A Win In A Legal Battle, But A Long Way To Go
By Doug La Rocque
During the public comment portion of the Tuesday, August 13 meeting of the Hoosick Falls Village Board, resident Kevin Allard asked about the status of a lawsuit filed against the village by their former environmental attornies, Fitzgerald, Morris, Baker and Firth of Glens Falls. The law firm is seeking $420,000 in legal fees, they claim they are owed for the intial work on the PFOA matters involving Saint Gobain and Honeywell. The village has not paid, as they feel the law firm failed them in negotiations.
According to Village Attorney Andy Gilchrist, most of the lawsuit was dismissed because of timeliness. The Glens Falls law firm has appealed the decision, and according to Mr. Gilchrist, it will be heard by Appellate Division of NYS Supreme Court.
There is now another component of the legal battle. Since Fitzgerald, Morris, Baker and Firth has settled with a Public Relations firm for $100,000, they are now seeking damages for that expense as well. The matter is still before State Supreme Court.
Seeking A Reimbursement.
A village resident served by the Snow Street water line, is seeking $800 to replace a water heater and to have a large portion of her water bill forgiven, because of what she feels was a pressure spike when the new Rensselaer Street Pump Station came on line. According to Mayor Rob Allen, another area resident experienced a water heater problem at the same time, but so far, has not filed for damages.
Trustee Brian Bushner sounded a cautious note as to whether the Trustees should pay the claim or not. He said the village needs to find out if it was indeed a pressure spike, as is claimed, or whether the piping and heater in the residence where very old, and simply could not handle the pressure at its correct volume. It was a point well taken, and the Trustees decided to table the matter for further review.
Greenway Trail Improvements
At the board’s July meeting, there was some discussion about the northern end of the Greenway, after a contractor had sompleted work there. The Trustees were not happy with the condition it was left in. Trustee Bushner, who is the board’s Greenway representative, says the trail has been put back into a much better condition. Maybe not completely to the board’s liking, but those who have visited it, called it a marked improvement.
The board authorized Mayor Allen to sign a proposal from the engineering firm of Barton & Loguidice for the design and administrative services for a trail extension and a new trailhead. The expenses are covered by grant monies.
Going Into The Environmental Business
Trustees, the Mayor and their attorney will be busy the next few months, as they voted to tke lead agency status on three State Environmental Quality Reviews.These involve the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, the Woods Brook Community Development Block Grant and the UV Disinfection Project for the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Police Calls and Arrests Continue to Spike
Chief Bob Ashe reported the number of arrests and calls answer by his department climbed once again in July, both over the previous month and year to date.The department made 13 arrest in July, compared to 8 in June. Year to date, the number of calls answered are up by 170 oveer 2018.
The Chief also said they were was a problem one evening last month with youths harressing patrons at the town park, forcing him to close the park down. (The park is located within the village confines). He said the youths simply moved on to Wood Park, but as that is adjacent to the police station, his officers were able to keep a much closer eye on them.
Woods Brook Buyout Program
Mayor Allen says there ae currently four houses under contrcts, which have garnered state approval, and are now awaiting closing dates. He is hope a few more contracts will be signed shortly. Once the village takes possession of these homes, they can schedule demolition. That however, will probably not happen until sometime in 2020.