Town of Hoosick Board Action

Hoosick Town Board Backs Water And Sewer Expansion Study
by Deb Alter
The Town Board unanimously passed Resolution #57 of 2016 at its regular Town Board meeting on June 13. The resolution will allow the Town to work with the Village of Hoosick Falls on the feasibility of extending water and sewer into areas of the Town and to share the cost of the Proposal for Engineering Services as presented by MRB Group that would be used to seek funding through NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). The combined cost of the studies (one for water, one for sewer) is $46,000, of which the Town will pay half. Supervisor Mark Surdam signed the agreements with MRB at the meeting. [private]Councilman Dave Sutton reiterated the need to do the study, saying, “you need to pay the entry fee to play the game.” He likened it to a baseball game, saying “we have a chance to hit a home run.”
Earlier in the meeting, during the Public Comment period, Keith Cipperly and Kevin Allard expressed their opposition to the project. Neither had been at the joint Town and Village Informational Meeting last week in which the public seemed generally positive about it. (A report on the informational meeting is on page 10)
The Board also discussed the Woods Brook 2016 Community Development Block Grant and Barton and Loguidice’s proposal for the preparation of the Woods Brook Flood Study Grant Application as a resubmission. The Town would again work with the Village and share the $2,500 cost. A motion to approve and to proceed with the understanding that the Town’s cost will be $1,250 was passed. A public hearing on the issue was set for 6 pm on July 11, just before the regular Town meeting.
Supervisor Surdam shared the latest on bringing broadband to Hoosick. Tom Vallone and the Hoosick Local Development Corporation have been working diligently on the issue. In a recent conference call with NYS Empire State Development, they learned that Time Warner has agreed to serve an additional 145,000 customers within New York State who previously had no service as a condition of the agreement to merge with Charter Communications. Surdam emphasized the importance of replying to Time Warner if they send you a mailer asking you to subscribe. Even if you do not get or want Time Warner, send them a reply that you want it. This is necessary to show that there is an interest in this area. Getting broadband to Hoosick is one of the keys to success in the Town’s economic development. Bouncelynx and Hudson Valley Wireless continue to work towards providing some areas of the town, and “provide excellent service” according to Sutton, but are small companies that are still growing and are not yet able to provide high-speed internet service to the whole town. “We all need to continue to work to raise awareness that this community wants Broadband Service,” said the Supervisor.
Pool Updates
The Community Pool has been drained, power-washed and refilled. The water was tested for PFOA and the results came back as a non-detect. Because Supervisor Surdam completed the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class, Rensselaer County has issued the 2016 Permit to operate the pool. The first groups start using the pool on Monday, June 13. A motion to approve the facilities use requests (including the fields as well as the pool) was approved contingent upon all required paperwork being submitted. Sutton reminded the Board that they should keep the School District and St. Mary’s apprised of the schedule because the deed gives them first dibs on use of the facilities.
LaBerge Engineering has begun the planning process for the NYS Parks and Recreation Grant, Pool Project Phase Two, to update the Pump House and the Bath House. Work should begin on this project after the swim season is over.
Albrecht & Wilson has completed the maps and descriptions for the boundary line adjustments around the pool area. It will now go to the Village Planning Board for approval, then to Rensselaer County.
The Hoosick Falls Kiwanis will spearhead the pool slide fundraiser; more information will be available soon.
The official opening of the pool will be Saturday, June 25.
After the necessary trees were removed from around the pool area, it became apparent that there is still a very large, dying spruce tree that needs to be removed for safety reasons. The Board voted to allot the $650 that was estimated to take it down.
Other Business:
• The Board approved a motion to advertise a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the revaluing of all real property within the boundaries of the Town of Hoosick. There are 3,392 parcels in the Town, including those that are tax exempt, utilities, and special franchises.
• Assessor Tony Rice reported that the tentative 2016 equalization rate is 27.5%, down a half of a percent from last year. He is currently busy finalizing the final tax roll, which is due out on July 1.
• Gail Smith presented the “Hoosick Water Crisis: Paying It Forward” initiative that she is working on with the Ugandan Water Project.
• Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland reported that a lot of paving had been completed this spring, so CHIPS money will come back to the Town earlier than usual.
• Several additional summer staff appointments were approved.
• Six one-week sessions of Town Sumer Day Camp will begin on July 7. Applications are available on the Town’s website.
• All Board members agreed that the Castle Playground Project was a success, thanks to the Hoosick Falls Kiwanis Club. Councilperson Jenn Hyde said, “It was fun and a great community effort.” Some of the old structures that are still standing need to be painted so that they blend with the new structures. Supervisor Surdam has asked HAYC3 to help with this.
• The latest PFOA and Water updates were reviewed. There is an updated map of PFOA testing results in the courtroom at the Armory.
• Blood tests and private well water testing is still available from the State, as are free filtration systems for houses with private wells.
• NYS Health Department will continue to staff the HAYC3 Armory on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2 to 8 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm to meet with anyone who would like to discuss their personal PFOA blood test results.
• The Board went into executive session to discuss the DEC Consent Orders to Saint-Gobain and Honeywell, the legal level of the Town’s involvement with the water contamination issue, additional professional and consulting services that may be needed, and requirements that the Town will need to meet to recoup any and all professional consulting cost or fees incurred by the Town of Hoosick for assistance the Town needed during the PFOA contamination crisis; and two other matters. No voting or final decisions were made during the executive session.
• The next Town of Hoosick Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 11.[/private]