CANAAN—The Canaan Town Board had its first in-person meeting in over a year on May 10 at Canaan Town Hall on County Route 5. The full board and three local residents attended. Everyone wore a mask.
The board unanimously approved renewal of a vision plan with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and appointed new resident Jillian Kasov, an Albany attorney, as Planning Board clerk.
The summer swim program was approved and will run from July 5 to August 15. The board also approved the request of local artist, Danimarie Jones, to conduct a Summer Art Program at Stoddard Park.
The Canaan Town Board convened at an in-person meeting earlier this month at Town Hall. Photo by Peter Flierl
A request from the Milk & Honey open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous to resume in-person meetings Sunday morning at 9:30 was approved subject to maximum occupancy of 21 persons, no food service, facility cleanup, adherence to mask and social distancing recommendations, plus contact tracing protocols. The group will be using town hall wifi to continue as a hybrid with both in-person and Zoom participation. Milk & Honey has been meeting continuously in Canaan since 1980.
Highway Superintendent Bernie Myer reported on paving projects to be completed on June 7 to 8 and July 19 to 20. Warners Crossing is being reconstructed. All roads in town will have been repaved within a 10-year period, the desired time frame.
The cost of fuel oil for the Highway Department has risen from $2.03 per gallon in January to $2.70 per gallon now and rising. The department uses 50,000 gallons annually.
Summer hours for crews will be Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Supervisor Brenda Adam’s reported from the county Board of Supervisors, noting Covid infection rates are rising. She also said that plans are under way for vaccinations at Town Hall.
A police reform committee has been appointed and a meeting was held with Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-19th) to discuss stimulus funding that could be available.
The town is moving toward in-person meetings along with opening the Town Hall and Stoddard Park for outside events.
The transfer station had 196 tons this year to date versus 221 tons at the same period in 2020, while construction and demolition waste dropped from 71 to 35 tons.
Berkshire Farm has 30 to 35 unaccompanied migrant children, both boys and girls, in the program started last year. Capacity is 60 and additional staff is being sought.