By Buffy Calvert

Highway Superintendent John Bouton read his year-end report to the Town Board at their organizational meeting on January 8th. He led off with, “This marks my first year in office and it has been quite a ride. From snow storms to ice storms, heavy rains destroying our roads, washouts, large culverts that needed replacement, equipment to be brought up to standard….The Town of Andes employees made it all happen. My thanks to them from the bottom of my heart. I have enjoyed almost every minute of it and look forward to next year.” He detailed the purchase of a new “truck with plow and sander,” the sale of “wore out equipment” and the constant work of maintaining 110 miles of Andes roads subject to heavy usage and an erratic Mother Nature. Questioned by Supervisor Bud Gladstone about inspections, he said every workman did a walk-around inspection of the vehicle he would be using that day and noted any needed repair for work orders and immediate attention.

At the opening of the meeting Gladstone presented Gloria Bacon with a plaque celebrating her 40 years of service as an Election Inspector.

The board passed 23 organizational resolutions for 2019: setting up committees, reappointing Bill Palmer to the Planning Board, Jesse Tosi to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Rachel Andrews as Pool Director.

The regular meeting schedules are unchanged:

Town Board: 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7, except for February and March when they meet at 6.

The Planning Board: 2nd Monday at 7:30. The Zoning  Board of Appeals: 4th Mondays at 7, as needed. At 5:45 on February 12th there will be a Public Hearing on a Proposed Local Law to amend the zoning law to require notice to adjacent landowners of the applicant for a Special Use Permit before the Town Planning Board. Peg Ellsworth, Director of the MARK Project will attend the next Town Board meeting to discuss the Andes Main Street grants. ~