Richmondville Town Court Seeks Grant For Improvements

Construction on a small addition to the Town of Richmondville municipal building is well under way. Photo by Chris English.

By Chris English

RICHMONDVILLE — The Town of Richmondville Court is applying for $10,700 in a New York State Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP) grant to pay for various proposed improvements, most notably an improved sound system.

The town board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the application at its Thursday, Sept. 11 meeting, with Town Supervisor Jeffrey Haslun and Councilmen Eric Haslun, George Horning, Harry Rode and Todd Sperbeck all voting yes.

According to a document provided by Town Clerk/Tax Collector/Registrar Maggie Smith, the court is seeking funds for five items listed in order of priority. First is $8,345 for an integrated courtroom audio system that would enhance security and be a big improvement over the sound system being used now.

Second is $600 for tinting for eight exterior facing windows to improve security; third is $1,323 for new chairs for the attorney tables as the metal folding chairs being used now are uncomfortable; fourth is $393 for crowd control barriers and fifth is $17.70 for two frames for NYS Uniform Court System yearly calendars.

While the total of the five items adds up to $10,679, Smith said it just made sense to round the grant request up to $10,700 to provide a bit of a cushion.

In other actions from the Sept. 11 meeting, the town board approved two resolutions related to equipment and transferring money from one fund to another.

The first resolution transfers a sum not to exceed $78,000 from a reserve fund to a machinery and equipment fund for the purpose of making a down payment on a new plow/dump truck "and/or its component parts including a 6 x 6 chassis."

It continues: "The intended appropriation/expenditure herein is subject to a permissive referendum by reason of the fact that the period of usefulness of the plow/dump truck exceeds five years as determined by NYS Local Finance Law Section II."

The second resolution transfers a sum not to exceed $134,000 from two reserve fund balances to an unreserved fund balance. The document states the town needs to replenish the unreserved fund balance after purchasing a new 2024 CV International plow/dump truck earlier this year for $154,332.

"This resolution be and hereby is adopted subject to a permissive referendum," it stated.

In his Supervisor's report, Jeffrey Haslun said Engineer Brendon Becker has told him that short-term financing, part of the funding structure for a $12-13 million sewer system expansion, should be finalized by the first part of October. The town is hoping to go out to bid on the project soon.

Work on an addition to Town Hall (the municipal building) just off Podpadic Road is well under way. Haslun said trusses are due to arrive Sept. 25, and there are plans to spray foam the walls and blow in insulation for the ceiling.

Highway Superintendent Brian Manchester reported that he and his crew recently completed sealing work, and also did some ditch and shoulder work on Boughton Road. On his recommendation, the board approved a $38,300 bid from the Town of Montour on one of Richmondville's used one-ton trucks.

Early in the meeting, Town Planning Board Chairman Bob Reed said he has become aware of some unregulated short-term rentals in the Town of Richmondville and that the Planning Board is working on developing a set of regulations. It is looking at regulations from some nearby towns to guide it during the process, Reed added.

"People are renting out campers during the winter," Smith added. "People are putting in hot tubs not being checked out by codes. We need to have some kind of regulation."

During her report, Smith said she recently made a trip to Ithaca to pick up some donated hanging folders and other supplies that will help with storage in Richmondville.

"It was really worth the trip," she said.

Also, Smith said she has posted a notice from State Senator Peter Oberacker reminding residents what services are available from the Senator's office.

"Having issues with a state or local agency? We're here to help," the notice reads. "We can assist with unemployment, DMV issues, state inquiries, grants, utility concerns, Star tax credits, housing and HEAP."

The telephone number at Oberacker's district office in Oneonta is 607-432-5524. His Albany office is 518-455-3131 and the email is oberacker@nysenate.gov.

The Town of Richmondville will hold a budget workshop meeting 6 p.m. Oct. 2 at the municipal building just off Podpadic Road. The regular town board meeting at 6 p.m; Oct. 9 has been moved to the Richmondville Firehouse at 288 Main Street so that the municipal building can accommodate a meeting of county magistrates.

The Sept. 11 meeting opened with a moment of silence to honor victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks 24 years ago.

"We were invaded," Jeffrey Haslun said.