Harpersfield Receives Book About Harper's Field

HARPERSFIELD - Members of the Harpersfield Town Board heard a presentation on John Harper's Field, the new Stamford Library, approved drafting a Dog Law and established an escrow account for Mountaintop Airfield's campground application, during their meeting last Wednesday.

Bill Nicholson, president of the Harpersfield Historical Association (HHA) provided information regarding the earliest days of the town and  left a book John Harper's Field with that will be available at the Town Clerk's office. It is available for anyone to view.   He also talked about the American Revolution and how Harpersfield  was involved . He said in those days the town was like the Wild West. With the signing of the Declaration  of Independence 250 years ago this year he said wants to celebrate it and noted that he HHS has dedicated the barn next to the museum to John Harper.

Julie Rockefeller, a newly appointed member of the Stamford Library Board, was present to invite the town board and others to an event for the new library. She also made a presentation at the Stamford Town Board meeting.Rockefeller provided information regarding the new library building coming to 139 West Main St. in the village of Stamford. She said town and village officials, along with state representatives and politicians have been invited to attend the kickoff party for the building campaign, set for 1-4 p.m. on May 30 at the site of the new library. All of the library board members will be present and she said attendees will be able to get a concept of the new building's footprint. They will be able to visualize where the new community room, garden, children's library, adult library, reading garden, teen room and history room will be located. It will also be handicapped accessible and have ample parking. She explained it is an association library and is an important asset not just to Stamford, but to many other local communities. Fundraising continues and grants are helping bring the project to fruition, with the smaller, individual donors expected to get them over the finish line. The new library will not be constructed until the financing is in place. She projected a new library will hopefully be in place by 2027. There will be family friendly activities, food and festivities to celebrate the next steps of the process, which will include finalizing the plans. Rockefeller said they are at the halfway point both in the planning and the fundraising and they will now begin designing the interior spaces and decorating. She said many years of work have gone into getting to this point. 

A recent dog complaint that went to court has prompted the town board to consider putting a dog law on the books so that in the future, if there is an issue, the court can do something. The town attorney is reviewing state laws and the town Dog Control Officer Jeff Bell reviewed a law for the town of Richmondville, making some suggestions for a new law, using the Richmondville law as a template. "Overall, I like it," said Bell. He referred to Section 5's leash law and suggested the fines go up for repeat offenders as a way of getting them to curtail allowing the dogs to roam free when they are a problem. Under Section 6  where it refers to reciprocity, those dog owners who have a second home may want to be exempted as the dog was already licensed somewhere else. However, they might include something so that the town has information regarding vaccinations or they must have to provide in the event of an incident. There are also definitions for working dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. "You may want to exempt or clarify that an emotional support dog is not the same as a therapy dog. Fines for a seized dog could be $75 to cover the  licensing and shelter fees.

Bell explained he may transport as many as three dogs per year to the shelter. Sometimes he must deal with multiple dogs at the same location. Town board members will review the final draft, which is expected for next month's meeting to set a public hearing on the proposed new law.

There was also discussion about the revived Constitution Pipeline Project. When the project was abandoned in 2012, the town was working on, but had not completed the road agreement.

The Code Enforcement Officer’s hours were amended by resolution for state retirement. The town board does not receive a monthly report .

Board members agreed to leave the escrow amount for a campground application by Mountaintop Airfield at $20,000 based on past practice. The attorney for Mountaintop Airfield had asked for it to be reduced. Board members approved a resolution, which calls for notification once the escrow goes below $2,500 and that an additional $5,000 or whatever is needed is deposited within five days or the planning board chairman can halt the planning board's review of the application. "Our taxpayers should not have to pay for the application," said Supervisor Lisa Driscoll.

The town will hire two people through the Summer Youth Program. One will be working with the town highway superintendent to rebuild the town hall retaining wall, mowing and other jobs.

Highway Superintendent Russell Hatch had no update on the paving projects for the summer as all highway departments are waiting on the state Legislature to pass a state budget. He said he is applying for a grant to cover the town's 25-percent share of the culvert project. He will also have the county Soil and Water Conservation Service look at a failing culvert on Whiskey Hollow Road. He said he may need to use Comprehensive Highway Improvement Program funding for that project. He does expect to do the culverts on Reed Road and Gunhouse Hill Road this year. He said he is attempting to get funding for the culvert pipes located outside of the New York City Watershed. The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now requiring culverts to be installed that will not impede fish from traveling upstream. He also informed the board he will install guardrails on the curve on Gunhouse Hill Road, which is a site for multiple accidents. He said he was purchasing a commercial grade walk behind mower, due to the bank at the town hall. 

Board members accepted a bid for the transfer station backhoe in the amount of $30,000 which included a customer discount of $15,000.

The next meeting of the Harpersfield Town Board will be June 10.