September 14, 2011

Town board meeting Sept. 8

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Granville will get a bit of sprucing up just as soon as someone gets a small piece of free time to hang the four signs which have arrived to decorate the four entry ways into Granville the town board heard Thursday, Sept. 8.

Supervisor Matt Hicks said the four ‘Welcome to Granville’ signs were purchased jointly with the village using Granville Partnership for Economic Development GPED funds.

The board LAO approved moving the October meeting from its regularly scheduled date of Oct. 13 to have it one week earlier on Oct. 6.

Hicks said he had to be out of town and asked to move the meeting, board members found they had no conflicting appointments and approved the change.

Town highway superintendent John Tanner updated the board regarding the limited storm damage occurring in the town Aug. 28 when Tropical Storm Irene dropped six inches of rain causing serious flooding in the village.

The town crews dealt with the minor roadside washouts in just a couple of days, he said. Tanner said he was uncertain of the fate of Cove Road following the washout during the storm. The bend in the river near the bridge tries to force the flood waters to make a hard turn and reach the narrow gap under the bridge, which it has failed to do before causing flooding and washing the road out. “We’ve done that three or four times since I’ve been here,” Tanner said.

The only thing certain for the stretch of often flooded Middle Granville roadway is that is will not see blacktopping any time soon.

“I’m not worrying much about it right now, but I could have it open in about a week,” he said.

Granville Town Assessor Dan Boone told the board he’s seeking some way to help residents figure out what exemptions apply where when it comes to their property taxes. Boone said Thursday night he often gets a call or two around tax times for the village, town, county and school from residents upset they did not receive a particular exemption on that bill.

“What they don’t sometimes realize is that not all exemptions apply to every tax bill – the school does not honor the same as the town or even the county,” Boone said.

As far as appraisal work, Boone said field work for the next update will begin soon, as the construction season in the area is beginning to wind down, Boone said.

The board also acted to reappoint Michael Shaw to the board of assessment review for another five-year term and accepted the resignation of town judge Donald Parker.