by David Flint
The Stephentown Town Board adopted a budget for 2012 on Monday evening that calls for exactly a 2% increase in the tax levy. The budget includes projected expenditures of $583,345 from the General Fund, $663,645 from the Highway Fund and $137,000 from the Fire District, for a total of $1,383,990. This is a decrease in spending of close to 1% from the current year’s budget. With revenue expected to be down by about $26,000, and $20,000 to be taken from the unexpended fund balance, the tax levy comes to $795,990, a 2% increase. As Councilman Bill Jennings put it at a budget hearing the week before, the Board could easily override the State’s new 2% tax cap with a simple majority Board vote, but they felt they should make every effort to stay within the spirit of the law.
State Retirement and health insurance costs continue to rise. The Board budgeted $38,500 for State Retirement, a 26% increase, and $56,200 for health insurance, a 7% increase.
Town Board members are again accepting no pay increase. Other salaries and pay will generally go up by 2%. The exceptions are the Code Enforcement Officer who took an unintended cut a while back which is being corrected now with a 3.7% raise and the Highway Superintendent and employees who, in accord with their contract, get 3%. The Library, which took a 4.9% cut in funding last year, will receive a 4.9% increase in funding for 2012. Funding for the Historical Society, Seniors and Veterans remains the same at $5,850, $11,700 and $1,350 respectively. The Youth Commission’s funding is being reduced by $5,000 as the Board expects to save money in the swim program next year by combining with Berlin and using the Town of Hoosick’s swimming pool.
Financial Report Card
Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt reported that the Office of the State Comptroller has informed him that they will soon be doing an audit of Town finances. These audits, according to the Comptroller’s Office, “help ensure that programs achieve their established goals, funds are used efficiently, and assets are adequately protected against fraud, waste and abuse.” Eckhardt said he believed it has been at least ten years since the Town has had such an audit, and he viewed it as a good opportunity to receive “a report card” on how the Town is doing and whether it is doing it correctly and according to procedure. It will, however, be a lot of work for the Supervisor, the Board and especially for the Supervisor’s Bookkeeper.
Beacon Power
Eckhardt said he had received a letter from Hugh and Louise Meyers regarding the Beacon Power plant on Grange Hall Road. They asked if he had contacted the company regarding the flywheel failure on October 13 that caused a boom that shook their house on the other side of Route 22. They also complained about continuing noise from the plant that in their estimation is louder than they were told it would be. Eckhardt said he had contacted the company and was sent a press release about the flywheel incident.
Sam and Marcia Sowycz, who live across Grange Hall Road from the plant, spoke up adding their complaint that the constant noise sounds like a tractor-trailer truck and that there are also strange noises at night sounding like a metal pipe dropped on concrete. They also wondered how the recent bankruptcy of the company would affect upkeep and maintenance of the plant. Mr. Sowycz noted that the company had said the two flywheels that failed were of a group of eight that were different from the others. He asked if Eckhardt knew whether the other six in that group have been replaced or could they expect more “explosions” from the “defective” flywheels. Eckhardt said he would look into these concerns and “find out what we can.”
Advertising For Positions
The Board passed resolutions authorizing the Town Clerk to advertise for all the appointed positions that are expiring or vacant at the end of the year. Resumes and letters of interest are due to the Town Clerk by Friday, December 16.
Snowplowing And Shoveling
The Board opened the one bid that was received for snowplowing at the Transfer Station and snowplowing and shoveling and salting of sidewalks at the Town Hall whenever the snowfall amounts to four inches or more, or when requested. The bid, from Brian Hespelein, asked $125 for each plowing for the Transfer Station and $60 for the Town Hall. The Board accepted the bid.
Road Materials
The Board authorized the Town Clerk to advertise for bids for materials for Town road work. Bid specs will be available at the Clerk’s Office beginning Friday, November 25. Bids are due by December 16.
Collective Bargaining Agreement
The Board passed a resolution noting that the Highway employees have updated their United Public Service Employees Union collective bargaining agreement contract and authorizing the Town Supervisor to sign the contract. Eckhardt said the contract requires new employees to contribute more for their health insurance but also adds Columbus Day as a holiday.
Plow Truck Replaced
The Board held a special meeting on October 31 to open bids for a used plow truck to replace the 1989 truck that they had deemed to be not worth repairing. The one bid received, from Delurey Sales & Service for a 2000 IH 2574 plow truck in the amount of $33,895, was accepted by the Board. Highway Superintendent Aldie Goodermote now asked whether the Board wanted to sell the old truck by putting it out to bid. The Board’s preference was to have Goodermote place it on his property in North Stephentown with a for sale sign. Goodermote thought the value was about $5,000.
Deposits & Spending
The Town Clerk reported she had turned over the sum of $1,225.23 to the Supervisor for the month of October. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $2,320. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $8,272.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $56,564.15 from the General Account and $74,238.05 from the Highway Account.
The Board set their next regular meeting for Monday, December 21, at 7 pm.