Jefferson To Test Air and Water at Town Hall

JEFFERSON –  An escrow account will be set up for the planning board's review of the Castle Road Project on North Harpersfield Road and the town will pay to have the air and water tested at the Jefferson Town Hall to investigate an odor that is strongest in the justice quarters.

Supervisor Peggy Hait said she has also noticed an odor upstairs when the building has been closed up for a while. In the interest of everyone's health and safety, the town approved an estimate for a professional testing company to come in and do the testing. The estimate is for $2,810.75.

The town will also clean out all the air ducts, something that hasn't been done and when the weather breaks repair a leak in the roof.

Hait said Judge Lynn Hait has complained about an odor in the town court, located underneath the town hall. There was discussion that the old town highway garage sat near the site of the current town hall and there were no regulations in those days about dumping fluids. However, hazardous waste and soil was removed from the site prior to construction of the town hall. They want to ensure there is nothing toxic leaching into the town hall. 

A new drop box has been installed for the town justice.

A leak in the clerk's office will be repaired when the weather permits.

Highway Superintendent Ray Hendrickson said crews have been plowing snow a lot and have hauled sand. They have also done some repairs with the town loader having problems. He said the town will have to get another at some point. The current loader is a 2004 model. The old army truck is also in need of a part that is difficult to find. They did approve the purchase of the part if he can locate it.

There was discussion of gas prices and the need to separate usage by the Jefferson Fire Department with rising gas prices. The issue will be discussed further. 

Councilman Ken Cole said the CRC is gearing up to make more repairs and to have excursion trains at the DURR running in the coming summer season. There will also be a new concessionaire for the summer.

Supervisor  Hait  said there is currently a scam regarding property that people should be made aware of and it involves selling property that is not for sale. It happened to someone she knew and it wouldn't have been discovered except they saw their property listed on "Zillow". She said there is now a free tool to alert residents of scams. The Schoharie County Clerk’s Office is now able to link folks to a Fraud Alert website where anyone can sign up to receive an email notification whenever a document is recorded or filed in your name in the Schoharie County Clerk’s Office. This is not only for land records but will also alert for any document filed in the Clerk’s Office. It is important to keep in mind that this Fraud Alert system will not prevent a fraudulent document from being created and filed, but it will make you aware that there has been activity recorded in your name. If it wasn’t actually done by you, you’re at least on notice. Please keep in mind there may be other property owners in the County that share the same name, so look things over very carefully. To sign up for the free Fraud Alert service visit the County Clerk’s Web page on the Schoharie County Website.

An escrow account in the amount of $15,000, which can be replenished as needed has been set up to allow the Jefferson Planning Board to hire consultants and professional expertise in their review of a project located at 538 North Harpersfield Road. Board members gave their unanimous approval.

The town board also agreed to put some new doors on the trash shed and keep it. Councilman Don Vanvalkenburgh said a closer look at the building indicated it isn't in bad shape, it just needs some new doors. The town is also investigating installing WiFi for use by the public on the town green. It would serve visitors and special events and could be turned on for a few months or a full year, depending on cost.

Town Historian Bonnie Dailey reported the application and guidelines for the Hometown Hero Banner Program have been finalized and copies are available at the Jefferson Town Hall, the Jefferson Post Office and Judd Hall. Copies are also available on the town's new website under the town historian's section. To date she has received just one application. She is also working  on the new historical marker at the Methodist-Episcopal Church, which will be included in the county's tourism promotion of historic sites and she is working to set up its installation. There will an "unveiling" ceremony n the future. 

The town will also send a thank you note to Tom Earhart foe his installation of the drop box.

The next meeting of the Jefferson Town Board will be held April 9 at 7 p.m. in the Jefferson Town Hall.