Hoosick Town Board Unhappy About Route 7/22 Intersection

by Bea Peterson
Board members expressed their frustration after a meeting with the NYS DOT regarding the roadway changes at the intersection of Routes 7 and 22 that resulted from the construction of the new bridge. The intersection has already been changed once, with some improvement. However, there are times when cars wanting to turn “toward Bennington” will have to be extremely watchful for cars turning “toward Hoosick Falls” and cars continuing on Rt. 7 passing the cars waiting to turn off, etc.
The State believes the intersection is safe. They won’t walk away from the Town on this issue, but until they have some hard fast evidence it is unsafe, they won’t make any change as, so far, all they have is opinion that it is unsafe. How many accidents will it take for the State to change its mind Board members wondered. Since the letter from the State was extremely courteous, Deputy Mayor Mark Surdam suggested they respond in kind, thanking DOT for meeting with them but expressing their disappointment with the State’s decision on the intersection. The Board agreed.
Councilman Louis Schmigel then discussed the street light on Route 7 at the intersection that shines on the grass, not anywhere near the road. National grid wrote that because the pole did not interfere with the roadway construction, it was not moved. However, the road has moved! National grid will move the pole if the Town desires. Then the monthly cost to the Town for that light will increase as well. Schmigel will research further.
Repair To Eagle Bridge Railroad Crossing
Town Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland said the railroad has notified him that they will be closing Eagle Bridge Road to repair the uppermost set of tracks and the rubber mats around it. These tracks are nearest the Post Office and Route 67. The tentative date for repair is 7 am on Sunday, November 14, into Monday, November 15.
Shiland reported that plows and sanders were in use this past Monday, an early start for the snow season.
He also reported that the White Creek Bridge weight limit has been established at 16 tons and the flagging by NYS DOT suspended.
Regarding the pilings used at the Caretakers Bridge, Shiland said recycled steel was used for them; thus they didn’t have the necessary markings required by federal Stimulus guidelines. He said the contractor reported, “We handled this correctly,” and that the Federal officials signed off on that steel. The information must be put in writing and submitted for approval so the Town will not be liable for the imposed $36,000 cost. Deputy Supervisor Mark Surdam will sign the letter.Surdam signs letters to the DOT because Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly is a NYS DOT employee.
Shiland said he had a request from residents on Quarry Hill to lower the speed limit from 55 mph because vehicles from Pittstown and other areas are driving very fast along that road. The Board approved the request to contact the County Engineer regarding a traffic study. The procedure usually takes three to six months and, the Board admitted, the request is usually denied. They are hopeful this will not be the case on Quarry Hill.
STAR Applications
Town Assessor Tony Rice said STAR tax exemptions were mailed out last Friday and already people were coming in with their requests. He hopes they continue to do so.
New Dog Licensing Law
The Board reviewed Local Law #3 regarding dog licensing and the seizure and care of unlicensed dogs and the fees involved. Licensing fees will remain the same, $4.50 for spayed and neutered dogs and $13.50 for unspayed and unneutered dogs. The Board will hold a Public Hearing on the Dog Law at 6:45 pm on December 13. A vote on the Law will take place during the regular meeting that follows and, if it passes, the new Law will take effect January 1, 2011.
The Board approved a request to hold the Youth Football Banquet in the Town Hall on Saturday, December 4, from 5 to 7 pm.
No Representative
One person complained that the budget hearing started late last week and that there was no representative from the North Hoosick Fire Department the night the Fire Department budgets were discussed. Councilman Robert Ryan said that was the first time ever that North Hoosick was not represented. Supervisor Keith Cipperly took responsibility for holding the budget meetings at the Town Hall instead of the Board visiting each fire house. He felt perhaps that had something to do with it. Board members said that they have no say in those budgets. They also pointed out that though the North Hoosick budget increased one percent, the tax rate went down and so homeowners in that district will be paying two cents less per thousand.
Supervisor Cipperly thanked Youth Center Director Aelish Nealon and Hoosick Falls Fire Chief Robert Bornt for a terrific Halloween Parade.
He said that Carmody will hold an Open House in December at the new Used Car lot on Route 7, the site of the former Ford garage.
The Board approved the 2011 budget without change from the final budget workshop.