More Concerns Voiced Over Grafton’s Assessor
By Doug La Rocque
The Grafton Town Board opened its meeting Monday night, March 12, with a report from the town’s assessor David Galarneau, that requested the Board adopt a resolution approving the scheduled 2019 full value re-assessment. Board member Lisa Dooley expressed her concern about this, stating he was hired to do the re-assessment four years ago. It is now slated to be done in the final year of his contract, and she feels there is no guarantee that he will actually complete it. She also said that in her conversations with the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services (ORPTS), the only thing a resolution would do is possibly put the town in line for a small amount of state aid. She indicated ORPTS told her they would help the town with technical issues, with or without a resolution. The rest of the Board agreed with her and did not take up the requested action.
Three months ago, when the Assessor made the presentation to the Board about the re-assessment, he also offered the option of simply taking all the town’s assessed values to 100 percent and dealing with any problems it might create afterward. Ms. Dooley says ORPTS told her that option is frowned upon by the state. During the public comment portion of the meeting, town resident Pat Busch also expressed her concerns about Mr. Garlarneau, and in particular his 2015 reassessment of land values in the town. That resulted in more than 100 appeals to the Board of Assessment review and several lawsuits that Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum said cost the town “a lot of money in legal fees.”
Keeping the Books
Up To Date
Ms. Dooley recently attended a New York State Association of Towns conference concerning bookkeeping and brought up the subject of budget line transfers and how frequently they are made. Presently, the town makes the adjustments at the end of the year, but Ms. Dooley said the state Comptroller’s Office has indicated monthly would be preferable. Other members of the Board wondered about the necessity of this and leaned toward perhaps making the transfers on a six month basis.
A Rough March on the Highway Department
As the highway crews prepare for the third storm in less than two weeks, Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck says all vehicles are ready to battle the elements once again. He did indicate that the softness of the town’s dirt roads caused four trucks to get stuck, one for two days because of an inability to acquire the services of a large tow vehicle due to storm related backlogs. The town used a large log skidder to eventually pull the vehicle out. The department was complimented by the aforementioned Ms. Busch for their work in clearing roads, as well as by Councilman Eric Buckley.
Other Business
Supervisor Gundrum said Spectrum Cable is working to expand service in areas of the town not wired during the initial installation and again urged any residents that would like cable, but have not yet been contacted by Spectrum or have had troubles requesting service, to please call the Town Hall at 518-279-3565. Grafton Rescue Squad Captain Joe Allian reported 11 calls during February, four of which they were first responders. Ms. Gundrum also told Mr. Allain the town would have the check to pay for the purchase of the new ambulance ready for pickup the next day.
Dog Control Officer Vicky Burdick reported two calls last month, both involving the same animal. She said the owner was issued a warning about keeping his dog on his property. Ms. Burdick also has a new contact number, 518-279-9609. She also urged residents to be aware of a black car that may be scouting out residences in the town, parking in driveways with the excuse that they are using a GPS to find their way.
Leann Sweet spoke for the Grafton Community Library about its planned programs for the spring. A highlight is a pre-diabetes program that is being undertaken in conjunction with the Everett Wagar Senior Center. More information about that, along with their other programs, are available on the library’s website. The Board also established a $500 petty cash fund for the Youth Commission and received a check from Town Clerk Burdick for $1,592.50 for February revenues from her office. The Board adjourned in memory of Cambridge-Greenwich Police Chief George Bell who passed away of a heart attack the previous evening.