Harpersfield Supports Home Rule Bill of Rights

HARPERSFIELD –  A proposed dog law was again tabled for more work as Harpersfield Town Board members met last Wednesday. They approved a resolution supporting the Association of Towns Bill of Rights.

A committee of two will continue developing a proposed dog law for the town of Harpersfield, intended to have something on the books, if needed, for any issues that may go to court and to allow the town to recover fees charged by the animal shelter. The town has been looking at a law for the town of Richmondville, but finds it a bit too strict for those whose dog has simply gotten lost, and some other situations.

Board members approved the annual agreement with the Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, which is $40 per dog and $5 per cat taken to the shelter.

The Bill of Rights resolution supports home rule over state mandates and seeks to protect the power of home rule, saying local townships have a better idea of the laws and regulations required to protect its residents and protects the power of local towns to make their own laws; relief from unfunded mandates and stopping the state from forcing towns to pay for programs without providing the money for those programs; modernize public notices by allowing towns to post public notices online instead of using expensive local newspapers and to promote a stronger state-local partnership by treating towns as equal partners rather than just  administrative arms of the state.

The resolution states local governments provide the services essential to the vitality of the state, including the maintenance and repair of roadways, protecting neighborhoods and businesses, guiding economic development and serving as the first line of defense, communication and safety for residents every day of the years.

The resolution states: "There are 933 townships in the state with more than 9.1 million New Yorkers that  are diverse in population, geography  and demographics, such that decisions affecting daily life are best made at the local level by the government that best understands each community's character, challenges and needs."

Board members discussed the purchase of a "rolloff truck" for the shared transfer station, provided the other towns agree. Containers are being damaged by personnel as they are moved along with the concrete pads they sit on. The county is charging the town for the repair of the rolloff containers.  It was discussed that highway personnel would operate the rolloff truck for transport of the containers.

Highway Superintendent Russ Hatch said the town did have a rolloff truck in the past and it worked well. The rolloff truck saves damage to the containers.

Supervisor Lisa Driscoll also warns there will be additional signage and rules regarding the transfer station. Residents are depositing items in the metal container and the construction and demolition container. She said in the future, when a container is filled and ready for removal, that area will be shut down until a new container is in place, which will mean some items will not be able to be left at the transfer station on those days. The additional signage will hopefully help people to know what is and isn't acceptable and the proper place to get rid of it. She said it is the job of the transfer station attendants to direct residents where to throw their trash and recyclables. It is not their job, she said, to assist people with unloading their vehicles.

She wants those who use the transfer station to be forewarned that more rules are coming. They will be posted on Facebook and the town's website.

Comments will no longer be allowed for Facebook postings by the town, which would mean the town would have to be able to produce comments if FOILED. Anything in the comments can be foiled as correspondence. It was decided the town will shut off the comments, rather than pay a company to keep track of it all. Council member Patrick Funk said he would like to put an explanation on the town's Facebook page, so people know.

The town highway crew is expected to begin paving near the end of the month and Hatch reported a second grant to cover the town's 25-percent match of  the culvert grant for Gunhouse Hill Road will be known by the end of the month. The culvert replacement is not expected to begin until next year.

A new Bobcat excavator will be purchased for $134,808, which includes an additional coupling and will be paid for with a $30,000 Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation grant and Comprehensive Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding. 

Supervisor Driscoll also reported that the $7,500 escrow account for the planning board's review of the site plan amendment for Mountaintop Airfield LLC to have overnight camping is now in place. The Department of Health has granted permission for them to use the existing campsite, but it must still be approved by the town planning board.