HANOVER - Tuesday's Hanover Town Board meeting involved a check from FEMA, but also many checks to be written and a budget hearing in the works.
Good news for the town came in the form of a check from FEMA. The amount of $91,000 was received by the town for 2009 flood damages. This is the last large payment with only a remaining $12,000 due to the town.
The pressure reducing valve project is not reducing pressure on the board's pocket book as the board approved a $15,392 increase in the cost of the project at Tuesday's meeting. The increase was due to a split pipe during the replacement of a pressure valve. The new total on the project comes in at $59,392.
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OBSERVER?Photo by Nicole Gugino
The Hanover Town Board met Tuesday to discuss business before the preliminary budget meeting on Oct. 25. Left to right are Councilman Fritz Seegert, Councilman Kenneth Cross, Highway Superintendent Steve D’Angelo and Supervisor Kathy Tampio
The speed reduction on Hanover Road was approved by the County after a Hanover resident said it was dangerous at a previous board meeting. Steve D'Angelo, highway superintendent, still had concerns about the corner of Hanover Road and Angell Road in Hanover Center. "Reducing the speed there will not solve the problems at the upcoming intersection," he said. "I recently saw a car fly right through there, completely ignoring the stop signs."
Although he thought it would be unpopular he suggested a four-way stop at the intersection to avoid accidents. However, this also has to be approved by the county before it can be done. Currently there are large reflective signs on both sides of the road and "stop ahead" signs before the intersection.
"You can't legislate common sense, that's the problem there," said Trustee Wayne Ashley. Although a caution light was mentioned the logistics of constructing and maintaining a caution light are much greater than a simple four-way stop. The county's support is questionable but because of its timely reaction to the speed reduction proposal, it may be hopeful.
The board will hold a public hearing for the preliminary budget and the renewal of fire protection contracts on the same night as the next meeting, Oct. 25. There will be a workshop at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is a five percent increase for the fire protection contracts and there is a copy of the preliminary budget for public view in the Hanover town clerk's office.
The board also announced the possibility of a modest pay raise for town officials in the preliminary budget. Officials' wages have been frozen for a few years and the proposed increase is 1.5 percent. Trustee Kevin O'Connell urged the public to attend the public hearing on Oct. 25. "All aspects of the budget are still open discussion. Please come to the hearing and air any concerns you may have," he said.
The Zoning Board of appeals will address the issues of allowed garage height and the fire code rule of five feet between a structure and a property line on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Fire chiefs from the area are expected to come as well as advocates on the other side, such as some Hanford Bay residents seeking more storage space on their small properties.
The Citizens Advisory Committee will meet again Oct. 26 and the Planning Board meets again Monday.
