Northampton Town Tidbits

June/July 2006

By Supervisor Linda Kemper

Visit us at www.townofnorthampton.com

E-MAIL: nhpton1@frontiernet.net

NEXTEL CELL TOWER

Construction of the new cell tower located on Ridge Road is underway and on schedule.  Completion of the tower is expected this summer, our community will finally have this long awaited service.  I received a letter from Colleen Bisceglia from Nextel asking me to help her to relay her gratitude and thanks to the community for their overwhelming support for the tower.  She was provided with over 200 letters of support, which she included in her APA application.  She firmly believes that the support from the community was the reason that the APA approval in March came so quickly.  THANK YOU, Colleen for being so persistent, for patiently jumping over all of the hurdles that you were faced with and for making this tower become a reality.

DELANEY MINING PROJECT

We have received notice from the APA that Delaney’s application on a proposed expansion of the mining operation has been approved with conditions.  The application requested further expansion of a previously approved 10.2 acre mineral extraction (stone quarry) by an additional 23 acres.  The depth of the mineral and gravel extraction will also be increased.  Tim Delaney’s representative hosted a public informational presentation on the proposed mining expansion at the Bradt Municipal Building on April 27^th.  The project also requires Local and DEC approvals.

An application has been submitted to the ZBA for a Special Use Permit.  Once the application has been deemed complete, the ZBA will schedule a public hearing.  The DEC will be posting a public notice soon with a 30-day comment period.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

The community-wide Memorial Day parade was held on Monday, May 29^th.   The parade route was from the Conservation Building on S. Main Street to the S. Main Street Cemetery, where the ceremony honoring our Veterans took place.  The speakers did a terrific job of paying tribute to our Veterans, to the history of our independence and to Memorial Day. Refreshments were provided at the American Legion Building following the Ceremony.  Special thanks to Chet Enders and everyone that helped to organize and participate in this event.

VACANCIES ON BOARDS AND POSITIONS TO FILL

The Town Board has been busy interviewing applicants for the positions of Assessor, and a Community Enhancement Officer to address the unsightly junk and blight issues.  We are also working on revising our junk laws.  Vacancies still exist on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.  Interested persons are asked to send a letter of interest to the Town Clerk.  

WELLNESS WEEKEND

The first annual “Sacandaga North Wellness Weekend-Live it” sponsored by the Edinburg & Northville Schools and communities was held on May 12^th and 13^th. The program included adventure activities, fitness games, wellness walk, health & fitness education, healthy food and entertainment.  Numerous organizations participated in this event.  Due to weather that did not co-operate, the fun run and bike trek were cancelled; the Health and Wellness Fair Tables and “Bounce House” were moved from the Municipal Town Park location to the school gymnasium. Despite the lousy rainy weather, everyone had a great time and the event was a huge success. 

Hats off and “Thanks” to all of the organizers that devoted their time and talents to plan this event.  We’ll be looking forward to next year’s event, which can only be bigger & better!!

COUNTY “BIZ”

VETERANS EXEMPTION: The Fulton County Board of Supervisors approved to increase the Veterans Maximum Level Exemption Amount.  The local law will increase the County property tax exemption for eligible veterans: Wartime-from $15,000 to $21,000; Combat Zone-from $25,000 to $35,000; and Disabled-from $50,000 to $70,000.  The increased exemption amount will take effect and apply to the 2007 assessment rolls in computing the 2008 County tax.  The distributed cost to taxpayers county-wide will be approximately $1.00 per parcel.  The Town Board will discuss increasing the maximum exemption on the local level as well.

REAL PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION TECHNOLOGY

In March 2006, Fulton County received notice that they were awarded a grant for $110,000 that they had applied for in December.  The purpose of the grant program is “to support local governments in their pursuit of real property tax equity”.  The County requested to implement a project to promote integration and use of parcel data by governments and the general public.  GIS data (roads, trails, boundaries etc.) and real property data (including pictures and inventory) will be available soon (July?) to the public and accessed via the official Fulton County website.

RECYCLING:  A representative from the County will be present at the regular Town Board Meeting on June 21^st to explain the new recycling category of plastic tubs and lids and to answer any recycling questions from the public.

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

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

-June 28^th, Town ZBA 7:00 pm

-June 29^th, “Art at the Inn”@ Inn At The Bridge 7-9 pm

-July 8^th, Mason’s Roast Beef Dinner @Northville School 4-7 pm

-July 12^th,  Town Planning Board 7:00 pm

-July 19^th,  Regular Town Board Meeting 7:00 pm

-June 29^th –July 1^st, “July 4^th Doins’-Sat, July 1^st: parade 5:30 pm, Fireworks 10:00 pm

  (Vintage Car show on N. Main St. )

-July 2^nd, Fireworks -Sport Island Pub, July 3^rd-Lanzi’s on the Lake

-July 5^th, Joint Youth Summer Day Camp begins

-July 7^th Waterfront Park Art, Summer Fun and Safety Fair w/ribbon cutting ceremony 6:00-8:30

-July 9^th, SVAN Sundays begin, Village Waterfront Park 4-7 pm

-July 15^th, Friends of Northville Library Ice Cream Social 5-8 pm

-July 23^rd, ESPN Bass Fishing Tournament-Great Sacandaga Lake

-July 25^th, ZBA Public Hearing-Delaney expansion 7:00 p.m.