Mayor Allen Declares A State of Emergency
On Wednesday morning, March 18, Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen declared a state of emergency in the Village, because of the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) outbreak. In his declaration, the Mayor said the serious impact of the novel coronavirus upon the Village of Hoosick Falls, although presently unknown due to a lack of testing authorized by applicable governmental agencies, is inevitable and will cause a significant health and safety threat to the inhabitants of the Village of Hoosick Falls and its visitors. The state of emergency shall exist for 30 days or until rescinded.
The Mayor’s declaration brings about many changes for the Village, as listed below:
The Ann Bornt Municipal Building will be closed off to the public for the foreseeable future, and will be re-assessed as needed in accordance with the New York State Executive Law. While the side and back entrances will remain locked, the front entrance and main lobby will be the only part of the building open to the public. The hallway to the Village Office and the windows to the Village Office will remain closed/locked.
If paperwork or payments need to be dropped off to the Village Office, please use the Drop Box in the main lobby of the Municipal Building. It will be checked regularly. Please note that no cash payments will be accepted at this time – payments need to be received via check or money order. Money Orders can be obtained at banks or at the post office, and should be made out to “Village of Hoosick Falls.”
The Village Police Department will continue its normal operations. However, the side door to the Municipal Building will be locked, so the only access to the police is through the Main Lobby. If you need an officer and no one is present in the Department, please pick up the silver phone next to the Police Office Window and push the first button. This will immediately connect you with County Dispatch. Simply state if it is an emergency or not, and ask that they send an officer back to the Municipal Building.
The Village Office Staff (Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and Treasurer) will implement office hours between 8 am to 11 am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Voicemails and emails will be checked daily.
The Village Code Enforcement Officer will suspend any in person meetings unless absolutely necessary and is set up ahead of time by appointment. He will be checking his voicemails and emails daily.
Due to Executive Order No. 1 of 2020, the requirements for all bi-annual inspections of one-family, two-family, or multiple dwelling structures used for rental purposes are suspended. When the emergency is lifted, we will work to make up any of these inspections that were missed.
Pre-tenant inspections can still be set up, but now have several requirements that have to be met for the safety of the Village Code Enforcement Officer. Please contact him for more details.
The Village Transfer Station will immediately begin using its summer schedule. It is Tuesday, 8 am until noon and Saturday, 8 am until 2 pm.
Additionally, with the Village Office closed, any Village and Town of Hoosick resident may purchase permits directly from the Transfer Station. They are $10 for Village Residents, $20 for anyone outside of the Village. Permits last for the year.
The Village Sewer Department will divide up the daily and weekly workload between the Operator and Assistant Operator, while maintaining all hours and duties required by state and regional laws and policies consistent with operating and maintaining the Waste Water Treatment Plant and its systems, and will remain on call for any emergencies that arise.
The Village Water Department will act in accordance with the same procedures and policies set up for the Sewer Department, including division of workload and remaining on call.
The Village of Hoosick Falls Department of Public Works will reduce its workload to 3 employees per day maximum, with further changes allowed by the DPW Superintendent as needed.
In the case of a Village Emergency, such as a broken water pipe or sewer line, the Mayor will temporarily suspend these rules until the emergency is taken care of.
Funeral home employees who need assistance from Village Officials should call the police department.
Village Meetings
All village boards will continue to meet in person, but without being open to the public. The Trustees meetings are recorded and available on the Village’s “YouTube” site. Applicants with business in front of the Planning or Zoning boards may choose to participate via remote access to the extent technically available, or may otherwise attend in person subject to the limitation of being represented by no more than two people. The applicable provisions of the Open Meetings Law have been suspended by a Declaration of Emergency by the Governor of New York.
The Hoosick Falls Village Court is closed until further notice, except that individual matters deemed essential may proceed as each Village Justice determines, consistent with the guidelines and protocols issued by the New York Unified Court System.
Please monitor the village’s website or Facebook page for changes and updates.