Northampton Town Tidbits
November 2006
By Supervisor Linda Kemper
Visit us at www.townofnorthampton.com
E-MAIL: nhpton1@frontiernet.net
PANDEMIC FLU PUBLIC AWARENESS PRESENTATION- PUBLIC HEALTH
The Fulton County Public Health will conduct a screen presentation about the Pandemic Influenza Virus (bird flu) at the Town Hall on November 15th , beginning at 6:30. The County is required to develop a plan in the event of an epidemic and is conducting informational sessions to prepare and educate the public. The public is urged to attend this important presentation.
CELL TOWER UPDATE-VERIZON
The APA has approved and issued a permit for Verizon Wireless to co-locate on the existing Nextel tower on Ridge Road. The contracts have been signed and Verizon anticipates completion of the project and to be in service in November. The APA also approved Verizon’s application and issued the permit to install antennas on top of the 145’ water tank in the Village of Mayfield. Once completed, this will open the Northville, Mayfield and surrounding areas to a greatly improved Verizon coverage. Anticipated coverage maps are available at Town Hall. EMS, Fire and Sheriff are still working on an application to get whip antennas on the tower in order to bring this essential emergency network coverage into our area.
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT OFFICER & JUNK ISSUES
The Town has hired a person to assist our part-time code enforcement officer with addressing the unsightly junk issues and enforcement of our junk laws. on a part-time, as needed basis. The Town held a public hearing on September 13th on our proposed new Property Maintenance Law. The new law will provide clearer definitions than our older laws do. This will enable us with a better ability to address and enforce the many junk issues that plague our town.
APA DRAFT MEMORANDIUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH HRBRRD
The APA has posted a revised MOU dated October 4th on their website. The intent of the MOU
is to have an agreement and working relationship with HRBRRD, which would allow the Regulating District to issue certain work permits for projects that would otherwise be subject to the APA’s section 814 regulations, their claimed jurisdiction, and that would require the APA application process and approval. We learned that this was on the APA’s agenda for their October 12th monthly agency meeting. While the intent is good in that it would make it easier and quicker for permit holders to get certain work permits from HRBRRD, rather than the APA, we have a great deal of concern with some of the language and additions in the revised version. Comments were faxed to the Board and along with Fred Monroe, Executive Director of the Adirondack Local Government Review Board, we requested that the APA not act on the MOU at that agency meeting. After a lengthy discussion, they agreed to delay action and to allow APA Staff to meet with local officials and HRBRRD to listen to the concerns on their proposed MOU.. I have since learned that DEC may be included in the MOU. It should be noted that the MOU is not on the agenda for the HRBRRD meeting on Nov 13th at this time.
HUDSON RIVER BLACK RIVER REGULATING DISTRICT-PROPOSED RULES
After agreeing to delay the proposed rules until 2008, The HRBRRD Board authorized the Executive Director, Glen LaFave, to meet with the Supervisors of the Nine Towns around the Sacandaga Lake to listen to input concerning our recommendations about the rules process.
Supervisors from Northampton, Edinburg, Mayfield, Broadalbin, Providence and Benson met with Glen LaFave and Richard Ferrara, secretary/treasurer at the Edinburg Town Hall on October 4th. The group brain-stormed and made recommendations that an advisory committee be established to review and make recommendations on the proposed rules.
We recommended that the committee should have a representative of each of the nine towns, and a member from each of several Lake Groups, including the GSLA, Fisheries Federation, Sacandaga Business Association, Back Lot Owners, Bachellerville Bridge Action Committee, Saratoga and Fulton Co.Chamber of Commerces and Day Property Owners Association. The committee should appoint their own officers, post regular meeting dates and be open to the public. The idea of an advisory committee and other recommendations made by the Supervisors still has to be approved by the HRBRRD Board of Directors.
It’s not a done deal. We are optimistic that this committee will become a reality and that the proper process will be followed. If approved, the group would need to work out many details at an organizational meeting. We anticipate that this will be presented to the HRBRRD Board at their Nov. 13th meeting and be acted upon. The proposed rules may be picked up at the HRBRRD offices or printed from their site at http://www.hrbrrd.com/draftrules.html. The public is urged to submit written comments and suggested changes to the draft rules prior to December 15th. The District has asked that each rule be listed on a separate comment sheet (available on web-site) in order to organize the comments with each rule.
ASSESSOR UPDATE
The Town has hired a new part-time assessor. Melissa Mazzarelli has been busy learning the assessment roles, the town and the computer program. Our former assessor, Bruce Bolton, has agreed to remain as a consultant on a temporary part-time basis in order to assist our new assessor into a smooth transition with learning the properties and tax roles. Her hours at the assessors office on 2nd Street are Monday’s and Wednesday’s 9:00 am to Noon and Monday evenings 6:00 –8:00 pm. She can be reached at 863-4875
TOWN BUDGET-2007
The preliminary budget has been submitted to the Town Board. The budget reflects a 3 cent per thousand DECREASE in the Town tax rate. The proposed rate for 2007 is $.95 per thousand of assessed valuation. We have provided for the increased costs of paving, utilities, fuel and salt; as well as starting to set aside funds for future planning purposes and updating our zoning regulations. The budget includes a 3.25% cost of living increase. The Town remains debt free and we do not anticipate borrowing in the future. We will continue to set aside funds for long-term equipment purchases and capital projects. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for November 15th at 7:00 pm.
JOINT YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT
A matching grant of $693.00 was approved for the Northville/Northampton Joint youth program.
The additional funds were a result of Gloversville’s $4,691 portion targeted for their pool, which was not opened this year, and therefore was offered to other youth programs by the Fulton County Youth Bureau. The money is being used toward the Joint Youth sponsored Fall Festival Activities on Oct. 22nd and to purchase 2-way radios for the youth program.
REVISED BUILDING PERMIT AND FEES SCHEDULE
The Town has revised its fee schedule that has not been updated since 1992. The revised schedule will be available at Town Hall and posted on the website.
REMINDER: Building Permits as well as permits for demolition are required within the Town of Northampton. Please check with the Town before you begin a project to see if a permit is required. Working without a permit when one is required or a permit issued after the fact will be triple the original fees.
THANK YOU again, Janet Rudd, for tending to the flowers this summer and cleaning out the beds after the frost.
NOTES: The Transfer Station will be closed Saturday, November 11th for Veterans Day.
-The Transfer Station will be open Saturday, November 25th.
-The Town offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 23rd and 24th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, November 27th.
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday
Our Town Board minutes are available on the web site.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
-October 31st, Holloween Trick-or-Treat 5:00pm
-November 7th , General Election, Polls open from 6:00am –9:00 pm
-November 7th, Rotary Club Spaghetti Dinner at NCS Cafeteria 4:00-7:00pm
-November 8th , Town Planning Board-7:00pm
-November 13th, HRBRRD Board of Directors meeting, Johnston Moose Club 10:00 am
-November 15th, Fulton County Public Health Pandemic Flue public awareness presentation
Bradt Building, 6:30 pm, prior to the Town Board Meeting
-November 15th, Town Board Meeting & Budget Public Hearing 7:00 pm
-November 22nd, Town ZBA-7:00 pm
-December 2nd, Old Fashioned Christmas & Tree Lighting-Northville Waterfront Park