Praise For Bruce Patire At His Last Meeting As Board Member
The Town of Hoosick Board Meeting Monday evening December 14 was Bruce Patire’s last as a member of the Board. Although he has served just one term, Town Clerk Susan Stradinger said, “he has been an asset to our community and the most dedicated Board member I’ve worked with.” [private]
Supervisor Mark Surdam echoed Stradinger’s sentiments, adding, “He’s saved the Town a lot of money with his knowledge of insurance and in many other areas.” Surdam said to Patire, “I appreciate that you are always willing to give your opinion and bring different viewpoints to the table.” Trustee Dave Sutton said that Patire “is a deep well of knowledge” and as a rookie on the Board, Sutton was glad that he sits next to him at meetings. Patire, obviously humbled by all the praise, said, “It’s been a busy four years. We did a good job.”
Chris Krayling from the Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA), a non-profit Land Trust organization for Rensselaer and Washington Counties was at the meeting to ask for letters of support from the Board to use funds that ASA will be receiving in the near future to purchase two properties, the Luke Farm (High Acres Farm) in East Hoosick, and Tilldale Farm, owned by the Tilley family, in Hoosick. There are two rounds of funding coming up that require a letter of support from the Town as part of the application to purchase the properties. The (ASA) is a community-supported land trust dedicated to protecting local farmland from encroaching development. Working together with interested landowners and active supporters, their goal is to protect 24,000 acres by the end of 2020 and to ensure a future for agriculture in the two counties. All of the Board members seemed to think it was a good idea and agreed to discuss the matter and take a vote on it at a later date.
New Code Enforcement Officer
Fran Rogers has been hired as the Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector. He recently retired and has been working with current Building Inspector Ed King, who will be retiring at the end of the year. Rodgers will start Code Enforcement And Building Safety Inspection classes in January.
Surdam had a meeting with Wendy Larson from Kiwanis and Karen Armstrong from Parkitects to review and make changes to the plan for the Castle Playground in an effort to bring the cost within budget. Some equipment was removed, and the two deliveries were combined into one to save costs. The project is now within budget. The Board approved a motion to accept Parkitects new proposal at a cost of $75,980.92. ($76,000 had been budgeted for the project).
The Town playground has been completely dismantled and is ready for installation of the new equipment in the spring. In order to save money (due to a tax increase in the new year), the equipment will be purchased now and stored in a Town facility when it arrives in February until the spring.
The Town has been working with the NY State Department of Health on testing private wells for PFOAs in areas near the village water supply. The DOH has collected 12 additional samples that are in the process of being tested.
The town’s Workers Compensation Insurance provider MEMIC has decided not to offer this insurance anymore, effective January 1 2016. Patire, Bookkeper Emily Sanders and Surdam have been reviewing options. They recommended choosing Comp Alliance, at the cost of $38,289 for 2016, saving approximately $12,000. A motion was passed authorizing Supervisor Surdam to issue a letter of intent and to sign an agreement with Comp Alliance for 2016.
Supervisor’s Report
Surdam and Assessor Tony Rice attended a Rensselaer County Assessor’s meeting in Troy. Rice had invited Surdam to attend, as there was going to be a discussion of solar issues from their viewpoint.
Surdam and Hoosick Falls Mayor David Borge attended an Emergency Services follow-up meeting at Hoosick Falls Central School with Superintendent Ken Facin and others to open up the communication process in the event of an emergency. He expects that there will be additional meetings to keep the communication process open.
At the request of the Hoosick Local Development Corporation, the Supervisor attended two meetings. The first meeting was with Hudson Valley Wireless and the second meeting was with BounceLinx. He thanked the LDC for their involvement and continued push to bring high speed broad band into the Town of Hoosick. Both meetings were informative and encouraging. Both companies are moving forward with their projects.
Highway Superintendent’s Report
Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland said the new truck is in and ready to go. The Town has plenty of material on hand (sand and salt), ready for winter.
He met with Supervisor Surdam, the owner of 11 Young Street, and the NYSDEC at the site. It was determined that the owner has the responsibility to fix drainage and leak problems, not the Town.
He also said the new pool cover is here and ready to be installed.
Town Historian’s Report
Phil Leonard presented a new history board. He explained that this one is a little different because it is about current history. The title of the board is “HAYC3: Thank You for Saving the Armory”. Leonard said that the organization should be commended for saving this historical and beautiful building when no one else was willing to. He said when he went downstairs, he was surprised at how such a traditionally cold space could be made so warm and inviting. “I was very impressed with what HAYC3 has done with the building,” he said, “and the people of this Town should be impressed.”
Recreation Director’s Report
Ten rink employee appointments were approved. The skating instructors will be approved when their paperwork is completed.
Registration for Skating Lessons is on Saturday, January 9, from 9 am to 1 pm at the rink. Lessons are set to start the following week.
Open Hockey Night players who come to the rink will receive a free session after paying for nine.
Other Business
•Affected property owners have been contacted about the Boundary Line Adjustments that were discovered as a part of CFG funding process.
• The Town has received unofficial word from Bob at Barton & Loguidice Engineering that they did not receive funding for the Wood Brook Study this time around.
• Local Law #3 of 2015 was passed to maintain the Town’s continued participation in the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
• The Board passed a resolution to allow installment payments that eliminate NYS Income Tax from the Service Program Payouts as part of the North Hoosick Fire Department Service Program.
• Local Law #4 of 2015 shall be known as “Real Property Taxation for Certain Solar or Wind Energy Systems or Farm Waste Energy Systems.” A public hearing will be held on December 28 at 6:30 pm in the Armory with a vote to be taken at the Year End Meeting on the same night.
• A motion passed to advertise for bids to cut and trim trees around the pool.
• The Board received a letter of resignation from the Town Planning Board from Everett Quackenbush effective in December due to work related issues. They thanked Quackenbush for his contribution to the Planning Board.
• There is an opening for a Zoning Board Member and a Planning Board Member. If interested in either position, contact Supervisor Surdam or any Town Board member.
• There has been a request from a Planning Board Member to move to the Zoning Board to fill the empty seat.
There is a year-end meeting scheduled for December 28 at the Armory at 7 pm. The next regular Board meeting is January 11, 2016 at 7 pm, also in the Armory.[/private]