Village Working On Burn Regulation

By Liz Page

STAMFORD – Three boy scouts sat in to see how government works during Tuesday's meeting of the Stamford Village Board. They are working toward their Communications Merit Badge.

The meeting opened with Mayor Robert Schneider commenting on the overwhelming outpouring of support shown to the victims of the devastating fire on Dec. 1. "It was a very moving event for us here at the village hall," he said. The meeting room was filled to capacity with items donated to the fire victims over the weekend after the fire, with the village asking residents to hold onto their belongings until residents are settled somewhere else. Slowly, but surely, the 11 families displaced by the fire are finding other places to live.

Trustee Darran Hanway said it was also the case with the annual Christmas Feeling Fund, which distributed its food and gifts last Saturday. "It was highly, highly successful. The monetary and material donations were overwhelming. Nine of the 11 families in the fire would normally be recipients of the fund. "We live in a very generous area," he said.

Engineers have been selected in moving forward with the Bridge NY project to replace the bridge on River St. in the village of Stamford. Trustee Jim Kopp spearheaded the appointed committee. He said the bridge can likely be built in one day and the engineering firm they chose, Foit Albert Associates, of Albany, is looking forward to the project.

Churchill Gym, its possible uses and costs, was again a topic of discussion. Mayor Robert Schneider said the building is still bleeding the village of money, but is not terminal. Thanks to the efforts of Jesse Calia, department of public works supervisor, the heating costs have been helped. Of the $1,900 spent on the building $1,500 was not for fuel oil as it has been in the past. There was $700 for labor and the cost of parts for the boiler. However, the village has been unable to get quotes to replace the boiler. They are looking to get estimates on various forms of heating the large gym space. The gym is not being heated at this time.

Village Clerk Jamison Hanway reported the Stamford Central School Booster Club is interested in using the building for modified sports two nights per week and next spring for softball and baseball.

The village needs to come up with a cost to allow them to use the gym that covers the cost of heating the space plus a contingency to help with the repairs. Trustee Robert Orcutt suggested the village charge them the difference between the additional heat plus 10 percent of the cost.

"We want the space to be used, but the village can't underwrite it," said Schneider. "If it becomes too costly, we won't be able to do it." The Booster Club will be invited to fill out a facilities use form.

Election officials will be appointed for village elections, set for noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19 in village hall. Trustee Robert Orcutt is up for election this year.

Jesse Calia reported his crew has done a lot of wiring, including the village hall and the workshop. The bathrooms at the Churchill Gym have also been painted and he said they are in the process of replacing the globe lights in the village park areas. Crews have also been working to clean up the downed branches from last week's storm.

He is also attempting to get more quotes for the boiler at the gym. He has had contractors look at the boiler and offer suggestions, but they are not providing quotes.

Trustees approved the sewer connection at 36 Lake St., which was not on the system.

Code Enforcement Officer Rich Irwin is working on burning regulations in the village, with several large open fires raising concerns after they were reported to the fire department. The draft is nearly ready and will incorporate a permit for special operations or events. It is intended to give fire officials the ability to put out fires deemed unsafe. The permit for special occasions can be evaluated through the permit process and certain conditions applied. It will be tweaked some more before moving on to the village attorney and a public hearing is held.