by Bea Peterson
At the close of the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday, December 10, the Board went into executive session to review a lease agreement with HAYC3 (the Hoosick Armory and Youth Center Community Coalition). At the conclusion of the session the Board tabled the agreement until they could meet with HAYC3 again.
[private]Schmigel Appointed
A letter of resignation from Councilman Louis Schmigel was read at the meeting. The resignation was effective December 8. Supervisor Keith Cipperly requested approval of a resolution to appoint Schmigel as Highway Superintendent, effective through December 31. The Board approved the appointment.
Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland retired in August leaving before his elected term of office was complete. Early in 2012 Shiland received Board approval to appoint Charles Thurber Deputy Superintendent and the Board appointed him acting Superintendent after Shiland’s retirement. In November Schmigel was elected to complete Shiland’s term of office. Therefore, Schmigel will be the appointed Superintendent for one month, and then he will be the elected Superintendent for one year, starting January 1, 2013. Cipperly teased that now Schmigel was going to love being his own personal weatherman.
Pool Problems
At the request of the Town Board, NYS Parks retiree Tom Margiotta checked out the Town Pool. Margiotta believes there is a leak, and his guess is it is at the bottom of the drain. He said it is important the Town hire a pool expert to check out the leaks. He added that it is essential that water be put back into the pool to keep the liner stable before it gets too cold. Regarding the cost of repairing/upgrading the pool Margiotta said the Town of Hoosick is no different from many other Towns. “Everybody is in the same boat.” However, he said he doesn’t see it costing a million dollars to replace the pool.
At last month’s meeting Margiotta offered to assist the Town in any way he could. Evidently the Board took him up on his offer.
Margiotta also suggested the Board consider using a vending machine service at the pool instead of the concession stand. Councilman Bruce Patire said the idea certainly would be open for discussion.
The Board approved the bid from Dailey’s for 2,000 tons of gravel at $7.80 a ton picked up and $11.50 a ton delivered.
The Board approved a resolution appointing Bill Hanselman to the Planning Board for 2012 to 2014. He will be filling the term of Ric Ferraninni who resigned from the Board.
Town Historian Phil Leonard announced the he “was done with the (Veterans) Wall!” He added that in the first month of the Miller Museum membership drive there has been a 40 percent return in membership renewals. “I think they like our newsletter,” he said.
Cheney Library
This month Leonard brought a history board about the Cheney Library. He told the Board that Charles A. Cheney was one of the most prominent entrepreneurs of Hoosick Falls during its heyday. A trained bookkeeper, Cheney first worked for Thayer, Hawks and Wilcox who operated a general merchandise store in Hoosick Falls. He married Mary Frances Ball in 1862. During the Civil War Cheney’s father-in-law, Judge Ball, was a Paymaster in the U.S. Army located in Washington, D.C., and Cheney became a clerk in the Paymaster’s office and moved to Washington. After the War, he became a bookkeeper at the Walter A. Wood Company. Over the years he became Head Bookkeeper, Chief Auditor and finally a Director of the Company. He also served as Wood’s confidential personal accountant and was named an executor of Wood’s estate. At various times Cheney served as Vice President of the First National Bank, President of the Peoples National Bank and Director and Vice President of the Permanent Savings and Loan Association.
In 1906, he petitioned the State of New York Education Department for a Charter for a Village of Hoosick Falls Library. The Library opened in 1906 and was located on the second floor of the Municipal Building. Cheney served as Treasurer and was a Trustee of the Library Association.
On October 26, 1912, Cheney was struck by an automobile during a rain storm. He died from the injuries. In his will Cheney bequeathed $50,000 for the construction of a library. Leonard said the trustees appointed to see that the library was built argued for 10 years before the building was completed. The Library officially opened in 1923.
Thanks Galore
During reports from the councilmen, Patire thanked Town Attorney Debra Young for so capably dealing with “five A-type personalities.” He thanked Schmigel for the fine job he did as a Board member and extended a heartfelt thank you to Leonard for all the work he did on the Veterans Wall. Councilman Jeff Wysocki also extended his thanks to Young and Schmigel, as did Councilman Mark Surdam.
In turn Young told the Board it had been a pleasure to work for the Town and she looked forward to continuing to serve them as a Rensselaer County Court Judge. She was elected to the ten year position in November.
Wysocki reported that the November 29 Farmland Protection meeting went well. He said nine area farmers attended.
Surdam said he had sent letters to various youth programs that use the Town pool asking for letters of support from them regarding the future of the pool.
The Board approved a resolution requesting the Governor and the NYS DOT see that signs were erected coming into Town recognizing the NYS championship girls soccer team and football team.
Supervisor Cipperly thanked HAYC3 for the tree lighting, parade and Santa visit. He also thanked the Fire Department and the Police Department for their support of the event.
Nick Downing, Julia Baker and Molly Hyde were appointed to work at the Skating Rink.
Town Clerk Sue Stradinger reported collecting $13,059 for Conservation licenses, $430 for 43 death certificates and $1,510 for seven building permits plus several other fees for a total of $15,241.75. Of that amount she turned $2,559.68 over to the Town Supervisor.
Stradinger also read a letter from HACA, the Hoosick Area Church Association, thanking the Town for its $500 donation. In the letter Dianne Hosterman stated the food closet is serving over 100 families a month and during Thanksgiving and Christmas will distribute over 350 holiday baskets of food and gifts.
Upcoming Meetings
The Town’s organizational meeting will be held at 6:30 pm on Monday, January 14, followed by the regular monthly meeting.
The Board will conduct the Court audit at 7 pm on Wednesday, January 2.[/private]