TOWN TALK NEWSLETTER

West Chazy – Sciota - Chazy

June 2010 – August 2010

Staub Spiegel ~ Supervisor

As the warm weather is upon us, we are looking forward to many projects that have been on our agendas. We are repairing and painting soffits, windows, and eaves at the Chazy Town Hall. As this newsletter is written, we will be looking over bids to repaint our water tower. Many years of condensation has taken its toll. This will help to preserve the tower for years to come.

I would like to welcome Barbara Marking as our new JCEO representative in West Chazy. Barbara is a West Chazy resident who I am confident will be a great asset for this program. Barbara can be reached at 493-3491. I would also like to welcome Lisa Pecor as our new Court Clerk. Many thanks to Veronica Brasdat for her many years of service as Court Clerk and future service as Codes/Zoning Clerk and Planning Board Secretary.

I have been advised by Craig and Barb Giroux that they will be passing the reigns as head of the youth soccer program to Joe Morse and Julie Pombrio. Many thanks to Craig and Barb for their dedication in running this program over the years.

I would like to thank the Chazy Lions Club for building a new band stand platform at the Chazy Recreation Park. This stand will serve as the main platform for all performers for events held at the park. Nice job!

The announcement of the closing of the Pfizer facility will create a difficult challenge. I am working closely with Local and State officials on this matter. I will keep you posted with further news as it develops.

We hope you all enjoy a warm and beautiful summer season!

Chazy Water and Sewer District

Susan Patnode ~ Secretary

The Town will be flushing hydrants on July 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th from 8AM to 4PM each day in the hamlet of Chazy. You may experience low pressure and/or dirty colored water during these times. If you have any questions please call Susan at the Town office at 846-7544 ext. 1.

Leo J. Oliver ~ Town Clerk/Tax Collector

I hope everyone is enjoying summer.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Thursday ~ 8:00am to 3:00pm. Closed Friday, weekends, and holidays.

Marriage License Applications - 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Monday through Thursday - $40.00 fee; both parties must be present at same time; official identification is required (driver’s license, passport, etc.) and for those previously married, a certified copy of the divorce or death document for the previous marriage is required. The license is issued the same day – there is a twenty-four clock hour waiting period (from the time you receive your license) before you can be married. The marriage license is valid for New York State only and for sixty days.

Dog Licenses - In accordance with NYS Law, all dogs over the age of 4 months must be inoculated for rabies and licensed within the municipality in which they are harbored. Proof of rabies vaccination and the spayed/neutered condition of the animal (if applicable) are required to be presented at the time of licensing. The current yearly fee for Neutered/Spayed animals is $7.50; otherwise $15.50. Call for further information.

Check our Town website for forms and other information: www.townofchazy.com

Judge Robert 0. Dunlop ~ Town of Chazy Justice

The Town of Chazy Court has experienced a change in Court Clerks, effective June 1st this year. Veronica Brasdat has resigned and the Judges have hired, Lisa Pecor, as the new Court Clerk. The Town Court at the Chazy Town Hall is usually open at 9AM till noon on weekdays and Tuesday evenings at 6PM. Everyone is welcome to stop in and observe court proceedings, or review a particular case.

Justice Courts have a very broad, but limited jurisdiction in matters affecting the local community and are readily accessible geographically to the people. It is for this reason, justice courts are often called, “the courts closest to the people.”

Civil jurisdiction of a local town court is currently limited to $3000.00. In landlord/tenant proceedings, however, the monetary jurisdiction is unlimited. Actions can be filed in the regular civil part. Individuals can also file actions in the procedurally more relaxed small claims part of the court. Town Court, also has criminal jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, violations, and infractions. The Town Court also has preliminary jurisdiction over felonies. Jury and single judge trials are conducted.

Patricia Ayer ~ Town of Chazy Assessor

A rumor that the STAR exemption for school taxes will end has been circulating. New York State government has many proposed changes before the Senate and Legislature. It is possible the STAR exemption will end, but not without some other form of tax relief to take the place of the STAR. It would be too great a burden to just remove it without replacing the funding provided by the exemption.

The Town of Chazy needs a town resident to serve on the Board of Assessment Review. The Board of Assessment Review is a five member board of town residents that hold an Assessment Grievance Meeting the 4^th Tuesday in May. You will listen to property owners assessment complaints and jointly determine the assessed value for the following tax year. If you have an interest in serving your Town, contact the Supervisor or Assessor at 846-7544.

All Town of Chazy real property owners will receive a data mailer in July listing the information on file at the Assessor’s office. If the information is incorrect, missing, or changed please mail it back to the Assessor’s office.

David Lucia ~ Chief, West Chazy Fire Department

We are always recruiting for new members. See any member for details or stop down on any Monday night at the fire station at 7656 Rt. 22. Our Ladies auxiliary has been reestablished and is running well. Currently we have 13 members. The fire dept will have a team in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life June 18th in Plattsburgh. Anyone wishing to make a donation can visit or link posted at www.westchazyfiredepartment.com

J.C.E.O.

JCEO would like to inform the community that we have funds available to help individuals with Childcare Subsidies, Foreclosure, Eviction Prevention, and the “CARS” Program. We will be able to assist with child care for those individuals who are in a two year college program or enrolled in a CV-TEC program. We can also provide vehicles for individuals who are employed and have children. In addition, the Head Start Program is now accepting applications for the upcoming school year. The criteria needed to meet eligibility will be different for each of these services. If you have any questions or are interested in applying for any of these services, please call Kathy Bishop at 561-6310.

Richard Lewis ~ Highway Superintendant

Plows and sanders have been removed, cleaned, and stored for the summer months. All Town roads have been picked clean of litter. We got about 3 to 4 tons of debris for the landfill which was picked up here at the Town Garage. I would like to thank Northern Sanitation for picking it up here for a fraction of the cost of what it would have cost us to haul it to the landfill. They also supply us with a dumpster for Old Home Days (July 25, 2010) every year at no cost.

Most of our roads have had the brush cut back for better visibility. We are now mowing roadsides to keep grass, weeds, and brush under control. This will be done three times through out the summer and fall.

We will be having crack sealing done this year on Ratta Rd., Ashley Rd., and parts of Slosson Rd. at a cost of $35,000. This will extend the life of the pavement because it keeps the water out. The price of asphalt is $39.95 per ton for top coat. This is about $15.00 per ton cheaper than last year. We plan on paving Minkler Rd. from Miner Farm Rd. to Lake Shore Rd., Gonyea Rd. from Miner Farm Rd. to Town Line, Clark St. from Ridge Rd. to RR tracks, Blair Rd. from Laforest Rd. to Town Line, and possibly River Rd. for a total of 2.4 miles.

I would like to thank the highway crew for their dedication, pride, and team work that they have shown in the past few years. They are as follows: Danny Wells-28 years, Jeff Deno-14 years, Steve Stokes-11 years, John Patnode-11 years, Danny Nephew-7 years, Tim Lamica (Deputy Superintendent)-4 years and Warren Russell-3 years. Tell them you appreciate their hard work when you see them. Please remember to slow down in construction zones. We all have families to go home to.

Robert West ~ Town of Chazy Codes/Zoning Officer

The new Building Codes require any building that is over 400 square feet have either a foundation or piers below frost or a frost protected foundation.

Pools - Any pool or hot tub that has more than 24 inches of water in the structure has to have a four (4) foot high fence surrounding the structure with a self closing lockable gate. Also, they need a pool alarm that is capable of detecting a child entering the water and giving an audible sound when a child enters the water.

Amanda’s Law - New York State has adopted Amanda’s Law which requires a carbon monoxide alarm in all new and existing buildings regardless as to the date of construction of the building.

Chazy Code/Zoning Office hours Tuesdays 7:30am to 10am 846-7544, Ext 5 or (Home) 493-3024.

Robert Cheeseman ~ Town of Chazy Historian

This year the town historian ventured to enter a float in the Memorial Day Parade that is put on by the Russell B. Childs American Legion Post 769 here in Chazy. When I mentioned the project to Dick West he said “Let’s do it” and we were on our way. With West Brothers Construction, Inc. as sponsor Dick and Bob West with some help from Jim West did the construction using their material and equipment to come up with a fun entry and a look back to the days of the one room schoolhouse. Bob West hauled us to the Rec. Park and Dick West, known as Head Schoolmaster, hauled us through the parade. Children on the float were Logan Baker, Jessica Bertran, Catherine Christiansen-Provost, Jonathan Aborn, and Jack Pelton. A thank you to all of you for participating. Schoolmaster Bob Cheeseman, your historian was ringing the bell. A good time was had by all and we hope everyone enjoyed what we did. A great big THANK YOU to Dick and Bob West for their generosity and willingness to get involved with such a project. Oh yes, Dick supplied the candy for the kids to throw. Last, but not least, a thank you for the signs that were made by Dick Dodds.

With the approach of the American Civil War Sesquicentennial (the 150th anniversary in 2011) there will be many events and exhibits to watch for. Clinton County residents played a large part in that war and its effects were felt here on the home front. A request for citizens to check their attics for letters and pictures related to the Civil War period. Materials can be brought into this office to be donated or copied and returned to the owner.

Our Historical Marker program is progressing and we now have three new markers to go up. One on the Lake Shore Road, one in Chazy hamlet and one in West Chazy hamlet. Keep an eye out to see if in the month of June you see them. Next Town Talk issue the locations will be announced if you have missed finding them.

Town of Chazy Recreation Parks

The Town of Chazy has three recreation parks for the free use of Chazy residents. The parks may be used for an individual’s private event by contacting the chairperson of each park to reserve a date. The parks provide children’s playgrounds, charcoal grills, and fields for basketball, soccer, and baseball with bleachers. Sicota and George E. Deno Memorial parks have tennis courts. Restrooms will be open with a reservation. They all have a large mowed area for any game (except golf) you wish to play.

Sciota Recreation Park is located at 34 Gonyea Road (just past the intersection of Miner Farm Road and Rt. 22) consisting of 23.1 Acres. The Sciota Recreation Park chairperson is Adrian Dutil contact 493-2300.

Chazy Recreation Park is located at 438 North Farm Road consisting of 10.4 Acres. The Chazy Recreation Park chairperson is Thomas Botten contact home-846-7865.

George E. Deno Memorial Park is located at 7658 Rt. 22 (behind the West Chazy Fire Station) consisting of 5.1 Acres. The George E. Deno Memorial Park chairperson Thomas Tetreault cell-572-7658 or home-493-5233.