Town Meeting Centers on Water Billing Dispute, Accounting Issues

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUIST
HARTWICK

The Hartwick Town Board’s July 20 meeting brought forward a mix of public concerns and internal operational challenges, beginning with a detailed water‑billing dispute and expanding into broader discussions about roadside tree‑cutting practices, financial procedures, and departmental accounting. The meeting opened with public comment, where residents raised issues that touched on fairness, safety and municipal transparency.

The first matter came from Silvio Ranieri, who submitted a letter regarding charges applied to his property at 3524 State Highway 205. Ranieri explained that the parcel is an empty lot with no water service or meter installed, yet his quarterly bill includes both a debt‑service fee and a water‑usage fee, despite the usage section showing zero consumption.

“My water bill shows that for the piece of property, I’m getting charged $96.11 for the debt service, and I’m also getting charged $69.75 for a water charge,” he wrote, adding that both meter readings were zero. Ranieri asked the councilmembers to review the charges, determine how long he has been billed for unused water service and credit his account accordingly.

The next speaker raised concerns about the town’s plan to contract out roadside tree‑cutting, questioning oversight, cost and the scope of work. The resident argued that trimming should be limited to 13 feet 6 inches above the pavement, the clearance needed for trucks and buses, and warned that excessive cutting could leave roadsides looking “like an airport.” Board members acknowledged the concern, noting that many roads have drooping branches requiring attention, but emphasized that state law requires maintaining 24 feet from the center of the road for safety. They also referenced past subcontracting incidents where contractors left cut trees on private property, prompting complaints. The board agreed that trimming must be done “tastefully,” avoiding clear‑cutting while still meeting safety requirements.

A third resident spoke about right‑of‑way practices, noting that many property deeds state ownership “to the center of the road.” While acknowledging the town’s legal authority to maintain roadside safety, the resident urged officials to respect property owners and communicate before cutting mature trees that have stood for decades. The board agreed that outreach and careful planning are essential.

Beyond public comment, the meeting shifted to internal matters, beginning with the monthly financial review, which had not been completed prior to the meeting. Board members discussed scheduling an additional session later in the week to finish reviewing abstracts and ensure bills could be paid on time. Some expressed confusion about why the bills were not ready, while others noted they had been available since 5 p.m. The discussion briefly turned lighthearted when members referenced a hospitality table featuring local baked goods and coffee provided by area businesses.

The board then spent considerable time addressing budget and accounting discrepancies, particularly misallocated software expenses. Several software purchases had been incorrectly placed under the “Supervisor Software” line rather than the “Clerk Software” line, prompting the need for corrections. Officials cited guidance requiring clearer separation of expenses so revenues and expenditures can be accurately tracked. The board agreed entries should be better delineated in the upcoming budget cycle and that current entries should be adjusted accordingly.

Additional accounting issues surfaced, including duplicate bills, incorrect fund assignments, and misprinted abstracts, one packet reportedly printed “double of everything.” Councilmembers also reviewed expenses related to the ambulance, Internet lines, fire department, library electrical repairs, and softball field service, noting several items that needed to be moved to the correct accounts. Long‑term planning discussions touched on insurance values and appraisal integration, with officials emphasizing the importance of accurate records to avoid disputes in future years.

The remainder of the meeting included informal conversation among board members about local history, barns, road conditions, and equipment, typical dialogue that, while not part of formal business, reflected the board’s familiarity with longstanding community issues.

As the meeting concluded, board members reiterated the need to correct accounting lines once all bills are approved, acknowledging that numerous small issues remain but emphasizing that clearer financial organization will support better long‑term planning.