Gaines approves new town signs

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 March 2015 at 12:00 am

These are some of the designs for new signs for the Town of Gaines as proposed by Bill Downey of Downey Signs.

GAINES – The Town of Gaines will have new welcome signs on Route 104, and also two signs each at the Town Hall and Highway Department.

The Town Board approved a bid from Bill Downey of Downey Signs to make six new signs total for $4,150. Downey will make the signs using carved redwood. He will prime them and put on three coats of paint, Town Supervisor Carol Culhane said.

Downey made the town signs for Barre in a similar style. He has 25 years in the sign business.

“I just think with the redwood there is no substitute,” Culhane said.

Culhane is an artist and will try to develop a town logo for the signs that includes cobblestones and a stagecoach.


In other action, the Town Board:

Approved a $9,000 contract with Wendel Energy to take an inventory of the town’s 10 meter pits, including photos and an assessment of the conditions of each site.

Discussed eliminating the $75 hook-up fee for town water customers who turn off their water during winter. They wouldn’t be charged the restoration fee as long as they continue paying a $16 quarterly service charge.

The board may vote on the issue next month.

Approved a resolution seeking more state funding for towns and villages through the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program, which currently gives $715 million annually to upstate cities.

The resolution, approved by the Town Board calls on the state to increase AIM funding by 50 percent with more money going to municipalities based on population density, and police and other services provided, with considerations made for tax exempt property as well.

Passed a resolution seeking a repeal of the SAFE Act, a gun control measure approved by Gov. Cuomo and the State Legislature in January 2013.