Village Board Learns Of Proposed Multi-Site PFOA Study
By Doug La Rocque
Representatives from the NYS Department of Health and SUNY Albany opened the Tuesday night, May 14 meeting, with details regarding a multi-site health study grant proposal, as it relates to health implications from exposure to PFAS contaminated drinking water. For more information on this proposal, which was also presented the night before to the Town of Hoosick Board, see the separate story above.
Aside from that presentation, the session was relatively short. Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan ran the meeting in Mayor Rob Allen’s absence, and reported that both of the unsafe structures the Village has been dealing with for several months were taken down over the past two weeks. The property owners will get the bill, which if left unpaid, will become part of a tax re-levy by Rensselaer County, meaning the County will make the Village whole on the costs by early 2021.
Eliminating the Village Assessor
Following a public hearing on Local Law # 1, which terminates the Village’s status as an independent assessing unit for real property tax purposes, the Board gave its approval to the law. The assessments will now become part of the Town of Hoosick’s tax rolls. Hoosick Falls was the last of the five villages in the County to make this change. There were no speakers at the public hearing
Other Business Before the Board
The Board gave its approval to Dominique Brialy’s application to the NYS Liquor Authority for a liquor license for his new Bistro 42, located at 42 Classic Street. Mr. Brialy plans to offer a combination of French and American cuisine.
Pre-construction meetings have been held for the new Highway Garage, and it is hoped ground will be broken some time in June.
In April, the Village hired Sterling Environmental to assist with the possibility of digging up PFOA contaminated ground water or soil at the site of the Sewer Project along Lyman Street. Discussions back and forth between Sterling and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have been taking place, and it is hoped that a final work plan will be in place shortly.
Deputy Mayor Ryan also reported that the Woods Brook Buy-out program has seen the village meeting with several property owners over the past month, and that these discussions were ongoing. He further stated that street sweeping has begun this week, starting in the 4th Ward, then on to the Wards 3, 2 and 1 in that order. Odd numbered sides of the streets will be swept on odd dates, and the even numbered sides on even dates.
The Village will be looking to hire summer employees to work within the Department of Public Works. If interested, contact the Village Clerk.