Kortright Starts the New Year

BLOOMVILLE – Members of the Kortright Town Board approved the road maintenance list for Consolidated Highway Improvement Program funds for 2024, signed the paperwork for a housing rehabilitation grant, and opened the lone bid for heating fuel during their regular meeting on Monday. They met Jan. 1 to organize for the coming year and take inventory.

The lone bid from J & K was $3.69 per gallon, based on 2,000 gallons of heating fuel. However, the town will check on the state bid and if the state bid is the equivalent or lower, they will remain with Mirabito, which has the state bid.

Highway Superintendent Bill Burdick presented his list of roadways to be repaired with CHIPS funding. The roads include Betty Brook Road, from Scott Road to state Route 10; Swantak Road, from Scott Road to Betty Brook Road and Passuella Road from the Kortright town line to state Route 10. 

In his report, he said crews have been out  more than 10 times to plow and sand, and have been keeping up with daily maintenance. An engine has been purchased for the 2004 Volvo and a new used truck for the fleet will be available as soon as winter is over.

The town is also researching noise ordinances from other towns after a request by a town resident to establish a noise ordinance.

Board members also discussed the possibility of a modular post office in the hamlet of Bloomville. It has been at the top of the list for local residents, with the closest post office six miles away. Supervisor George Haynes said talks are taking place between the United States Postal Service and Rich Weiss, owner of property a couple of parcels north of the town hall. "I am confident they may come to some sort of an agreement and believe there is progress being made," said Haynes.

He also reported on a foster home that more recently has been used as a homeless shelter. The town hall was filled in December, with Bloomville residents concerned over the shelter and one resident in particular who was making people feel unsafe. Haynes said the individual has been removed from the residence and the town has received no additional complaints

Board members also approved a motion to hire a contractor to remove trees from the area of the playground at the former school in Bloomville. The town received three quotes and approved the removal of the trees.

Board members authorized the $100,000 payment to Headwaters EMS for ambulance services. The $100,000 is being paid by the towns of Kortright, Stamford and Harpersfield, the towns sharing the paid service, Councilman Mike PIetrantoni said the Bloomville Fire Department and Emergency Squad had only three mutual aid calls since the county and Headwaters ambulance services started. Prior to that, they received 157 mutual aid calls. "It is doing what it was intended to do. It is providing backup to the volunteer squads," said Pietrantoni, who is also the fire chief for the Bloomville Fire Department and an EMT.

At the Jan. 1 organizational meeting, the following appointments and designations were made: Monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall;  Brian Haynes to a seven-year term on the planning board; Josh Morgan, code enforcement officer; Kevin Young, Young and Sommer town attorney; Archibald Gallup, planning board chair. The also designated The Reporter, official newspaper; Lorstem Craft, handicap parking permit agent, water district collector and registrar of vital statistic; Jeff Haynes, deputy supervisor; Nancy Haynes, historian; Meg Hungerford, bookkeeper; Alan Alwine, dog control officer and Harry Craft, deputy highway superintendent..

The mileage rate for official town business is 67 cents per mile.

They also approved the procurement and investment policies, to pay bills in advance of meetings to save costs and established spending limits without prior board approval

Appointed the following audit committees: Councilman Jeffrey Haynes and Mike Pietrantoni, highway committee; Councilman Chad Boest, sewer and water; Councilwoman Nikki Pickett, general fund.

Planning Board meeting dates will be held the last Wednesday of each month from January to November and agree to pay the$3,500 fee to the county planning department.