By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

ST. JOHNSVILLE — A public hearing on a proposed hydrofracking moratorium that was slated for Tuesday night has been rescheduled.

That’s according to St. Johnsville village officials meeting in the Community House, who said the delay was caused by a communications mix-up. The new public hearing date was set for Tuesday, August 14, at 6:15 p.m. The regular monthly meeting, normally held the third Tuesday of the month, will follow immediately afterwards.

Because of scheduling conflicts in September, that month’s meeting will also be held early. Mayor Bernard Barnes said the September meeting will take place on September 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

In order to allow more public participation, Police Chief Diana Callen said meeting dates for the Community Policing program will also be changed.

Callen said the first meeting will now take place on Monday, Aug. 6; the second on Monday, Sept. 2. Meetings are open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.

Other business conducted during Tuesday night’s meeting of the St. Johnsville Village Board included the following:

• Village resident Robert E. Smith, secretary of the Arts Factory of Montgomery County, was on hand to seek officials’ support of the designation of Sept. 16 to 22 as Arts Week in Montgomery County. A letter that he distributed noted Minden Supervisor Thomas Quacken-bush is coordinating efforts on behalf of the group.

As noted in the correspondence, “We ask for your support by signing this proclamation and posing for a group photo of all town supervisors, councils, village mayors and trustees.”

An artists’ studio tour will conclude the week-long observance.

• Barnes noted that Smith has agreed to take leadership of the village’s Last Night Committee in preparation for the December 31, 2013 celebration in the village. While the village’s event is still a year and a half away, the extra time will allow Smith to get together with other village organizers and committees to start planning. Individuals interested in helping with the celebration can also attend the 2012 Last Night event in Fort Plain.

Smith will also help village officials with grant writing.

• Public Works Superintendent William Viccarelli said he received one quote for pothole repairs on various streets affected by water main breaks last winter as well as work on a section of Averill Street. Barnes said repairs would also be effected to a section of Rockefeller Avenue damaged by a downed wire.

Board members agreed to have the work done by Hart’s at a cost of $5,200.

• In response to complaints about parking problems in the vicinity of the new Stewart’s Shop, Callen asked trustees to support a new parking ordinance. Barnes directed her to talk to village Attorney Norman Mastromoro so something can be drafted for next month’s meeting.

“It’s a situation that has to be addressed,” Barnes said.

• Wayne Horender, the village’s new code enforcement officer, noted that swimming pools are currently a big issue. Village residents with 48-inch pools do not require a fence provided they meet criteria.

All pool owners need point of entry alarms and are required by a law in effect since 2006 to have electrical inspections, Horender said.

He also recommended changes to the village’s permit fee structure as well as modifications to building permits, as the forms currently lack information about required inspections. Horender was asked to prepare materials for the August meeting.

Horender and other village officials also credited property owner Josh Paden with efforts to bring his 49 Center St. property up to codes.

• It was noted the village will partner with the school district in applying for federal funding under the Safe Routes to Schools Program.

• Village Clerk Karen Crouse noted the village’s Averill Street construction project, which addressed sewer and water line repairs last fall and paving this spring, has been completed. Additionally, the grant-funded project was “closed out” with no significant accounting problems.

As part of the project, the village was required after-the-fact to adopt a “program income plan,” which Crouse said is a way to properly account for income with certain grant programs through which the village might receive reimbursement. The plan was adopted.