Kortright Adopts Firefighters Exemption, Sets April 15 Hearing On Noise Ordinance

BLOOMVILLE –  Members of the Kortright Town Board passed a resolution to adopt the 10-percent Firefighters exemption, discussed cemetery work, awarded bids for highway materials and set a public hearing on a proposed local law to control unreasonable noise during their March 18 meeting.

No one spoke during a public hearing on the proposed adoption of a 10-percent property tax exemption for active-duty first responders. It was unanimously adopted. First responders, which includes volunteer firefighters and emergency squad personnel may now apply for the exemption, provided the meet the eligibility criteria.

Councilman Mike Pietrantoni reported he has spoken with someone who can repair broken headstones at a reasonable price. However, the headstones must be brought to him for the repairs. They will ask Jody Dorosky, who mows the cemeteries if she might be able to transport the stones. Board members agreed that even a few each year will help with maintaining the various cemeteries. There is also a problem limb at one of the cemeteries that threatens to damage headstones and is precarious for cemetery maintenance. Pietrantoni said he would look at it to see if there is a remedy, so no further damage is caused.

Bids for hauling various highway materials were awarded to the lowest bidders. Seward Sand and Gravel received bids for items 1 and 3, Gerster Trucking was awarded item 2 and Carver received award of bids for items 4 through 8.

Supervisor George Haynes said the United States Postal Service and a property owner are continuing to negotiate a lease of property to locate a modular post office in the hamlet of Bloomville. "It is still being considered," said Haynes.

He also reported that all of the residents of the foster home, who were homeless, were removed and two new homeless residents were recently located there. Haynes said there have been no complaints regarding the newest residents.

In his report, Highway Superintendent Bill Burdick reported they have continued to plow and sand when needed, filled potholes in numerous locations, started cutting brush, done work along Betty Brook, cleaned up numerous trees, and cleaned up inside and outside the highway garage. He also updated board members on the status of the trucks being repaired.

At the request of a resident, the town was asked to consider the adoption of a local law that would allow law enforcement to have some authority to make arrests. The law is intended to preserve public health, peace, welfare, and good order by suppressing or creation of unnecessary or unusual loud noises that are prolonged, unusual, or abnormal in their time, place, and use, which are detrimental to the environment.

It will hold the owner or person making the noise or the owner or lessee of the premises where the noise is occurring to be held accountable.

It will consider the volume, intensity, and duration; The ambient or background noise in the area where it is created; the time of day it occurs; whether it occurs at a time when residents in the vicinity are likely to be sleeping (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.); whether the noise occurs in the vicinity of a school, court, house of worship, public library, hospital, or nursing home and disturbs persons using or residing in such facilities and other cases. There are exemptions for church bells, parades and concerts, assemblies, property maintenance tools, agricultural activities and or legal hunting activities.

The proposed fine is $250 for the first day if it occurs again within 12 months is subject to $500/day of the offense.

A full copy of the proposed local law is available at the Kortright Town Clerk's office.

The public hearing on the local law is set for 7:30 p.m. on April 15.

Board members then moved into an executive session to discuss a potential lawsuit.