By DOUG LAROCQUE
NEW LEBANON – A large part of the recent town board meeting on May 14 saw councilman Craig Sherkis arguing with Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling and Councilman Steve Powers over a motion to hire the engineering firm of Barton & Loguidice to prepare an engineering study on how to close the town’s landfill.
On April 25, Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106th) and State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-41th) brought the town news the state would contribute $2 million to close the landfill. The closure was first ordered back in 1987. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) put the town on the waiting list for funding, but that list was quite long and the funding for closures rather short.
When the site was determined to be leaching PFOA chemicals that impacted the New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School building, its closure became critical. At that news conference, it was asked of Supervisor Houghtling, who would pick up the tab if the closure cost more than $2 million. Assembly Speaker Carl Hestie, who was also in attendance, said the Assembly would make up the difference.
Ms. Houghtling said the legislature is beginning to push the town for final numbers, thus the need for the closure study. It was here that Councilman Sherkis voiced his objections. He indicated he wanted another month to study the engineer’s proposal and did not feel any pressure to act at the May 14 meeting. He also indicated he did not think the landfill was still leaching PFOA’s, a contention that Councilman Powers strongly objected to. Mr. Sherkis also questioned if the landfill needed to be capped. Supervisor Houghtling answered that not capping the site was not an option, they are under a DEC order to do so. She also indicated that DEC had not fined the town for not closing the landfill sooner because they were on the agencies waiting list.
Mr. Sherkis also stated he believed the landfill was already capped, citing trees and brush that have grown over the site. Mr. Powers replied that is not a cap, at least not one acceptable by DEC. Mr. Powers indicated the cap must be non-permeable, so as not to allow rain or run-off to seep through to the layers containing the PFOA.
The engineering study will cost $345,000 and is reimbursable by the state. The vote to hire Barton & Loguidice was 4 to 1, with Councilman Sherkis casting the lone negative vote.
The board also had to decide which law firm would help with the legal aspects of the study, as Town Attorney Jonathon Tingley has a conflict of interest. The board voted to hire the Albany based firm of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna. They submitted the lowest priced proposal.
The board also discussed the town’s Community Center’s future. “It’s a great concept, but is now the time to spend money on it?” Councilman Sherkis commented about the Community Center, in a discussion with Community Center Director Rob Long about attendance figures. Mr. Sherkis said he had taken photos of the logs and calculated that the average daily attendance was five people. Director Long contended Councilman Sherkis’s numbers were inaccurate. He said the daily attendance, averaged out since the center opened in December of last year, was 12. He also indicated the numbers are continuing to grow. Councilwoman Susan Tipograph said she thought it was unfair to judge the center’s performance and popularity after having been open just a few months.
The center has many games and entertainment for the youth of the town, hosts town senior group meetings, free community dinners and the town’s free store. It is located in the former Lebanon Valley Protective Association’s (LVPA) firehouse on U.S. Route 20. It became available when the fire department moved into its new location. The LVPA has indicated it will look to sell the building, and the town board is interested in buying it as a permanent home for the community center. Councilman Sherkis, again speaking positively of the services provided, questioned if it is really being used by a significant number of community members. He also questioned the expense, noting the building’s assessed value is $350,000. The LVPA’s asking price is an unknown factor.
A resolution was then put forth to spend $1,800 for an engineering report on the condition of the building. The resolution passed by a 3-2 vote, with Councilwoman Elizabeth Kroboth joining Mr. Sherkis in opposition.
