KNOX — Residents may soon be toting cameras and taking snapshots of what they think are the most beautiful vistas in town.

Tuesday, Cheryl Frantzen, chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee, suggested a townwide photography contest to start in the fall, with participants to take pictures during all four seasons.

Frantzen said a previous pictorial inventory for the town’s comprehensive plan didn’t have some pictures from areas in the town not seen from roads.

Board members were receptive to Frantzen’s ideas.
Councilman Nicholas Viscio, who called the project "harmless," asked if the contest’s purpose would be to update pictures of scenic vistas in the town’s comprehensive land-use plan. Frantzen replied that the purpose of the contest wouldn’t be specifically for comprehensive plan use but photographs could be used for such a purpose at a later date. Photographs from the contest could also be placed on the town’s website, Frantzen said.
The town’s attorney, John Dorfman, was concerned about the town sponsoring a contest and said he would have to do more research. "I’m going to have to look at this. It’s new to me," Dorfman said.

Planning Board chairman Robert Price said he didn’t think the concept any different than the planning board members’ routinely taking photographs for site-plan approvals.

The board discussed possibilities for funding and prizes.

A committee to judge the photographs and determine the top three photographs would need to be formed. Frantzen recommended the winner receive a framed and matted photograph of his or her picture.

Board members, uncertain whether the town could be responsible for the contest, explored the possibility of having the youth committee, which holds an annual chili contest, sponsor it.

Board members also discussed the willingness of the town’s businesses to donate prizes and gift certificates.
"I think it’s a great idea," Councilman Joseph Best said of the project. Best, who owns the Knox Country Store in the Knox hamlet, said he would be "very willing" to donate to the project.

Other business

In other business, the town board:

— Heard from Supervisor Michael Hammond that the town will receive a $4,000 grant through Assemblyman John McEneny’s office to be used for engineering on the town hall renovation project. For the project, the town also hired Susan Lombardi as its grant writer, who is investigating funding opportunities.

Hammond said the town will also try to secure more funds through McEneny’s office during the next round of applications;

— Heard the latest information on the readings of a meteorological tower on Middle Road from Price. The met tower was erected in mid-October, and is measuring wind speeds for the Helderberg Wind Project.

From January to the end of March, Price said, speeds averaged 14 to 15 miles per hour at a height of 50 meters, and 10 to 12 miles per hour more at 80 meters. From April to the end of June, speeds averaged 12.5 to 13 miles per hour at 50 meters, he said, and were just higher at 80 meters;

— Heard from Price that the agendas for planning-board meetings are now being posted on the town’s website;

— Voted unanimously to fund the youth committee $450 to take a trip to the USS Slater, a battleship on the Hudson River. Councilman Dennis Decker said the committee is trying to obtain a bus and a driver from Berne-Knox-Westerlo;

— Heard praise from Councilwoman Patricia Gage and Hammond for Highway Superintendent Gary Salisbury’s efforts to obtain funds for road projects. Since area flooding in April due to a nor’easter, Salisbury has reported to the Federal Emergency Management Agency roads, culverts, and road shoulders affected by the storm. Salisbury said he should know how much money the town expects to get from FEMA within two weeks.

Salisbury said he is also trying to obtain funding and materials for repairs to Quay Road, which has been repeatedly damaged. Before determining whether a squash pipe or a box culvert is needed, a hydraulic study must first be conducted with FEMA; and

— Heard from Salisbury that the highway department recently finished chip-sealing on Whipple, Helderberg, Malachi, Adams, and Suto roads. The department will now begin work on Line, Church, and White roads, he said.