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Canton town, village creating oversight committee to keep comprehensive plan on track

Posted 8/5/22

BY PAUL MITCHELL North Country This Week CANTON – In an attempt to keep Canton’s comprehensive plan on track, village and town officials are working to create an oversight committee. At Wednesday …

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Canton town, village creating oversight committee to keep comprehensive plan on track

Posted

BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – In an attempt to keep Canton’s comprehensive plan on track, village and town officials are working to create an oversight committee.

At Wednesday night’s joint meeting, Deputy Mayor Carol Pynchon introduced the concept to members of the both boards, who in turn, made suggestions and had questions about the makeup of the committee and exactly how it would function.

Pynchon said the economic development (ED) committee initiated the oversight committee idea and noted that the review and documentation should not solely rest on the shoulders of the ED.

“This impacts all departments. All three municipalities should share in the responsibility,” said Pynchon. “We need to pay attention to projects and priorities and once a year pull all this stuff together. Hopefully it will be just a quick overview.”

Both town and village officials stressed the importance of including the Village of Rensselaer Falls in the mix.

Pynchon also pointed out that Rensselaer Falls has not been actively participating in the comprehensive plan.

Trustee Bob Washo suggested the Rensselaer Falls board be invited to the joint meetings held quarterly.

“We have a legal obligation to have all three municipalities on board,” said Washo.

“We haven’t talked about the Rensselaer Falls piece?” stated Councilman John Taillon.

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley proposed hiring Jaclyn Hakes, who oversaw the production of a comprehensive plan as director of planning services for M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying, Clifton Park, at an hourly rate to assist the oversight committee.

“It makes sense to contract out with Jackie to be the point person,” said Ashley.

Councilman Robert Santamoor said the committee would serve on an information only basis with no authority to do anything.

“They would meet just a couple times a year, not spending hours and hours every month,” he stated.

Pynchon said she will contact Hakes; Santamoor agreed to contact Rensselaer Falls Mayor Michael Hammond.

It was also suggested to get the code enforcement officers and the planning boards involved in the review process, and possibly appoint two at-large persons to sit on the committee.

The comprehensive plan was put in place in 2019.