Setting The Village Clerk’s Salary
by Doug La Rocque (continuation of last week’s report)
The Village Board unanimously established the annual salary for Village Clerk Marie O’Neil-Ferrannini for the rest of this fiscal year, ending in March, at $35,000. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, her annual salary will be $36,532. Ms. O’Neil-Ferrannini was appointed at the November meeting to fill out the remainder of former Clerk Ann Bornt’s term, who passed away earlier in the month.
Purchasing Street Lights
The Village has been in negotiations with a firm known as SmartWatt to investigate the feasibility of purchasing the street lights in the Village from National Grid. There could be some significant savings realized by the purchase, but there are some pitfalls as well, such as when it comes time to replace a pole and light fixture. A motion that would have allowed Mayor Rob Allen to sign the agreement was tabled for another month.
Also tabled was a motion regarding a quote from the Center for Security to move a camera and add audio recording for interrogation purposes by the Police Department.
Woods Brook Buyout
There was progress reported by Mayor Allen concerning the Woods Brook Buyout Program, as appraiser and survey contracts have been awarded, and consultants are scheduled to start reaching out to the participating homeowners. The Village anticipates all consulting work will be completed sometime in January, when meetings with homeowners will begin.
The bidding for an upcoming sewer project has been extended until December 18. The Mayor indicated the Village and MRB Engineering are engaged in discussions with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) over some additional permitting.
Mayor Allen, Village Highway Superintendent Niel Stowell, as well as Town of Hoosick Supervisor Mark Surdam have been in discussions with DEC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as to the next steps regarding the levee/flood control walls.
Speaking of Superintendent Stowell, he was praised by the Mayor and the Board for the completed redesign of the Village Highway Garage, in an effort to create usable space while staying under budget. Mr. Stowell reminded the Board, however, he is still in desperate need of funds to replace a truck.