SPRINGFIELD CENTER – The Springfield town board voted to hire Bill Mead as its highway superintendent at last Monday’s meeting. The position was left open when Bruce Paytron resigned earlier this month. Paytron was elected to the position in November after long-time Highway Superintendent Jerome Oakes chose not to seek reelection. Springfield Supervisor Tom Armstrong said Mead was the best choice among the applicants. “I can’t say anything bad about him, that’s for sure,” Armstrong said. “He’s been working there since ‘79. He’s fully qualified, easy to get along with and he does his work.” After an hour of executive session, Armstrong opened the regular meeting, and the board voted to hire Mead. A public hearing was scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. to discuss Mead’s compensation. A public hearing was also scheduled for Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. on Local Law No. 3. In other matters, Bill Miller, owner of the ArrowHead Pointe condominiums being built on Otsego Lake, addressed the town board and asked for reimbursement of money from the project’s escrow account. Springfield’s site plan review law requires a certain percentage of the total cost of the project be set up in an escrow account. Miller put $15,000 in an account, which the town could use for any costs incurred for inspections and environmental review. During the site plan approval process, the town consumed approximately $14,000 of the escrow account on consultant bills, according to Miller. That left a balance of about $1,000 in the account. Miller said he received a phone call from Planning Board Chairman David Staley after the approval process was completed. Staley said some residents were expressing concern about the project and questioning whether all the requirements were being met. Miller said he assured Staley the requirements were being met. He said Staley then asked for permission for an inspection to be done, to which Miller agreed. “I was surprised that the inspection cost me $850,” Miller said. “The site plan review clearly states that the escrow reimburses the town for expenses during the approval process. And I’ve been through the approval process, and there were no problems with the inspection.” Miller was asking for reimbursement of the $850 for the inspection and the remainder of the escrow account. Councilman Richard Rathbun disagreed with Miller. “My interpretation of approval process is from start to finish,” he said. Councilman Jim Willsey said Miller should have received a packet about the site plan review law that would have clearly explained how the escrow account could be used. Willsey said it should have been explained to Miller that the escrow account could be used for a number of expenses that come up. Miller said he never received the packet on the site plan review law and was never told any post approval inspections would be his obligation to pay. Staley recommended the town consult Attorney David Merzig, and the board agreed to do that. In other matters, John Walrath, former Springfield councilman, also addressed the board. Walrath referred to the hiring process of the highway superintendent, saying the newspaper ads said to phone Armstrong for an application and job description. “Was this done equally to all who expressed interest,” Walrath asked. Walrath did not wait for an answer before going into his farewell address. “As this board commences a brand new year, may we each commit a common resolve to this fine lady we recognize as Springfield,” he said. “This grand old lady, conceived long before the American Revolution, has served us well as a foster mother,” Walrath continued. “Her gray-haired dome has witnessed with pride some of our best behavior, however, she has been embarrassed by much of our actions. “Please allow all involved to resolve by this year’s behavior to make her proud of our in-family actions. May she smile on this body’s performance this year much as a mother’s love for a wayward child,” he added. Walrath went on to “strongly urge” the appointment of a deputy supervisor, deputy town clerk and deputy highway superintendent. Walrath said he would also like to see the highway superintendent become a four-year term like the councilmen. He concluded by thanking the town for letting him serve as councilman. “I’m proud of this town. May we all treat her as the grand fine lady she is,” Walrath said.
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