Board Debates New Truck
by Alex Brooks
At the Petersburgh Town Board meeting September 17, Supervisor Alan Webster said the water system rehabilitation grant application has been submitted, and letters have gone out from both County legislators, Senator Marchione, Congressman John Faso and others supporting the town’s application.
Next on the agenda was a request from Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison to replace the Town’s 2009 Ford F-450 plow truck with a new one. Harrison was not present at the meeting, but his letter said, “We have done a lot of plowing with it, and it is pretty well worn out.”
Harrison got an estimate from Carmody Ford to repair the current F-450. Parts needed for these repairs totaled $12,175 and the labor estimate was $3,000 to $4,000. Harrison concluded that buying a new truck would be a better value.
Carmody Ford’s price for a new F-450 with plow was $41,852 on State bid. Harrison said his plan is to transfer the sander and platform from the old truck onto the new one.
Harrison said he had discussed the cost of the new truck with bookkeeper Charles Guntner, who told him there is enough CHIPs money to purchase the truck. Harrison was anxious to get approval and get the truck ordered so that it will be here in time for plowing this winter.
Tim Church, who is on the town’s Highway Committee, said they had debated whether to buy an F-450 or an F-550. He asked if there was a price for an F-550 to compare with the F-450 price provided. Webster said no. Harrison said in his letter that he had decided to go with the F-450 because a 550 would require a CDL license. Tim Church said he thought an F-550 with equipment and payload would still weigh less than 18,000 pounds, so it would not require a CDL license. He also said he thought the new truck should have a dump body so that it would be useful all year round, rather than being used only as a plow truck in winter
Councilperson Denise Church said she thought the Town should buy an F-550. The Board decided to put off making a decision until they could get a price on an F-550.
The Board accepted the resignation of Petersburgh Library Director Melissa Lockett. The library has already begun advertising for a new library director. Webster said, “We appreciate everything you’ve done, Melissa.”
Webster also noted that Emily Harrison has resigned as Town Custodian. No new custodian will be hired for the time being, as the office staff has agreed to share the task of keeping the building clean.
The Board held its first budget workshop on September 10, and scheduled its next Budget Workshop for Thursday October 11 at 7 pm.
Heinz Noeding asked about the landfill. Webster said an engineering firm called Delaware Engineering has been retained to help develop plans for dealing with the landfill situation, and Petersburgh and Berlin have each committed $10,000 to pay for this work. Webster had no further updates to offer on that situation.
During public comment time, Joe Dunlop followed up on his previous comments on the Carbon Filtration building built by Taconic to house the carbon filters, known as the GAC building. He asked if the Town Building Inspector Fran Rogers had inspected the building and what action he had taken. Water Superintendent Ben Krahforst said Rogers had inspected the building and written up some kind of report, but had not taken any further action. Dunlop said he believes there are no approved plans on file for that building and no building permit was taken out. The building was not built to code, according to Dunlop, and he feels the existing code violations should be corrected right away. “That building is a disgrace, and it’s going to fall apart,” said Dunlop, and he thinks Taconic should fix the problems now. Webster said that building is going to be enlarged and improved at Taconic’s expense as part of the work being done under the Water System Rehabilitation project, and that will take care of the problems Dunlop is referring to. Dunlop asked if a certificate of occupancy was ever issued for that building, and Town Clerk Deidra Michaels said she is not sure, and would check the records.