Harpersfield Budget Likely to Go Over the Tax Cap

By Liz Page

HARPERSFIELD – The town of Harpersfield will not stay within the state's allowable tax cap, according to Supervisor Lisa Driscoll. Just the retirement figures alone will put them over the tax cap. She said they are currently at a 3.7 percent increase.

While many of the budget items remain the same, she said, retirement is up $6,000 and will go up the same amount next year as they make payments to the state for a miscalculation. Insurance costs have also increased 10 percent.

The new building inspector has asked for a raise and Driscoll is seeking a raise and she is giving the town clerk a 50 cent per hour raise. She said she was providing a stipend for the planning board members, who are not paid, for all their hard work over the past year. The highway superintendent is up 2 percent and the transfer station employees are receiving a $1 raise.

There are increases in health insurance and retirement for highway crew members and there are improvements for the transfer station slated for next year.

The tentative budget is up and she said they will propose the law to override the tax cap at the next meeting. She asked board members to review the budget and to call her with any questions.

She reported the town is not settling, but moving forward with Article 7 on the commercial real estate quotes. The town is being challenged on three assessments. Supervisor Driscoll reported the town will do nothing until the lawyers advise them to and it is awaiting court decisions.

There was a brief discussion about the Harpersfield Historical Society and a proposal to build a community center next to the museum. Board members did not seem to support that idea, saying the Colonel Harper Grange already serves that purpose and its members are looking to make it a year-round venue, with a handicapped bathroom and insulation.

Seal coating has been done at the town hall and transfer station and once they are done with the oil and stone lines will be painted to show the traffic flow and parking areas.

In his report, Highway Superintendent Russell Hatch said the town is done with oil and stone for the year and they have been using the new truck, which finally arrived, to work the kinks out before winter maintenance. In checking bids on the new 550 Ford truck, it was determined that Metro Ford was the lower bid. He said some more work needs to be done at the transfer station before the new traffic pattern will go into effect and the lines painted.

A report from the town's insurance carrier NYMIR recommends utilizing the Department of Motor Vehicle LENS system to monitor drivers. A new Robinson Broadhurst grant will see funding for a new excavator. The current one still has good value for trade in, said Hatch, and the balance can be paid from Comprehensive Highway Improvement Program funding.

The agreement with the Heart of the Catskill Humane Society was renewed.

The backhoe at the transfer station is "getting tired". The town may sell it along with an old shed valued at $10,000-$15,000 that could be applied toward the purchase of a new, smaller backhoe.

Requests for proposals will go out for snowplowing of the town hall and post office lots and the town is still seeking an alternate member to the planning board.

The next meeting will be held on October 8.