Celebrate Stephentown Preparations On Track, Another Public Hearing On Revisions To The Dog Law Scheduled
By Doug La Rocque
Stephentown Library President Scott Menhinick says they now have 30 different events scheduled at more than 20 locations around the town for the August celebration, deemed “a grassroots festival celebrating our vibrant rural community.” At the Town Board meeting Monday, July 17, the Board also reported on the new signage to be installed at the town lines, bringing back the phrase, “The only Stephentown on Earth.” The Board and Menhinick also agreed to a dedication ceremony for the signage at the start of the festival on Friday, August 18, at the Town Hall. The time will be announced at a later date. The officials also plan to invite a number of local dignitaries to the unveiling. The Board got a close-up look as well at the logo being used to promote the festival. It too contains the verbiage celebrating the Town’s claim to fame. The festival is slated to run August 18 through 20. More information is available at celebratestephentown.com and on the Town website.
Discussion again turned to revisions of the current local law, that would restrict the time the town could be held fiscally responsible for animals that may be seized by law enforcement. A public hearing on June 12 raised enough concerns that Councilman Gerry Robinson and Town Attorney Craig Crist decided to “go back to the drawing board.” Crist reports the revisions to the original draft are now ready, and that they do not depart far from that draft. He indicated they update laws already on the books from 1993 and 2010. Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt added “the law doesn’t help any if we don’t have the protocols and procedures for our town officers, i.e. the dog control officer and court personnel, so everybody is on the same page when we get to that point.” The Board scheduled Monday, August 14 at 7 pm as the date and time for a public hearing on the changes to the local law, with the hope they can be adopted at the August 21 regular meeting.
A bill for the sheltering of seized animals cost the Town of Grafton nearly $14,000, and Stephentown has already paid more than $3,000 involving two court cases, and is facing other bills totaling $1,440. These bills were again pulled from the list of invoices to be paid at the meeting, for further consideration in August.
A Good Year For The Summer Youth Program
Scott Menhinick told the Board that 61 children are participating in this year’s program, with only 3 from outside the town among those registered. He also said 21 have signed up for the swim program, being held in Pittsfield, Massachusetts this year. Transportation to the program is the responsibility of the participant’s parents. Menhinick says one of the early highlights of the program was the visit last Friday, July 14 from Southpaw, the Tri-City Valleycats mascot.
Resolutions Approved
Beside the resolution to set the Public Hearing on the dog law issue, the Board also approved a settlement with UPSEU, the union representing the town’s highway employees, and employee Jim Hoffman. The agreement resolves a dispute over supplemental Medicare insurance that went on for six months, after the town switched its insurance coverage to the Mohawk Valley Health Plan (MVP). The settlement calls for the payments of $134 for the six months involved. The Board also authorized Town Clerk Stephanie Wagar to advertise for the upcoming vacancy on the Board of Assessment Review. This is for a five-year term.
In the financial section of the meeting, the Board approved claims of $20,094.76 to be paid from the General Fund, and $62,095.18 from the Highway Fund account. Wagar turned over $858.83 to the Supervisor as revenue from the Clerk’s Office for June. The Transfer Station accounted for $7,271 dollars in revenue, while the total distribution from the State Comptroller, Justice Court Funds had not yet been reported back from the State.
The Board will next meet in a workshop session on Monday August 14, following the public hearing on the changes to the dog law, and holds its next regular session on Monday, August 21 at 7 pm.