GLOVERSVILLE - Mayor Dayton King said Tuesday he is seeking a legal answer to a Foothills United Methodist Church request to have the city abandon a paper street so the church can better market a house on it for a commercial venture.
King told the Common Council at City Hall that he is working with City Attorney Matthew Trainor on the matter.
"Matt will do some more research and find out more specifics." the mayor said.
Released Tuesday night was a Jan. 18 letter from Foothills United Methodist Church Clerk Jack Wilson to King requesting the city abandon a paper street named Foothills Drive, off South Kingsboro Avenue. Wilson's letter indicated the move would better allow the church to market a stone house on its property.
Wilson wrote that the church "currently plans to put the property on the market for an as yet unidentified commercial venture."
"Right now, they can't sell that property because we [the city] own a portion of it," King said.
He said the property the Fremont Street-based church wants the city to abandon on South Kingsboro Avenue is about one to two acres of land.
First Ward Councilwoman Robin Wentworth asked if the city can legally turn over the property.
Trainor said he will look into an easement "over that property" to free up some of the land to make it more profitable for the church.
On another issue, King noted the city's garbage contract with the Gloversville Housing Authority hasn't been renewed since 2006, although they are supposed to be reviewed annually.
"I know in the past, we haven't even broken even on this," Department of Public Works Director Robert Abel said.
In a Jan. 29 memo from King to Abel, the mayor noted the GHA is still paying 2006 rates totaling $7,400 a year for removal of 185 tons of garbage annually, when the current amount picked up is 260 tons.
Abel told the council he is proposing a $15,000 annual garbage collection contract with the housing authority.
"If they don't see this contract as suitable, they can go out to bid themselves," he said.