Reporting from Monday, May 5, 2008 :

Appointment of PB Members

From the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Councilperson Edwards said that PB Chair Cindy Lu Hilscher’s resignation required appointment of another PB member to fill the remainder of her term.  The TC agreed that this position should be advertised with a May 23 cutoff date for letters of interest.  Ms. Edwards then said that since the letters of interest in the PB position from which Martha Meier had resigned all came from people who had been interviewed several times, she moved that the position be filled by Joyce Thompson; Councilperson LaSalvia seconded.  Councilpersons Skoda and Young voted nay.  Supervisor Young asked Councilperson Skoda if he had a motion he would like to make.  He then nominated Erik Tyree for the position and Supervisor Young seconded.  Ms. Edwards and Mr. LaSalvia voted nay, with Ms. Edwards expressing the view that it would not be proper to appoint Mr. Tyree since a member of his household is already serving on the ZBA.  Councilperson Sammons was absent.  When no applicant received the required 3 votes, Supervisor Young said a new advertisement would be placed for both positions.

Website Posting of Local Assessment Rolls

From the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Councilperson Edwards noted that the County Real Property Tax Service office had sent a letter asking the town to provide its July 1, 2008, final assessment roll for posting on their website and that she thought this was something the town should do.  Town Clerk Cheryl Rogers reported that the tax bills were already available on the County website.  Supervisor Young said there was some “controversy” about this; that “not everyone wants their tax bills published”; she further said that although it is “public information”, there should still be some “privacy”.  Ms. Edwards then reported that she had left a message for the town’s assessment consultant, GAR Associates, about posting the tentative 2008 assessment roll on the town’s own website, as had been done in 2007, but she hadn’t heard back from them yet.

Highway Department Salt Shed

From the May 5 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Councilperson LaSalvia asked about timing requirements in connection with correspondence from Assemblyman Peter Lopez (R, I, C-108) regarding a new $3,000 “member item” added to last year’s $4,000 “member item” for the salt shed.  Supervisor Young said the timeline would be met and that Highway Superintendent Ed Waldron wanted to meet with the TC’s Highway Committee.

Reporting from Tuesday, April 29, 2008 :

Appointment of PB Alternate Member

From the April 29 Special Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Four TC members (Councilperson Edwards was absent) unanimously appointed Erik Tyree and then agreed that candidates for the open full member position resulting from the resignation of Vice Chair Martha Meier would be interviewed on May 16.  When asked why a special meeting had been called to appoint an alternate when a regular town board meeting was set for only a few days later (at which Ms. Edwards would be present) Supervisor Young said that she “wanted it done” and had wanted all of the board members to be present but “it didn’t work out.”

Reporting from Monday, April 7, 2008 :

Taghkanic Creek

From the April 7 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Concern was expressed by audience member Moyra Botta about Hudson draining the creek dry below the city’s New Forge water supply intake point during the hot summer months.  Dan and Mary Udell, audience members who have said they have problems with their own well as a result, reported that meetings had been held between DEC and Hudson.  The Udells said it’s a gravity-based system which can only be slowed by installation of a valve at the reservoir to control the flow.  Councilperson LaSalvia, the town’s representative on the county’s Environmental Management Committee, reported that the committee had recently decided to look into this issue.  The town attorney said he would contact Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera.

Wilzig Litigation Status

From the April 7 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Town Attorney Rob Fitzsimmons and the chair of the ZBA reported they had received no new information from the attorneys representing the town on these matters. The town attorney will contact them to request updates.

Taghkanic Fire Company

From the April 7 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

TC unanimously endorsed the company’s applying for federal 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status (it’s currently NYS tax exempt); this will allow donors to deduct their contributions to the fire company on their federal income tax returns.

Draft Records Retention and Access Policy

From the April 7 Regular Meeting of the Town Council (TC)

Councilperson Edwards said these policies related to two separate laws and should be covered by separate policies--an access policy in compliance with the NYS Freedom of Information Law, and a retention policy incorporating the requirements of the NYS Arts & Cultural Affairs Law, including the required adoption of a disposition schedule.  The town attorney said he would split the two policies and distribute revised drafts together with additional information.  The matter was tabled.