Tuesday April 30, 2024 
Thank You
SAND LAKE – I’d like to thank the residents of Sand Lake for providing me the opportunity to continue to serve as Town Clerk, and everyone who helped guide me through the election process. My staff and I will continue to operate the Town Clerk’s office with the courtesy, efficiency and friendliness the residents of Sand Lake have to come to expect. We plan to greet 2021 with optimism and hope for all. Respectfully,
Barbara Hansen, Town Clerk, Town of Sand Lake
Town of Poestenkill Town Office Updates
POESTENKILL – Due to the rise in Covid-19 cases when an in person visit is needed at Poestenkill Town Office, please call town office at 518-283-5100 to make an appointment or to reach the town clerk, please call 518-283-5119. Signing in and wearing a mask is necessary for all visits to town office.
North Greenbush Report from Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
NORTH GREENBUSH – The elections are over. The news and social media paint a picture of tremendous division in our country, our state and even in our county. However, I believe that local elected officials must rise above polarization and partisan rhetoric and work together for the communities they serve. Despite the fiscal and other challenges presented by the pandemic, I call upon fellow board members to work towards achieving the following nonpartisan goals next year-expanding recreational opportunities and improving communication with residents.
The pandemic has shown the importance of spending time outdoors in nature. North Greenbush has a lovely park on beautiful Snyder’s Lake. Yet many residents are barred from access because the lake is not handicap accessible. This is inexcusable. We must determine the best way to ensure everyone may enjoy the lake, regardless of physical abilities. Similarly, I have heard from many residents that there is no town park with year round access. While it is acceptable to close the beach before Labor Day, keeping the park open longer so residents may use the playground, play basketball and walk should be a priority. Finally, the town has been approached by a developer who is willing to construct a recreational area at no expense to the town in exchange for certain land that is landlocked and unusable to everyone else. This is a unique opportunity to preserve rapidly disappearing open space and to provide a scenic and safe location for walking for residents. I pledge to move the creation of a new park forward.
Turning to the topic of transparency, I have researched and presented proposals for a paid subscription to an alert system used by neighboring municipalities such as East Greenbush but have been unable to gain support for this. It is long past time for the town to begin using social media to improve communication.
Submitted by Councilperson Mary Frances Sabo
Town Hall Closes for Thanksgiving Holiday
SCHODACK – Debra L. Curtis, Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents of Schodack that the Town Hall Offices, Highway Department and the Schodack Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, November 26, 2020 and Friday, November 27, 2020 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Town Hall Offices and the Highway Department will resume standard business hours on Monday, November 30, 2020.
However, the Schodack Transfer Station will resume standard business hours on Saturday, November 28, 2020th.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Town Clerk at 477-7590, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Rensselaer County Office of the Minority – November 2020 Highlights
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Shop Local – December is ‘Shop Local Month’ in Rensselaer County. Now, more than ever, during this year’s pandemic, it is important to support our local vendors. We encourage everyone to shop local to keep the sales tax revenue in Rensselaer County. This will help local businesses and bolster our sales tax revenue. A win win for all! Happy Shopping!
Van Rensselaer Manor (VRM): The Legislature unanimously approved the acceptance of additional relief funding to prevent, prepare and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Legislature also renewed several annual contracts for VRM, such as medical transport, laundry and housekeeping services, and elevator maintenance, as well as the approval to purchase a new digital security system to replace the old and inefficient analog one.
Employment & Training – An agreement to provide employment and training services to eligible, low income youth, through The Arc of Rensselaer County and the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) was approved by the Legislature. This 100% federally funded program offers academic and occupational skill training, leadership development and community service learning, as well as summer employment for disadvantaged, disconnected youth and those with intellectual disabilities.
Racial Justice: The Minority Office has once again submitted a resolution to address racial justice in Rensselaer County. Republican committee members continue to refuse to allow the resolution out of committee for the full Legislature to vote on.
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in the Rensselaer County Chambers located on the 3rd floor of the Ned Pattison Government Center, 1600 7th Avenue, Troy.
Residents are welcome to contact our office at 518 270-2890.
www.rensselaercounty.org & follow us on Facebook: “Rensselaer County Legislature – Democratic Team”
Schodack Supervisor’s report for October 2020
SCHODACK – We’re fresh off Election Day and i wanna extend my congratulations to all those who won, but most especially to our hometown assemblyman Jake Ashby. Jake has been a great voice representing us at the capital and I look forward to working with him going forward.
The Schodack Town Hall hosted one of the early voting sites for Rensselaer County. Over the course of the 10 days early voting was open, 7,183 people voted at our Town Hall. While the line sometimes stretched around the parking lot, voters displayed great patience and social distancing and the poll workers helped file people through in an orderly fashion. A great display of democracy and civic engagement. My deepest thanks to the poll watchers for their dedicated work and to our Schodack Police force for their assistance when traffic became congested in the area.
I want to give additional thanks to our Police officers and especially Chief John Hourigan for their continued work to ensure traffic is managed effectively at the new Amazon distribution center. Some trucks have been accidentally turning into some of the side streets near by and ending up in residential areas. Chief Hourigan and Highway Supervisor Ken Holmes have worked with Amazon and their neighbors to address the issues this has caused and continue to take steps to ensure the truck traffic is contained to route 9 and safely gets to Amazon. As time goes on and familiarity with the site increases I’m sure issues will decrease, but in the meantime we are actively trying to help mitigate the impacts on our residents.
And finally, we’re in the midst of our budget season here in Town. While COVID has presented lots of uncertainty and we are not sure what the long term impacts will be, with help of our department heads and my fellow Town Board members, I feel we have put together a fiscally responsible budget which lowers the tax rate and preserves the services we offer while protecting taxpayers going forward. My thanks to all those who helped craft it.
Town of East Greenbush Appliance Amnesty Week
EAST GREENBUSH – The Town of East Greenbush DPW will be picking up Appliances the week of December 7th, 2020. Please call the office at 518-477-6103 to schedule an appointment for your appliances to be picked up. In the event of a snow storm, all appointments will be rescheduled.
The following items will be eligible for pick up: Refrigerators , Freezers, Washer/Dryers, Stoves/ovens, Hot water heaters, Dehumidifiers, Microwaves/Air conditioners
Sincerely, Daniel Fiacco
Commissioner of Public Works
Town of East Greenbush
Brunswick Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
BRUNSWICK – The Brunswick Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town office in 2021: Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a 4-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resumé and letter of qualifications by Feb. 3, 2021 to: Jennifer Mann, Chair; Brunswick Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 91; Cropseyville, NY 12052 or via email: BrunswickDems@nullgmail.com.
The Brunswick Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 3 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 3: Towns of Brunswick, Pittstown, and Schaghticoke) to submit a resumé and letter of qualifications by Feb. 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.