Hoosick Town Board Action – August 2009

by Gary Danforth
The regular monthly Town of Hoosick Board meeting took place this past Monday evening, August 10, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with Supervisor Marilyn Douglas calling the meeting to order at 7 pm. After the Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of last month’s regular monthly meeting and the minutes of a special meeting on July 20 were accepted without having them read aloud. Councilpersons Mark Surdam, Mark Cottrell, Kevin O’Malley and Bob Ryan were present as was Town Clerk Sue Stradinger and Town Attorney Tom Kenney.
The Town Clerk’s report was accepted with two death certificates, two building permits, twenty six dog license renewals, six dog licenses, three marriage licenses, and $ 1,523 in conservation fees collected being of note. The Assessor’s report was in order as was the Court Clerk’s report. The Building Inspector’s report had been submitted with one person withdrawing an appeal and deciding not to follow through with same at this time.
Gradall/Bucket Loader Needed
Bill Shiland, Superintendent of Highways, asked the Board for permission for specification bids for both a new and used gradall/bucket loader for the Town, as the current 23 year old gradall, purchased in 1996 for $65,000, blew a cylinder last week. The Town has spent $5,000 per year on the current machine over the past thirteen years.  Fixing the cylinder would cost $18,000, but the work would not be guaranteed due to the machine’s age. A new machine may cost $250,000, and a used machine may cost up to $160,000. The Town will rent a machine for $7,000 a month, in the meantime, to be able to keep up with road ditching projects. The rental money may be able to be applied toward the purchase price. The specifications, with a lease to own possibility, would be ready for the September meeting. Shiland said a used machine would suit the Town’s purpose.
Henderson “Harry” Van Surdam
From the Supervisor’s report, Town Historian Phil Leonard presented a picture board on former Hoosick resident Henderson “Harry” Van Surdam. Mr. Surdam was born in 1881 and was an 1898 graduate of Walter A. Wood High School. He played the clarinet and went to Wesleyan University where he continued with his music career. While at Wesleyan he took up the new game of football, one which he excelled in as a 138 pound player. He graduated from Wesleyan in 1905 and went on to coach football at Marietta College and what is now known as the University of Texas-El Paso. He may have been the first coach to utilize the forward pass. Surdam was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972 with his plaque adorning the wall just as you enter the high school gymnasium. Surdam was a member of the Touchdown Club of New York which originated the voting for the Heisman Trophy, named after John Heisman, the first president of the club.  Surdam served as president of that club in 1953 and 1954. He was a band leader for many years, and Hoosick Falls honored him with a parade in 1981 on his 100th birthday. Surdam passed away on May 28, 1982.
The summer swimming lesson program and the summer camp program have ended for the season. Douglas said the Barnett Homestead will host a Bennington Battlefield Day on Saturday, August 15, from 11:30 am to 4 pm. On Sunday, August 16, events will take place at the Homestead from 10 am to 3 pm and at the top of the hill at the battlefield at 4 pm.
Million Dollar Bridge
Bids for the Caretaker’s Bridge restoration were opened, and the Town accepted William J. Keller as the low bidder at a cost of $1,071,611.22. A motion was passed to accept the bid and another motion was passed to sign the contract for same. Work is to begin August 11.
The Friends of the Bennington Battlefield had new brochures printed up for same. The Farmer’s Market in Hoosick is ongoing on Fridays. There will be a Taste of Hoosick fund-raiser to benefit the local food pantry at the Hoosick Falls Country Club on September 20. There will be a Pumpkinpalooza on September 26, a sort of Fall Festival for the Town.
Douglas also said the New York Board of Underwriters is not going to be doing electrical inspections after October 16. Douglas said the railroad has reduced assessments, and National Grid has added a surcharge to not only the Town’s electric bill but to homeowners’ bills as well.
Councilperson Surdam had nothing to report but Douglas answered his inquiry about the Town’s fund balance. It is $492,672. Councilperson Cottrell said local farmers had found a local diesel fuel carrier to give the farmers a break in price on both diesel fuel and number two fuel oil as the farmers have started a co-op for buying goods. Councilperson Ryan said Augie and Steve Brownell have offered a tire recycling deal to the Town for $2 per tire, with or without rims. Councilperson O’Malley said a public hearing concerning a possible dog park is occurring at a Village of Hoosick Falls meeting this week. There may be a Walter A. Wood Festival in July, 2010.
The Board passed motions to allow the Youth football teams to use the athletic fields in August from 6 to 8:20 pm and the Hoosick Falls Central School football team to use the athletic field on August 18 and 19 and the Town pool on August 26 and 27. Also, the Town gave permission to allow the organizers and riders of the Hoosic River Ride (bicycle race) access to two Town roads on August 22. A motion was passed to file for grant monies for improvements to the justices’ equipment. The Town waived the 30 day waiting time for transfer of ownership of a liquor license from Linda Fitzsimmons to Walter Fitzsimmons, her son, at the Barbecue Recreation Lanes. Also, the Sheriff’s Department will be patrolling the Town playground area and Tibbits Forrest for illegal activities.
Finally, the Board agreed to move the September regular Board meeting from September 14 to September 21 at 7 pm and the regular October Board meeting from October 12 to October 13 due to the Columbus Day holiday.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.