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Published May 21, 2009, 09:49 AM

Troy looks at ‘sustainability’

As several other communities have in the past month, the Troy Town Board took into consideration a “framework of sustainable community principles” at its meeting Thursday, May 14.

By: By Chris Hamble, Hudson Star-Observer

As several other communities have in the past month, the Troy Town Board took into consideration a “framework of sustainable community principles” at its meeting Thursday, May 14.

The framework is a non-binding set of goals and guidelines for the community, such as:

  • Governments have a responsibility to provide cost-effective services to the public. People and governments need to:

  • Reduce reliance on materials extracted from the earth.

  • Reduce their contribution to the physical degradation of the environment.

  • Recognize that free markets allocate resources most efficiently, and property rights must be respected.

    “We are committed to work in collaboration, to be good stewards of the Earth,” said Town Chair Ray Knapp. “This is a first step, and we are committed to these principles.”

    Citizen Judy Freund, who has worked with the town on these principles also weighed in, saying, “This town has a strong tradition of thought, and wanting to do what is right.”

    The Town Board unanimously accepted the framework.

    Constable’s report

    Constable Mel Hermansen provided an update to the Town Board regarding the gate at Pemble’s Access that was found forced open over the winter.

    “The gate has now been restrained on both sides and will be more difficult to open without a key,” said Hermansen. “We are also having a problem with people walking around the gates with their dogs.”

    While dog complaints have been up in the last month, Hermansen believes that it’s simply locals wanting to walk their dogs along the beach.

    Walnut Hills

    The board approved the use of up to $7,000 from a previously cashed letter of credit for engineering work for the Walnut Hills development. The letter of credit, totaling $96,000, is to be used for the planning and engineering of the new development, which has been stalled for some time.

    Reviews

    Sharon Provos, the town clerk and treasurer, was the subject of a required yearly performance review and earned high praise from the board.

    After the review, the board agreed on a pay raise for the position. The increase, in line with other wage increases, will be 3.5 percent, and the position will change from an hourly position, to a salaried position, to be paid monthly.

    Animal storage

    The board has recommended that the county not approve a special exception for the number of allowable horses per acre on a property located at 389 County F. The reasons for the recommendation include the fact that no specific number of horses were spelled out (it is believed to be over 30, with the current number allowable on property that size being zero), the fact that the area is no longer a farm and is now a residential area, and concerns over manure control.

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