Tearing Down A Building 101
By Doug La Rocque
In fairness, let it be known that the Town of Grafton doesn’t demolish many structures, and it has been years since the town went to court to determine a building is unsafe and must come down. So some unfamiliarity with what has become a complicated procedure, might be excused.
There was a resolution on the Grafton Town Board’s agenda Monday evening, December 9, to authorize the town to demolish the former Gardy residence on South Road. That resolution was determined during conversations with Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo, to be flawed, and a new resolution was drafted for presentation to the board. By law, before the any actual physical demolition takes place, there has to be a notice posted, and a public hearing scheduled. The owner also has 30 days to respond to the notice, and another 60 days to take action or negotiate the demolition. Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum suggested the public hearing be held prior to the Board’s year-end meeting on December 30. Further discussion amongst the board members and some in attendance at the meeting made the Board realize that they could not schedule a public hearing yet, until that notice of proposed demolition is posted. So the resolution was advanced, with language that a date for the public hearing will be determined in the near future.
Dealing With Snowmageddon
While there were some complaints on social media, several residents who attended the Monday night meeting, praised the work of the often-maligned Highway Department, and its efforts to keep the roads cleared during the three-day snowstorm last week. It may not have really been the storm of the century, but it was one of the biggest in the last 30 years, even by Grafton standards. Superintendent Jarod Bouchard said with his most recent hire, the department is back to three full timers, and he hopes to hire a fourth shortly. He also said he plans to work with next year’s board to begin a regular replacement of trucks so more time and money can be spent on the roads, and not so much on constant repairs. He was speaking more specifically of the smaller trucks, as the town purchased a new ten-wheel tandem this year.
There were also some comments made about the highway department having to assist two County Waste Trucks that ran off town roads. It was questioned whether the company was properly outfitting its trucks for winter travel on rural roads.
Tri-Town Ambulance Proposal Progress
Grafton Rescue Squad Officer Donna Baldwin reported they had 11 calls in the month of November, but were unable to answer five of them, all daytime requests. She also said the work continues on the transfer of the Berlin Fire Department’s Certificate of Need to the Grafton Rescue Squad, indicating they recently has a very good meeting about it with the Regional Emergency Medical Organization (REMO), and that REMO was very supportive of the move. Grafton Rescue is the lead organization in an effort to provide the towns of Berlin, Petersburgh and Grafton with a paid daytime Emergency Medical Technician staffed ambulance. They have already begun to search for personnel through some social media advertising.
Other News
The Grafton Youth Commission reported it had 43 children and adults show up for the recent Gingerbread House function, Grafton Community Library Trustee Leanna Sweet stated the recent flooring renovations to the building are complete, but that they did run into some unexpected problems, which resulted in the removal of almost all books from the shelves. She indicated they are looking for volunteers to help replace them.
She also said they will begin a search in January for a new Library Director.
Vicky Burdick, in her role as Dog Control Officer, reported two calls for November, both stray dogs that were returned home. As Town Clerk, she handed the Board a check for $2,785 representing office income for November.