By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — They’re dangerous, and it’s not handicapped accessible.

Recognizing that wooden stairs and an entryway leading to downstairs offices of the Canajoharie court clerk and town justice are in need of improvement, Canajo-harie Town Council members Thursday night gave the go-ahead for Court Clerk Peggy Allen to apply for a grant to modify the downstairs doorway at the Mitchell Street office building.

As explained by Allen early this week, the deadline is October 1 for a Justice Court Assistance Program grant through the state Office of Court Administration.

“If we could obtain the grant, it would be helpful to the town,” she said.

The goal of any work is to make the area more accessible to the public.

In the past, JCAP funding has helped pay for renovations to the town courtroom/meeting room as well as construction of the judge’s bench, lighting improvements, security measures and storm windows for French doors there.

Allen said she needs to get estimates for the work before the October filing deadline. So far, however, contractors she’s contacted for estimates have failed to respond with figures.

During the September 6 meeting, it was noted that the structure, which once belonged to Beech-Nut, is historic, but it is not on the State or National Historic Register.

Along a similar vein, councilmen Thursday authorized Highway Superintendent Eric Bowerman to go out to bid for work on the building’s rear porch.

Town Clerk Susan Smith early this week said the back porch is a “work in progress.” Among needs there include replacement of a missing railing and the installation of an awning to keep ice off the sidewalk.

In response to a query by Bowerman, Councilman Rodney Young said it wouldn’t be ethical for him to bid on the porch work.

Bowerman said he’s told potential bidders that the work needs to be completed before winter.

Another project that needs to be addressed is repairs to or replacement of shutters, which have been removed from the building. It was noted that work is to be accomplished by John Walsh, the individual who built them initially.

In other business, councilmen approved a settlement offer with National Grid, which had gone to court to get a prior year’s assessment reduced. Under the negotiated settlement, Smith said the town agreed to reduce the utility’s 2013 assessment by about $1.4 million. In 2014, it’s expected to go up by the same amount.

It was noted Thursday that the parties are in agreement until 2016.

• The town’s first budget workshop will be held on Sept. 20. Town Supervisor Herb Allen said the final budget must be adopted by Nov. 20.

• It was also decided to use money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (reimbursement related to 2011 tropical storm damages) in order to make double payments on a 10-wheeled Mac truck purchased in 2009. Smith said the purpose of the accelerated payment is to get the town in a better financial position prior to the next vehicle purchase, for which Bowerman was authorized to go out to bid.

• Finally, with approval of employee contracts, council members gave Bowerman permission to fill a full-time opening in the highway department. The vacancy stemmed from an employee retirement, said Smith.