by Bea Peterson
During the April 14 Hoosick Town Board meeting the Board approved a resolution transferring $40,000 from Fund Balance to establish the Hoosick Pool Rehabilitation Fund. The Board was in agreement that repairs to the Pool will not be completed this summer. Supervisor Surdam said anyone is welcome to visit the Town website and “see what we see.”
[private]The latest documentation from Laberge states they have completed 90% of the construction plans and details. Per Supervisor Surdam’s instructions they are changing plans to add a continuous gutter system and delete skimmers. However, to do this they must work with the Rensselaer County Department of Health and, to date, they have not heard from them. Surdam elaborated that he believes, though it could cost $110,000 more, that the skimmer system should be changed to a gutter system, especially since all the piping will be opened up when repairs are made. Sutton disagreed, stating Town Recreation Director Tom Margiotta’s opinion from years of experience working on State Park pools. Sutton said, if the Town was putting in a complete new pool maybe the additional expense would be a good idea but not so since the Town is only modifying the pool.
Surdam suggested he try to set up an interim meeting with the Town Board and the County Board of Health. The Councilmen agreed this was a good idea. The Board is determined to take the time necessary to repair the pool properly.
Playground Special Meeting
Supervisor Mark Surdam described the enthusiasm and the number of people who turned out 20 years ago, himself included, to build the Town’s Castle Playground, situated between the Town’s tennis/basketball courts and the Town pool. “It was amazing how much work we got done,” he added. Since then the playground has been worn down by time, and the regulations for children’s playgrounds have changed dramatically. Surdam said he has put out a plea for community members to join him and Town Board members in putting together a committee to discuss the state of the playground and review options for updating, redesigning and rebuilding it. He said, so far, he has received no response. “If no one comes forward, then the community will have to be satisfied with what we four [the Town Board] decide,” he said. Last May young Bernie Davock offered to rework and repair the playground as his Eagle Scout project. He offered to work with the Highway Superintendent and the Building Inspector on it. However, so far, nothing has come of that.
At this meeting the Board talked about rebuilding the playground in stages. Councilman Bruce Patire said, “We have to do something.” Councilman Dave Sutton agreed but added that there is no pressure to get it all done at one time. Sutton further hoped the work could, once again, become a grassroots project.
To that end Surdam has scheduled a Castle Playground Special Meeting for 8 am on April 26 at the Playground for the purpose of viewing, discussing and making plans for the future of the Playground area. He noted that there are several events going on that day, the Kiwanis Autism Walk, the Hoosick Falls Fire Department Open House and the Youth Baseball, Softball and Soccer parade. Hence, the early morning meeting.
Summer Camp
The Town of Hoosick Summer Camp will start on Monday, July 7, and end on Friday, August 15. The Board agreed the fee will remain $70 a week for residents, $75 a week for non-residents. Nicholas Downing will be unavailable to run the camp this summer. The Board is looking for a Lead Camp Coordinator. Resumes should be sent to Town Clerk Sue Stradinger. The salary has yet to be determined as the Coordinator will certainly have to plan a variety of additional projects for the youngsters as there will be no swim time this year. HAYC3 personnel have agreed to assist with programming. Stradinger reported that she has a long list of really good people, with a lot of energy, who want to come back to work at camp this year. Camp registration forms are available in the lobby of the Town Hall. Stradinger added that if anyone has a question about the Camp they should call a Board member or the Town office for answers.
Supervisor Surdam said he had been approached by a set of parents who are willing to take two weeks off to run a Tennis Camp. He also noted that he has been in touch with the Rensselaer County Department of Youth regarding the grant that will replace the one that had previously been used to support the Summer Camp. “We’re all set on it,” he said. “We’re just waiting for the County to receive the money from the State.”
The Board approved a resolution agreement with the American Legion to provide $3,100 of Town funds in support of the Memorial Day Parade.
Board members received a first draft of the Town’s Non-Discrimination Policy for review. It will be voted on at the May 12 meeting.
Reports
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported that during March five building permits were issued. She received $300 for Conservation licenses. These fees, along with other licenses and fees, amounted to $1,214.50. Of those funds, $821.53 was turned over to the Town Supervisor.
The Board approved a facility use request Stradinger has received for use of the athletic fields for Youth Football and Cheerleading from July 28 to October 19 on Monday and Wednesdays from 5 to 7:30 pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 pm.
Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland, III reported winter had been tough. The Board approved Shiland purchasing a lawn mower suitable for keeping up the Town’s playing field and lawns. Patire told him, “You know what you’re looking at and you know what you’re looking for.”
Shiland said some of the Castle Playground items listed by NYMIR (New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal) have been completed. The middle swings are out and some of the boards have been removed, he said.
Supervisor Surdam added that Governor Cuomo has added funding for road repair because of the tough winter. Hoosick will receive an additional $15,281 that will be disbursed with CHIPS money.
Town Historian Phil Leonard said the Historical Society is an important part of the community. He said the Society has more than 220 members and over 100 of them live outside New York State. He said that since so few people come to visit the Museum, he would bring the Museum to them. “It’s a great museum,” he said. He thanked Museum Director Charles Filkins for piecing together a large photo of the Victorian parlor in the Museum. Other photos on his latest board include a collection of 1890 wedding dresses worn by local women, the dress Grandma Moses wore on her 100th birthday when she was on the cover of Life magazine and a hand sewn flag from the jeep of Bruce Patire’s father when they strayed into Russian territory at the end of World War II. “We can’t live in the past,” said Leonard, “but we need to look at the past to build the future.” He said a group of Cub Scouts recently visited the Museum and they asked wonderful questions. He wished more school children would visit the Museum.
Supervisor Surdam reported he and the Board visited the Highway Garage to look at the Town trucks and other equipment. This visit was open to the public.
He and Shiland met with Charles Tutunjian and Tom Burell of Creighton Manning Engineering to review the White Creek Bridge project. “It’s moving along, and they expect to start the end of June,” he said.
Surdam said he spent a large amount of time collecting and sending FOIL requested emails. There was a workshop to discuss Summer Camp, he said, and there is still work to do. He attended a Supervisor Alcohol Misuse and Controlled Substance Use Training with Superintendent Shiland in Glenville, NY, and reserved a spot for a two day Town Finance School in May.
Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki said he attended the Hoosick Fire Department banquet in Pittstown. He said he is working with Agriculture and Markets to update the Town’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance Certificate.
Councilman Patire said he is working to see the Playground repairs are up to code. He said next month he will be reporting on the Town’s insurance renewal which is due in June.
Councilman Dave Sutton has been working at Hathaway’s Drive In to get ready for the opening, which will probably not be until mid-May.
Perils Of Youth
As a member of the HFCS Board as well as the Town Board, Sutton took this opportunity to express his concern to “get the word out, ring the bell, stay alive.” He is very concerned about the coming good weather and the end of the school year leading to teen drinking and driving. “You can’t drink and drive and live,” he said. Several community programs have been in place in recent years to discourage parents from allowing, and young people from participating, in this risky behavior. Hopefully these programs have had some impact.
Charles Filkins has been taping the Town Board Meetings since January. He asked if a copy of the meetings could be shown on the Village’s public access television channel and if the Library and Museum could also have copies of the meetings. The Board approved the requests.[/private]