Gilboa Preps for a New Year

GILBOA - Gilboa Town officials will hold their final meeting of 2023 at 8:30 a.m. on December 27, to close the books on the current year. They did however make an early appointment of the registrar of vital statistics, just to be prepared if something happens before their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 8, 2024.

Town Clerk Linda Wyckoff was re-appointed registrar for a four-year term and Mary Wyckoff will serve as deputy registrar.

Gilboa Town Board members also approved a resolution authorizing amendments to the current budget through transfers.

Contracts were approved with Delaware Engineering to provide services for the town's mining permit and Liberty Services for cleaning the town hall and highway garage.

Gerry Stoner, president of the Gilboa Historical Society, announced the annual fundraising Bottle Auction will take place on Dec. 20 at the town hall. It will also be zoomed to allow additional participation, and perhaps added revenue. The auction begins at 6 p.m.

The annual tree lighting at the town hall, located at 373 State Rt. 990V is set for today, Friday, Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will be warm cocoa and decorating Christmas cookies. Santa will also stop in to say "Hello". A donation to the Schoharie Animal Shelter is requested. Get a ticket for a giveaway.

He also reported that planning for GHS for the next year is progressing, with the anticipated construction project and sale of property from the town to the GHS. He was asked to post the minutes of the monthly meetings on the GHS website and he offered to send an email to town board members with the link.

Before adjourning for the night, board members entered an executive session to discuss the real estate transaction and advice of counsel to fine-tune the agreement with the GHS.

The town is also seeking a new court clerk, following the resignation of Dulcie Fowler effective Dec. 27.

The town board will also need to decide if they will require others to use town facilities to increase their insurance coverage to $2 million. The town has been required to do so for the city Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in connection with the fossils on display near the town hall. It raised the question of who actually owns the fossils, which will be researched.

In her report, Superintendent Alicia Terry indicated there are some soil borings being taken in the area for Schoharie County. She is hoping that may include the area of Flat Creek Road, which remains closed due to a landslide. The road is waiting on a rebuilding plan from the county.