IN THIS ISSUE:- A Flood Victim’s Story
- Introducing the Canasawacta Creek Watershed Committee
- Notice to landowners along the Canasawacta Creek Watershed
- Calendar of Events
- From the Town Clerk
- From the Highway Superintendent
- From the Assessor
- From the Plymouth Volunteer Fire Department
- From the Dog Control Officer
- Quick! How many Town of Plymouth businesses can you name in 30 seconds?
- Notice to Plymouth Businesses
- A Call for Student Journalists
- Do you know who your town officials are?
- Plymouth Ballot
FROM THE TOWN CLERKSince the last time there was a newsletter, I now have a large waterproof and fireproof container for storage of town records. I was able to obtain with the assistance of former town councilman Gerald Cushman. Unfortunately approximately 20 years of records were destroyed by fire as were not turned over to me in time. If anyone has town records over a year old, please see that I get them to put in storage to prevent such a problem again. I have been advised by the State some time ago that these should be in my care after a year old.
Regarding Sportsman licenses, I have sold quite a few this year to date, and approximately one half of DMP applicants received their doe licenses. Any sportsman interested in trying again for a doe permit, depending on availability, should check around November 1st with your town clerk to see if any left.
My office hours are Wednesday thru Friday 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If these hours are not convenient please call me at 336-2116 for an appointment.
Happy Hunting to all the hunters and have a nice fall.
Marie Whaley
Town Clerk/Tax Collector
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FROM THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENTThe Plymouth Highway Department would like to thank the people for being patient. We had a lot of shoulder washouts, sluice pipe work, and cleaning ditches to do because of the June flood.
One mile of oil and stone was done this season, and two miles of resurfacing with oil and stone.
A reminder about snow removal: please keep cars off roadways for plowing and sanding from October 15, 2006, to April 30, 2007. Thank you.
Pete Marshall
Highway Superintendent
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FROM THE ASSESSORIt certainly was an unusual year. Weather wise and also for me. Had an accident in May and was unable to work for a few weeks. Back in the swing of everything now.
Was a busy year for new construction and improvements.
Had very few grievances this year and no small claims cases. We now have a new member on the Board of Assessment Review making a total of three.
The exemptions all came through in time for the final roll. In some cases there were a few corrections.
Have been keeping up with my continuing education credits and to date have six credits toward next year (must have 24 a year). This is paid for by the state.
We have recently formed an Assessors’ Association for this area. This is very informative for all.
Again, calls for tax information is something I cannot give you. The only information I can give you would be your assessment, which affects the tax amount. Calls should be made to either the town clerk or the schools involved. After a certain date they are turned over to the county.
I will be mailing the exemptions in the month of December for transmittal to me by March 1, 2007.
It was great that the state awarded us the star tax rebate check. Have had many calls because the check was made out to the deceased spouse and the banks would not cash them. There is a special form to be signed by the assessor to send back to the state for a new check to be issued.
As usual, any questions feel free to call and if not at home, leave a short message and please supply your tax map number. Have a safe and happy winter.
Mary Manley
Assessor
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FROM THE PLYMOUTH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Plymouth Fire Department would like to take this time to remind you that the cold months are coming and we want to make sure your wood stove and furnaces are ready to go.
If you have a wood stove, make sure your chimney is cleaned and there are no cracks in the flue liners. Make sure your wood stove is properly installed in your residence. You should clean your chimney a couple of times during the cold months. Always burn seasoned wood and never burn paper or other materials in your stove because it may plug your chimney and cause a chimney fire.
If you are using a furnace, make sure it has been serviced and working properly.
Make sure you have working smoke detectors in your residence. You should have at least one smoke detector on every floor (more detectors would be better).
I would like to end by saying the fire department is always looking for more volunteers. Being a volunteer is a good way to help out your community. If you are interested in being a volunteer, we are always at the firehouse on Wednesday evenings, if you would like to stop in, or call us at 334-6805.
Thank you and be safe.
Mathew Bates
Plymouth Fire Chief
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FROM THE DOG CONTROL OFFICER
A reminder that the Town of Plymouth has a dog leash law in effect all year long. Dogs cannot run free off an owner’s property at any time during the year. Also, it is now required that dogs be licensed and have rabies shots by 4 months of age. If a dog isn’t licensed, the owner can be fined $25 per dog for the 1st offense and in $25 increments after that.
David Meyers 627-6506
Dog Control Officer
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CANASAWACTA CREEK WATERSHED COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED
On March 14, 2006, members from Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Department of Transportation (DOT), Army Corps of Engineers, and the Chenango County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) held a meeting with landowners in the Town of Plymouth regarding the erosion of the stream and stream banks along the Canasawacta Creek. The regulatory agencies presented their findings starting from the Plymouth falls westward along NYS Route 23 to the west Plymouth boundary line near the Monroe farm. At the conclusion of the meeting and after touring critical problematic areas, regulatory agencies agreed that the creek was in need of repair and further data collection may be required.
In early June of 2006 DOT, DEC and SWCD representatives walked the creek documenting data on specific areas requiring corrective action and what it would entail. DOT also gathered historical data, flood rates, stream volume and other pertinent geographical data required in stream repair/maintenance. Shortly after the survey we received mother nature’s second major flood which caused further land erosion and dumping more silt/sediment in the creek, on creek banks and in/around homes.
On August 21, 2006, the agencies held a meeting with landowners to discuss their findings and recommendations for corrective actions. DOT discussed their plans to repair any section of the creek that threatens bridges or roads. To date, they have repaired two sections of the creek and have scheduled to repair the large washout area near Ashcraft Road in 2007 (no specific date set). DOT explained that “by law” they could only fix areas near roads or bridges, not landowner’s property. DEC briefed they have no stream maintenance/restoration program and only issue permits for others to conduct the work in accordance with current regulations. All the agencies briefed and agreed that the later June flood had changed things and that currently no funding is available for actual repair. The only way the creek would get repaired was if the community (landowners in the Town of Plymouth) unite together and form a non-profit Watershed Committee as other communities have done. Once formed, state and federal grants would possibly be available to conduct the required repairs/maintenance. All of the representatives from the regulatory agencies stated that it will not be a quick repair and that such actions take time as grants are awarded not guaranteed. They also agreed that they would provide anything they could to assist the Committee to apply for grants.
Upon hearing that the state would not solve the landowners’ problems, nine Plymouth residents volunteered and joined together to work closely with the regulatory agencies to form The Town of Plymouth Canasawacta Creek Watershed Committee. On September 11, 2006, the Plymouth Town Board officially adopted the committee. A town board member was assigned to keep the town board informed. The Watershed Committee currently meets once a week and has already established a mission statement with goals and objectives. The Committee mailed letters to landowners along the creek to gather documentation of property damage, landowners’ concerns, and gather pictures wherever possible. Numerous hours with regulatory agencies have been spent to ensure maximum efficiency and accuracy. The committee is also completing the required documents to apply for the first grant in October and will continue to research other grants or funding in order to apply for funds to resolve our creek problems. The Committee has established a technical team, funding team, landowner liaison team and in the near future would like to form a website so any landowner can see what the latest status is. The Committee is also investigating legal ways to accept donations with all moneys going directing toward creek restoration and maintenance.
Every member of the Committee also has suffered damage to his/her property, and has committed not to put his/her personal loss ahead of others in need of more urgent repair. Repairs will be prioritized in coalition with recommendations from all members and input from the regulatory agencies. The Committee would like to remind all landowners that they share their frustration but, again, want to remind all that this is a long-term process. The Committee, with the help of all members of the community, will do their best to restore the watershed back to a safe and healthy environment. If anyone is interested in joining the committee, they should contact:
Ken Manley, Jr., 334-9582,
kjmanley@adelphia.net; or
Peg Kreiner, 334-8764,
skreiner@adelphia.net; or
Sandy Pierce, 334-3481,
lambsqfarm@frontiernet.net; or
Walt Rogers, 334-2788,
waltrogers@adelphia.net; or
Audrey Stone, 336-2548, or
Dolly Marvin, 334-6456, or
Tammie Schuster, 336-5024
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NOTICE TO CANASAWACTA CREEK WATERSHED LANDOWNERS:
The Town of Plymouth Newsletter and the town board meetings will be the official sources for notices and updates to the property owners along the Canasawacta Creek in the Town of Plymouth. You may have already received an initial mailing from the watershed committee asking you to document the difficulties you are having along the creek. It is important that you get this information back to the committee before the end of October. This information is critical in obtaining grants and designing the corrections along the creek. If you have not received your mailing from the committee, please contact us immediately. The DEC map number will be filled in by the committee.
Town of Plymouth Canasawacta Creek Watershed Committee
P. O. Box 30, South Plymouth, NY 13844
Landowner Contact, Tammie Schuster, 336-5024, or
Sandy Pierce, 334-3481
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ONE FLOOD VICTIM’S STORY written by Audrey Stone.
My husband Wayne and I live along the Canasawacta Creek on Route 23 West. We have lived here for 30 years, our children grew up in our home. Now we have no land left in back of our home as the creek has taken everything.
We have been through four major floods, where we have had to replace floors, walls, furniture and clothes. We have fixed so much that we can’t do it anymore. We’ve run out of energy. Also, if you haven’t been in a flood, it is a scary thing. It always seems to happen after the sun goes down. Then you can’t see the water, just hear it. It is frightening and shocking to jump out of bed at night and land in icy cold water up to your ankles.
As a result of the last flood in June, we had to leave our home because the water was hitting the back of the house. It’s an awful feeling to have to leave everything behind and not know if you have a home to come back to the next morning.
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QUICK! How Many Town of Plymouth Businesses Can You Name in 30 Seconds?
It was amazing to me as I drove around the Town of Plymouth the other day how many small businesses we have here. We have neighbors making their living right here, bringing services and merchandise close to our homes, and how many do we know? Or support? In our global economy we buy merchandise and services many miles from our homes (sometimes on another continent!). But in this shaky economic and politically scary time shouldn’t we start looking to support local businesses? There may be a time we won’t be able to obtain materials and services outside our community. Just the gasoline costs alone should convince some of us that driving out of the area is making less and less sense – economically and environmentally.
In an effort to introduce all of our Plymouth businesses to you, I’m offering a “30 Second” contest. The persons who can name them all (or most, in case no one can name them all) in 30 seconds or less will have his/her name placed in a drawing box. The winner of the draw will receive a gift certificate or discount coupon for one of the Plymouth businesses. (Sorry I can’t be more specific at this time since I just thought of this and I haven’t worked out the details yet, such as where will you demonstrate this oral list, where the drawing will take place, how often, etc. etc.)
If anyone out there (ESPECIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS!!!) would like to help me with this project, please call me ASAP. I suspect some over anxious competitor types will be bugging me as soon as they receive this issue. Also, since I don’t even know how many myself, I’m going to need LOTS of help.
Our next newsletter should contain all the details. In the meantime, start making your list and practicing.
Sandy Bonell Pierce, 334-3481
Staff Writer, Plymouth Newsletter
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NOTICE TO TOWN OF PLYMOUTH BUSINESSESAssuming you have read the preceding article, you already know I’m desperate. In a newsletter a few years ago, business owners were encouraged to submit articles about themselves. I was disappointed that so few people responded. I, as temporary editor, am appealing to you all again. Please contact me by phone, e-mail, postal service, or personal visit and let me know who and where you are. You do NOT have to write the article itself (in case that’s what deterred you from responding before). You may write an article if you wish. I am hoping to have some student reporters join our staff and will have these young people interview you. We would like to feature one or more businesses in each future newsletter.
If you would like to offer a prize for our “30 Second” contest winners and/or help me with the contest, please let me know. Thank you for doing business in our town. We all look forward to meeting you.
Sandy Bonell Pierce, 334-3481
lambsqfarm@frontiernet.net213 Pierce Road, Plymouth, NY 13832
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A CALL FOR STUDENT JOURNALISTS
Are you a high school student, college student, or new to the work force but don’t know what you want to be? Do you have an interest in journalism? We at the Plymouth Newsletter are in need of journalists and writers.
Melissa DeCordova of The Evening Sun has graciously offered to be a mentor for any young, aspiring journalist. You are to discuss this with your English teacher or writing professor and have the teacher or professor write a brief recommendation for you. Your school instructor would coach you on the use of the English language and guide you in your writing style. Melissa will help you in the area of selecting newsworthy topics and interviewing techniques. The recommendation from your instructor should be mailed to me at the address or e-mail below. I will review each one with Melissa and be in touch with you.
The Plymouth Newsletter will be a great place for you to practice your new skills. We have an immediate need right now for journalists:
-many flood victims need to tell their stories,
-many local businesses need to be interviewed,
-many town activities need to be highlighted,
-many graduating seniors need to be interviewed,
-many interesting town histories could be featured,
-our monthly town board meetings need to be covered,
-many local stories are just waiting to be discovered.
Contact me even if you are only slightly interested in this venture. I have many ideas to get you started.
Sandy Bonell Pierce, 334-3481
lambsqfarm@frontiernet.netStaff Writer, Plymouth Newsletter
213 Pierce Road, Plymouth, NY 13832
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
(call 334-3481 to include future events on this page)
Friday
October 20, 2006
7:00 p.m.
free Holloween Party at Plymouth United Methodist Church, with hay ride to a haunted house
Wednesday
October 25, 2006
6:00
Stugafoo (study, games, food) under the supervision of a licensed English teacher at Canasawacta Valley Free Methodist Church
Tuesday
November 7, 2006
Election Day
Monday
November 13, 2006
7:00 p.m.
town board meeting at firehouse
Friday
November 10, 2006
7:00 p.m.
free movies (to be announced) at Canasawacta Valley Free Methodist Church
TBA
December TBA
TBA
free dance at the firehouse by Plymouth United Methodist Church
Friday
December 8, 2006
7:00 p.m.
free movies (to be announced) at Canasawacta Valley Free Methodist Church
Saturday
December 9, 2006
9-10:30
free breakfast with Santa at Plymouth United Methodist Church
Monday
December 11, 2006
7:00 p.m.
town board meeting at firehouse
YOUR TOWN ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE:Town Supervisor: Jerry L. Kreiner
Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Marie N. Whaley
Town Highway Superintendent: Peter Marshall
Town Board Member #1: Lewis Somers
Town Board Member #2: Robert Baker
Town Board Member #3: Robert I. Brown
Town Board Member #4: Richard Thompson
Town Assessor: Mary Manley
Town Justices: Gladys Branagan
Linda Hoag
Constable: vacant
Dog Control Officer: David Meyers
Town Attorney: Downey Law Offices
Town Historian: Carol Beckwith (the 2006 county directory in error)
Code Enforcement Officer: LeRoy Burlingame
Planning Board: Allen Sweet
Rena Doing
Jack Adams
Gerald Cushman
Kevin Slattery
Fire Department: Walter Rogers, Chairman of Board
Thomas Kreiner, Commissioner
Richard Kellogg, Commissioner
Robert Kirkby, Commissioner
Jeff Wathen, Commissioner
Dawn Ackermann, Treasurer
Jacqueline Kreiner, Secretary
Matt Bates, Fire Chief
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THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY:
Volunteers are unpaid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!
Anonymous
The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.
Mohammad Ali
