BRICK BULWARK •F
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COOPERSTOWN AND AROUND
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Volume 208, No. 13
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OUNDED
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Cooperstown’s Newspaper
O M C O PE
ONEONTA LANDMARK MARKS 175TH/B1
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Cooperstown, New York, Thursday, March 31, 2016
Newsstand Price $1
Retired Morris Superintendent Fills In At CCS Virgil Focus: Building Projects, Recruitment
By JIM KEVLIN
“It’s a terrible situation for everyone in this district,” said Virgil, who served in seven interim positions in local school districts since retiring as Morris Central superintendent of schools in 2009. “It’s tragic.”
COOPERSTOWN
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ichael Virgil has been interim superintendent of schools before, but this is different.
But, he said of his role: “You’re not replacing someone. You’re doing a job.” At a Cooperstown Central school board meeting at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 29, Virgil was appointed and im-
mediately got to work. He is filling the position vacated when C.J. Hebert, sixyear superintendent at CCS, died Sunday, March 20, in an ATV accident near his home outside Cobleskill. In an interview, CCS board Please See VIRGIL, A7
Michael Virgil
TESTIMONY: EXPENSE WOULD BE PASSED ON
Ian Austin/The Freeman’s Journal
Sahasra Seetha, Cooperstown, gives the Easter bunny a big hug Saturday, March 26, after the traditional Easter egg hunt at Hyde Hall, sponsored by Leatherstocking Federal Credit Union.
County Loses 1,094 People, Census Finds
All Trustees Reject Fees On Contractor Parking By JIM KEVLIN COOPERSTOWN
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hen painter Steve Eldred heard the Village Board was considering a law to require contractors to pay to park when tsego County lost working downtown, he 1,094 population tallied up how much since Census 2010, a extra it would have 1.76 percent drop, according cost him to paint the to updates to the 2010 CenMel’s at 22 building last sus released in recent days. October at Main and It ranks 34th among the Chestnut. state’s 62 counties in popuThe total – a $25 aplation loss. plication fee, plus $15 In all, Upstate counties a day for up to three lost 65,638 people, or 1.04 Mayor Katz calls the vehicles – would have percent. Downstate gained question: The vote been $1,800, which he 43,330 people, or 0.33 was 7-0 against the would have added to his percent. Overall, the state contractor regulabill. lost 22,308 people, or 0.12 tions. When he shared that percent. sum with the building’s owners, he told village trustees during a public hearing on the law MonHELP FOR 22 MAIN: day, March 28: “They said they wouldn’t have The Village Board has acdone the work if they had to pay that extra.” cepted a $92,000 bid from When Eldred finished his testimony, and conthe Utica painting company to repair the pillars and paint tractor John Phillips added his – “The costs will be borne by the businesses,” he said – the trustees the south end of Village Please See FEES, A7 Hall.
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TOP RESCUERS: The Coopertown Fire Department has named Paul Bedworth Firefighter of Year; Tayler Madden Rookie of Year, and Alicia Lasher EMS Provider of the Year. TREE FOR MILO: The village Tree Committee is planning to plant a tree in honor of Milo V. Stewart, the photographer and CGP professor, on Arbor Day, April 29.
Shoveling Policy Stymies Trustees COOPERSTOWN
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hy can’t neighbors tattle on any neighbors who fail to shovel their sidewalks within 24 hours of a snow storm? That was one suggestion that surfaced at the Village Board’s meeting Monday, March 28, a month after the trustees voted to cancel fines against five homeowners Please See SHOVELS, A3
Jim Kevlin/The Freeman’s Journal
Contractors Steve Eldred, upper left, and John Phillips, right, led opposition to fees and permits proposed for firms doing work in downtown Cooperstown. Next to Phillips is contractor Glenn Falk and Dr. Lee Edmonds, whose son, Josh, is a partner in Simple Integrity. Lower left, from right, Trustees Ellen Tillapaugh, Cindy Falk and Jim Dean explain their positions.
‘Open House’ On Village’s Future Is April 5 COOPERSTOWN
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ere’s a sneak preview: • The word “garage” is in the draft Comprehensive Master Plan that you will be able to see for the first time 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday,
IF YOU GO: “Open House” to review proposed village’s draft “Comp Plan,” 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Chestnut Street firehall.
April 5, at the fire hall. “But it’s in there with a lot of caveats,
like ‘financially feasible’,” said Cindy Falk, co-chair of the committee. • The word “density” is not in there. “But many of us are concerned about declining population,” said Falk. “EveryPlease See PLAN, A2
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL & HOMETOWN ONEONTA, OTSEGO COUNTY’S LARGEST PRINT CIRCULATION 2010 WINNERS OF The Otsego County Chamber/KEY BANK SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Sweet Meadows and The Hops Brew Club Present
Home Brew Workshop • Saturday April 2 9 am - Full Demonstration • 11 am - Partial Demonstration • Noon - Kit Demo 18269 State Hwy 23, Davenport • 607-278-4005 • sweetmeadowsinc@gmail.com
Register by March 31 $10 registration fee toward materials purchased in store on 04/02 only