meeting.
Stradinger opened bids for fuel and sand. The Board accepted diesel and #2 heating oil bids for the next year from Doug’s Oil. A bid for sand from Dailey’s Sand and Gravel of 2,000 tons for $14,500 ($7.25/ton) was accepted. The Highway Department will be picking up the sand. Dailey’s will be asked for a delivery price as well.
Stradinger reported collecting $4,758.50 in fees and permits for January. Of that amount she submitted $4,330.35 to the Town Supervisor.
Stradinger received a request from the Cambridge School District to use the Skating Rink from 4 to 6 pm on Thursday, February 13, with an alternate date of February 27. The Board approved.
The Board also approved a request from Gail Smith and the Community Alliance Church for use of the Skating Rink on Saturday, September 13, for an event honoring Korean War Veterans.
Town Assessor Tony Rice reported there are only 16 working days left for tax exemption forms to be turned in. The deadline is March 1. He said so far he has received only half of the agricultural and non-profit requests and he has yet to receive 134 individual exemption requests.
Town Historian Phil Leonard reported that the names of four veterans have been added to the Veterans Memorial Wall. He said the Historical Society “is booming, mostly from out of towners requesting newsletters.” His board for this month showed local early, colored advertising cards. He brought some of the original cards with him as some were rather small and they were enlarged for the board.
Free Skating
The Board approved Recreation Director Tom Margiotta’s request to offer free admission to the Skating Rink from February 17 to 21, Monday through Friday, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Skate rentals will be $2. The school is closed for the week, and this will give more youngsters an opportunity to use the rink.
The rink website www.hoosickrecreation.com is up and running and has information about the Hockey Clinic on Thursdays, February 16 and 23, open Hockey, rink hours and more.
Supervisor’s Report
Supervisor Surdam reported he had attended a two and a half day training session through the NYS Association of Towns. He and the Board have completed the yearly Court Clerk audit. He opened the Town Pool on January 18 to give anyone interested an opportunity to view the pool and ask questions about repairs.
There was a special meeting on January 23 in the Owl’s Nest of the Armory with representatives of the Laberge Group there to review pool options. The minutes of that meeting are on the Town website
Surdam attended a Lakes to Locks Passage meeting at the Village Hall. The organization is in the permit process to install a kiosk at the North Hoosick Stewart’s. Funded by Stewart’s, the kiosk will depict the journey through this area during Revolutionary times.
Surdam and Town Treasurer Emily Sanders attended a meeting at Key Bank to review accounts and ask questions.
Surdam met with Mayor Borge and Bill Johnston to re-establish the Local Development Corporation. The Town and Village are looking for members for that Corp. He met again with Mayor Borge to discuss Village water supplied to Town residents. A committee was formed to review the issue and make recommendations. A copy of the report was given to Board members Monday evening.
Surdam also met with HFCS Superintendent Ken Facin to open the door for communication between the school and the Town.
On January 30 Surdam was part of a combination Village and Town Board public meeting at the Owl’s Nest in the Armory where Ben Syden of the Laberge Group presented an outline for the 2014 Grant process and discussed the Greater Hoosick Economic Development Plan.
Surdam sat in on the most recent Zoning Board meeting. He met briefly with the Board and talked about a future combined ZBA, Planning Board, Town Board and Building Inspector meeting to review their various processes and to open communication between the groups.
Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki reported he had attended a Rensselaer County Farmland Protection meeting.
Councilman Bruce Patire said he had received the Risk Management Report from the insurance company regarding the pool and playground. “We have quite a list of things to do and have fixed by June or they won’t renew us,” he said. Broken boards and planks at the Castle playground must be removed. There may be an issue of wiring at the skating rink. He noted that the storm sewer issue must be addressed. The Board approved having an electrician look at the rink. Patire said a letter from the Board to the company assuring them the Town is addressing the problems is necessary.
Councilman David Sutton expounded on the idea of having trees planted along Route 22 in the Village. He said he has joined the Greenway Committee. He also mentioned water quality in the Town and wondered about marketing it somehow.
In other business the Board approved inviting the Lakes to Locks organization to make a 10 to 15 minute presentation at the March meeting.
The Board also approved setting up an account at Family Footwear Center for Town union employees who wish to purchase work shoes there. The Town will pay $100 of the shoe purchase.
Arbor Green Program
Supervisor Surdam noted the 43rd Annual Arbor Green Program Tree and Shrub Sale was underway. Order forms are available on the table outside the Clerk’s office and are also available on the Town website. The Board approved use of the Town skating rink for tree and shrub pickup from May 6 to 10.
Public Comment
The Public Comment session was held very early in the Town Board meeting. It was noted that it is a comment time, not a question and answer time. The only one to speak on Monday evening was former Hoosick Councilman Kevin Allard. He handed Town Clerk Sue Stradinger a FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request to know what was in the Key Bank safety deposit box. The box was secured by the Town in 1995 and has long been neglected because a bill for it was never received from the bank. When a bill did arrive in the amount of $2,371, previous Boards declined to pay that amount to see what the box contained. However, at the December 2013 Board meeting then-Councilman Allard, then-Supervisor Keith Cipperly and Councilman Bruce Patire agreed the Town should pay the bill. Supervisor Surdam responded he has not followed through on that yet.
Allard further went on to say he thought it was a conflict of interest for the Board to hire HFCS’s attorney, William Ryan, Jr. of Tabner, Ryan & Keniry LLP as the Town attorney since the school often used the Town athletic field. Allard claimed as school attorney Ryan had suggested the firing of a school janitor and that suggestion cost the School District $100,000. He didn’t think Ryan’s performance should be rewarded.
Allard also expressed concern that repairs to the pump house be included in Laberge’s bid for pool repairs as he feels the skimmers will need to be replaced and that will be a Health Department issue.
Upcoming Event
Flyers are on the table outside the Clerk’s office for the “Hoosick Community Hockey Night,” at the Times Union Center at 3 pm on Sunday, March 30. Tickets cost $8 and include transportation. The Albany Devils will play against the Binghamton Senators.[/private]