Town Tidbits

March 2006

The past month has been a busy one.  With a new Board and Committees assignments in place, we can get down to business.   We have a lot of work ahead of us, with more issues cropping up every day.  We will be sorting our priorities and start addressing the issues one at a time.

 Councilman Bob Ellsworth and I have decided that since one of our main goals is to keep the public more informed about Town business, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for both of us to take the time to put a separate article into the Newsletter each month.  Bob has been attending training and is trying to learn the Town business.  He has found that his new council position requires a great deal of extra time and he does have his business to run as well.  Neither one of us want to bore you with duplicate information, therefore, Bob doesn’t feel at this time that he needs to continue with his “Councilman’s Corner”.   I encourage his input and if he ever wants to add anything for the newsletter, he (or any other councilman) is welcome to add to the “Town Tidbits”. 

Several of the members of the various boards have attended training in the past month.  Six members and two prospective members of the Planning, Zoning & Town Boards attended a Planning and Zoning Conference sponsored by the Saratoga County Planning Department.  After a long day, we all walked away with a lot of new information and ideas (and probably even more questions to ask).  This was one of the most informative Planning & Zoning Conferences I have been to, covering a large variety of topics with well-prepared and very knowledgeable speakers.  

The Town of Mayfield hosted a presentation by Charlie Morrison from the NYS DOT on “sensible salting”.  Some Town Board members and Highway employees attended and will be researching the concepts that were presented to us, and how it may save the Town money on the cost of Highway maintenance.

I am very pleased that the various Board members have taken the time out of their busy schedules in order to attend training sessions as they are offered.  Everyone benefits as the members become more informed, learn new ideas and are more aware of what their duties and responsibilities are.  

We will be working on filling the vacancies on the various Boards as soon as interviews are completed in the near future. 

POSTING OF ROADS WEIGHT LIMIT

It’s that time of year again, The Town of Northampton Highway Superintendent (Kip) will be posting all town roads to a six (6) ton weight limit upon the erection of signs and will remain so until signs are removed.

JOINT YOUTH COMMISSION

The Northville-Northampton Joint Youth Commission sponsored an Old Fashioned Skating Party /Hot Dog Roast/Skate exchange at the School on February 12^th (rescheduled from the 5^th due to unusually warm weather).  This event was a huge success with approximately 60 “kids of all ages” joining in the fun and having a great time.  We will plan to build on events like this in the future and hope to make this an annual tradition.  Special thanks to Molly and everyone who volunteered their time and energy to make this day a great success. 

There are 2 Ski Trips remaining:  West Mountain Feb. 23^rd, and Gore Mountain on March 25^th.  A minimum of 15 people is needed to sign up in order for the buses to run. For more information and deposit dates, please contact Molly at 863-8764.  Sign-up sheets are available at Town Hall.  The next meeting will held on Tuesday, Feb. 28^th at 7:00 pm at the Bradt Building, we will begin working on the 2006-07 budget.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

The Planning Board has presented the Town Board with the draft Comprehensive Plan.  A public hearing on the draft plan is scheduled for February 23^rd, 7:00 pm at Town Hall.  The public is encouraged to participate in this important planning process and to offer their input.  The revised plan is up on our website on the front page and can be printed from there and is available on CD.   The public can bring a blank CD to Town Hall to have a copy made.

SMSI GRANT APPLICATION

The Town of Northampton has submitted an application for the NYS Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant Program on January 13^th.   The Town, together with The Village of Northville and the Northville School District as Co-Applicants, has applied for a grant to provide funding to hire a consultant for a feasibility study and implementation plan for combining services.  The services mentioned in the study include a shared Town/Village municipal highway garage and salt shed location and a Northville School Bus facility.   This is an important step toward looking into any future consolidation.  A feasibility study is a necessary first step in determining if or where there is a need, and in what areas and locations consolidation could work within our community.  Consolidation makes sense when it can be determined that it will save taxpayers money.   If we are successful in obtaining the grant, some of these questions can be answered. 

DELANEY PROJECT & NEXTEL CELLTOWER PROJECT

The APA has requested additional information from both project sponsors.  At this time, Delaney’s application is still deemed incomplete by the APA.  We just received the notification from the APA that on February 15^th, the Agency determined that the application for the proposed Nextel Cell-Tower on Ridge Road is deemed complete.  The project involves an 80 foot telecommunications monopole structure and a 10 ft x 20 ft

Equipment shelter.  The APA must receive written comments by March 8^th.  Comments and letters previously submitted need not be repeated.  Thanks to everyone who submitted or will submit letters.  This project will still require final APA approval.  This is a great step forward and all of us will do everything that we can in order to make this tower a reality.

ASSESSMENT UPDATE

Bruce Bolton, our sole assessor, has notified us that he will be leaving his position effective June 30^th and will be relocating to Tennessee.  Bruce will continue to work on the 2006 tax role, updating the inventory data (with new construction, building permits etc) and making any necessary corrections, and will complete the process for the Final Roll to be filed by July 1^st as required.  We will begin looking for a new assessor that will work with Bruce in order to become familiar with the area and the tax role parcels prior to his leaving in order to ensure a smooth transition.   Remember that Star Applications must be submitted to the Assessor prior to March 1^st.  The applications may also be dropped off at the Town Hall.

READ TO LEAD PROGRAM

Northville Central School has been chosen by the Fulton County Youth Bureau Advisory Board as one of two small schools (also Oppenheim-Ephratah) to receive $600 to participate in a one-year pilot program to encourage younger children to read more books.  Funded through the NYS Office of Children and Family Services Delinquency Prevention Program (SDPP), the purpose of the program is to have middle or high school students read to elementary age children to encourage reading while giving the students the opportunity to serve as positive role models.

NOTE:  Our Town Board minutes are available on the web site.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

-Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing, February 23^rd, 7:00 pm

-Joint Youth Commission, February 28^th, 7:00 pm

-Town Planning Board March 8^th, 7:00 pm

-Joint Village /Town work session March 9^th, 7:00 pm