The Promise Of Faster Internet Speeds
by David Flint
Stephentowners struggling with slow and intermittent internet service may take some cautious hope from Town Councilman Gerry Robinson’s latest report. [private]Robinson, who has taken the lead on the Town Board in looking into and pushing for better broadband, said at the Board meeting on Monday that, “We are making some progress…we are dong well so far.”
Fairpoint Communications has applied for a grant from the NYS Broadband Program Office (BPO) to improve service in rural areas and they expect to hear if they will receive it by the end of this month. If they get the grant, Robinson is confident that Stephentown will be part of their “footprint” where old copper lines to your home will be replaced with fiber optic. All households will get up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) of download speed. People who opt to use 50 Mbps will pay more but the State standard of 25 Mbps is supposed to be provided to everyone at a rate of somewhere around $60 monthly, with some additional discounts for low income families and seniors over 65. If the grant is approved, the upgrades are supposed to be completed by 2018. Robinson noted that more grant money is now available as the BPO just recently received another $170 million of Federal Communications Commission money that was turned down by Verizon.
Robinson reported that the Town Board is also discussing a Certificate of Commitment with Charter Communications to provide cable service in Stephentown. Charter, as part of their agreement with the NYS Public Service Commission relative to their merger with Time Warner, is also required to upgrade internet service in rural areas. Stephentown has never had cable service so that needs to be rectified. The Board is in the process of providing information regarding the number of households and the number of miles of State, County and Town roads. Robinson said it is very likely that all households in Town will be eligible for whatever services Charter offers because all of them are either underserved or not served at all. Charter is required to have a good part of the basic infrastructure upgrades completed by the end of 2018 and all of it done by the year 2020.
Transferring Funds
The Board passed a resolution, tabled from last month because Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt was absent, to transfer funds within accounts to balance and close the books for 2016. Eckhardt explained that doing this at the end of the year, instead of on an ongoing basis throughout the year, better enables the Board to see how well they funded the various items in the budget.
Change of Health Plan
Eckhardt announced that the Town is switching health plans from CDPHP to MVP. The switch is based on discussions with the Board’s insurance broker, Highway Department employees and their union representative. The new program will be a high-deductible program that includes a Health Reimbursement Account controlled by the Town and administered by MVP. A Health Reimbursement Account is an IRS-approved, employer-funded, tax-advantaged employer health benefit plan that reimburses employees for deductibles and out-of-pocket medical expenses. It allows the employer to make contributions to an employee’s account and provide reimbursement for eligible expenses.
Energy Performance
Board Members have met with Anita Henry of Capital Green Building, a building performance consulting firm, to determine what improvements can be made in Town facilities to save money and conserve energy. Eckhardt said they are waiting to see how much of a difference has been made by the change from oil to propane for heating the Town Garage. The Board is considering doing the same at the Town Hall. They will also be looking at insulation in Town buildings and will be applying for grants for energy savings.
Town Board 1954
Eckhardt had said some time ago he would like a historic Stephentown photo to hang in his office. Town Historian Pat Flint presented him with a framed photo of the Town Board in 1954. The Board Members, all dressed finely in suits and ties, were Town Supervisor Clarence Carpenter, Justice of the Peace Gustave Johnson, Town Clerk Orin Meddaugh, Assessors Richard Tyde and Roland Peck, Tax Collector Carter Griswold, Roads Commissioner William Hall and Councilmen Raymond Rose and Albert Silvernail.
The photo may not make it to Eckhardt’s office. Board members seemed to want it hung on the back wall of the meeting room behind the Town bench.
Deposits And Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $335.28 to the Supervisor for the month of January. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $3,215.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $30,210.34 from the General Account and $27,685.03 from the Highway Account.
The Board set its next workshop meeting for Monday, March 13 and its next regular meeting for Monday, March 20, both meetings to begin at 7 pm.
The Comprehensive Plan Committee meets Monday, February 27 at 7 pm. [/private]