New Rogers Avenue Water Tower Will Look Quite Different
by Doug La Rocque
The delayed monthly Village Board meeting opened on Thursday evening, February 23, with a public hearing on a resolution to seek up to $1 million in a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The current water tank has had issues with leaks for years, and the NYS Department of Health has been pressuring the village for some time to complete some extensive repairs, or construct a new tower. Since there is grant money available for such construction, that is the direction the village has decided to head.
The resolution, approved unanimously, hires Delaware Engineering to handle the grant application and design of the new facility. Spokesman Robert Flores says it would be a stand alone tower, just under 30 feet in height, with a domed top. Most of these are light blue in color, but Mr. Flores says there are some limited other color options should the village desire such.
Village Trustee Kevin O’Malley asked Mr. Flores, what such a high tower’s visual impact might be on the Rogers Avenue, Ashley Drive neighborhood. The current tank is set into the ground and only rises about six feet in height. Mr. Flores indicated the new tank would be set back into the rear of the property to help ease some of these visibility issues, but yes, it would be seen.
Should the village receive this grant, there is no local match, however if the cost exceeds $1 million, that would be entirely on the village.
Where Will The Drinking Water Come From?
That is a question village residents have been waiting for an answer from the NYS Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation for several years. Late last year, state departments identified several possible alternatives sources of drinking water, including wells drilled along Route 22 south of the village, tapping into the Tomhannock Reservoir or the Town of Brunswick’s system, or continuing to filter the PFOAs and other contaminants as is the current process. Mayor Robert Allen indicated he is hopeful the Water Study and Proposal Remedial Action Plan will be ready in two months or so, and the board agreed to hire Sterling Environmental as a technical consultant to review the state’s plan, and possibly address any concerns the village may have.
This contract is for up to $30,000, which the mayor says Saint Gobain and Honeywell, the identified sources of the PFOA contamination, have agreed to pay for.
Police Reform
Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan says the Police Review process, ordered by Governor Andrew Cuomo, must file its report by April 1. According to the Deputy Mayor, the committee is right on track and hopes to release its draft report in early March, with a full report to the Village Board at the March 9 meeting. A special meeting to hold a public hearing on the report, and perhaps adopt it, will be held on March 23. During his report time to the board, Police Chief Bob Ashe had nothing but praise for the committee, the work it has accomplished in identifying issues of concern, and the professional and courteous way the work was handled.
The Chief also said negotiations to bring Unity House, a Troy based agency which according to its website, provides a wide range of services to meet the otherwise unmet needs of people in our community who are hurting and struggling, to the village two days a week, are going well and he hopes to announce a location the agency will be based out of soon.
Shovel Your Side Walk
Village resident Harold Stevens again addressed the board about his concern that people do not shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes, businesses or organizations. He feels it is a real danger, especially to the handicapped and elderly, as they must either choose to try to traverse the snowy, slippery walkway or walk in the street. He says all through the village, you see one sidewalk cleared, and the next not.
He asked if there was not a law that mandated the sidewalks be cleared, such as in the neighboring village of Cambridge, where there apparently are fines imposed should one not follow the law.
Mayor Allen agreed with his concern, and promised to “dive deeper into it” with the Village Attorney, to see what statutes might already be on the books, or what they might propose to do.
Walgreen’s Mural Design
Criticized
During the public comment period, village resident Patty Austin said she is not happy with the design for the Main Street building, featuring an owl. She said it should be “more beautiful” and added that with her vast experience in the Arts, “I know when art is not right, and this is not right.” Trustee Kevin O’Malley, who has been one of the driving forces behind getting the permission for the mural and its conceptual design, said “I have had about 80 comments on the proposed mural, and you are the only one that doesn’t like it.” Ms. Austin then said the entire design should be scrapped and started over. A proposal that did not meet with much approval from Trustee O’Malley or any other member of the board.
Don’t Worry About All Your Eggs In One Basket, There Are No Eggs In There Yet
When the trustees held a public hearing last year on the proposed Chicken Law, legislation that would allow residents in parts of the village to keep chickens under some strict guidelines, they garnered much feedback. Enough so, they decided to re-work the law. Mayor Allen said the revised law will be introduced at the March 9 meeting.
Most Of The Village Board Will Be Back
When the time frame to file petitions for four Village Board Seats and Mayor came and passed on February 9, only some very familiar faces submitted the paperwork to be on the March ballot.
Mayor Rob Allen has decided to seek a third term in office, and will be unchallenged in his re-election bid. Also filing for ballot spots were current Trustees Kevin O’Malley, Emile Marpe and Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan. They will also be unopposed.
The board is currently short one member since Vanessa Lewis resigned because she had moved outside the village limits. At that time, Mayor Allen decided not to fill the seat since it was close to the annual election. However, no petitions were filed to run for the remainder of her term, one year. That spot on the board will now be decided by write in ballots. All the other positions are for the full two year terms.
The election will take place on March 16 from noon to 9 pm at the Anne Bornt Municipal Building on Main Street.
Mr. Ding A Ling Returns
When the owners of the ice cream truck filed for the peddler’s permit last year, it became swirled in controversy. The trustees had several complaints that ranged from how loud the music was, parking too close to intersections, and even being around on the streets the previous Halloween night, something they though was dangerous during the darker evening hours. Deputy Mayor Bob Ryan worked with the vendor to smooth out the issues, and the permit was eventually issued. This year, promising to only operate from April 2 through October 1, and with the same conditions, the peddler’s application was approved. After all, as Mr. Ryan stated when he agreed to look into the matter last year, “who doesn’t love ice cream.” Indeed.
Give The Rescue Squad Its Due
That was the main idea in a letter sent to the board by Bruce Patire, who is Vice Chair of the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad Board of Directors. He made note that the town of Hoosick gives the Squad $15,000 yearly to help defray expenses, while the village does not contribute at all. He also stated in a letter to the board, that fully half of the squad’s calls are within the village limits.
Up until 2010, the village paid for its own 911 service, (dispatching the ambulance) so it was considered a wash. Trustee Craig Pine said he supported the request, and thought the village should “take a complete look at its giving program.” Trustee O’Malley was not in objection, but wondered if some of the money that comes from the town, comes from taxes collected from village property, or not. The Eastwick Press attempted to obtain that information, but in the short time available before deadline, was not able to do so.
No Parade, But You can Still Celebrate
As was reported previously, and in this week’s edition, the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been postponed. But Saturday, March 13, will feature a noon walk around the village, socially distanced and wearing a mask (green of course). The St. Patrick’s Day committee is also asking that from March 1 to 17, people celebrate all things Irish with green lights and shamrocks.
Doing Better, Thank You
This meeting was postponed two weeks because Mayor Allen’s wife Heather contracted COVID-19 in the first week of February. She was forced to quarantine away from her husband and four children, leaving the Mayor precious little time to prepare for the monthly gathering (Zoom for now). He reported the quarantine worked, neither he nor his children came down with the virus, and his wife is getting better, but it is a slow progressive journey. He thanked all for their best wishes, offers of help and prayers for Heather.