Dog Law Still Being Revised After Input From Public
by David Flint
The Stephentown Town Board’s June 12 public hearing on revisions to the Town’s 1993 Dog Control Law generated a lot of discussion but no consensus, according to Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt.[Private] So Councilman Gerry Robinson and the Town’s attorney, Craig Crist, have gone back to the drawing boards. They expect to have a new set of revisions ready shortly. The Board on June 19 set another public hearing for 7 pm on July 10.
The focus is on the section of State law that has to do with animal abuse cases. Eckhardt said the Board wants to clarify the local law so that the Town doesn’t get stuck holding the bag in dog abuse cases. The Board at this meeting approved the payment of a little over $3,000 in dog boarding fees but is holding up and may contest paying additional bills totaling $1,440.
Robinson said that the new revisions will not depart far from the initial draft. The 1993 law will be updated to embrace the State law which includes several options for dealing with dog abuse cases. The important thing is, Robinson said, that a set of clear policies and procedures be in place that define the role and responsibilities of the Dog Control Officer to make sure that the provisions in State law are followed so that the Town doesn’t get involved in court situations in which the Town ends up paying the bill.
Appointment And Vacancies
The Board appointed Rebecca Hartnett as Second Deputy Town Clerk to help out in the absence of the current Deputy Clerk.
The Town Clerk was authorized to advertise for someone to serve on the Planning Board following the resignation of James Ayling. The remainder of the term runs to December 31, 2019. Letters of interest and resumes should be received at the Town Clerk’s Office by July 14.
The Town Clerk was authorized to advertise also for a second substitute Attendant at the Transfer Station. Letters of interest and resumes also due on July 14.
Increase In Sales Tax Distribution
Eckhardt reported that the Sales Tax distribution has been received from the County in the amount of $63,532. This is $1,690 more than the Town received for the first quarter of 2016.
Celebrate Stephentown
Library Board President Scott Menhinick reported that planning for the Town celebration scheduled for August 18-20 is going well. Over 20 organizations are set to participate in some fashion. The latest groups indicating they will join in the celebration include the Rensselaer Land Trust, the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, Friends of Cherry Plain State Park and the Indivisible Stephentown organization. The Fire Department will hold an open house at the Fire Station. More than 20 other events will be going on. The next planning meeting will be held on July 5
Summer Camp
Menhinick reported too that plans for Youth Summer Camp are also going well. Registrations are due by June 30. The swim program will return this year. The venue for that will be in Pittsfield and responsibility for transportation will be on the parents.
Fairpoint Acquisition
Robinson presented a statement of the Town’s concerns at a public hearing on May 31 held by the NYS Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding the transfer of telephone, broadband and cable assets of Fairpoint Communications to Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. He said that about 100 people attended and most of the stated concerns were similar to Stephentown’s. Everyone wanted to make sure that with the transfer of ownership the commitments, terms and conditions attached to grant money received from the Federal Communications and the NYS Broadband Program Office (BPO) will remain in place. They wanted the PSC to know that they still expect improvements to be made in the “last mile” of connection by the end of 2018, as specified in the BPO grant requirements.
Robinson believes that they made their case clear and that in the next year and a half we will see a more robust and stable infrastructure for DSL and telephone land lines.
Deposits And Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $1,245.35 to the Supervisor for the month of May. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town was $2,236. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $6,819.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $29,998.22 from the General Account and $37,997.38 from the Highway Account.
The Board set its next workshop meeting for Monday, July 10 to be preceded by a public hearing on the proposed revision to the Dog Control Law and its next regular meeting for Monday, July 17, both meetings to begin at 7 pm. [/Private]