Municipal Parking Regulations Are Now Law
Doug La Rocque
The Village Board of Trustees has dealt with issues and complaints about vehicles using the municipal parking lots for some time, and often without clear guidance as to how it could address these complaints. That will all change with the adoption of Local Law # 2 of 2020, introduced at the Tuesday, October 13 board meeting. Spearheaded by Trustee Kevin O’Malley, attorney Andy Gilchrist drew up the law that clarifies several issues. The first being, just what is considered a vehicle. By definition, it is now an automobile, bus, truck (of any size), a utility trailer for boats, cars or trucks, a motor home or any recreational vehicle. Non-motorized methods of transportation, such as bicycles, do not fall into this category.
The new law also states that all posted parking regulations must be observed, such as no parking in a fire lane, or a handicapped space without displaying an appropriate permit.
It also precludes any overnight parking in an area marked for short term only, that being a two hour limit. Any vehicle parked overnight or long term must also display a current state registration. The new law states the Village is not liable for any injury that occurs in a parking lot, or damaged or stolen vehicles. It also places enforcement of the new law in the hands of the Hoosick Falls Police Department or any other law enforcement agency.
A public hearing on the law is slated to begin at the board’s November 10 meeting at 6 pm.
The Chicken Law Is About To Be Uncaged
Mayor Rob Allen indicated he plans to have the so called “chicken law” ready for introduction at that November meeting. Basically, it puts restriction on how and where any chicken coops or runs might be placed, as well as the number of hens housed there. Sorry guys, no roosters. If introduced at that time, a public hearing (most likely as part of the December meeting) must be held before there is any vote.
More PFOA Monies
The Trustees gave unanimous approval to a new agreement between the Village, Saint Gobain and Honeywell International, by which the village will receive a lump sum payment of $144,976.98. The stated purpose of this payment is to cover the cost of operation and maintenance of the GAC filtration system for fiscal years 20-21 and 21-22. It also includes payment for the cost of capturing and treating water during the upcoming Well 7 maintenance. As with the previous three agreements between the parties, which now total more than $780,000, both sides reserve all rights. The Village’s Environmental Attorney David Engel notes this protects Hoosick Falls from unanticipated costs, and that the two year agreement saves the Village from having to front any money while waiting on reimbursement.
Mayor Allen also said the Department of Environmental Conservation still plans to unveil its choice(s) for an alternative water source for the village by the end of the year. That will be subject to public input and much more discussion before any final choice is made.
Mayoral Notes
The Tuesday meeting returned to a virtual (zoom) format, because of the recent spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the village, nine in the space of a few days, although Mayor Allen said there have been none recently. He said the decision not to meet in person this month was made for precautionary reasons. It was also the first meeting for new trustee Deb Alter, who was elected to the seat previously held for years by Ben Patten, who chose not to seek re-election.
The October 7 thunderstorm created some havoc in the Village, as it did almost everywhere else in the neighboring communities. Lots of trees and wires down, power was out for two days in many places, slightly longer in a few spots. Mayor Allen, an admitted weather buff, said it was one of those freak storms that began off the shore of Lake Ontario and stayed together until it exited the east coast of Cape Cod. Generally it contained wind gusts of 65 to 75 miles per hours, and microbursts, such as occurred in Pittstown, of 100 miles per hour. Damage in Pittstown was extensive, particularly along what is called the Lake Road, which runs north and south along the east side of the Tomhannock Reservoir. It took County and local road crews several days to clear the debris.
Other News
During his report Police Chief Bob Ashe indicated he was speaking with Troy’s Unity House to possibly work within the Village on domestic violence issues. He also indicated they have formed a committee to meet the requirements of Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order #203, that states each local government entity which has a police agency operating with police officers must perform a comprehensive review of current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, and develop a plan to improve such for the purposes of addressing the particular needs of the communities served by such police agency and promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color. Chief Ashe said this committee has been meeting almost every week, and feels they are well on their way to being able to meet the order’s deadlines for filing with the state.
The Festival of Trees, which lines the streets of the Village with decorated trees during the Christmas season, is undergoing some changes this year.
(Please see the separate story in this week’s edition)
The Wood Tractor show is still a go for Saturday, October 17, but the Board urged everyone to wear a mask and observe social distancing. The new garbage cans for some village locations are in, and it is now a matter of deciding where they will be placed.
Leaf pickup is slated to begin on October 26 and run through November 20. It starts in Ward 4 and works its way backward to Ward 1.