Tag Archives: Board

Patrick Perkins running for seat on Webb Town Board

Patrick Perkins of Old Forge has announced his candidacy for Town of Webb Councilman in the Republican Primary in September and the general election in November.

Pat, who is a life-long resident of Webb, said, “I want to add some common sense to what we’re doing here in town. It seems we are spending money kind of foolishly and maybe I can do something about it. That’s my reasoning for running for the board.”

Born and raised in Webb, Continue reading

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Inlet Historical Society seeking board candidates

The Inlet Historical Society is currently seeking candidates for the five expiring board seats in their upcoming election.

The nominating committee of the Historical Society will meet prospective candidates at the Inlet Town Hall on Thursday, July 7 at 6 p.m. Board members serve two-year terms and meetings are held once a month.

Anyone interested in helping the organization move forward in its mission to preserve Inlet’s Adirondack history is welcome.

“The organization has some 170 members and a strong foothold after only two years in existence. We would love to share the experience with any residents of the Inlet area,” said board member Dave Scranton.

Many artifacts and photographs are being accessioned monthly into the Inlet Historical collection and a variety of programs are scheduled throughout the summer. “If you are interested in Inlet’s past, help to make the Inlet Historical Society part of Inlet’s future,” Scranton said.

 

 

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Faulty Petitions

The Herkimer County Board of Elections is advising residents of possible errors in petitions picked up for the upcoming elections at Hummels of Mohawk or Herkimer.

According to board of elections, the problem relates to conservative and independent petitions only. Contact them at (315) 867-1102 to verify your petitions’ accuracy.

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Helen Estabrook announces resignation from Webb school board, served 13 years

Helen Estabrook of Old Forge resigned from her position on the Town of Webb School Board at a meeting held on Tuesday, June 7.

Her resignation is effective July 1, 2011.

“We accepted Helen’s resignation with deep regret and appreciation for her years of service,” said Board President Julie Zaykoski.

Estabrook, who retired from teaching at the Town of Webb School in December 1998 following a 34-year career, was elected to the board in May 1999.

At the time of her resignation she was three years into her second five-year term.

“I wish the board the best in their continuing efforts to make our school the best it can be,” Estabrook said.

According to Zaykoski, the board will discuss their options for replacing Estabrook at their next meeting which will be held on Tuesday, June 21.

 

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Herkimer County legislature seeks appointee for HCCC trustee board

The Herkimer County Legislature’s Committee on Education is seeking candidates for a local sponsor appointment to the Herkimer County Community College Board of Trustees.

Candidates must be residents of Herkimer County for this position, which will have a term to be completed through June 30th of 2016.

The Committee on Education will be responsible for conducting the selection process, with final confirmation by resolution of the full County Legislature.

Letters of interest/resumes may be sent to Peter F. Manno, Chairman of the Committee on Education, c/o Clerk of the County Legislature, 109 Mary Street, Suite 1310, Herkimer, New York, by June 8, 2011.

For further information, contact James W. Wallace, Jr., County Administrator at 315-867-1112.

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Webb board passes resolution to extend KOA water district

The Town of Webb Town Board held a public hearing on Tuesday, April 12 to consider a resolution to extend the Town of Webb Water District No. 1, also known as “KOA Water District,” which is located just north of the Old Forge hamlet and comprises the Old Forge Camping Resort.

The district was established in conjunction with the development of the original KOA Kampground in 1972.

The public hearing was opened at 7 p.m., and closed after all in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions and speak for or against the resolution.

During the Town Board’s regular meeting which convened immediately after the hearing, the board voted to approve the resolution with a unanimous vote by those attending—Councilmen J.B. Herron and Mike Ross, and Supervisor Robert Moore.

Board members Kate Russell and Richard Risley had been unable to attend the meeting.

The board effectively determined that all legal requirements of the resolution had been met.

Also that all property and property owners within the proposed district would be benefitted by the resolution, and that all that benefitted were included within the limits of the proposed district.

And it determined that the action taken in extending the district was in the public’s interest.

The resolution, having been approved by the board, is now subject to a permissive referendum, according to Town Attorney Richard Frye.

The expansion issue came about when Old Forge Camping Resort was working with state agencies on a development project, according to Frye.

It was during that process that a clear error was discovered, which had the water district boundary drawn incorrectly, he said.

The action to extend the water district is less an “extension” than a “redrawing” of the district to make it reflect the way it always should have been, according to Frye.

Effectively a mistake had been made early on and not recognized until years later, he said.

Land acquired by John Hanford when he bought the KOA in 1973, had not been included in the water district maps and description as it should have been, according to Frye.

During the public hearing former Supervisor George Hilte-brant, who is familiar with the KOA district, asked the town board for details about the Camping Resort’s water usage and payment arrangement.

Attorney Frye confirmed that the campground pays according to actual water usage and not the property’s assessed value.

Supervisor Robert Moore explained that the purpose of the resolution is to make the legal paperwork reflect what had been taking place in actual practice in the water district for years, and what had previously been assumed to be the situation.

In essence, certain land, that had been part of the KOA property since 1973, and had been intended to be part of the water district, had been excluded by oversight.

“The purpose of the proposed extension is to incorporate all lands currently served by the district into the legal description of said district,” Moore said.

And this involves no cost to the town or others in the water district, he added.

“All costs associated with this proposed district extension are the responsibility of Old Forge Campgrounds, LLC,” he said.

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Town of Webb UFSD School district approves $7.5+ million budget, offers plan to shrink board; first public hearing set May 2nd

The Town of Webb Board of Education has approved a budget for the 2011–12 school year, which includes $7,552,866 in spending, a 3.25 percent decrease from the previous year’s budget of $7,806,567, according to Superintendent of Schools Donald Gooley.

There are really no surprises or unexpected costs involved, according to Gooley.

“It’s basically a status quo budget,” he said.

“We held the line where we could and were able to reduce costs in some areas,” he added.

Gooley said that last year the district offered state retirement incentives, which allowed it to replace some higher-paid veteran teachers with ones that were lower on the salary schedule.

That not only reduced the district’s salary expense, but also the amount it contributes to teachers’ social security and retirement.

Basically the retirement incentive allowed veteran teachers to be credited with up to three additional years of teaching if they would agree to retire early, Gooley said.

And not all retiring teachers were replaced, which amounted to additional savings, according to Gooley.

The tax levy—the amount to be collected from property owners in order to fund the budget—also decreased in the new budget.

It would go down 4.72 percent, from $5,569,297 in 2010–11 to $5,306,610.

And New York State’s cuts to education funding, which many districts continue to anguish over, will not have much effect on the Town of Webb.

Gooley said the amount of state aid lost locally will be relatively insignificant.

“Probably less than $20,000,” he said.

The reason being the Town of Webb is not a state-aid dependent district, according to Gooley.

“State aid is based on a ‘CWR’ or Combined Wealth Ratio, which is the value of the land and the income of the people,” he said.

“And though our income of the people is probably average, the value of the land is very, very high.”

Then add Webb’s small student population, and the state just doesn’t see much need for aid, as has been the case for many years, according to Gooley.

As for Webb’s student enrollment, Gooley said the trend appears to be more positive.

“Our enrollment has leveled off the last two years around 291, and hopefully the years of declining enrollment are over.”

And the district’s budget needs are also projected to be in a good direction next year, according to Gooley.

“I think it¸’s a good budget,” he said.

It decreases costs and makes operations more efficient, he added.

“It allows us to reach our goals and objectives for the year.”

The Town of Webb Board of Education has scheduled three public meetings about the proposed school budget, which are as follows:

• Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m., at the Big Moose Fire Hall.

• Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m., at the Woodgate Free Library.

• Tuesday, May 10, at 7 p.m., in the Town of Webb UFSD Gymnasion at Old Forge.

Interested community members are encouraged to bring their questions to the forums.

School district voters will be able to vote on the budget on Tuesday, May 17, from 2 to 9 p.m., in the Town of Webb School gymnasium.

Voters will also decide who will serve a five-year term on the Town of Webb Board of Education.

The seat, which is due to expire, is currently held by Jane Slack. Slack intends to seek reelection.

A third ballot proposal will ask Town of Webb voters whether the board of education should reduce its membership from seven to five.

Currently, the terms of Board of Education members Sharon Finkle-Kleps, Kathleen Nahor and Julie Zaykoski are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012.

If the voters agree to reduce the board from seven to five members beginning on July 1, 2012, only one board seat will be vacant and voted upon in May 2012.

That would mean only one of the current board members with terms set to expire—Finkle-Kleps, Nahor and Zaykoski—could potentially return to the board.

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