Borge And Hickey Shake Hands, Pledge To Move
Forward Together On Water Issue
by Deb Alter
Emotions were running high at the June 15 Village Board meeting, as the water issue is still at the forefront.
Michael Hickey, the Hoosick Falls resident who had originally discovered the PFOA in the Village water, spoke during the public comments section of the meeting. He said that after much thought, he realized that he had been unfair to the Board. [private]“I want to apologize for some of the misinformation in the media. Maybe I lost sight of the original intention, and social media has been tough,” he said. Although he was a bit choked up, he continued. He explained that when he took a step back and thought about his father, who had died of kidney cancer likely due to PFOA exposure, and was a man who had never said a bad word about anyone, he was able to gain some insight. He apologized for any problems that may have been caused in people’s personal lives.
It seemed to be an emotional moment for him, for the Board members, the Mayor, and the residents at the meeting. Mayor Borge, who said he had no previous knowledge that Hickey was coming to the meeting or that he would say what he did, came around the table and shook hands with Hickey and said that he was pleased to start working together. He spoke about the need for the community to stick together, that it will pull together as it always does in the face of adversity. “Even if we don’t always agree on how to get there, we all agree on where we want to go,” Borge said. He acknowledged that there have been mistakes.There was a round of applause by the attendees, happy to see the beginning of a much needed healing process.
Deputy Mayor Ric DiDonato thanked Hickey for taking that step. “Hoosick Healthy Water and the Board are not that far apart in what we’re trying to do. Our community is too small to be at odds with each other,” he said.
Later in the meeting, Mayor Borge said that officials “won’t back down from critical or important discussions,” but that some of what has been said on social media and in other venues are not acceptable. Apparently, some of the communications have been rather threatening in nature, and those have been turned over to the police. “We need to move forward and work together,” he said. “We have made progress,” he continued, “and although the process has not gone as quickly as we’d all have liked, we are moving in the right direction. Some communities across the country are still waiting on litigation.” Police Chief Robert Ashe, who is not from Hoosick Falls, added that he had never seen a community stick together as well as Hoosick Falls has, and told the attendees not to stop now.
Many Hoosick residents had attended a rally in Albany on the morning of the Village meeting. They went to put pressure on the governor, legislators, and state health agencies for more action and information about PFOA and their blood tests. According to Loreen Hackett, whose number was high and whose grandchildren’s numbers are even higher, “We were there demanding answers for every Hoosick Falls resident.”
Another leader of the group, Michele Baker, said that they had advocated for having a point person right in the governor’s office. “We definitely got their attention. We love our town. The state, not the local government, has been the problem.” When it comes to our health, the excuse that the “issue is one of ‘philosophical differences’ between the EPA and the NYSDOH is not acceptable.” The group had a meeting with Jim Malatras, Head of Operations.
Michelle O’Leary reported that the DOH will be doing more consulting. As for other questions they had asked in Albany, she said most of the answers were along the lines of “we’re working on it” or “it’s being considered.” The group plans to continue putting pressure on the Governor and the Legislature for biomonitoring, insurance coverage, more studies, and hearings.
Water Updates:
The Mayor reiterated the fact that Hoosick Falls was the first community to really face the PFOA issue, so it was pioneering through “uncharted territory.” He continued, “It has been an extremely difficult, trying, and turbulent time for our residents.” He said there was conflicting and inaccurate information out there for a long time. The blood sample results that were released recently are higher than everyone had hoped. The good news, he said, “Is that the exposure from PFOA-tainted water in Hoosick Falls has been stopped.” Other communities will not have to go through what we have, like getting the EPA and state agencies on board, or in getting them to decide on lifetime exposure levels. Because we were the first, we had to deal with bureaucracy and more that others who come later won’t have to. “The new guys pay the price, but they also reap the benefits,” said Borge, explaining that because we are in the spotlight, we are the poster village for what needs to be done, and how, and so it will be done right.
The installation of the full-capacity GAC filter system is moving forward; equipment should start to be delivered very soon.
As of June 15, 862 water rebate checks had been sent out to single family homes. The Village Clerk’s office continues to work on getting the rest out as soon as possible. The amount of the check is based on water usage only, from October 2015 through March 2016. Mayor Borge said that all of the $178,478.87 will be used for water rebates.
The Mayor is in the process of drafting a letter to Hoosick Falls residents with all of the latest water updates. It will be distributed in a way that will reach the most number of people possible.
A SEQR filing is not necessary for the installation of the full-capacity GAC system, so the Village will save $3,500.
Zoning Laws
To Be Updated
The Board took up the discussion of the Zoning Laws which have not had a major update since 1977. They first started to address the zoning laws two years ago, more or less, but they kept getting put on the back burner because of the water. The Board voted to have the village attorney review the latest draft. A public hearing on the draft will be held during the July 12 Board meeting at 6:30 pm. The draft of the updated zoning law is available on the Village website.
Police Report:
The Police Department had 138 calls this month. The Department has stepped up DWI patrols. Bike patrols are coming soon.
The Memorial Day Parade went very smoothly and Chief Ashe thanked Highway Department Superintendent Niel Stowell and his crew and Community Service coordinator Jerry McAuliffe and his crew for all the work they did to help make it so successful.
Other Business:
The Board passed a resolution to go forward with the proposed water and sewer extension feasibility study, and to share the cost of it with the Town. Asked why the cost wasn’t being covered by the state or in the consent order, Mayor Borge said there is the possibility that that could happen, for all or part of the cost. Even with the Consent Order signed by the State, some negotiations are still going on.
The Mayor acknowledged the well-earned award from the EPA to Michael Hickey and Dr. Marcus Martinez.
Borge announced that the Village of Hoosick Falls has been able to get back some money it didn’t know it had. The Village engaged a firm called Troy & Banks to audit a decade of the Village’s utility bills and they discovered that the village overpaid $64,857 over those years. The Village will get about $39,000 and the auditing firm will take $25,000, a percentage of what was recovered.
The street sweeper broke down. A new schedule will be posted online when it is back in working order.
Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer Mark Surdam is working with banks and owners to get them to cut lawns and keep properties neat.
Surdam said that many swimming pools, including some small inflatable ones, are subject to code such as fencing. He suggested that anyone who is considering purchasing a pool should contact him first to find out what the code requirements are.
Trustee Ben Patten reported that the Water and Highway Departments are working together to get the Village’s broken fire hydrants fixed.
A motion was passed to approve vacation pay for the Village office staff, as they had not been able to take vacation because they have been so busy with the water issues. The Mayor said he expects the village to be reimbursed for those funds under the consent orders, as it is a PFOA-related cost.
The Board passed a motion to resubmit the Wood Brook Study grant application, splitting the cost with the Town. There will be a public hearing about the grant application at 6 pm on Tuesday, July 12.
Paula Kamperman presented plans for a community event called “Rock the Block” to be held on Wednesday, August 3. The plan is to close off Main Street between Wilder and Elm Streets so that tables can be set up on the street for a pot luck and barbecue. The event and the food will be free and open to the public. It is being organized by a group of Hoosick residents, who invite everyone who would like to join in the planning to come to the next meeting on Thursday, June 30 at 7 pm at the Cheney Library. For more information, email ihearthoosick@gmail.com. The Board passed a motion approving the event.
The Board approved a motion to allow HOORWA to hold a family bike ride on Village streets on Saturday, August 13. This is part of a larger event that includes 100-mile, 70-mile, 50-mile and 30-mile rides through the region, starting at Hoosac School. They also approved the use of the bandstand as a refreshment stand for riders.
Aaron Buzzinski was appointed to the Village Zoning Board of Appeals. There is still one position open on the ZBA, and another to be filled on the Planning Board.[/private]