Village of Kinderhook
Board of Trustees

Highlights of selected Board of Trustee Meetings

2002

Minutes have not yet been submitted for publication.

2001

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of October 10, 2001

1. Reviewed without comment a letter from Mr. Ron Samascott, dated 9/24/01, which was in response to a letter sent by Mayor Richard Phillips on 8/10/01 asking the farm to help develop a spraying notification plan.
2. Adopted, after a public hearing that drew little or no comment, a law that would add skateboards and scooters to the list of vehicles that may not be operated on village sidewalks, except to cross them. Trustee James Dunham voted for the law, but said, "I'm not sure this is the way to go." He is concerned that the village may be accused of selective enforcement, using the law to cope with unruly teenagers while ignoring biking on the sidewalks by little folks.
3. A member of the audience asked if any thought has been given to a bicycle trail to help get bikes out of the business district. Mayor Phillips said a path along the Kinderhook Creek or over the Niagara-Mohawk right of way is being considered
4. Extended the moratorium on telecommunication tower construction for another three months, while a law is being drafted.
5. Adjusted no-parking regulations on Church Street and added a handicapped parking zone on the side of the street by the Reformed Church.
6. Heard from Fire Chief John Balli that the fire company will buy accountability tags, which firefighters leave with a designated person before entering a building or other emergency site, so that the officers in charge at the scene can know exactly who is inside. A recent money drop raised $7,000 for the Uniformed Firemen's Association in New York City.
7. Agreed to spend $4,300 to replace the badly worn siding on the Public Works Department Building. Trustees were reminded by DPW worker Brud Snyder of the need to nudge the contractor hired to install a new furnace at the pumphouse, and they promised him they would.
8. Gave the contract for fencing at the water works and well field to AFSCO Fence Supply of Latham, the lowest of three bidders at $12,375.
9. Agreed to switch the village's insurance to New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal for $16,404, after the previous insurer said that rates would go up to #30,900.
10. Heard from Trustee Cliff Wexler that work has begun on the repair of the Village Hall facade. Paving work on Van Buren Drive and the village parking lot are complete, save for some seeding.
11. Trustees reminded residents that it is against the law to burn leaves within any village or city without a permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
12. Heard from Mike Urbaitis of Friends of the Bridge that bids for rehabilitation of the County Route 21 bridges are due in by October 29. Then the award process typically takes about six weeks, wo work cannot be expected to begin until December. Other than some brush clearing, trustees expect the project to begin early next spring.

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of May 9, 2001

1. Set Wednesday, May 30, as the last day to pay past-due water bills, and Monday, June 4 as the day water will be shut off to delinquent customers. Water Commissioner Ruth Piwonka said $3,500 in past-due bills is outstanding.
2. Approved making Church/Sylvester streets one-way June 16 for the Fire Company's Community Fun Day, held this year in conjunction with the St. Paul's Church strawberry festival. The day runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a teen dance until 9:30 p.m., and attractions and activities are still being lined up.
3. Approved minor changes in the village procurement policy-- increasing the minimum amount for which contracts are required to $500 from $250, and requiring competitive bidding for purchases over $10,000 and public works jobs over $20,000.
4. Adopted a parking ticket form based on the one used by the Village of Valatie so that state troopers may begin ticketing illegally parked vehicles. Set a public hearing June 13 on a local law regarding front- yard setback requirements. Scheduled a joint meeting Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. with the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Law Committee, to discuss the historic preservation law.
5. Heard from Code Enforcement Officer Walt Simonsmeier regarding the need for a law that will allow him to do something about abandoned, deteriorating properties like the former Sunoco station on Route 9. Mr. Simonsmeier said that the cans and drums of used cooking oil that were being stored behind Villaggio's Pizzeria have been removed.
6. Received a thank-you letter from Sharon Palmer for the Village's contribution of $500 toward improvements at the James Vanderpoel House.
7. Approved, pending a final inspection, paying $4,725 for repairs at the playground building.
8. Adjourned after 2 hours.

2000

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of December 13, 2000

1. Set Village Election Day for March 6, 2001, polls to be open from 12 noon until 9:00 pm at the Village Hall, for election of two two-year trustees.
2. Approved a five-year fire protection contract with Stuyvesant. the Village will receive $4,250 each year for two years, then $4,500 / year for 2 years, then $4,750 in the fifth year.
3. Changed tapping charges from $235 to actual cost of work.
4. Approved new construction fees for residential and non-residential buildings, garages, sheds, decks, pools, and fences, and miscellaneous fees, including certificates of occupancy and building permit renewals.
5. Accepted an extension of Presidential Drive, in the Bean subdivision on Route 9, as a village street.
6. Heard from Building Inspector Walter Simonsmeier that attorneys are still talking about the clean up of the large amount of accumulated junk at the Houts' property at 51 Broad Street.
7. Heard that the property owner at the corner of Chatham and William Streets has been asked to move two stored boats that are obstructing motorists' view of traffic.
8. Learned that the village's wells could probably support the needs of a 17 lot Kinderhook Meadows subdivision off of Gaffney Lane and Eichybush Road.
9. Learned that the committee studying a trail system through Kinderhook Town, Kinderhook Village, and Valatie has sent out requests for proposals for a consultant to draft a conceptpual design. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for January 2, 2001 at 7:30 pm in the Town Hall.
10. Decided to contact Village Attorney Burns Barford, Jr. about attending Zoning Board of Appeals meetings, because the ZBA seems to often confront questions of proper procedure, and there is money in the village budget to cover the lawyer's attendance at ZBA meetings.
11. Discussed what to do about advertising circulars that are often left on people's property in light of the fact that unwanted delivery of the circulars on lawns and elsewhere is considered littering under a newly adopted village law.
12. Learned that the bridges on County Route 21 spanning Kinderhook Creek are scheduled for replacement in the Spring.
13. Adjourned after 1 hour 11 minutes for a breif closed-door session on a personnel matter.
14. The full board was in attendance before an audience of six people.

Editor's Note: This information has had to be extracted from public and published sources as time allows. The Village Board has declined repeated requests to provide primary source material for this public service. If you would like to see a more open exchange of information and ideas between you the taxpayers and your elected officials, please call or write to them, as they have asked me not to publish their e-mail addresses.

1999

Editor's Note: This information has to be extracted from public and published sources and time has just not allowed me to yet. The Village Board has declined repeated requests to provide primary source material for this public service. If you would like to see a more open exchange of information and ideas between you the taxpayers and your elected officials, please call or write to them, as they have asked me not to publish their e-mail addresses. If you would like to contribute to the acquisition or posting of content please contact the webmaster.

1998

Editor's Note: This information has to be extracted from public and published sources and time has just not allowed me to yet. The Village Board has declined repeated requests to provide primary source material for this public service. If you would like to see a more open exchange of information and ideas between you the taxpayers and your elected officials, please call or write to them, as they have asked me not to publish their e-mail addresses. If you would like to contribute to the acquisition or posting of content please contact the webmaster.

1997

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of December 10, 1997

1. Set Village Election Day for March 3, 1998, polls to be open from 12 noon until 9:00 pm at the Village Hall.
2. Set a workshop meeting for Wednesday, January 7, 1998 at 7:00 pm in the Village Hall to hear a presentation on smoke & fire alarms.
3. Set a public hearing for Wednesday, January 14, 1998 at 7:20 pm in the Village Hall on the revised noise ordinance, with the regular monthly Board meeting to follow.
4. Donated $500 to the Friends of the Vanderpoel House to use towards house repairs and upkeep.
5. Agreed to inquire to ICCS about the possibility of using the MVB school gym at night for volleyball, basketball, and other youth activities.
6. Agreed to look into designating a handicapped parking place on Hudson Street and to try two-hour parking in the village parking area in front of the Post Office.
7. Reappointed Elma Savosky to be Village Registrar and Fern Pelleteri as Deputy Registrar, both for five-year terms through the year 2001.
8. Approved purchase of a new quick-attack, first-out fire truck from low bidder Nichols Fire Apparatus of Hyde Park, for $79,448. While the accepted bid was more than the expected $75,000 cost, the board felt it was reasonable in light of the $200,000 that would be required for a new pumper truck.
9. Adjourned after 1 hour 45 minutes.

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of April 9, 1997

1. Set this year's public hearing on the village budget for Monday, April 14th at 7:30 pm in the Village Hall.
2. Commended Trooper William Gray and Trooper Daniel Bailey for their investigative work leading to arrests this past winter.
3. Approved re-striping of Hudson St and Albany Ave by the DPW.
4. Awarded renovation of the State Police substation to Bonacquisti Brothers of Cohoes, whose final adjusted bid was $45,695.
5. Awarded construction of the heating and air conditioning system for the substation to C&E Rothermel of Kinderhook, for the low bid of $9,196.
6. Discussed construction of the metal DPW garage building with David St. Onge of Kinderhook, whose low bid was $26,500.
7. Agreed to write to Congressman Soloman endorsing his amendment to the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area law.

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of March 13, 1997

1. Set a meeting for Monday, March 17 at 7:00 pm at the Village Hall to review the bids for the new DPW garage building and the State Police substation renovations and HVAC work.
2. Set a meeting for Monday, March 24 at 7:30 pm at the Village Hall for a budget workshop to review repair of Jarvis Lane, the possibility of having a village website through the Kinderhook Connection, and other items.
3. Set a meeting for Monday, April 7 at 7:00 pm at the Village Hall for the annual organizational meeting.
4. Set Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, as the annual village Clean-Up Days.
5. Approved the Waste Management bid for refuse hauling. The total cost for the contract shared with the village of Valatie will be $38,904. Kinderhook's share is $19,841 (51%).
6. Authorized Trustees James Dunham and Clyde Hotaling to start a zoning review committee and to recruit members for it from the Planning Board (PB), the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), as well as any other interested parties. Mr. Dunham suggested the committee because he felt that village zoning needed some "fine tuning".
7. Discussed the idea of getting together with the town of Kinderhook and the Village of Valatie when ordering road salt for the winter if it could result in obtaining better prices and deliveries.
8. Heard from Trustee Dunham that after he had walked the area with Town Supervisor Konkle, he felt confident that the boundary dispute could be settled. This would involve the 225 acres that the village does not serve to revert to the Town, while the few acres that will get village roads and sewers as a result of Stephen Bean's development will stay with the village.
9. Announced that at the April 9 trustees meeting they would issue a commendation to Troopers Daniel Bailey and William Gray for their investigations that led to arrests in the Niverville XtraMart case and in the Berkshire Drive shooting escapade.
10. Thanked Brian Weaver for his donated renovations to the Village Hall and its Wall of Mayors, and to Frank Masten for repair of th village clock in the Dutch Reformed Church.
11. Expressed condolences to Brian Weaver on the death of his father, Francis Weaver.
12. Attendance: All trustees, 4 residents, 6 interested parties. Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes. Based on the reporting of Debby Mayer

Editor's Note: This information has had to be extracted from public and published sources as time allows. The Village Board has declined repeated requests to provide primary source material for this public service. If you would like to see a more open exchange of information and ideas between you the taxpayers and your elected officials, please call or write to them, as they have asked me not to publish their e-mail addresses.

1996

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of December 9, 1996

1. Set a meeting for January 13, 1997 at 7:30 pm at the Village Hall to discuss the schedule for the State Police Substation renovations.
2. Accepted a two-year fire contract with the Kinderhook Fire Department for $16,000 in 1997 and $17,000 in 1998.
3. Set a meeting for January 20, 1997 at 7:00 pm at the Village Hall to discuss insurance with Metz Wood Harder; followed at 7:30 by a meeting with fire company officials to review inventory, village laws, court decisions, and guidelines for emergency responders.
4. Agreed to make the final payment of under $1,000 to Nussbaum for the William Street drainage project, but only after repair of a section of sidewalk on Hudson St.
5. Accepted an American Flag donated to the village from the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site.
6. Discussed the upcoming village election set for March 4. Petitions may be started on December 17 and are due between January 21 and 28.
7. The board seeks information on changing the southern village boundary line to include those who are actually taxed and receive benefits from the village, about a 500 acre increase.
8. Heard from Chief Tom Peters that the fire company responded to seven calls in November, all outside of the village proper.
9. Invited Belmont Management Company to provide more information concerning their inquiry into building a 24-unit low-income housing complex in the village.
10. Plans to request about $20,000 from the Clean Water and Air Bond Act, to lower a water line on Jarvis Lane, in response to a letter from Assemblyman John Faso.
11. Thanked everyone who decorated the street pole trees and asked that they remove trimmings by January 5th, as DPW will collect the trees when they start picking up household trees beginning January 6, 1997.
12. Accepted the resignation of Thomas Maul from the Recreation Committee.

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of August 14, 1996

1. Discussed the concerns of village residents concerning the Black Dog Cigar & Gift Shop who contend that it is a non-conforming use which did not receive a special use variance. The board suggested that any concerns needed to be brought to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
2. Discussed the increase in vandalism noted in the village this summer. Mayor Phillips wants to know if residents are interested in starting a neighborhood watch program.
3. Amended the Village Code to require major subdivision applicants to pay all costs incurred during review, as minor subdivision applicants already do.
4. Learned that State Assemblyman Faso and State Senator Saland will support the village's application to lower the speed limit on US Route 9 within the village, and put in no-passing zones.
5. Tabled the decision on street lighting until the next board meeting to consider the proposal from NiMo to leave the old incandescent lights in the historic section of the village, and to store the others for use as spare parts, after they are replaced with high-pressure sodium lamps.
6. Thanked the National Union Bank of Kinderhook for donating a computer to the village.
7. Adjourned after the two hour regular meeting to audit the village justice books, as recommended by the State Comptroller's audit report.

Summary of actions and discussions from the meeting of April 10, 1996

1. Unanimously adopted budget of $644,100 for fiscal year 6/1/96 to 5/31/97
   • based on total property value assessment of $72,700,000 property tax will be $2.75 per thousand assessed value, down from $2.82
2. based on estimated revenues of $269,739, with 8% sales tax
3. includes $163,000 for drainage project
4. Drainage project includes installing new drainage pipes, curbing and 4 foot wide sidewalks on part of Williams street and on Hudson Street from Williams to the creek
   • public hearing on the project to be held Monday, April 29 at 8 pm in the Village Hall
5. Discussed the future of the State Police outpost in the village
   • special meeting on the subject to be held Wednesday, April 17 at 7:30 pm, to include a tour of the current post in the Village Hall
   • invited to the meeting are officials from Kinderhook Town, Valatie village, Stuyvesant, and Chatham
6. Heard concerns from residents regarding cars parked for extended periods of time in the village green business district, and the excessive speed of some cars in the village, especially on Hudson Street
7. Adjourned after eighty minutes

Editor's Note: This information has had to be extracted from public and published sources as time allows. The Village Board has declined repeated requests to provide primary source material for this public service. If you would like to see a more open exchange of information and ideas between you the taxpayers and your elected officials, please call or write to them, as they have asked me not to publish their e-mail addresses.

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