News

Five hearings in 25 minutes

By Billie Dunn

COXSACKIE — On Monday night the Village of Coxsackie held what Mayor John Bull described as a “rapid fire public meeting” concerning five proposed local laws that were either not on the books, or were in need of updating — the hearing for all of laws lasted less than 25 minutes.

The first law — entitled “Adult Entertainment” — was new, and more than 20 pages in length. According to Bull the law is simply a precaution because the village has never had an adult entertainment law on the books.

Afterward the village addressed a “Junk Storage” law, which Rocco Cole, the Comprehensive Plan Committee chairman, explained has two parts — the first details junk storage, the second details junk yards. Cole says the Village had an existing junk storage law, but not a junk yard law.

Proposed local laws eight and nine concerned telecommunication towers and capital residential improvements. According to the capital improvements law, any improvements made to a home exceeding $3,000 may be submitted for the purpose of tax exemption for six years.

According to Bull the village’s proposed law only applies to improvements made to a home — not necessary construction, and it was modeled after a similar law that the town adopted last year.

The final proposed local law, number 10, was titled “Snow Emergency Parking Regulations.”

According to Highway Superintendent Ward Collesides, he or the mayor may declare a snow emergency when there are six or more inches of snow on the ground. The Village’s parking regulations were modeled after the regulations adopted by the Village of Athens three years ago. Collesides says that the biggest problem that Athens has experienced with the regulations is a lack of public knowledge.

The law dictates what side of the street — odd or even — residents may park on during snow storms, to allow for proper clean-up and snow removal by road crews. According to Village of Coxsackie officials, the Village of Athens has not yet towed cars which violate the law, but plans to begin this coming winter. Coxsackie officials plan on effectively advertising the regulations.

All of the proposed laws were adopted unanimously later in Monday’s meeting.

The Town of Coxsackie board held two scheduled public meetings concerning similar proposed laws, before its Tuesday night meeting — one detailing junk storage and the other detailing telecommunications towers. Neither proposed law sparked discussion, and both were later adopted during the regularly scheduled meeting.

To reach Billie Dunn, please call 518 943-2100, ext. 3323, or e-mail bdunn@thedailymail.net.

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