Notes from the May Hamilton Town Council meeting
By Chris Rossi
The Madison County Board of Supervisors and Cornell coop extension met with county dairy farmers to discuss the current crisis in dairy farming. Milk pricing and its impact on local family farms, large and small, was a main focus. The group looked at other supply-management models, including Canada’s, which might be helpful in dealing with the pricing problem.
With the winter now behind us, the Hamilton Highway Department has been making spring road repairs. The “village” of Poolville signs have been removed and will be replaced. After considering this previous season’s cost for brine, salt and sand the Town Council discussed what type of mix to use for next season’s snow. An intern from Sherburne-Earlville School District BOCES program will be shadowing workers at the town garage from May 7 through 17. The DEC is visiting our Highway garage site as they make a survey of all closed landfills in New York state.
The annual 2017 audit of the town books will take place this month. Clerk Reymers reported that town office staff have been experiencing computer problems and that she is looking into replacement hardware.
The Town Office Building Committee is considering completing the building project in stages, with building a shell, walls, and flooring as the first stage. Codes Enforcement Officer Mark Miller could act as construction supervisor. The firm Bell and Spina will submit a bid to design phase one and partially oversee that building process. Interior finishing including wiring and plumbing would be bid out in smaller pieces as part of phase two.
Councilman Holcomb attended a Board of Supervisors meeting with SOMAC and representatives from other ambulance districts to discuss countywide care. The need for regional cooperation was a focus.
Comparably, SOMAC is doing well with sustainable funding and professional practices.
The Partnership for Community Development nominated Old Home Distillers for the small business excellence award. Third Thursday initiative starts May 17 with shops being open in the Village of Hamilton until 7 p.m., which will also correspond to concerts in the park.
The Central New York Regional Planning Board is planning a regional bike trail project. The Peacemaker Trail will go through Earlville and Hamilton following Route 12B. Councilor Dinski will investigate possible funding for streetscape improvements along the trail in the town of Hamilton.
The Zoning Update Committee submitted a Right-to-Farm Law and Solar Energy Systems Regulations to the town council. After review and editing by Attorney John Langey, the town council completed SEQR forms with negative environmental impact, and resolved to present both laws for public hearing at the next Town Council meeting June 13 at 6:30 p.m., in the village court house. The Solar Law comes after the town passed a moratorium on large-scale solar development last summer, at the request of residents, to provide time to craft a much-needed solar law to add to our zoning. All solar projects are tax-exempt under New York State Law. The Town Council will consider a resolution requiring payments in lieu of taxes for large-scale solar projects. Copies of both proposed laws can be found on the town website.
Miller Downer, a Colgate Upstate Institute Fellow, will work with the town and village this summer on cataloging and submitting the Climate Smart Communities actions completed by both municipalities. The $50,000 NYSERDA clean energy grant, originally earmarked for geothermal at the town garage, is moving into the next phase of consideration before being awarded.
Thanks to Clerk Reymers and bookkeeper Wilcox for creating a Town of Hamilton Employee Manual for the administrative office staff.
The Hamilton Town Council meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the village court house in the village of Hamilton at 6:30 p.m. Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 13. We invite and encourage you to join us.
For more information, visit townofhamiltonny.org.
Editor’s note: Chris Rossi is a member of the Hamilton Town Council.