by Deb Alter
The resolution to adopt Local Law #4 (repealing the Family Subdivision Law) was passed, as was Local Law #3, the Site Plan Review Law. Just previous to the Town Board meeting, there were two public hearings, one on each of these two laws. [private]There was some public comment and discussion about the former, and no public comment on the latter. The family subdivision issue will be addressed again in the future. Everyone was concerned that a new law should be sensitive to farmers but should not allow large developers to take advantage. In the meantime landowners who want to subdivide their properties can still bring proposals to the Planning Board for consideration.
Town Lease Of The Armory
Concerning the Town lease of the Armory with HAYC3, several sticking points were discussed. Board members considered the pros and cons of a two year versus a three year lease and voted for the three year option. Members also debated wordage in the lease that referred to $10,000 that was promised to HAYC3 as part of a $10,000 per year, five year donation from the Town to HAYC3 to help them get started when they first purchased the Armory. As submitted by HAYC3, the new lease states that an additional $10,000 in each of the three years would be due as part of the rent. Councilperson Bruce Patire felt that the in original verbal agreement, the money was intended to help defray the cost of heat, maintenance, upgrades, etc. as HAYC3 took on the stewardship of the building and that that was still the intention. Although the Board intends to honor the agreement, Patire felt that referring to that money as rent in the lease could cause issues when negotiating future leases. Under advisement of the Town Attorney, the wording was changed to “an additional $10,000 will be remitted for services rendered by HAYC3.” The firearms section was also eliminated from the lease.
Meetings
The end of the year meeting was set for Monday, December 29, at 6 pm. The 2015 Organizational Meeting was scheduled for Monday, January 12, at 6 pm, which will be followed by the regular January Town Board Meeting at 7 pm. The new councilperson, Jenn Hyde, will be sworn in on the first of the year.
Highway Report
The bulk of Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland’s report concerned the snowplow and body for the new truck. Again, only one bid was submitted; it had two options. One was for an aluminum body, the other for steel. After discussing sizes, styles, prices and needs, the Board voted to go with the aluminum option. The overall cost of this option is only about $500 more than the steel. Everyone agreed that the aluminum would last much longer and was therefore more cost effective in the long run.
Shiland also reported that the first big snowstorm was not too bad as far as plowing and sanding and equipment was concerned. It was a good “test” for what could, but hopefully won’t, come this winter. The White Creek Road Bridge Project won’t be finished by Christmas, but most likely the bridge will be open by that time. A part time, non-union employee has been hired for the Highway Department.
Odds And Ends
All of the paperwork for the 2014 Youth Grant has been completed and submitted to the County. The check should come soon, at which point it will be sent to HAYC3 to help cover the cost of the 12 week summer program for middle school children it ran this past summer.
After discussions with both the Town and the Village, and inquiries into NYSDEC and consultation with NYSDOH, the Rensselaer County Department of Health has come to the conclusion that consolidation of the water service areas in the Town and Village Green Heights Water District is acceptable and the Town does not have to do separate testing.
The Bonadio Group has completed the 2013 audit, and the Board will be receiving the findings shortly. An amendment to the 2014 Budget pertaining to the Expense Account was passed as was an Inter-Fund Budget Transfer resolution.
Only one bid came in for the cleanup of the property at 26 Brenenstuhl Road, but it was the wrong kind of bid. It was bid as if for a long term contract, not an estimated cost for a specific project. The Board voted to reject this bid and to re-open the bid request. There was some discussion about why the Town seems to only receive one bid for any open-bid project they advertise. Various suggestions were made for ways to encourage more bids, including putting advertisements to bid on the Town website.
History Board On Hoosick Sports
Town Historian Phil Leonard presented the new display board that Louis Miller Museum Director Charles Filkins had put together. The new board is about Hoosick high school sports with photos of teams throughout the 1900s from old yearbooks. Points of interest included a Hoosick Falls graduate who played for five different professional baseball teams, the fact that girls basketball had been popular and successful through the late 1940s and early 50s, but then, as part of a nationwide movement, girls sports were dropped because sports “made girls unfeminine.” In 1938, soccer was dropped from the sports program and replaced with football. Tennis was also very popular. Boys used the Country Club tennis courts until the Country Club began requiring each player to pay a membership fee and the school didn’t want to cover that cost.
Rink News
In the Recreation Report, Hoosick Town Supervisor Mark Surdam noted that refrigeration information about the rink will be forthcoming. The Friends of Hoosick Skating program will continue this winter. Skate instructors are needed; if interested, please call Sue Hyde at 686-3371. The goal is to have the rink open by Christmas. The pay rate for rink employees is $10 per hour for Assistant Manager, $9.25 for part time employees with first aid and CPR certification and $8.75 without. The Town is now accepting applications for lifeguards for the 2015 swim season. Applicants are urged to apply now so that plans can be made for training before the pool opens in June/July. Applications are available on the Town website.
The Town of Hoosick Kiwanis Club expressed interest in the role of “Champion” for the Castle Playground renovation project. The national Kiwanis organization has planning information and possible funds available for such a project, and Wendy Larson has already begun looking into it.
Highlights from the Supervisor’s report included that Lemery Greisler LLC has been retained as Bond Counsel for the Town of Hoosick for the financing of the Community Pool Reconstruction Project. Surdam and Hoosick Falls Village Mayor Dave Borge continue to share an outline of all the positive things that are happening in the Hoosick area.
Deputy Supervisor Jeff Wysocki reported that he had met with the owner of Landview Farms about meeting to talk about agribusiness in Hoosick in the future. Councilpersons Bruce Patire and Dave Sutton both said things under their purviews had been quiet.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported a total of $8,811 in income; $968 was remitted to the Supervisor.[/private]