By Liz Page
HARPERSFIELD – Members of the Harpersfield Town Board approved an increase in the senior exemptions for the town to keep seniors who have received increases in Social Security payments from earning above the exemption amounts. They also reappointed Laurie Bedford as sole assessor for six years.
They also discussed cracking down on short term rentals where people staying at air Bnbs do not have window stickers to dump at the shared transfer station site. Owners of the SLRs are going to have to make arrangements for trash pickup or bring the garbage to the transfer station themselves. The owners will be responsible. A letter will be sent to owners to let them know that guests will no longer be allowed to dump without a sticker. They are also considering a banner that says "no sticker, no entry" and "all loads must be covered.”
There continues to be a problem with people leaving garbage at the gate when the transfer station is not open. They can now be visualized on security cameras. A lady who recently did just that, said Driscoll, and will be receiving a letter from the town that she will be prosecuted.
There was also discussion about securing banking accounts in light of cases where people have tapped into accounts in other municipalities. Supervisor Lisa Driscoll is researching the issue and the cost.
Board members also discussed the cost of defending the town in Article 7 procedures related to assessments on three commercial buildings, including Tractor Supply, the old Vastas building and Walgreens. The figures presented by Supervisor Lisa Driscoll were substantial and almost doubled for court ready appraisals. The town will keep searching for appraisers.Young & Sommer was approved to represent the town.
Driscoll also reported that New York State retirement is increasing more than $11,000 for the next budget and by another $18,000 the following year. The town is also liable for a miscalculation of the retirement from 2014 to 2024 in the amount of $32,513. Those figures alone will put the town well above the allowable tax cap, she said..
They moved the discussion into the 2026 budget with work beginning next month.
She also reported that the state Department of Health and citations against NYSafety Track court appearance was moved to Aug. 27. She said there are other issues with the track as well.
The new cell tower is now due to be erected during the first week of September.
Board members also reviewed a pair of bids on a new 550 Ford truck. Highway Superintendent Russell Hatch is reviewing the bids. A motion was made to accept the lower bid from Metro Ford, provided all the paperwork is in order and all the prices are correct. If not, the town will rebid.
The town's new plow truck is now completed and will hopefully be delivered soon, according to Hatch.
The new exemption levels approved by board members fall under Section 467 of the Real Property Tax Law. Real property within the town of Harpersfield owned by one or more persons, each of whom is 65 years of age or over, or real property within the town owned by husband and wife, one of whom is 65 years of age or over, shall be exempt from town tax levy according to the following schedule based on income of the owner or combined income of the owners of the property for the tax year immediately preceding the date of application:
Income $22,750.00 or less…………………….. 50% exemption.
Income $22,751.00 but less than $23,7499.00. .45% exemption.
Income $23,750.00 but less than $24,749.00…..40% exemption.
Income $24,750.00 but less than $25,799.00…..35% exemption.
Income $25,800.00 but less than $26,799.00……30% exemption.
Income $26,800.00 but less than $27,599.00……25% exemption.
Income $27,600.00 but less than $28,499.00……20% exemption.
Income $28,500.00 or more ……………………………….no exemption.
The next meeting of the town board will be held Sept. 10.
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