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Canaan concerned about rocky road on Route 22

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CANAAN–By the beginning of 2019 Canaan and New Lebanon expect work together to pressure the state Department of Transportation and the state legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo to do something about the deteriorating condition of state Route 22.

At the December 10 meeting of the Canaan Town Board Supervisor Richard Keaveney noted the state did an excellent job repaving Route 295 from Route 22 to Chatham, a distance of seven miles and he and others wonder why Route 22 doesn’t receive similar treatment.

One of the problem areas discussed at the meeting is the intersection of Route 22 and Interstate 90, the Berkshire Spur of the Thruway, where there is heavy truck traffic in and out of Love’s Truck Stop. The I-90 ramp is in need of repaving. And at the meeting Route 22 was described as “rock and roll out there.”

Other multi-town collaboration was also apparent at this month’s Canaan Town Board meeting, with reports of five towns agreeing to share costs of ambulance charge-backs for the Chatham Rescue Service, which could result in a savings of $40,000. Participating towns include: Canaan, New Lebanon, Chatham, Austerlitz, and part of Ghent.

A second collaboration involves shared services for a code enforcement officer serving Canaan, Hillsdale, Philmont and Copake. At the suggestion of the newest participating town, Copake, language was incorporated regarding dissolution of the agreement should it be necessary.

In other business at the December 10 meeting:

• Supervisor Keaveney and council members discussed the status of the two competing communications companies offering TV, internet and phone service: Spectrum and Consolidated Communications. Citizens are perplexed and divided when it comes to having cable installed. Some oppose having more poles. Others would welcome cable and poles so long as they can broadband (high speed) internet service.

Mr. Keaveney suggested to one disgruntled constituent concerned about walking her dog that perhaps “the dog may like the poles”

• The board approved recycling fees, including: $50 per year for residents, $35 per year for residents 65 and older, and $100 for non-residents. The last category may help discourage residents of western Massachusetts who take advantage of the service here. It was reported that Canaan loses $150,000 annually from its recycling service. These fees may reveal what residents are truly committed to recycling or change how much ends up in the trash

• Local Law 2019-1 was approved to permit commercial businesses to utilize up to 200% of solar generated power in conformance with state law. Residential solar power reutilization or buy-back remains at 110%. Contractors doing work for the town in 2019 and beyond will be required to provide proof of insurance for work on or in town property, or as an alternative, they will sign an agreement to indemnify the town.

The Town Board agenda for the next regular January 14, 2019. That evening will also include: a public hearing on the proposed solar law at 6:15 p.m.; the annual Organizational Meeting at 6:30 p.m.; Canaan Town Board at 7 p.m.

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