Stephentown Works On Regulations For Utilities Crossing Town Roads
by David Flint
Stephentown has up to now had no law or rules in place that regulates utilities or anyone else from boring under or digging a trench right through a town road. [private]If Kinder Morgan wants to run their 30-inch fracked gas pipeline through a half dozen roads, there is nothing that requires them to even notify the Highway Superintendent, nothing that specifies the depth below the surface, no standards they have to meet in repairing the cut. If a new house is built and power and phone lines need to cross the road, the utility company could just come with a backhoe, cut through the road, lay the lines, not notify anyone and patch up the road however they think best.
That’s about to change. The Town Board held a public hearing Monday evening on a proposed permitting process for road openings. While the regulation is not aimed only at Kinder Morgan, it was the threat of the proposed gas pipeline that acted as a wake up call for the Town Board on this issue. Only a few people attended the public hearing and an actual draft of the regulation does not yet exist. Discussion was mostly among Board members about some of the details that need to be addressed.
Among these details are how much to charge for a permit. The Town of Nassau charges $1,000 for a public utility. The thinking in Stephentown is that the fee might be reduced or waived for a private residence. How deep under a road should a line be laid? The standard was said to be three feet. Should cuts be restricted to a certain time of year? Possibly for transmission lines but not practical for new homes needing power and phone. How long is the permit good for? Six months sounds about right but could be extended. Posting a bond to ensure proper repair will normally be required but could be waived in emergencies.
Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt said the Board will submit to the Town’s attorney, Craig Crist, what they have put together so far. A draft will be prepared and the Board expects to vote on a final draft sometime in March or April.
Mass Gatherings
In the regular meeting following this public hearing, the Board passed a resolution calling for another public hearing, this one for public input on a proposed Town law regulating mass gatherings such as the music festivals that have been held at Gardner’s field. The public hearing will be on Monday, March 14 at 7 pm. The Board expects to adopt this law at their regular meeting the following week on March 21, so that it will be in place for the Disc Jam festival scheduled for June 9-12 and FractalFest scheduled for July 8-10.
New Truck
The Board approved the purchase of a new plow truck for the Highway Department. The 2017 International Model 7500 4×4 heavy duty single axle cab and Chassis will be provided by Navistar, Inc. for the price of $118,470.
Also approved was a plow system and hydraulics for the new truck to be provided by Zwack, Inc. for the price of $48,995.
The Town will realize considerable discounts on both purchases by “piggybacking” off an existing County bid, in this instance, an Onondaga County bid for the truck and an Oneida County bid for the plow system and hydraulics.
Delivery of the truck is expected in late August. Tentatively it will be paid out of the General Account in which money has been designated for equipment. The Board will decide later whether to write one check or pay over a two or three-year period. The plow system will be paid out of the Highway Account.
Eckhardt said these purchases are in accord with the Board’s goal to continue to upgrade equipment so the Town doesn’t fall behind and face huge unexpected costs at an inconvenient time.
Transfer Station
Councilman Bill Jennings gave a three-year summary of Transfer Station operations. He reported that the facility had cost the Town roughly $49,000 in 2013, $30,000 in 2014 and $34,000 in 2015. In 2015 revenue was about $10,000 less than the year before but expenses were also about $12,000 less, so it was “a fairly good year.”
The net cost may be up some this year because the Town has been receiving about $5,000 a year as a credit for recycling. Due to the low price of oil, the market for recyclables has plummeted – it’s cheaper to make new plastic than to recycle it – so there will probably be no recycling credit this year, and Jennings does not see that changing anytime soon.
Looking at Stephentown’s recycling rates, Jennings did not see any major trends, though the rate is up by a bit. The Town’s rate is about 20% (recyclables divided by tonnage of everything hauled), which is “not bad.” He said the Town has in the past been better than most other towns in this regard and he believes that is still holding. The tonnage of non-recyclables hauled in 2015 was down by about 20 tons and tonnage of recyclables was down by only a little bit, so the trend is in the right direction.
Bridge Money Received
Eckhardt reported that the Town has received $184,000 from FEMA in compensation for construction of the bridge on Bert Hager Road. Highway Superintendent Aldy Goodermote said it was about $500 less that what he was expecting but he said that all in all, “They treated us very well,” including providing compensation for the time that the Town Highway Department staff put in on the project.
Town Historian
A letter of endorsement has been received from the Historical Society and Pat Flint has been reappointed to the unpaid position of Town Historian. The Historical Society’s endorsement remains in effect “until further notice.”
Tax Collector
Newly elected Tax Collector Mary Grant reported to the Board at their workshop meeting last week on how the tax collection season had progressed. Board members expressed pleasure at having the Tax Collector’s office now located in the Town Hall. Among other things it makes it convenient to have the Assessor’s office right next door. People complaining about their taxes when their assessment is the problem can be quickly sent to the right office. Town Clerk Stephanie Wagar quipped that after paying their taxes and suffering a heart attack they can stop at her office, also right next door, and pick up a death certificate.
Comprehensive Plan Public Workshop
Councilman PJ Roder announced that the Comprehensive Plan Committee will hold a public workshop meeting on Monday, February 22 at 7 pm. The purpose is to go over the survey data, provide an update on where the Committee is in the process, give reports from the four subcommittees and get feedback from the public. Roder said the Committee wants to keep people informed so that there will be no surprises next December when they expect to be close to finishing the Plan which will be presented to the Town Board early next year.
Deposits And Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $188.38 to the Supervisor for the month of January. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $5,342. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund for the month of December 2015 was $1,422.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $17,254.12 from the General Account and $15,575.43 from the Highway Account.
The Board set a public hearing on the Mass Gatherings Law for Monday, March 14 at 7 pm, to be followed by their monthly workshop meeting, and their next regular meeting for Monday, March 21 at 7 pm. [/private]