The Middleburgh Town Board listened on Thursday as Jerrine Corallo, of the Schoharie County’s Blighted Property Selection Committee (BPSC), gave a presentation about the newly formed group that will solicit, review and select abandoned or blighted properties for rehabilitation, demolition or stabilization.
“Our job is to find properties that are a good fit,” said Ms. Corallo, “We are just getting started, reaching out to municipalities about this opportunity.”
BPSC goals for properties include: Single-family homes, multi-unit housing, green-space or park, parking spaces or developable land.
The BPSC selects properties and submits the proposals to the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank project (GMVLB) that manages the rehabilitation. GMVLB uses funds secured from the State Attorney General’s settlements with some of the nation’s largest banks, for misconduct that contributed to the mortgage foreclosure crisis.
Supervisor Pete Coppolo and councilmen also voted to provide an extension of the Cold War Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption.
The exemption was passed by the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors 10 years ago and was set to expire but it is now permanent.
This partial property tax exemption is for those who served in the military during the period from September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991 – the day the Soviet Union dissolved and is considered the end of the Cold War.
Councilmen also passed a resolution allowing senior citizens to file late exemption renewal applications.
This gives more time for seniors to file for exemptions such as a partial property tax exemption.
Some exemptions have to be filed every year and senior citizens will be allowed to file a late renewal application upon showing good cause.
In other action, councilmen:
• Heard Steve Kowalski, the new town highway superintendent, report that things are going well and the trucks are in good order.
“The storms did have a lot of wind so it was hard to keep up with stuff,” said Mr. Kowalski.
He said he’s hired Mark Sisson, an experienced diesel mechanic who also has the ability to run equipment.
• Approved an insurance renewal for the upcoming year after Bill VanGorder, of NBT-Mang Insurance gave a proposal. There is a small increase of $362.45. The renewal premium is $22,184.59 and the previous premium was $21,822.14.