by Jay Lawson
The Town of Webb Board met for a regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 10, where it continued with emergency communications improvements at McCauley Mountain by approving a survey proposal made by Hollister Associates of Old Forge.
The survey work is necessary to accompany a tower permit application with the Adirondack Park Agency (APA).
The McCauley project is being done in conjunction with Herkimer County.
The time-frame for the application requires that the surveys be done expeditiously, according to Councilman Mike Ross.
Councilwoman Mary Brophy Moore agreed, saying grant funding could be jeopardized should the project fall off schedule.
“It would be a shame to lose that grant,” she said.
Supervisor Ted Riehle said the biggest problem with the current tower is nearby cell equipment that tends to cause interference.
The new tower will locate emergency receiver equipment a little farther back in the woods.
There’s an area that has been identified as a good place, said Councilwoman Moore.
The new tower being requested is 30 feet higher than the current one, 120 feet as opposed to 90 feet, but Councilwoman Moore said she expects the APA to approvie it.
“This is solely for emergency services, and there are other towers in the Adirondacks higher than this,” she said.
The new location with sufficient height should allow a direct shot for transmissions, according to Councilman Ross.
“It will make a big difference,” he said.
The Town of Webb Board also authorized Supervisor Ted Riehle to spend $41,000 for the construction and installation of snowmaking equipment at McCauley Mountain.
The expenditure is subject to a permissive referendum.
The money is to be taken from the McCauley Mountain Equipment Reserve Fund.
The fund was created to pay for improvements, construction and installation of equipment at McCauley.
The current amount in the fund is $41,089.86.
The Webb Board also resolved to acknowledge that a required examination of the Town of Webb Justice Court was conducted and found to be satisfactory.
A copy of the reports and resolution is to be forwarded to the New York State Unified Court System.
Additonally, Police Retire-ment Plan benefits were upgraded by the board, including one that will allow qualifying Webb employees to retire at age 55 without pension reductions.
Supervisor Ted Riehle said there were two reasons for adopting these new benefits, one involving the recent hiring of the Town’s new police chief.
“It would allow the new chief to transfer his existing time in the Sheriff’s Department, which is a separate retirement system, into the police and fire retirement system,” he said.
The other benefit involves officer retention. With the new option, officers would be able to work additional years to age 55 and realize an additional benefit.
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The Town Board resolved to approve a proposal from GHD Consulting Services to design a replacement roof for the Park Avenue Office Building for the purposes of bidding and construction of the roof.
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The Board discussed some alternate electrical energy suppliers that might yield savings to the Town of Webb.
The more attractive choice seemed to be one supported by the Association of Towns and Villages.
This involves a supply company that requires a 2-year contract, but with estimated savings of 16.58%. Given Webb’s typical electricity usage, that would be about $16,000 in savings over two years, according to Supervisor Riehle.
Councilwoman Mary Brophy Moore said she would look into another company and report back for comparison.
The Board said discussion will continue with a decision expected to be made in the near future.
The Town’s electrical supply contract is currently with National Grid.