by Alex Brooks
Supervisor Siegfried Krahforst reported that he, Councilman Duane Goodermote and County Engineer Wayne Bonesteel had a meeting to evaluate proposals from engineers interested in doing the engineering work on the Broken Wheel Bridge. The existing bridge has a span of about 25 feet. The proposals being considered re-design the roadway and proposed spans range from 35 feet to 50 feet.
[private]This review is aimed at choosing the best qualified firm and does not get into pricing. Goodermote said all of the seven firms who submitted proposals seemed to be pretty qualified to do the work, but the group set up a points system to evaluate which proposal they liked best, which resulted in a tie between two firms, and they ultimately chose Greenman Pederson Inc. (GPI). It is a large firm, with over 20 offices all over the east coast. The local offices are on Wolf Road in Albany. County Engineer Wayne Bonesteel said, “I think you’ll be pleased with this company.”
The next step is to ask GPI to submit a letter outlining their fees, which according to Bonesteel is then subject to negotiation between the Town and GPI.
Goodermote shared with the public his frustration upon learning that the bridge could be built for about $500,000 if the Town were to just build the bridge, but because of the rules for how federally aided projects must be done, it is expected to cost $1.2 million. Bonesteel mentioned some of the things that have to be done on a federal project – environmental reviews, a study on endangered species and one on hazardous waste, and the State DOT has to review everything every step of the way. He said he anticipates that the Town will need to take some property, which will involve appraisals, closings and legal work. Wayne Bonesteel remarked that in general the County can build three bridges for the cost of one federally funded bridge. “If we’re using their money, we have to play by their rules,” he concluded.
Supervisor Krahforst said the Town would like to avoid all that red tape but they can’t afford to build the bridge without the federal funding. The Town’s share of the cost is 5% so if it is a $1.2 million project, it will cost the town $60,000.
Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
Jim Bonesteel, from the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, came to speak with the Board because the Alliance had asked the Town to send a letter of support for its grant applications and the Town wanted to know more about what they would be supporting. Bonesteel said one is a capacity building grant aimed at making the organization stronger and the other is a grant to fund the Alliance’s work in being a “catalyst” to engage other groups to think about conserving the forest in this area. He said his organization is working on a regional conservation plan. A draft will be completed in January, and they will seek public input on it and engage with the towns on the plan’s recommendations.
Duane Goodermote asked how they hope to conserve the forest. Bonesteel said one thing they have done for years is hold workshops for landowners on managing their forests and harvesting timber so they can get some revenue to help pay the taxes. Another thing is to hold estate planning workshops on strategies for passing land on to the next generation. Another possibility is to sell development rights under something called the Forest Legacy program. He emphasized that his group is trying to keep land on the tax rolls and maintain it as working forest. He said they respect landowner rights and they are trying to help people understand their options, not telling them what to do.
The Board seemed satisfied, and agreed to support the Alliance’s grant application.
Finishing The Veterans Memorial
Supervisor Krahforst said the Veterans Memorial outside the Veterans Memorial Hall is supposed to have some benches installed and he would like to get that finished up. The project is being done by Terry Lamphere, who has donated a lot of stone and a lot of his time to get it done. But the Veterans Memorial Committee bought some stones which were to be made into the benches some time ago and has been waiting to have the benches installed.
However, Jeanne Ferland said the Veterans Memorial Committee is supposed to prepare the site for the benches and that hasn’t been done, which may be the holdup. In any case, Ferland has been in touch with Lamphere’s daughter Rebekah Hartman, who is working on a design for the bench installation, and Town Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison agreed to help with the site preparation. Everyone is hopeful that the benches can be finished in the spring when the weather warms up again.
PVMCC Agreement
Supervisor Krahforst said it is time for the Town to sign a new “user agreement” for the Veterans Memorial Hall with the PVMCC. In preparation for that, the Town has given the PVMCC an accounting of everything that has been spent on the building over the last two years, and the PVMCC has given the Town a statement of its revenue and expenses over the last two years. They agreed to hold a workshop about a new user agreement at the organizational meeting on January 7.
There was some discussion about the Jones Garage, which is looking increasingly dilapidated as it leans further down the hill. Supervisor Krahforst said Sergeant Doyle of the State Police came out to investigate the Town’s complaint about garbage being dumped over the bank there and his conclusion was that the dumping had taken place too long ago to try to prosecute it. Krahforst said he thought the next step would be to ask the Town Building Inspector to look at the building and see if it should be condemned. He said he would talk with Building Inspector Doug Hull about that.
Water District Loan
Supervisor Krahforst said a closing had been scheduled for December 27 for the refinancing of the Water District’s debt. The new loan will pay off the debt two years earlier than the previous loan, and there will be a savings of over $8,000 (minus the cost of the refinance) in interest.
Library Trustees
The Board approved the appointment of Maureen Seel as a Library Trustee, and the re-appointment of Teresa deWaal as a Library Trustee, both for five year terms.
The Town is still looking for two members for the Town’s Board of Ethics. Volunteers for this position can’t have any financial relationship with the Town. The Town is also looking for a new Planning Board member to replace John McMahon, who does not want to be re-appointed. A Planning Board appointment has a 7 year term.
Transfer Station
Supervisor Krahforst urged Petersburgh residents, when writing a check at the transfer station, to write it to the Town of Petersburgh so that the money comes back to the Town – or, even better, to buy tickets from the Town Clerk and use the tickets to pay transfer station charges.
Agenda 21
There was an item on the agenda called “Agenda 21” which was apparently there at the request of Charlotte Neaton, who wanted the Town Board to go on record as being against a United Nations program called Agenda 21. This is a voluntary sustainable development initiative which U. S. President George H. W. Bush signed onto in 1992, which has lately been the subject of Tea Party rhetoric and conspiracy theories. Neither Supervisor Krahforst nor Neaton were able to explain what it is or why it is objectionable so everybody resolved to go read about it on the internet before taking up the matter again.
Votra Fundraiser
An announcement was made at the meeting that the Spaghetti Supper and Can Auction raised just under $2,000, which was given to the Votra family. Some site work has already begun at the Votra property in preparation for digging the new foundation.[/private]