by Bea Peterson
At the meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board on Tuesday, August 12, Margaret Casey and Paula Kamperman of the Hoosic River Greenway Committee requested that the Village purchase one and a quarter acres of land from the PanAm Railroad at the very northern end of the Greenway. The purchase and the closing costs are covered under a Greenway grant and will be no expense to the Village. [private]The purchase price for the small piece of property is $5,000, which Casey said, was a price negotiated successfully by Mayor David Borge. The berm separating the railroad tracks from the Greenway eliminates liability problems for the railroad. The Board approved the purchase.
Casey added that this is just about the final piece to complete the entire Greenway. There is only one little stretch that is privately owned. Signs will be put up along Sewer Plant Road to direct people where to park their cars. This final piece will mean that the Greenway has a smooth surface from one end (near the old water plant) to the other end (near the waste water treatment plant.)
The two mile long Greenway is a great place to walk or ride a bike. There are several places with a nice view of the river. The Southern end of the trail is maintained by students from the Hoosac School. The Northern end is maintained by students from St. Mary’s Academy and members of the Immaculate Conception Church.
The Greenway is patrolled by the Hoosick Falls Police Department twice a shift. Deputy Mayor Ric DiDonato asked that people please clean up after their dogs as they walk the Greenway. He also reminded everyone that no motorized vehicles are allowed on the Greenway.
Police Training Exercises
Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe said the Department is conducting training exercises at Town and Village Schools and other important community buildings. “With looking at 45 minutes for backup, we’re it,” said the Chief. “We have to be prepared mentally and emotionally to enter a building where there are weapons.” It was noted that their exercises should be coordinated with the Rescue Squad and the Red Cross as well. It was also noted that the community should know when these training sessions are taking place so they are not alarmed when they see the activity going on.
Thank You For New Radios
The Chief and Mayor Borge both extended appreciation to the County for the new radios, which are now in service. The Department has 13 portable units and four mobile units. “They are a great asset to us,” said the Chief. The officers are currently being trained how to use them. The old radios will be put to use by various Village Departments.
The Chief reported that the Department responded to 91 calls and 20 other requests for assistance during the month of July.
Building Updates
Code Enforcement Officer Ed Holland received 20 permit requests in July. Twelve were approved. He has three court cases pending and attended 30 in-house meetings.
In response to a question regarding the burned out Farrara building on Classic Street, he said it has been purchased by Bill Wyman, who has a permit to take the top level off the structure, a job he has already begun. Holland said it will be used as commercial property.
In answer to another question, he said he was meeting with Rich Allen and the insurance company at the Hoosick Falls Country Club on Wednesday to see what smoke damage there was and to learn what is there and what the Club can afford to do and what needs to be upgraded.
Trustee Robert Downing unhappily reported that folks are putting grass clipping into the garbage; something they should not be doing. He was further displeased that more properties in the Village were to be auctioned off. “They are sold and then they just fall apart,” he said. He was particularly upset that one of those properties is on his street.
Trustee Kevin O’Malley reported that the new Village signs are under construction.
Trustee Ben Patten noted that he had been to the new ERC Warehouse to drop off some items and he was impressed with the neatness of the building and to see many shoppers there.
He reported he is still working on the franchise fees issue regarding cable service.
Snow Street Project
Patten said he had been in touch with the Department of Agriculture about a grant for the Snow Street project. He was led to believe the Village would qualify based on numbers. However, the grant period for this year has passed.
Mayor Borge pointed out that there is $45,000 in the budget to put the new water lines in on Snow Street. However, if the project is put off until next year, then the $45,000 can be put toward paying down the recent $185,000 loan for the three unexpected projects, the River Road pump station repairs, the Rensselaer Street water tower repairs and the purchase of a new Police cruiser. Then, hopefully, the Snow Street project could be covered by a grant. The Board will reconsider the project, which would take three weeks to complete, in September.
The Mayor further stated there were no bidders for the pump station repairs as outlined so the engineers came up with a “Plan B,” which the Department of Environmental Conservation supports. The cost of this plan is about $10,000 compared to the original plan which was estimated to cost between $25,000 to $85,000.
The Mayor said he expects to fill the vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Boards at the September meeting. He added that a great deal of progress has been made on the Village’s zoning regulations and there will be public hearings on the regulations in the near future.
Borge has been in touch with NYS Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin’s office and NYS Senator Kathy Marchione inquiring about State funds for Woods Brook. To date the Governor has not signed the Inland Waterway bill.
Mayor Borge further reported that the County has issued an RFP from commercial realtors regarding the One Mechanic Street building. He is also pleased with the progress of the Dougherty Corner project. “That is a big deal,” he said. And he is very confident that other good things will happen as a result of that project.
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