by Alex Brooks
After a lengthy executive session, the Grafton Town Board came to an agreement with Rensselaer County on a renewal of the lease of the Grafton Senior Center. The terms are very different from the previous lease, which has been in effect for the first ten years of the building’s existence. [private] The previous lease, which expires at the end of April, 2015, gave Rensselaer County use of the building as a Senior Center for $1 per year and had the County paying most of the expenses of the building. The new lease, effective May 1, has the County pay $1500 per month rent, plus $213.45 per month towards heat, to rent the building for use as a senior center. The County will pay for refuse removal, janitorial service, and pest control. All other expenses, utilities, and maintenance will be paid by the Town as property owner.
The lease is for six years, but either party has the right to terminate the lease prior to its conclusion by giving six months notice. Payments under the lease increase by 3% a year.
The Grafton Town Board unanimously approved the lease 4-0. Councilpersons Messenger, Gundrum and Crandall voted in favor, as did Supervisor Higgins. Councilman Ungaro was not present.
Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo said the lease is patterned after a lease the County has with the City of Rensselaer. He also noted that the lease is subject to a permissive referendum, which means if 5% of the citizens petition to hold a vote on, it would have to be approved by a majority vote.
The new lease must be approved by the County Legislature. Deputy County Executive Chris Meyer, who attended the Town Board meeting and participated in the final negotiations in the executive session, said “the lease resolution will be going in front of the County Legislature at their May meeting.”
Grafton Trail Riders
The Grafton Trail Riders asked, as they do every year, for a variance from the Town’s prohibition of camping in travel trailers. The Town granted the variance, with several conditions. When members of the Trail Riders Club want to camp on the property, they must notify the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) in advance, and allow him to visit the site when he deems it necessary. If the CEO determines that the Club is not in compliance with the provisions of the resolution granting the variance, he may immediately revoke the variance. The Club’s scheduled events are subject to the limitations prescribed in State law governing campgrounds, which is specifically referenced in the resolution. The variance does not, as it has in previous years, mention any particular dates when camping is allowed. It also contains provisions requiring regular pumping of the sewage tank on the property and forwarding those records to the Town, and requiring testing of the water on the property.
Clerk Software
Assistant Town Clerk Cathy Goyer asked the Board for permission to buy software designed for use by Town Clerks, which she believes will allow a great improvement in the quality and efficiency of the Town Clerk’s office. The software she is looking at she called “BAS.” She said many of the neighboring towns, such as Brunswick, Berlin, and Stephentown, are using this software. She said the cost is $1,000 for an inital license fee, then $480 for the first year and $420 per year after that. Ingrid Gundrum asked Goyer if this is the only company offering Town Clerk software. Goyer said she wasn’t sure what other companies might be offering similar software. Barbara Messenger said she thinks there are other vendors offering Town Clerk software, and urged Goyer to investigate the alternatives. Goyer said she will look into it, but pointed out that if she gets the same software that neighboring towns are already using, she could call neighboring clerks for help when she is learning to use the software. Supervisor Higgins said, “We will need a minimum of three quotes before we can act on this.”
Ingrid Gundrum then asked about the Clerk’s office getting set up to issue DEC licenses. Goyer said what’s needed is a separate computer to handle the DEC licensing process. She would also need to get training on how to operate the DEC licensing system. Gundrum said, “I would like to see us get in compliance as soon as possible.”
Civility Petition
The Town Board has received a petition signed by 53 residents asking them to adopt a policy of civility between town officials. It asks simply that they apply to their own communications with each other the same standard that they ask of people speaking at public comment. The public comment directive says, “Please refrain from any personal attacks, name calling or derogatory public comments toward individuals.”
Ingrid Gundrum, who signed the petition, said she thought it was a “no-brainer” to adopt such a policy. The Board passed it unanimously.
Board of Assessment Review
The Board acted to fill two vacancies on the Board of Assessment Review. Gerald “Mike” Smith was nominated for a full five year term, and Pat Ivory to complete an unexpired term with four years left on it. The Board approved both unanimously.
Highway
Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck said the Cat grader needs a lot of repair and he asked for permission to seek a bid for a used grader to replace it. The Board agreed to seek bids. In the meanwhile, Hasbrouck has rented a grader from Clark East, which he said “arrived today.”
Hasbrouck will also be seeking bids to put a new roof on the highway garage, which is leaking. He said he will get three quotes to be presented to the Board at next month’s meeting.
Hasbrouck said the activism in Albany in which he has been a leader has paid off in this year’s state budget. Money available to help local municipalities with roads and bridges has been significantly increased. In particular, $50 million dollars has been allocated for “extreme winter recovery,” and he estimated that the Town of Grafton share of this money will be $112,000.
Supervisor Higgins thanked Hasbrouck for helping to repair the Post Office when issues arose about the front door, the steps, and one of the ramps. Higgins also said he had good news for the Town – Time Warner Cable is in town pulling cable and so is well on its way to providing cable service.
In other good news for the Town, this was the first meeting in recent memory in which every resolution offered was passed by a unanimous vote, and the Board seemed to be working together to get things done.[/private]