By DAN HEATH
PLATTSBURGH — The Town of Plattsburgh will provide Schlüter Systems with $330,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding.
Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said the money, which comes through the New York State Office of Community Renewal, will be used for equipment acquisition and job training at the company's new 57,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.
The money comes from $750,000 the town has available through the program for 2010.
Schlüter and a prospective partner have since requested another $130,000 for a different expansion project on the property that is expected to add 10 jobs.
That still leaves $290,000 for the upcoming year. Town Councilor Gerard Renadette said he would like to see funding spread out between some other companies, and he encouraged prospects to contact the town to see if they would be eligible.
AMBULANCE DISTRICTS
At the same meeting, the Town Council passed a resolution to retain consulting attorney John Tabner of Tabner, Ryan and Kenniry as it moves to consolidate its two ambulance districts. Bassett said there is a large disparity in those rates, as property owners in the district served by Morrisonville EMS pay 41 cents per $1,000 of their assessment, and those in the district served by CVPH EMS pay 20 cents per $1,000 of assessment.
"I'm not saying one is a better service than the other," Bassett said. "It is an effort to equalize rates. I think in the end we'll still have outstanding service."
The town shares costs with the Town of Schuyler Falls for the district served by Morrisonville and the towns of Beekmantown and Schuyler Falls for the one served by CVPH. Those municipalities will now have to negotiate their own service rates.
The new district is expected to be in place by the start of 2011.
ENERGY-SAVING LIGHTS
The town has ordered 85 new lights for the Town Garage as the first step to "green" town facilities.
Deputy Supervisor Martin Mannix said it will cost $10,068, with the town eligible for reimbursement of $6,375 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Mannix said Town Building and Grounds Department Director Art Brault conducted a pilot program in which two 500-watt light fixtures were replaced with one 200-watt high-intensity fixture. The new light provided more illumination at only 20 percent of the energy consumption of the old fixtures, he said.
He said the move could pay for itself within 1.4 years, after which the town will benefit from reduced energy costs.
Mannix said the town could also refurbish the old fixtures and possibly sell them, further reducing the overall cost.
MANNIX PAY UPPED
The Town Council unanimously passed a resolution to increase Mannix's pay by $1,000 a month, retroactive to the start of the year.
Bassett said Mannix, who is retired, is spending 20 to 30 hours a week at Town Hall, sometimes more.
"He has the time available and has a lot of prior experience on the council," Bassett said.
"He is already putting a lot of projects together, such as this lighting project."
The increase is effective until the end of the year. It is subject to change if a situation arises where the deputy supervisor was not able to commit as much time to the job.
Bassett said the move also frees time for him to pursue economic development and funding opportunities.
E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com
