To The Editor:
I attended both the Hoosick Falls Village and the Hoosick Town Board meetings last week, and I would like to correct some of the information in the articles in the October 14 issue.
I did not hear anyone on the Village Board say they did not know the Green Heights sub-division contract with the Town was expiring, although Supervisor Cipperly did say he was unaware. And I believe it was Greg Laurin, not Morin, who spoke on behalf of the Green Heights residents, chastising Mr. Cipperly for his lack of awareness.
The Village Board members removed the no parking section of the new law because it would force residents to park on the other side of Rogers Avenue, which would be just as dangerous, not because they might park on Main Street.
Your article mentioned that the Town Board received an offer from Bruce Patire with an option to lease rather than buy his property. It should be pointed out that those of us in attendance were not able to see the offer that was distributed, nor were we able to hear any of the conversation among the Board members about it. Indeed, there were often times when Town Board members and the Supervisor whispered to each other or passed notes to and from the woman sitting with them, who I assume to be the Town lawyer although she was not introduced.
Your article about the Town Board meeting did not mention the 30 minutes the Board spent in a circular argument about the resolution on resolutions. Apparently, the intent of the resolution was to make sure that all Board members receive future resolutions by 10 days prior to the meeting. And despite voicing many misgivings about the need for the resolution, all members except Mr. Ryan voted in favor.
I have attended many Village Board meetings over the last several years, ever since I was a Board member in 2005-2006. I have admired our current Mayor’s ability to stay calm and focused, which he was certainly able to do last week despite the vehemence of some speakers about their water bills. I had not been to a Town Board meeting for a while, and I must say I was appalled at the tone, the contentiousness, the lack of respect for the People to Be Heard (Mr. Cipperly keeps his back to them!) and the apparent secrecy surrounding some of the important issues the people have a right to hear.
Margaret O. Casey