(Note to our readers: The print edition of this story contained a typographical error by the editor in the headline that is unintentionally distressing and offensive. We regret the error and apologize for any distress it may have caused readers.)
By EMILIA TEASDALE
VALATIE–Village Mayor Diane Argyle, speaking at the Village Board meeting last week, discussed anticipated increases in the contract the village has with the Town of Kinderhook Highway Department to maintain village streets.
The village dissolved its own Department of Public Works several years ago and has been paying the town for the services ever since. In the town’s 2018 budget, which the Town Board adopted November 20, the village will pay $117,400, which is up from the $107,400 budgeted in 2017.
Town Supervisor Pat Grattan said at Monday’s special budget meeting that the Town Board estimated cost of the services the town provides to the village is closer to $160,000 or $170,000.
Speaking to the Village Board six days earlier, Mayor Argyle alerted board members that the town was proposing a 10% increase for street maintenance.
In a phone interview after the village meeting, the mayor said that the village would have to start paying the increase in June of 2018, after the village passes its annual budget. The town runs on a calendar year budget–from January through December–but by law the village budget runs from June through May.
The mayor said the village will pay half the amount it owes the town for the street maintenance services in June of 2018 and then the other half in December. So in June, the village will owe the town about $58,000 for the increase, she said.
At the November 14 Village Board meeting the mayor told the board that the state has agreed to clear snow from some of the curbs and gutters on Main Street, and from the sidewalks on the two bridges into the village. She also said that the village should hire a private contractor to mow the three parks in the village and on other village owned land. Currently the town does that work.
Mayor Argyle also told the board that town removed a short dividing wall with trees that was in the middle of the Church Street in front of Barnwell Nursing Home at a cost of $15,000.
Also at the meeting:
- The board passed a motion to issue bonds to pay for the new fire truck. The borrowing is for an amount not to exceed $280,000. The bond resolution must be advertised and the Fire Department will have to wait at least 30 days before the funds to purchase the truck will be available. Representatives from the Fire Department said the truck was ready and waiting. Trustee Dave Williams pointed out that waiting for the bond approval only meant putting off the purchase for a few more weeks
- The mayor said that the village has put another municipal well on line so that the village now meets national standards for water production
- Residents in the village who live on the National Grid power line right-of-way will be receiving a letter about a meeting scheduled at the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building Monday, November 27 at 6:30 p.m. with representatives from the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. The walking and bike trail will go through the village on National Grid land. For more information about the trail, go to www.ahettrail.org or call 518 473-3835.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, December 12 at 7 p.m. in the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building.
To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com
