Whitehall village eyes sewer money

The Whitehall Village Board moved closer toward its goal of securing more than $2 million to upgrade its sewer system.

At its Sept. 3 meeting, the board agreed to accept a “package,” as Mayor Pete Telisky put it, of grants and loans totaling $2.47 million to upgrade the village’s sewers. 

Attorney Erika Sellar Ryan cautioned that the village could apply for grants, but not for loans unless the application was subject to “applicable referendums.”

The board agreed that Attorney Ryan should include the phrase about “applicable referendums” in its acceptance letter of the grants and loan “package.”

Telisky explained that since the federal rural development grants and loans package had been presented to the village as a package, the village could reject it if the loans offered were more than the grants offered. The board then voted to accept the package as it has currently been developed by the federal Rural Development Agency.

Village eye Montcalm Ave. property

In other business, the board discussed acquiring property on Montcalm Avenue, a corner lot next to “the old flower shop,” Telisky said. 

The additional land, if acquired, would enable the village to fence in the area surrounding the old village shed within three years, according to Don Williams, head of the Department of Public Works.

Mowing a “success”

In a related matter, Telisky displayed to those attending the meeting two piles of papers, one large and one small. The large sheaf of papers was letters from residents who had complied with the mowing crackdown in the village.  The smaller sheaf, containing seven letters, was from residents whose lawns were still not mowed but would be mowed by the village.  The board agreed that the mowing program — where the village mows overgrown lawns — has been a success.

The board directed Code Enforcement Officer Gary Bennett to write a letter to a property owner directing that owner to “remove a rock garden” that obstructs village sidewalks. 

DPW updates

Williams reported that the DPW had made repairs on Gillette Street, pouring “60 tons of black top on the street.”

Telisky reported that employees in the Water Department had been given pagers to assist them in answering calls from the village when they cannot be reached by phone.

Village attorney Erika Sellar Ryan advised the board that the village did not need to amend its laws to make village residents remove temporary basketball hoops from village streets.

“That’s a criminal infraction,” she said, “a police matter.”

The DPW has had ongoing problems with hoops placed in or too close to the roadway.

Stratton to tour canal

The board noted that Lock C12 of the Champlain Canal would be inspected by Bryan Stratton of Canal Corp. on October 17, with boarding at 9:30 a.m. and departure at 10 a.m.  At the start of the meeting, Mayor Telisky offered a prayer that the country would “take a good direction” regarding military intervention in Syria.

The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17.