by Bea Peterson
At the Hoosick Town Board meeting on Monday, February 9, Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland said “right now we have no salt stockpile. The last salt went down last night (Sunday).” Shiland said there is a shortage of salt everywhere. “There are more orders than they can fill,” he added. He noted suppliers will take care of the State and the County first, “but we’re the little fish,” implying the Town’s request for salt will be way down the list. Shiland said his crew had been mixing the salt with sand to stretch it out.
[private]Truck Damaged
Shiland said that during the Monday, February 2, snowstorm the 1998 tandem truck was backed into a ditch on Ford Road. The box body was damaged beyond repair and the truck frame may be bent. Shiland is waiting for the insurance adjuster to look at it before any decision to repair a vehicle that old is made. This truck was part of the fleet used to keep the roads clear throughout the winter.
Shiland and Surdam have researched taking advantage of the State’s Piggy Back law to purchase the new truck recently put out for bid. The vehicle could, perhaps, be purchased at a lower previously approved price.
Bids
The Board accepted bids from Peckham Industries for winter sand at $13,400 for 2,000 tons or $6.75 per ton, #2 fuel oil from Doug’s Oil for $2.109 a gallon and diesel fuel from Doug’s Oil at $2.125 a gallon. The Board also approved a bid of $5,900 from Hoosick Sand and Gravel to clean up the property at 26 Brenenstuhl Road. These were the only bids received.
Tax Exemption Deadline
Town Assessor Tony Rice said there are only nine working days left for people to apply for a tax exemption before the March 1 deadline. He said homeowners can mail the application information in to him, he will make a copy of it and then return the information to them. So far, he said, only 45 of the 205 households eligible for the exemption have turned in applications.
Internet Survey Important
Tom Vallone, a volunteer in Hoosick Rising, addressed the Board regarding better internet service for residents outside the Village. He described a couple of options that might be available. Supervisor Mark Surdam pointed out that a current mapping of the Town indicates there is adequate coverage. People who live in the area know that isn’t true. Vallone requested, and received permission from the Board, to place a survey on the Town’s website under Hoosick Rising. Filling out the survey will help correct the current internet mapping of the area. Vallone further suggested a survey flyer be sent to residents and that data be compiled and submitted for internet mapping and then the Town petition for grant money to improve internet service in Hoosick. The Town’s input may be to allow access to high points for line of sight towers for improved internet, said Vallone. Surdam said this idea is very preliminary. However, such internet access is important for economic development, he added. The Board will decide at the March meeting about sending out a survey.
Great Winter For Skating
Rink Director Kaila Matatt’s written report stated that attendance reached a new season high this past weekend, especially with the free skating sponsored by the First Baptist Church and the Girl Scouts. So far they have held two hockey tournaments at the Rink and two more are scheduled. The Kiwanis Club is sponsoring free skating from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, February 14.
The Hoosick Friends of Skating completed the final week of lessons on Saturday. The Board expressed its appreciation to the Friends for this great program.
Thanks to an anonymous donation of $250, a donation from the Eagles Club of $200 and another donation of $100 from Ann Baker, nine pair of hockey skates were purchased. The Board accepted the donations and adjusted the budget accordingly.
The Town is currently accepting applications for Lifeguards for the coming summer. A meeting with the Kiwanis Club to discuss plans for the Castle Playground has been cancelled for this week and will be rescheduled.
Building Inspector
Supervisor Surdam said that Ed King has announced this is the last year he will serve as the Town of Hoosick Building Inspector. The Board approved a motion to begin advertising for a new Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer because there is mandatory training required and they would like to see it underway before the person begins the job. The part time position requires three to four hours per day, three to four days a week. The candidate must be able to work independently and be available for emergencies. Councilman Bruce Patire said it is important for the Building Inspector to have set days and hours for people to see him in his office.
Supervisor Surdam reported attending several meetings during the month. His report appears under the February Board meeting agenda on the Town’s website.
Deputy Supervisor Wysocki reported he attended a joint meeting of the Zoning and Planning Boards with Surdam. He also noted that the television show Building Wild will begin its second season in March. One of the properties featured belongs to Wysocki.
Surdam added that he had heard “Tuffy” Bakaitis will appear on morning television on February 23 and 24.
Councilman Bruce Patire thanked everyone for their condolences at the recent loss on his mother and mother-in-law.
The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of Town Justice Dick Whalen who passed away on January 26. Patire added, “he was one of the nicest human beings I ever met.”
Councilman Dave Sutton said the community has lost many important quality people in the last year. “We should all strive to honor them by taking care of each other and doing our best for all people in our community in their memory,” he said.
Sutton said he had been asked, as a businessman and school wrestling enthusiast, to put his logo on a four foot by four foot wresting mat at the Section II Wrestling Tournament in Glens Falls this weekend. Instead he had the Town’s logo put on the mat.
Councilwoman Jenn Hyde took the minutes as Town Clerk Sue Stradinger was unable to attend the meeting.
Pool
Supervisor Surdam said he had signed the Bond Anticipation Note with Pioneer Savings Bank for $500,000 for the Pool Rehab Project. Interest is 1.125% per annum, payable at maturity and matures on January 26, 2016, with options to renew.
Surdam will be meeting at some point with Regional Grant Administrator Danielle Dwyer regarding the Grant for the pool pump house. He expects the funding will not be available as quickly as he would like.
Woods Brook
The Board approved sharing the cost with the Village of Hoosick Falls for Barton & Loguidice Engineering to write a grant application to do an in-depth study of Woods Brook. The Town’s portion is $2,250.
Zoning Board Chairman
The Board approved continuing the appointment of Jim Hoag as Chairman of the Zoning Board, retroactive to April 1, 2014. The Board inadvertently missed doing so last April. His appointment runs to April 2019. Town Attorney William Ryan will check to see if any issues before the Board during that time were a split decision requiring Hoag’s vote or if any documents need to be clarified on the same basis.
The Board then went into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue at the Rink. Surdam advised those attending the meeting that no decision would result from this session.[/private]