by Bea Peterson
During the Hoosick Falls Village Board meeting on Tuesday, January 13, Mayor David Borge stated the Board is taking the concerns regarding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in the Village water supply very seriously. “The Board is being proactive,” he said. “We realize this is an unregulated contaminant. We have been in touch with the Rensselaer County and the New York State Health Departments, the New Jersey Public Health Department, four different consulting firms and chemical manufacturers.” He continued, “This is not an easy fix, it is not a quick fix.”
[private]On January 12 the NYS Department of Health responded to the Village’s request for guidance in analyzing the Village water contamination and its potential impact on public health. The response stated, “The presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the levels detected in the supply wells and in finished water does not constitute an immediate health hazard. Based on specific toxicity information for PFOA, the estimated exposure to PFOA in the water at the highest level detected (0.54 µg/L) is at least 50,000 times lower than PFOA exposures that are known to cause health effects in animals. The detection of PFOA indicates a need to identify the sources of contamination and to take measures to reduce it so that long-term exposure can be reduced and future exposures prevented.
“Samples taken from the water supply wells on October 2 and November 4, 2014, were found to contain PFOA at levels ranging from 0.17 micrograms per liter (µg/L) to 0.54 µg/L. One sample of finished (treated) water taken on November 4 contained PFOA at 0.44 µg/L. These levels are below the New York State unspecified organic contaminant public drinking water standard of 50 µg/L, which applies to certain types of organic chemicals such as PFOA, which do not have a standard based on their toxicity.”
The complete response can be read on the Village of Hoosick Falls website.
Mayor Borge said this issue has an impact on the entire community, Village and Town. “We are working with an engineering firm to discover the source of the problem and to mitigate it. We will be studying geology differences and much more to solve this problem,” he said. Non-stick pans, furniture, cosmetics, household cleaners, clothing and packaged food containers can all contain PFCs, many of which break down into PFOA in the environment or in the human body. The brand names are well known: Teflon, Stainmaster, Scotchgard, SilverStone and others.
$95,000 Grant
Mayor Borge reported that the Village has received a State and Municipal Facilities Program (SAM) grant for $95,000 from the Dormitory Authority of the State of NY (DASNY) to cover the cost of restoring the Rogers Avenue water tank. The grant funding was secured with the help of NYS Senator Kathleen Marchione’s office. The repairs included relining of the interior, repair of cracks and installation of an isolation valve. The work was completed in late 2014 at a total cost of $93,700, and the tank is now operational for the foreseeable future. The Mayor said, with budget season fast approaching, the grant will enable the Village to re-purpose some of the funds slated for the project.
In July the Board passed a resolution borrowing $185,000 for five years at 1.48% interest for three unanticipated projects that included the water tank repairs. The other two projects were the DEC mandated sewer line repairs near the River Road pump station with estimates from $25,000 to $85,000 and the purchase of a new police cruiser.
Funds Transfer
The Board approved a request from Mayor Borge to transfer $65,000 of the Village’s long time HUD grant fund, currently at $132,000, to the recently reactivated Hoosick Local Development Corporation. LDC president Bill Johnston said the organization has, at this time, funds of its own in the amount of $42,000. This now gives them $107,000 to work with. Johnston said that in the last 30 days the seven member Board has approved one loan and has three applicants waiting for loans. Tax incentives are already in place for these start-up businesses.
Woods Brook
Mayor Borge said that at last there is some good news regarding Woods Brook. There is currently a $25,000 proposal to study the entire brook in hand. There is no funding available to cover the cost of this study, the Mayor added. “This cost is quite reasonable, and I will talk with the Town about getting the study done,” he said.
Monolith Solar
Steve Irving of Monolith Solar enthusiastically addressed the Board regarding the future 600 watt solar facility to be constructed on the Village’s former landfill. Electricity generated there will be used to power the Village’s street lights. He expects the project to be completed by late summer. He said that in the spring the flat top solar panel next to the municipal building will become an attractive bus stop shelter. “You invested in us, and we want to return the favor,” he said. Solar panels have been installed at the water plant, the wastewater treatment plant and the municipal building, at no cost to the Village. Irving added that the Village is becoming a solar power source.
Irving said Monolith Solar has several projects underway, and he is particularly enthusiastic about solar farms. These sites are important in educating young people to the possibilities of solar, he said. He added that with remote net metering the solar farm they are constructing on Route 7 will power the new Renaissance Hotel in Albany.
As a final note he mentioned that for those looking for jobs, Monolith is hiring.
5k Road Race Routes
Trustee Bob Ryan has been talking with the various 5k race sponsors regarding the routes of the different races. During the meeting the discussion included using the Greenway for part of a race, accommodating wheel chairs and the fact that there will be work on the River Street bridge this year. The Board determined that the route for all the races for 2015 will be the route used for the Lions Club sponsored Woods Memorial Race. That race begins on Munsell Street and winds through the streets to Main Street and along the length of Main Street.
It was not too soon for this decision as the Board approved the Lace Up for the Cure 5k for Saturday, April 18. The Board approved a request for the same day for the Kiwanis Club sponsored Autism Walk.
The Board approved the following motions:
• to advertise bids for #2 fuel oil and diesel;
• to hold a special Village Board meeting at 6 pm on January 22 pertaining to the future sewer line work;
• to amend Local Law #2 regarding parking on Griffin Avenue;
• to advertise Grievance Day on February 17 from 5 to 9 pm, and
• to appoint election inspectors Sharon Davendonis, Judy Van Der Kar, Mary Remancus, Alice Shiland and Sandra Sargood for the March 18 Village election.
Election Day March 18
The Board approved Resolutions noting there will be no Village registration day for the March 18 Village election and that the polling place for all wards will be the Village Hall, 24 Main Street, from noon to 9 pm.
Moment Of Silence
The Village Board meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence to remember Eva Blinstrub, mother of Zoning Board Member Sharon Davendonis and for Annie “Marge” Patire and Margaret “Peg” Pine.
Sprague Sworn In
The next order of business was the swearing in of newly appointed Village Trustee Karen Sprague. She is filling the seat left vacant when Trustee Jeremy Driscoll moved out of the Village. The Mayor said she will be working on Village finance.
Code Blue
Mayor Borge said people who are in need of a place to stay out of the weather on these cold nights should contact the Police Department. A Code Blue site has been set up at the Rescue Squad headquarters.
Christmas Tree Pickup
Christmas tree pickup and decoration removal is underway and will continue through mid-February.
Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home
The Board approved a Voice of a Vet request to use Wood Park on Saturday, August 8, from 10 am until mid-day for a Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home.
Open House
Mayor Borge said there will be an Open House at the Monahan Building on Saturday, January 17, from 10 am to noon for folks to see the apartments now available for rent and to see the plans for Parsons Corner now under construction.[/private]