Village of Hoosick Falls Board Meeting – VFW Project Approved

by Bea Peterson
At the Hoosick Falls Village meeting on Tuesday, September 15, the Board approved its first project under the recently created Urban Development Law. By a vote of four to one the Board approved Bill Ingwersen’s plans to convert the former VFW building on School St. into one l-bedroom and four studio apartments, three on the first floor and two on the second floor. The agreement includes contingencies, which had previously been agreed upon and now include the removal of the handicapped ramp on the outside of the building. The Mayor told Ingwersen he would have a building permit by the end of the week. Ingwersen has pursued this project for almost two years. Trustee Robert Downing asked if this would bring on a rash of landlords looking to change their properties. He was informed that will not be the case as an Urban Development Project must meet rigid standards through a long and thorough process with the Planning Board, the Zoning Board and the Village Board.
Trustee Ric DiDonato told Ingwersen, “There’s a lot riding on this. I trust you will do the same for us as you have done for your properties in Bennington.” Ingwersen agreed. DiDonato, Downing, Michael Hickey and John Hickey voted for approval. Paul Haynes voted against. Trustee Ann Bornt was absent.
Restore NY Grant
The Board approved signing an agreement between Alex Koks and the Village for Restore NY Grant funds for development of the empty lot on the corner of John and Main Streets. Mayor Monahan said this is a preliminary step. There still needs to be a Public Hearing and State approval for the project to go forward.
Dog Park
Michael Hickey said he has learned that the Park need only be 200 feet from the Village water system, therefore it can be in the site originally selected near the old water plant. He said he had talked with Hoosick Councilman Kevin O’Malley and O’Malley told him the Town may be able to find some fencing for the project. The Board agreed to go forward with the Park, perhaps on a probationary basis. Questions regarding insurance, policing and other  details will be looked into before a Public Hearing on the Park at the next Board Meeting.
Complaints And Concerns
Once again Pam Benkoski and Winnie Restino asked the Board about progress on the Woods Brook situation. The ire of Board members was apparent. They were unhappy with Woods Brook residents who, by email, refused to cooperate with a HUD request for income information. The two women appeared to be unaware of the situation. It was obvious there was miscommunication all around.
The Board has been waiting for a member item grant of $15,000 promised by NYS Senator Roy McDonald to have an engineering study done of the entire Brook. The grant has not been forthcoming. In order to expedite the process, the Board wanted to use Economic Development funds to cover the cost of the study. That money would be paid back when the member item was received. In order to use the Economic Development money, HUD, which oversees the fund, requested an income analysis of the residents living on the Brook. Of all the residents, only one said he would comply. Everyone else refused to submit income information. Therefore, the request for the funds, which could have been as much as $40,000, was denied by HUD. Members of the Board took this as a slap in the face regarding their efforts to resolve the Woods Brook flooding situation. Benkoski and Restino took umbrage to the tone used toward them by the Board and requested an apology stating they have been looking for a solution to the flooding for 12 years. They had every right to speak at a public meeting, said Benkoski. Mayor Monahan apologized for the misunderstanding but said at some point Woods Brook residents have to take a certain amount of responsibility for a solution. They were not helping the situation by refusing to participate in something that would have expedited the engineering study. Benkoski and Restino said there have been no meetings of the Woods Brook group in a while. They would like to set one up. They were told to notify Trustee Mike Hickey when they would hold a meeting and Board members would attend.
Trustee Ric DiDonato said he will be meeting with Senator McDonald on Monday and he will inquire about the status of the grant.
Charles Kovage of upper Cummings St. told the Board when he built his house 20 years ago and connected to the Village water and sewer lines he agreed to pay one and a half times what Village residents paid for water and sewer. That was fine when he was paying $150 a year, but now the cost is over $900, and he believes that is excessive. He also wondered who was responsible for the water and sewer lines. The Mayor said they would check into it and let him know at next month’s meeting. In the meantime they waived the five percent late fee on his water and sewer payment.
Winnie Restino asked when Hall St. was going to be repaved. The Mayor responded that the street might be patched but multiple roads in the Village need resurfacing and they are only being patched. He said they are using CHIPS money to repave state roads.
David Borge of Wilder Ave. asked the Board if it had been determined yet whether the house for sale at 43 Wilder was a two family or three family property and if it had to be owner occupied. Mayor Monahan said the Village Attorney would check into it and he would have an answer by next Wednesday and that realtors would be notified if there was a change to two family as it is now advertised as three family.
Sandra Smith of 41 River Road wondered why her assessment was $41,000 more this year. The Mayor responded that the assessor was not in attendance and he did not have an answer. She also wondered if the curbing was going to be put back in where the new water lines had been installed. The Mayor said he believed it would be reinstalled but that he would check into it.
Cheryl Downing asked if landlords were being notified of complaints under the new nuisance law. She said the people she had complained about are now harassing her, and she is concerned because she has young children under her care during the day. Mayor Monahan said he understood the paperwork is in process and he will check with Trustee Ann Bornt on the status.
She also complained that the trains are going through the Village too fast and wondered where to make a complaint to the railroad. John Conte, who said he works for the railroad, stated the trains do not have to abide by Village speed limits. They have their own limits of 40 miles per hour. With the new faster trains, that limit will go up to 50 miles per hour, he added. Trustee Bob Downing did not believe that to be the case, and he pointed out some of the track is deteriorating and that chances for a train accident would be increased at higher speeds.
Gail McGuire expressed concern about an empty trailer on railroad property that has been there for two years now. The Village is maintaining the property, she said, why can’t the trailer be removed.
Mayor Monahan said the Village has had several issues with the railroad over the years. “They’re awful,” he said, “and we’ve never won.”
McGuire also complained about the train horn blowing, sometimes long and frequent. Conte said the horn blowing is mandated by Federal law.
Concerns were expressed about people living in the Village and retaining Vermont license plates on their vehicles. Mayor Monahan said several vehicles have been ticketed and they will continue to work to eliminate the problem.
Patty Ryan asked what was happening with the property on Griffin Ave. Property owner Timothy Girdis said the tenant would be out by the end of the month. Mayor Monahan said he and Ann Bornt and the Building Inspector have been through the building again with Girdis. The Mayor said the next step is an engineering report to see if the building is structurally sound. Ryan chided Girdis for not having any regard for the neighbors for the past 20 years by letting the structure fall in such a state. “It’s not fair to us,” she told him. He responded that he has been trying since the 1990s to find out if the building must be owner occupied and he has never received an answer. He told Girdis that he was taking the piled brush away a little at a time. Girdis said neighbors were interested in buying the property if he was not going to do anything.
Conte, who lives on Mechanic St., and residents of River Road complained about the large trucks that are speeding on River Road and making wide turns that tear up the corners of homeowners’ properties. They also noted that the trucks do not stop for very long at any factory, and they assume they are only dropping off small or few items. Mayor Monahan said he has spoken to people at WCW and Interface about this. Residents wondered if the tractor trailers could be rerouted. They said they hope there will be a plan in place before winter as they feel this is a dangerous situation and it certainly affects their quality of life.
Conte wondered who is responsible for shoveling the sidewalk in front of a home. He does his, but resents it being plowed in when the small tractor comes through. He prefers it be left alone.
Thank You
Some residents who have had to file nuisance complaints said they feel the Village Police are doing a great job and they would like to relay their thanks to them. Other residents who have had street maintenance issues that they have brought to the Board’s attention thanked the Board for their quick response to their concerns.
After all the complaints were aired early in the meeting, more than three quarters of the people in the crowded meeting room left.
Hydrant Flushing
Hydrants will be flushed in Wards 2 and 3 on October 7 and in Wards 1 and 4 on October 8.
In other business the Board approved:
• The Fraternal Order of Eagles request to NYS Liquor Authority for renewal of their liquor license.
• A request to use Wood Park as starting point for the Karen McGovern Memorial Motorcycle Ride on October 3.
• Village Treasurer Denise McMahon, Assistant Clerk Judy VanDerKar and Village Clerk Marie Bushey attending NY COM Fall Training.
• Building Inspector Dick Weeden attending an Educational Conference from October 19 to 21 at a cost of $265.
• Mayor Monahan and Trustee DiDonato attending the Annual Economic Development meeting on Thursday, October 29, at RPI at a cost of $165.
• The resignation of patrolman Jasen Helwig effective September 1 and appointment of part time police officer Keith Johnson, with six month probation.
• A motion to advertise for an assistant water plant operator.
• Renting a chipper from Troy Sand & Gravel for $3,500 to grind up the Village’s brush piles.