Saturday April 20, 2024 
North Greenbush Report by Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
NORTH GREENBUSH – I am thrilled to announce that North Greenbush took a major step towards becoming a New York State Climate Smart community. The town board unanimously approved the installation of an electric vehicle charging station at town hall at its August meeting. When installed, the charging station can be used by town residents and visitors spending money at local businesses while charging their vehicles. The town’s Climate Smart Committee formally recommended the town take steps to install electric vehicle charging stations. Eventually the town will purchase replacement electric vehicles that will also be able to charge onsite. North Greenbush will be the first town in the county to install EV charging stations at its Town Hall. The town board also adopted a “green” purchasing policy, another committee backed initiative. The committee has conducted educational programs on recycling, composting and reuse that have been presented to children at the town camp and the Wynantskill seniors. Materials on how to compost, ways to encourage reuse of items and places to recycle , including electronic recycling, will be posted on the town website and distributed at our town celebration in September. We are fortunate in North Greenbush to have two outdoor venues to listen to music in the summertime. The town of North Greenbush sponsors bands and individual musicians in the park at town hall on Sunday evenings and on Tuesday nights residents have the opportunity to listen to the music at beautiful Snyder’s lake. I have attended several of these concerts and have marveled at the talent in our community. Finally, August will bring our wildly successful Food Truck Tuesdays to a close. Thank you to our amazing town Clerk Janice Kerwin for your hard work in spearheading and organizing these fun evenings which bring the town together!
Submitted by Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
Town Hall Closes for Labor Day Holiday
SCHODACK – Debra L. Curtis, Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents that the Schodack Town Offices and Highway Department will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2021. The Schodack Town Hall Offices and Highway Department will resume its regular business hours on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.
The Transfer Station will resume its regular business hours on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Town Clerk at (518) 477-7590, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.
Three Local Laws Passed by the Legislature that will Make Communities Safer Are Signed Into Law
RENSSELAER COUNTY – The Rensselaer County adopted three local laws that were signed into law by County Executive McLaughlin. The first local law established an Animal Abuse Registry in Rensselaer County. The Legislature worked with District Attorney Donnelly, the Rensselaer County Farm Bureau, and other groups to adopt a law that would protect our beloved dogs and cats from convicted animal abusers.
“This Local Law is the result of a strong bipartisan effort. Great things happen when good people work together. We appreciate the technical assistance and the advice provided to us by the Rensselaer County Farm Bureau. Their input was crucial in crafting the final version of this local law” Legislator Tom Grant- East Greenbush
The Legislature also sponsored and adopted a local law that established a program imposing owner liability for failure of a motor vehicle operator to stop for a school bus displaying a red visual signal and stop-arm. The law will allow school districts to expand enforcement options for failure to stop for school buses when picking up or discharging passengers.
“We have heard from school districts who were interested in pursuing this program, so we acted. We want to make sure that children are safe while they enter and exit a school bus, and this law will help hold reckless drivers who ignore the flashing lights, accountable”, said Vice-Chair Kelly Hoffman- North Greenbush
The Rensselaer County Opioid Safe Disposal Law will establish a requirement for pharmacies and other prescribers of opioids to provide a deactivation pouch or bag for safe disposal of unused opioids. The law, the first of its kind in the state, was introduced by County Executive Steve McLaughlin, and adopted unanimously by the Legislature.
“Sadly, we have seen an escalation of overdoses in Rensselaer County, and I commend County Executive McLaughlin for instituting this program to keep unwanted drugs off of our streets, and out of our waterways”, said Legislator Bob Loveridge- East Schodack.