Former councilor says welcome signs too costly

By DAN HEATH
Staff Writer

May 10, 2008 04:00 am

— PLATTSBURGH -- A former member of the Plattsburgh Town Council questions why the town will spend almost $10,000 for four new welcome signs.
John St. Germain, who lost a bid for re-election in November, said the decision to install signs welcoming visitors to the town is commendable but said the work should have been put out to bid.
Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said the town had three submittals when it first considered new signs two years ago.
KC Reiter of The Art Works was awarded the original contract.
She "gave us the best price at that time," Bassett said.
Reiter was a good choice again this time because she lives in and runs her business in the town, he said.
"That's always a priority for us."
The first sign was unveiled last August. The hand-painted sign includes a scene of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains, as well as the seal of the Town of Plattsburgh. It is located along the Commodore Thomas Macdonough Highway as drivers head inland from the Cumberland Head ferry dock.
During a work session on Feb. 11, the council passed a resolution that called for Reiter to create four additional signs for $9,950. Bassett said that decision was guided by a desire to make the additional signs consistent with the original.
St. Germain said that during a work session last year he recommended having the work done by a crew from Camp Gabriels. He said they would have done the work for free, including installation and materials.
If the Town Council was worried about using the taxpayers' money, as it should be, that should have been looked at, St. Germain said.
The council is aware that that option was available, Bassett said, but it was not the best one in this case. It would be taking work away from a business based in the Town of Plattsburgh and could lead to signs without a consistent appearance, he said.
The money for the signs was included in the town's 2008 budget, Bassett noted.
dheath@pressrepublican.com

OTHER ACTION
At its recent meeting, the Plattsburgh Town Council also:
E Accepted a report from the Water and Wastewater Department showing that residents of the Bluff Point and Cliff Haven area are now connected to town water lines and have been disconnected from the City of Plattsburgh system. Samples have been good and could lead to reduced testing costs in the future.
E Authorized purchase of a loader from Nortrax Equipment Co. in Plattsburgh at a price of $86,827.
"I was pleased to see a local person won the bid," said Councilor Sheila Brockway.
E Set public hearings to extend the town's Consolidated Water District and Consolidated Sewer District along Banker Road. The costs of the extension are to be paid by The Development Corp., which asked for the extensions.
The public hearings will be held at 7 and 7:15 p.m. June 2 at Plattsburgh Town Hall, 151 Banker Road, Plattsburgh.
E Extended its contracts with the Morrisonville Ambulance Service and CVPH Ambulance Service until the end of May as negotiations on a new contract continue.
E Gave Domenic's Restaurant owner Kemal Bescovic one last chance to appear before the council before it authorizes demolition of the restaurant, which burned in September 2006.
If he doesn't appear by Monday, the town will move forward to demolish the building and remove the rubble. The cost of that procedure would be added to the property's tax bill.