Saugerties new town board which only has one additional new member but a slew of fresh initiatives cleaned up shop at their January 8 reorganizational meeting at the Frank Greco Senior Center, designating citizens for town committees, establishing pay raises and divvying up town board liaison positions.

The town board approved their own pay rates at $11,500, and the town supervisors pay rate of $39,500. As he did last year, Supervisor Fred Costello Jr. chose Councilmember Leeanne Thornton as his deputy supervisor.

Among approved pay rates were Saugerties Police Chief Joe Sinagras annual $105,592.03 (in 2017, Sinagra received a 16 percent pay raise from slightly over $86,000 to $100,000 per year); $84,460.89 for police Captain Steve Filak; $63,008 for head of HUD department Alice Mumper; $78,925 for Town Assessor Frank Orlando; $58,281.60 for Water Superintendent Mark Resso; $74,992.57 for Parks and Rec Department head Greg Chorvas; and $71,228 for building inspector Alvah Weeks.

The only contested agenda item, which was only voted against by Costello, was the salary of assistant building inspector Kevin Brown, which was raised to $30 per hour from $27.70.

Kevin had to cover for Alvah Weeks who was out on disability for a time, so he was bearing the burden of running the building department on his own, said Costello before he voted against the pay raise. He was also an integral part of the ice arena roofing project and was an integral part in the hearing involving the dumping situation in Saugerties as well as other [code enforcement court issues].

When asked about his vote, Costello said he wish[ed he] could give everyone a pay raise, but that there was definitely merit to the assertion that Brown had earned a higher hourly rate.

All part-time clerical workers received a 50 cent increase in their hourly rate; full-time clerical employees received an additional $2.50.

Notably, new county Legislator Al Bruno kept his commitments to nearly all of the boards that he held positions on he will serve again this year as the chair of the Board of Assessment Review and on the Saugerties Transportation Advisory Council. He did step down from his position as an alternate for the county planning board, citing a conflict of interest between that position and his new position as a legislator.

Honestly, I felt honored to be in that chair, I really did, said Bruno of his first legislature meeting, which took place on the same night as the towns reorganizational meeting. I take it really seriously, and from watching from the gallery from the past year to actually being in the seat and bring called on to take a vote. It was exciting in one part and sobering in another. I know the responsibility and job in front of me is pretty serious.

More officials

George Redder and John Greco were appointed as the official attorneys serving the town. Audrey Klinkenberg will serve again as the town historian. Gary Newkirk was appointed town accountant and Brinnier & Larios the official engineers for the town. Lisa Stanley was reappointed as town clerk and Leslie Duffy was appointed deputy town clerk.

The Saugerties Times was named official town newspaper for the 12th year in a row; the Daily Freeman was also designated as an official town newspaper. M&T Bank was named the official town bank.

Sam Dedericks resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals was accepted at the meeting; she will remain a member of the Comprehensive Planning Committee. Timothy Scott Jr., who was previously an alternate for the board, was appointed to fill Dedericks position.

Shes been as dedicated now as the day she started, said Costello. She brings a very good perspective to it and really makes that well-known and does and very good job educating herself before she brings them to the town board.

Councilman John Schoonmaker was appointed as liaison to a few new committees, including the Conservation Advisory Committee and the Climate Smart Task Force (both were previously overseen by ex-councilman Mike MacIsaac) and the Parks and Recreation Committee (previously overseen by Councilman Paul Andreassen). New Councilman Mike Ivino was designated as liaison for the transfer station, the assessors office and the Board of Assessment Review.

Sprinkler system

The board voted to solicit bids for a sprinkler system for the newly refurbished Kiwanis Ice Arena. Ivino, asking his first question as a town board member, asked Chorvas whether he knew that the sprinklers would need to be installed after the project was otherwise finished. Chorvas said yes, that he and the town were aware.

Seems to me we piecemeal the project together to hide the real true cost of the entire project, said Ivino after the meeting. Not fair and not right to the taxpayer.

The board determined the dates of its meetings for the rest of the calendar year: January 8 and 22; February 5 and 19; March 7 and 21; April 1 and 15; May 6 and 20; June 15; July 17; August 12; September 2 and 16; October 7 and 21; November 4 and 18; and December 16.

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Saugerties Town Board names officials and sets salaries at reorganizational meeting - Hudson Valley One

BRYAN, Tex. (KBTX) - A gas smell inside a Bryan home is now gone but the homeowner doesn't know if she'll ever be able to move back.

The mystery first started in the fall of 2018 and then an evacuation on Dec. 19 that year.

Last week we told you about a $1 million lawsuit filed against a nearby energy company. This week the homeowner's attorney met us for an update at the home and gave us a tour inside the house.

A dream home has turned into a nightmare situation on Austin's Estates Drive.

81-year-old Lenice Morgan hasn't been able to live here since she evacuated in December 2018 when flammable gas started coming in.

"We've been able to rule out there are no natural gas lines coming to the house. There are no consumer lines coming to the house. None of the appliances run on natural gas and they never have. There are no septic tanks," said Jeremy Allen, who is Morgan's attorney.

"There are no abandoned wells. We've been able to pretty much rule out every other possible source of natural gas other than the oil and gas production on the nearby property," Allen said.

Last week, Allen filed a lawsuit against Hawkwood Energy Operating seeking more than $1 million in damages.

They believe an an eight-inch gas line leaked, filling the ground underneath the home. Allen said the gas remained even after that line was shut-in. Now, they have monitoring wells around the property.

"We can't say with any reasonable degree of certainty at the moment, how long that gas is going to be down there...There's no noticeable odor inside the home...Its been several months since samples have actually been drawn. The last time samples were drawn in the house we did get trace, trace elements but nothing that would be noticeable by smell," said Allen, who is also a grandson of the homeowner.

He took KBTX inside the home which hasn't had electricity for more than a year.

"You're starting to see the presence of mold in the house, there's some settling in the walls and the floor that results from no irrigation. You can't run the sprinkler system and so the soil around the house gets dry the vegetation is suffering," said Allen.

Davis Watson, an attorney for the Hawkwood Energy, said they plan to respond to the suit within 20 days and continue to be responsive to the homeowner. Watson added there will be lots of scientific evidence for the case and experts that will work on studying it.

Allen is ready for their day in court.

"Just not knowing what her future holds, you know she worked her entire life with her late husband to be able to buy this house and being forced out if it has had quite an impact on her," said Allen.

"We don't want to file a lawsuit. Thats kind of a last resort but we felt it was necessary at this point because were just not able to resolve it otherwise up to this point. You know weve spent a lot of time and money out here investigating," said Allen.

An initial sample taken by the Conroe Fire Department found refined hydrocarbons in the gas. Things you would see in products like gasoline.

But the homeowner's attorney said their results haven't exactly matched and point to natural gas as the substance.

A trial date isn't expected anytime soon.

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Bryan homeowner still unable to live in home more than one year after gas leak - KBTX

Sponsored byFBC Mortgage, LLC:This six-bedroom, five-bath home in College Park comes with an office, a Florida room, and tons of upgrades.

The 3,724 SF home is located at 1347 Quailey Street [GMap] and was built in 1953. The main living room is open to the dining room and the kitchen which open to the master and two bedrooms.

The master bedroom features French doors that lead to the Florida room and a bathroom with a large, open closet, dual sinks, a garden tub, and a glass door shower.

The aforementioned Florida room overlooks a lush, fenced-in yard with a new patio and plenty of room for a BBQ, pool, and a playset.

Other features include new interior doors, new gutters, new sprinkler system, and the large oak tree in the front yard was just trimmed.

The asking price is $644,500.

Click HERE for more information or to arrange a tour.

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House of the Day: 5/3 College Park home asking $644500 - Bungalower

LAWRENCE The University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications is kicking off the spring semester with ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation project of Stauffer-Flint Hall.

The school closed the building in May 2019 to complete the nearly $5 million project. On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the first day of spring classes, the school plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony for journalism school students, faculty and staff at 10:30 a.m. On Thursday, Jan. 23, the entire KU community is invited to a grand reopening ceremony. Starting at 3 p.m., Chancellor Douglas A. Girod will give remarks, and donors of the project will be recognized.

The renovation project focused on creating a new plaza and front door and extensive remodeling of the first and third floors of Stauffer-Flint Hall. The first floor, which housed classrooms, a conference room and faculty offices, will be the new home for the University Daily Kansan, Media Crossroads and KUJH News. Those student media organizations had been located in the Dole Human Development Center and Anschutz Library.

The renovated first floor also will include state-of-the-art media technology, a 39-foot ticker that will display news and events, and large screen monitors that will broadcast national, local and student media news programs. The main floor also will feature flex space designed for students to gather and study, including bar-level seating along the north wall facing Jayhawk Boulevard.

The third floor of Stauffer-Flint, which held tightly configured faculty offices and a conference room, was renovated into an open-concept classroom space and an updated conference room.

The renovation project also addressed some critical maintenance and safety needs for the building, which is more than 120 years old. The elevator and HVAC system were replaced, and a fire sprinkler system has been installed.

The last major renovation of Stauffer-Flint Hall was in 1982, and it was time for an update, according to Dean Ann Brill.

The remodel is a wonderful metaphor for journalistic training, Brill said. Throughout the building, you can see the pillars that held up these walls for more than a century, much like the traditional values we continue to teach. However, there is a new entrance that reflects the many changes in media that make them more accessible to all.

The Kansas Board of Regents approved the creation of the William Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information in 1945, and in 1952 the school moved into the building, which was then named Fowler Shops. In 1955, it was renamed Flint Hall to honor Leon Daddy Flint, who served as chairman of the Department of Journalism from 1916 to 1941. In 1983, Flint Hall was renamed Stauffer-Flint Hall to honor Oscar S. Stauffer, founder of Stauffer Communications Inc. and longtime supporter of the school. Stauffer donated $1 million in 1979 for the buildings renovation and academic programs.

The current renovation is funded by private dollars and university deferred-maintenance funds.

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Stauffer-Flint Hall reopens next week with ribbon cutting to celebrate completion of renovation - KU Today

The first project in the series, called Frame 283 and located at 283 Greene Avenue in Clinton Hill, is an industrial-style five-story building with 10 apartments, all with two bedrooms and either one or two bathrooms, and private outdoor space.

Spruce boards, which are glued at perpendicular angles to make thick beams called cross-laminated timber, are clearly visible in columns, beams, walls and ceilings. And the veins, knots and whorls in the wood wont always be concealed behind Sheetrock or paint.

But not every surface at Frame 283 is wood. Some walls are made of unfinished concrete, giving the building, which has open-air staircases, an almost work-in-progress look. Some pipes are exposed, too. Other building features include an 80-panel solar system, a shared roof deck and a bike room.

While wood can be pricier than concrete, labor costs can be much less, developers say. In fact, because Frame 283s cross-laminated timber arrived in prefabricated sections, it took only about two weeks to put up its main structure, in what might traditionally be a six-week project, said Ms. Wilson, of Frame Home, who would not divulge the development cost. The land, city records show, cost $6 million in 2015.

The building, which began marketing in the fall and expects to open this winter, is priced near the top of the market.

Rents start at more than $4,000 a month, which is high for Clinton Hill, where market-rate two-bedrooms have averaged $3,300 a month, according to the brokerage Ideal Properties Group. But two-bedrooms in next-door Fort Greene average $4,100, the brokerage said.

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Five Stories Tall and Made of Wood - The New York Times

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Following the Grenfell tragedy, a housing association did not remove the potentially unsafe cladding of five high-rise housing blocks for social housing in Trafford on the advice of the Greater Manchester fire chiefs.

In November, the Trafford Housing Trust admitted that the replacement of the ACM cladding, which was classified as the main cause of the spread of fire during the Grenfell fire, was delayed.

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The cladding comprised around 15 percent of the five Trafford blocks.

The panel replacement should be completed on all five blocks by February this year. In the case of three blocks, however, the problematic cladding was removed and completely replaced. However, work on the two remaining blocks should not be completed until this summer.

The five skyscrapers in Stretford and Old Trafford are:

Iain Wallace, head of property management at Trafford Housing Trust, said at a council meeting that the Greater Manchester fire chiefs asked them not to remove the cladding because the exposure of the polyethylene to the aluminum panels was classified as flammable and flammable became dangerous when it was covered up.

Mr Wallace said the hope was to complete the work in 2018, shortly after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, but this advice had delayed the move process.

He said: Immediately after (Grenfell), we brought in contractors to work with us to remove (the cladding) as soon as possible. We were hoping that this would be completed in 2018, but we received a notification from Greater Manchester Fire and emergency services, which did not require you to remove a panel until you found a suitable technical solution to replace it.

Initially we thought we would strip the towers and essentially leave them open until an alternative is available. However, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service advised us not to do this.

He added that since then, further delays have been caused by difficulties in getting experts, scaffolding and contractors to complete the work.

The Stretford Empress Court is managed by the Trafford Housing Trust(Image: Google Maps)

The trust admitted that there was an arbitrary decision by other organizations to remove the ACM cladding from their buildings, but at that time the trust was receiving advice daily and keeping residents at the heart of the process. ,

Authorities in the south east of England who removed aluminum plates were criticized for this.

Since the cladding had been replaced on three of the five blocks in the past two and a half years, 18 residents were temporarily relocated so that the work could take place.

Housing Trust chiefs said residents were absolutely fantastic and incredibly patient and incredibly understanding during the trial.

The central government is expected to cover the panel replacement bill in Trafford and elsewhere in the UK through a grant funding program so residents do not have to pay for the process.

Representatives of trust also confirmed that watch watches are in operation around the clock in all five high-rise buildings.

Two firefighters patrol the five high-rise buildings every hour on the hour to remove flammable objects. In the event of a fire, a horn would sound to initiate the evacuation of the building. Something that trusted representatives said was very well received by residents.

In consultations with the residents of high-rise buildings, a ratio of 60 to 40 was determined in order to retrofit sprinkler systems in all of the districts high-rise buildings.

Iain Wallis confirmed that funds would be provided to cover all of the costs associated with this sprinkler system if installed after a decision by the Board of Trustees and after further consultation with the residents.

A decision on the sprinkler system is expected to be made in March 2020 at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Trafford Housing Trust, which includes former Council President Coun Sean Anstee and current Council President Coun Andrew Western.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services said: Since the Grenfell Tower fire, GMFRS has worked with housing providers like the Trafford Housing Trust to develop renovation solutions.

No enforcement notices have been served on the Trafford Housing Trust and a work program has been drawn up.

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In five high-rise buildings, the potentially unsafe cladding was not removed immediately by Grenfell's instructions from the fire chiefs - magviral

SAN DIEGO The Board of Supervisors Wednesday backed stricter building requirements to lessen wildfire damage.

Supervisors Jim Desmond and Dianne Jacob proposed the changes to the building codes, which she said will make the county a model for fire protection in California and save lives.

Its not a matter of if, but when, when the next major wildfire hits this region, Jacob said.

The last two major blazes in San Diego, in 2003 and 2007, took the lives of 17 people and numerous animals, and caused billions of dollars in damage.

No one in the audience spoke for or against the proposed requirements prior to the supervisors unanimous vote. A final reading of the ordinance, under county policy, will take place at the boards Jan. 29 meeting.

The ordinance requires:

Last March, the board directed Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer to develop a plan that would strengthen wildfire resiliency in new homes in moderate- to high-fire areas in the unincorporated communities.

County staffers also informed the Building Industry Association, County Building Innovation Group, community planning groups and environmental stakeholders about the proposed changes.

Previous building code changes included automatic fire sprinkler system installations, more defensible space and ignition-resistant construction materials.

Link:
Stricter building codes approved to boost wildfire protection - fox5sandiego.com

Global Sprinkler Systems Market Insights, Forecast to 2026

The report discusses many vital industry facets that influence Global Sprinkler Systems Market industry acutely which includes extensive study of competitive edge, latest advancements, region-wise industry environment, contemporary market and manufacturing trends, leading market contenders, and current consumption tendency of the end user. The report also oversees market size, market share, growth rate, revenue, and CAGR reported previously along with its forecast estimation.

According to Verified Market Research, The Global Sprinkler Systems Market was valued at USD 61.73 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 74.54 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.38% from 2020 to 2026.

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Sprinkler Systems Marketreport includes the estimation of market size for value (million USD) and volume (M Sqm). Both Top-down and bottom-up approaches have been used to estimate and validate the market size of Sprinkler Systems Market, to estimate the size of various other dependent submarkets in the overall market.

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Sprinkler Systems Market Overview and Product Scope 2020 to 2026 - Fusion Science Academy

Last week, HGTV announced its most ambitious renovation show yet: In a new series called Home Town Takeover, Ben and Erin Napier, the hosts of Home Town, will take over and restore an entire town. YES, you read that right. And if you live in a small historic town, you can nominate it to be featured on the show.

This is a big one, Erin said of the new show in a statement. HGTV has never, ever taken on a whole town renovation and restoration project and were so proud and excited to be leading the team that will get it done. The Napiers are well-equipped to renovate a small towntheyve been revitalizing historic homes and properties throughout their home town of Laurel, Mississippi since 2017. Theyve also revitalized Laurels downtown area.

Renovating one house at a time is an awesome experience, but the chance to support an entire town, where we can help bring a community back to life and enhance the lives of the people who live and work there, is something weve always wanted to try, Ben said in a press release.

To be eligible for restoration, a town needs to meet three requirements: The town has to have a population of less than 40,000 residents. It must have homes and buildings with great architecture ready to be revealed. And it has to have a downtown area (think a classic Main Street) thats a bit run down.

Does your town fit the bill? Fill out the submission form here by February 7, 2020 to nominate it. While photos of your town are great, the submission form states that videos are better. Make sure your video shows places you think need a makeover like diners, coffee shops, homes and playgrounds. Give a tour around your town featuring places that could be. And dont forget to include the most important part of any town: the people. Basically, show Home Town Takeover what you makes your town special and anywhere it could use some more love.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

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Forget Home RenovationsThis New HGTV Show Wants to Make Over an Entire Town - HouseBeautiful.com

On the evening of Jan. 14, 1990, Doug Seyle knocked on his employers front door at Savannahs stately Mercer House on Monterey Square. Receiving no response, he let himself in and found the historic homes locally famous resident, 59-year-old Jim Williams, lying dead in the study.

He died from a simple case of pneumonia, but the location of his death was remarkable. In that same room on May 2, 1981, Williams shot and killed 21-year-old Danny Lewis Hansford. Williams, an accomplished antiques dealer, building restorer and Savannah socialite, insisted that hed shot the young man his part-time assistant and occasional lover in self-defense. Within a few weeks, Williams was indicted for murder.

Three decades after his death, Jim Williams is famous far beyond Savannah. The circumstances of the Hansford shooting, and the four trials that Williams endured to clear his name, provided the primary plot for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendts 1994 bestseller. Known locally as The Book, it later served as the basis for a Hollywood movie and became a driving force behind modern Savannah tourism.

However, Williams legacy extends beyond the provocative anecdotes that made Berendt a multimillionaire. Williams was a leading preservationist of historic Savannah buildings, revamping more than 30 edifices citywide. His projects included the Olde Pink House on Reynolds Square, the Hampton Lillibridge House on East Saint Julian Street, and the Mercer House now called the Mercer Williams House Museum where he lived and died.

This palatial Italianate mansion, constructed just after the Civil War for Gen. Hugh W. Mercer (the great-grandfather of musician Johnny Mercer), now ranks among Savannahs most popular landmark museums. Owned by Williams sister, Dorothy Kingery, the museum is receiving a thorough external refurbishment in what she considers an effort to preserve her brothers restoration legacy.

People really enjoy learning about Jims history, Kingery said, noting that Williams antique collection within Mercer House paints a tasteful portrait of his life. To carry this on, it means a lot to me and my family, and we are pleased to be able to do it.

He took it in stride

Though Williams worked on many impressive buildings, Mercer House was his masterpiece. After completing its initial restoration in 1970 and making it his personal home, Williams hosted legendary parties there and used it as a showcase for his finest antiques. During his trials, it also became a place of refuge.

We spent a lot of time in Jims house, said Atlanta-based attorney Don Samuel, who served on the Williams defense team. It was somewhat museum-like even then.

Most anyone standing trial for murder would be forgiven for letting the ordeal overwhelm their decorum. However, this wasnt Williams style, Samuel said.

He was a very charming guy, unlike 99% of people on trial, Samuel said, adding that Williams carried himself with grace and good humor while working on his defense. He took it in stride.

When Williams was finally found innocent after his fourth trial in 1989, Samuel recalls that his client was completely exuberant, of course.

Nonetheless, Williams passing just months after his exoneration made the courtroom victory bittersweet for Samuel.

That was very tragic and sad that he didnt get to enjoy his freedom, Samuel said.

Its a huge job

Kingery remembers sitting with her mother and Williams lawyers at the dining-room table soon after his death and being asked what the family would do with the historic home.

I said, We will keep it, of course, Kingery recalls.

Though maintaining such a grand estate was no small endeavor, Kingery felt that her brothers extensive efforts to preserve Mercer House would help considerably.

Jim had just finished a restoration, Kingery said. I was confident that we were dealing with a house that was in excellent shape.

For the next 14 years, Kingery maintained Mercer House as a private residence for herself and her daughter Susan, who now manages museum operations despite initial reservations about her mothers plan to turn the mansion into an exhibition.

She said, Im going to turn it into a museum, and I said, Youre crazy, Susan Kingery recalls with a laugh.

Dorothy Kingery, who earned a history masters and a sociology Ph.D. from the University of Georgia before establishing and directing UGAs Survey Research Center, was confident the family could open Mercer House to the public.

I knew how to hire and supervise people, Dorothy Kingery said, and in the years that followed, the mother-daughter team turned Mercer House into a premier Savannah attraction, though they declined to reveal specific visitor totals. You would be amazed at the number of people who come here.

Still, museum operations require a great deal of work, and the elements also present challenges to the nearly 150-year-old building. With paint chipping on the trim and areas of the brick facade requiring cleaning, last year the Kingerys decided to refurbish the entire exterior. The restoration began in December and is expected to continue through March, with the Savannah branch of Choate Construction handling the project.

Its a huge job, Dorothy Kingery said.

Its really a family home

Though Williams untimely passing created an unwanted bookend to his lengthy legal difficulties, his family takes comfort in the final verdict.

Im so grateful that he did clear his name before he died, Dorothy Kingery said.

At times when the Mercer House is closed to the public, Williams family continues to gather there and enjoy the magnificent setting and all of its finery. On New Years Eve, Dorothy and Susan Kingery joined friends in the dining room to drink champagne from Williams Baccarat crystal glasses that visitors view during tours.

Its really a family home, Dorothy Kingery said. We still love it and enjoy it. I think he knows.

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30 years after death of Jim Williams, his iconic Savannah home is being restored - Bluffton Today