by Bea Peterson
Since there had been much fuss over Bill Shiland ordering salt before he was Highway Superintendent and without authorization, Supervisor Mark Surdam thought it best to discuss the issue in public, which he did at the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday, March 10. He noted that “the case is no longer going on” and the bill should be paid. All members of the Board agreed. However, Councilman Bruce Patire wanted to make a statement. [private]He said Shiland did not follow the proper protocol. He said the policy is in place for a reason and Shiland should have contacted some member of the Board or the Town Supervisor advising them of the problem and that the salt was needed immediately. “Shiland was not the Highway Superintendent; he was a truck driver. He should not have placed that order,” he said. Patire added that from a safety standpoint, did he do the right thing? – yes. From an ethical standpoint – no. He concluded, it was done the wrong way and it wasn’t proper procedure.
Town Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland III said that on Monday crews were out with the grader and on Tuesday or Wednesday they would be back to snow. The good news was the Town now has salt.
Lt. Col. Friedrich Baum Trail To Be Dedicated
At the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday, March 10, Drew Alberti, Program Manager for the Lakes to Locks Passage addressed the Board describing the organization, its association with National Geographic and its plans for promoting area history from Lakes to Locks. He described the plan for a kiosk to be installed at the North Hoosick Stewart’s. The kiosk will be financed by the Stewart’s Corporation and will highlight the Col. Baum Trail. One Trail end is located at the Bennington Battlefield. Lakes to Locks is also working with the Friends of the Battlefield to reopen the Barnett Homestead to the public.
Col. Baum was part of the campaign to acquire horses and supplies in Bennington before joining the rest of the British troops at Saratoga. Baum was thwarted in his quest when he reached Walloomsac. The rest is history, and that is the important part. Alberti said for the kiosk and the trail process to proceed, a Resolution supporting the Lakes to Locks Passage was necessary. The Board passed the resolution.
Summer Camp Issues
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger asked the Board about the status of the Town’s Summer Camp program. She said that by the end of March she is usually receiving inquiries about the cost of camp and what weeks it will run. She said the camp usually starts the week of June 30 and runs for the next seven weeks. Supervisor Surdam said the grant funding the Town usually receives for the camp is no longer available. That funding is now being used to target teenage youth programs. He said he worked with HAYC3 Director Aelish Nealon and HAYC3 Board Member Laura Reynolds to submit a new grant proposal and the Town may be working with HAYC3 for camp. A major concern for this summer is the status of the Town Pool; will it be repaired some time this summer or not?
Beer And Wine Licenses
The Clerk reported that Brown’s Brewing and Scotty’s Diner have applied for beer and wine licenses. She said Building Inspector Ed King said Scotty’s was fine but he needs to make one more inspection at Brown’s.
Reports
Town Historian Phil Leonard had a display board of the former Walter A. Wood factory, which employed 2,000 people in the 1850s. He said, Howard Haynes, who lived to be 101, told him that his job was to walk around the entire building complex to check it out and it would take him the whole day to do it. Leonard said he was pleased the Barnett Homestead would reopen as it was a wonderful historical site.
Town Recreation Director Tom Margiotta reported the skating rink was closed for the season. He said the rink was used 46 days this year and 3,022 people skated. They rented over 1,000 pairs of skates, and he feels they will need to order more new skates next season. He said the new skates were a big hit as was the special school vacation rate. He said the skating lessons went well, and he thanked Sue Hyde for running a great program. The Open Hockey evenings went well, but the Hockey Clinic for youngsters, he said, was disappointing. He thanked Coach Colling and the hockey players from Hoosac School for their participation and added that they are willing to continue the youth program next year.
Margiotta requested $1,100 for a shed or sheds to store rink and day camp supplies and $500 for shelving for office storage. The Board approved the requests.
Supervisor Surdam reported that in the past month he and Mayor Borge met with some Hall Street residents and then with U.S. Congressman Chris Gibson, NYS DEC, the Army Corps of Engineers, SEMA and representatives from Rensselaer County and NYS Senator Marchione’s office regarding Woods Brook.
He also met with representatives of the HAYC3 Board to discuss a needed written agreement to outline use of the Hoosick Taxpayer funds that are paid in support of HAYC3 and the Armory Building. They also discussed formalizing the lease agreement. HAYC3 is going to present some options for the Town Board to review and discuss, with the goal of having an agreement in place prior to the start of the Town budget discussions in July.
Surdam also attended the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad banquet, a Planning Board meeting, a Hathaway’s Drive In Fundraiser and a joint Village/Town meeting in the Owls Nest to hear a marketing presentation by Camoin Associates.
Barnett Homestead
In his report, the Supervisor said he hosted a meeting with Melissa Ann Miller and Alane Ball Chinian representing the Bennington Battlefield and the Barnett Homestead. Plans are underway for a June 7 ribbon cutting for the Colonel Baum Trail and an August 16 Battle re-enactment. He said they expressed interest in working with the Town and volunteers to reopen the Barnett Homestead for visitors and to open and close the Park gate. They would like to see the Park used more for social events including picnics, weddings, scout camping, etc. He added that a meeting of the Friends of the Battlefield was held at the Barnett Homstead on March 6.
Box Opened
Supervisor Surdam said he and Town Treasurer Emily Sanders went to Key Bank and paid the $3,277.80 owed for a Safe Deposit box rented by the Town in 1995. The Box contained a number of computer back-up floppy discs for the old computer system and a few rolls of micro film
FOIL Requests
At the public comment time at the beginning of the meeting, former Town Councilman Kevin Allard handed Town Clerk Sue Stradinger FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests for the professional service agreement between the Town and the newly appointed law firm of Tabner, Ryan and Keniry, LLP. He also told the Clerk that his previous FOIL for copies of everything found in the safety deposit box had not been met. “I didn’t want a copy of the contents of the box,” he said. “I wanted a copy of everything in the box.” As stated earlier by the Supervisor the box contained floppy discs and micro film containing hundreds of pages. Allard also wanted a copy of the paid bill and also requested a copy of the Town’s contract with Laberge regarding the pool and information on the Recreation facility.
Allard was followed by former Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly who said he came before the Board as a taxpayer. He made FOIL requests for the cost of the dump trunk rollover. He wondered why the tow fee was paid to Delurey and not to Hurley’s, and he wondered why the engine oil was overfilled. It was explained that the overfill was a result of the rollover. He was also concerned that there was no Police report. He named the two employees in the truck and wondered if one of them had been hired illegally and not as part of the Union contract. He was upset they had not been tested for drugs. He said he had FOIL’ed time cards from the Highway Department only to be given a spreadsheet. He wondered why the time clock was not being used.
Cipperly FOIL’ed a list of violations Town Building Inspector Ed King had found in the Armory. He said King told him the Armory was not in his jurisdiction and there were no copies on file. Cipperly said King should have concern for the health and safety of those working in the building. He personally thought King was picking and choosing his jurisdiction. He also FOIL’ed copies of emails regarding specific dates and specific people.
The Clerk turned the dozen requests over to the Town Attorneys for their review.
Cipperly also presented the Town with a written statement on the condition of Cipperly Road.
Dennis Casey commended the Board for its deportment during the tirade and commented, “Ain’t hindsight great.”
Other Business
The Board approved a request from Zoning Board Chairman Jim Hoag for additional hours for Board Secretary Karen Jennings to organize Zoning and Planning files for an estimated 20 hours at her current salary rate.
Deputy Supervisor Wysocki said he would be attending the Hoosick Fire Department Benefit Saturday evening.
Councilman Patire said he had heard from the insurance company and nothing had changed regarding the truck rollover.
Councilman Dave Sutton said he was pleased Hathaway’s Drive In would be opening and he was looking forward to the 237th re-enactment of the Battle of Bennington in August.
Supervisor Surdam noted that a letter from Laberge giving the update for the pool design and permitting would be put on the Town website.
Surdam said Robert Becker declined the Town’s appointment to the Hoosick Housing Authority so another volunteer is needed for that Board.
Town Assessor Tony Rice reported that 98 to 99 percent of the STAR exemptions were returned by the March 1 deadline and the next several weeks will be spent updating those exemptions to the tax rolls.[/private]