Prattsville Enacts New Forms, Brochure

The new town flyer/brochure in Prattsville is slated to be distributed soon to all residents as a source of pleasing community information. 

PRATTSVILLE - The days of Mayberry charm are not gone in Prattsville despite some modern modifications in how business gets done.

Town board members, in recent actions, enacted a new Water Turn Off/On Request Form, adding a fee for the task while creating a paper trail.

“Times are changing,” town supervisor Greg Cross said in a followup phone interview, noting that in the past, a simple verbal request was enough to have the job attended to by water superintendent Jim Dymond.

Situations arose, however, where the request was not submitted by the actual owner of the property, potentially resulting in complications.

No problems ensued but, “we decided we should have a fee and a form,” Cross said, putting the price at $50 per shut off and/or restoration.

“We do request the owner or authorized agent be present,” the form states, “but by signing this form, you give the Prattsville Water District permission to turn the water off in your absence.”

“We don’t know how many hundreds of years Jim will still be doing this,” Cross said. “He knows all the in’s and out’s of the system. 

“He knows everybody in town. He is a heck of a resource but this is something we should have down on paper,” the supervisor said.

In other matters related to conducting business, council members opted to bring in a fresh Accounting Services handler particularly as it relates to the mandated year-end financial report, etc.

“Things have been delayed to the point where it became ridiculous,” Cross said. “There were reasons given on their end but every year it was getting worse and worse. It was a frustrating situation.”

The Bonadio Group, a national firm with a branch in Albany, has been retained at a substantial overall cost-savings, Cross said.

Council members are also expected to shift to a different Payroll Services provider. “The advanced technology offered will be good for our employees,” Cross said.

“I run my own business. I believe payday is payday. If payday is on Friday, you get paid on Friday, not Monday,” Cross said, noting with the former service “it was getting to be a headache every week.”

While diverting away from more localized agents for those fiscal services, the town will simultaneously add something decidedly homespun and reminiscent of sheriff Taylor, deputy Fife, Aunt Bee and Opie.

“We’re putting out what I’m calling a town flyer,” Cross said, a yearly compilation of dates, times and places for community activities.

The brochure will also include a listing of town officials, updates on the revitalization of Pratt Rock Park and other future plans.

“We also want to have budget information,” Cross said. “The budget is important, especially in a small town like ours, so we want people to understand why it’s going up when it does.”

The flyer should be ready for mailing to all property owners this week or next, according to town clerk Theresa Whitworth who assembled the information along with resident Melissa Peters and Cross.

“We’ll see what kind of feedback we get and do this at the start of every year,” Cross said, noting councilman Mason Chase was also closely involved in conceptualizing the document.

In other matters:

—Supervisor Cross extended an invitation to prospective volunteers for working on an update of the Comprehensive Plan.

The revision, which is being paid for by a Smart Growth grant, will replace a plan adopted fifteen years ago, setting a vision for the town’s future.

—Cross reported that a vendor has agreed to pay a fee of $500 to set up at Conine Field for the upcoming softball season and other events.

“It’s not a lot of money but it’s five-hundred dollars more than we have been getting,” the supervisor said. The vendor is Donald Schoenborn who also serves as town building inspector.

—Council members accepted a bid from SD Landscape and Design LLC, based in Tannersville, to prettify Main Street with flower boxes, readied before the Memorial Day parade which is slated for late May.

The annual beautification will cost $912, placing and watering the plants. Liners for the hanging baskets will be replaced, where needed, at an expense to be determined, officials said.

Some baskets may be touched up with white paint. The arrangements shall be in red white and blue, patriotically celebrating the upcoming 250th Anniversary of American independence.