TOWN OF CHAZY

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

TOWN TALK NEWSLETTER

October 2008 – December 2008

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Staub Spiegel, Supervisor and

Councilpersons, Jerry Deno, Donald Trombley, Cathy Devins, Christopher Latremore –

Town of Chazy Town Board

As information is gathered for this Town Talk issue, the Town Board is working on the annual budget. We are trying diligently to ensure we provide the best services for our residents at the lowest possible cost. We have been very busy accomplishing completion on items such as our first cleaning of the inside of the water tank. We are in the finishing stages of completion of a new bathroom and concession stand facility at the Chazy Recreation Park. We have finished installation of a new centralized computer server system. This will allow many of our users to be interconnected to programs and eliminate buying of individual computer systems in the future. We are upgrading systems at our sewage plant to eliminate winter weather related problems. The Christmas lights in our hamlets have been given rave reviews. Residents requested more so we have purchased 12 beautiful additional lighted decorations that will be divided among our hamlets for this upcoming Christmas season.

2009 brings with it the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebrations. It marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain’s voyages along the river and lake that bear their names, as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage, which inaugurated steam commerce on the Hudson River. From the Canadian border to New York Harbor, exciting events and activities are being planned. Celine Paquette, Vice-Chair of the committee, is soliciting ideas that the Town may offer to participate in this celebration. Should you have any ideas, please call Staub Spiegel at 846-7544 ext. 1.

A reminder to all that if you see a street light out, please take down the line and pole number and forward it to our Town office so we may report it to NYSEG for repair. We will be updating our website to include emergency contact numbers for various agencies that will be available for the upcoming projected tough winter months ahead. We will also include numbers to call should you see a generator or sewage pump station down. As we close, we hope everyone has a wonderful upcoming holiday season!

Town Web Site: townofchazy.com

Check out the town’s web site for Town contact information, board meeting minutes, building permit and other applications, photos, links, and more town stuff.

IMPORTANT DATES

Town Board meetings November 6, 2008 7pm

December 8, 2008 7pm

Vote on November 4th

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Leo J. Oliver - Town of Chazy Clerk/Tax Collector

HUNTING LICENSES

The 2008-2009 hunting season is upon us and licenses may be purchased from the Town Clerk. Please bring an old license or your driver’s license.

DOG LICENSES

A reminder that once a dog reaches four (4) months the dog needs a rabies shot, and then it needs to be licensed at the Town Clerk’s office. $7.50 for neutered or spayed dogs and $15.50 for dogs un-neutered or un-spayed.

Should have any problems with other dogs, you may contact our Dog Control Officer David Underwood at 236-4135 or 534-5887.

TOWN AND COUNTY TAXES

The Town and County tax bills will be mailed out the first of January 2009. Please let me know as soon as possible of any address change. If you do not receive your bill by the second week of January and you do not have an escrow account, please contact me at 846-7544 ext. 2, for a copy of the bill.

Enjoy a happy and safe upcoming holiday season.

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Patricia Ayer – Town of Chazy Assessor

Assessment Exemptions renewals for next year will be mailed to property owners in December 2008 for seniors over 65 years old. If any property owner is turning 65 before December 31^st, or is already 65, and has not signed up for the senior assessment exemptions, contact me at the Town Hall.

Other assessment exemptions needing annual renewals, agricultural land and non-profit will be mailed to property owners in January 2009.

All exemptions are due by March 1^st 2009.

Have a peaceful and joyful holiday!

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Bob Cheeseman – Town of Chazy Historian

The Historian’s office still remains busy.

The up coming Quadricenntennial of Samuel deChamplain's exploration of the lake that bears his name is generating a lot of excitement and work and, all pleasurable. If any group or organization have events planned for the Quadricentennial, please let this office know so they can be posted in Town Talk and with the county historian. To date, we have a historical sign to commemorate the first motorized ferry on Lake Champlain operated by William Nelson Sweet from Chazy Landing to Isle LaMotte, Samuel deChamplain's place in 1609. This is a project of The Friends of the Library. The dedication will take place at the old ferry dock July 18, 2009 with a reception to follow. More information will come later, please watch for it.

The public response with donations of records and the many pictures have kept our new scanner busy. We have many scenes of Chazy that we are glad to have and they help answer questions.

We continue to look for pictures and documents from the Sciota and West Chazy areas.

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Richard Lewis, Superintendant - Town of Chazy Highway Department

Approximately 2 miles of paving has been done on the Parker and Ratta Roads. The price of asphalt has increased from $44.74 per ton to $68.49 as of August 22, 2008. The highway department was able to pave both roads at the lower price. We share services with the Town of Plattsburgh on paving and hauling which saves thousands of dollars that can buy asphalt instead of paying to have it done.

Two things that will severely impact our budget this coming year will be fuel for trucks and equipment and salt to mix with sand for winter. Everyone knows about the fuel increase when we fill our personal vehicles. Salt has increased from $53.83 per ton to $99.67 per ton. We use about 600 to 700 tons per season. The salt is mixed and piled with about 6000 yds. of sand. Luckily, we were able to order 240 tons at last years prices plus escalation. It is difficult to cut back on salt to mix with sand because less salt means frost penetrates the sand pile deeper and chunks plug the sanders. The less salt, the more times you have to spread sand with the cost of overtime and fuel, you don’t save money.

The highway department plows and sands 122 lane miles of Town roads and 66 lane miles of County roads for a total of 188 lane miles. We do our best not to damage mail boxes, but sometimes, it can not be avoided. Wet snow and slush off the wing is usually the problem. We do slow down during these conditions, but with 188 lane miles you can not crawl. I might suggest that if you have an expensive mail box, you might move it back off the road more or replace it with a standard one for the winter months. The town is not obligated to replace them if they are in the highway right of way. The Town Board passed Resolution #32 2-14-05 that states “Any mail box damaged by the Town plows can be repaired or replaced with a standard box and post not to exceed $35.00.”

Hope you have a safe and warm winter.

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01

Regina Braun - Town of Chazy J.C.E.O.

The Community Center is located at the West Chazy Town Hall at Rt 22 and 62 Cemetery Road, West Chazy 518-493-3491 Hours: Mon.,Wed., Fri., 8:30am-12:30pm & Thurs. 8:30am-2pm

The Town of Chazy J.C.E.O. provides application assistance, information and referral, food pantry, Christmas bureau, HEAP, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, Power Partners, Food Cooperative, Rural Transportation Program.

LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01