Five Year Plans For All Departments!
by Alex Brooks
Petersburgh Supervisor Alan Webster began the February 20 meeting of the Petersburgh Town Board by saying he wanted to see development of 5 year plans in all Departments. [private]He noted that many aspects of The Town’s operations could benefit from better planning, from Highway trucks and equipment to Water District maintenance and improvement to Town Hall maintenance and improvement. He asked the Board for comments on this, and Jack Barnhill and Denise Church both said they thought it is a great idea. All that remains is to follow through and actually do the five year plans.
Water Inspection
Water Superintendent Ben Krahforst said on February 6 Rich Elder from the Rensselaer County Health Department and Rob Swider from the NYS Health Department did a comprehensive inspection of the Petersburgh water system, which resulted in numerous items to be corrected. In particular, the Water District was ordered not to use wells 5 and 6 until they are inspected by a certified well driller.
The only well that can be used now is well #2, and use of it requires that a boil water order be in place, because the well has “multiple sanitary deficiencies.”
Krahforst said he is trying to figure out how the Water
District is going to pay for all of the work that needs to be done. He said Congressman John Faso’s office is seeking grant money for the Town. Krahforst supplied estimates of the work that needs to be done to that office. Krahforst also said he has located a loan program through the New York Rural Water Association that can provide up to $100,000 loans at 3% interest, and the application process is fairly quick and easy.
Krahforst also said that Larry Carroll from Taconic told him that Taconic will pay for improvements to Well #2, and they would like to see the repairs undertaken quickly. Since Kert’s Water Wells, which had already submitted an estimate, is on vacation for all of February, Krahforst contacted Gould wells and hopes to get a quote from them. If it is acceptable to Taconic, that work could be done right away.
Highway
Highway Superintendent Rob Cottrell said the Town’s loader is in bad shape. He said it is “losing the transmission, and many parts are failing. He feels that trying to keep it operational may get very expensive. He has had a new one on loan from Capital Tractor for about a month. He and his crew are pleased with it.
He said Berlin, Cambridge and Hoosick Falls all have a similar machine, and he has heard good reports from the highway superintendets in those town, both about the machine and about the service provided by Capital Tractor.
Cottrell provided the Board with lease options and purchase options, and recommended that the Town buy the machine. The purchase price is $146,644 after tradein. Although this year’s CHIPS money is already spoken for, Cottrell said CHIPS money can be used to make payments on the principal in future years (CHIPS money cannot be used to pay interest – that must come out of the highway budget).
The Board agreed to buy the loader, and will finance it over five years at 2½% interest.
Town Hall Security
Town Codes Enforcement Officer David Miller said he has found the back door to the Town Hall unlocked on several occasions, and he said, “we don’t know who has keys.” He said the locks have to be changed, and he will take care of it. He said he expects the cost will be less than $100.
The Board had two estimates to replace flooring in the Town Hall bathrooms and in the hall, but various details needed to be clarified, so this needs more research.
The Board approved a website policy provided by the Town Clerk, and appointed a website committee consisting of Town Councilman Jack Barnhill, Town Clerk Deidra Michaels, Ann Crisp, Brigitta Schmidt, and a member to be named later. [/private]