Tuesday April 23, 2024 
Rensselaer County Legislators Honor Hi-Way Recreation Bowl Owner Art Hoffmann
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Vice Chair of the Legislature Kelly Hoffman honored Hi-Way Recreation Bowling Alley and owner Art Hoffmann and his family during the October meeting of the Legislature. Hoffman praised Art and his family for providing a safe and friendly place for families to gather and enjoy the sport of bowling. Many generations of children were introduced to bowling at Hi-Way Recreation and have created a lifetime of memories and friendships. From birthday parties for children, to bowling leagues, and recreational bowlers, Hi-Way was the place to go for a great time.
Vice Chair Hoffman congratulated Art on his retirement and thanked him for his dedication to the community on behalf of her colleagues Leon Fiacco, Tom Grant, Rob Bayly, and the entire Legislature. Harry Tutunjian
Rensselaer County Minority Office – October 2021 Meeting Highlights
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Opioid Settlement – After declaring the opioid epidemic a public health crisis, Rensselaer County in concert with other Counties initiated a lawsuit against three opioid distributors. An agreement for settlement was reached and the legislature unanimously approved a resolution to accept funds from this lawsuit as restitution for its expenses resulting from the opioid epidemic. This litigation is by no way final, as other distributors may still be litigated.
Health – The legislature authorized the Health Department to purchase PCR Covid-19 testing machines, printers and testing kits for county school buildings to assist in the rapid identification and monitoring of Covid-19. This purchase is 100% grant funded and will help schools maintain in person learning and support prevention strategies to curtail the spread of Covid-19.
Education – The legislature supported the funding of design and engineering costs for a Hudson Valley Community College expansion project. This project proposes to build an Applied Technology Education Building (ATEC) in order to support and expand the training for needed skilled and technical trade jobs in the manufacturing industry.
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, November 9, 2021 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.
North Greenbush Report from Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
NORTH GREENBUSH – Since I joined the town board in 2018, I have pressed for transparency and an end to cronyism in town government. At my urging, the town has advertised vacancies for committees on the town website and in the Advertiser. I was very disappointed when the majority on the town board voted to fill a vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals without publicizing the vacancy in the newspaper or even on the town website such as neighboring towns do. I am sure that there are residents with backgrounds in planning, architecture, land use or real estate who may have wished to apply for this vacancy who were not even aware of it. My “no” vote was not a vote against the candidate who was chosen, it was a vote in favor of a more transparent, accessible process for finding the best people to serve North Greenbush. If you travel frequently through the intersection of Winter Street Ext. and Bloomingrove Drive, you know that many serious crashes occur there. For the past 4 years, I have spoken with many nearby residents, the police chief and the former county engineer about possible solutions. It appears as if a four way stop is being considered as a short term fix. A public hearing will be held on November 4, at 6:35 p.m. to consider this option. Finally, as the Town of North Greenbush continues efforts to become a certified NYS DEC recognized climate smart community, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County is providing support for a Climate Smart Resiliency vision document. All North Greenbush residents are encouraged to take the short and easy to navigate survey which will be a critical means to gather input from as many stake holders as possible for the vision document. You can access this link at the town website. If you are unable to access the online survey to provide input please contact Bernie Wiesen at bw27@nullcornell.edu or at 518-272-4210. Deadline to take the survey is October 27th.
North Greenbush Update from Supervisor Bott, Deputy Supervisor Hoffman and Councilwoman Merola
NORTH GREENBUSH – As we enter Fall. Supervisor Joe Bott’s 2022 budget calls for a 0% tax increase. This is due to the conservative policies developed by Joe and Deputy Supervisor Kelly Hoffman many years ago. We wish to thank our town employees for all they do to keep expenses down while providing the best services to our residents. The town is entering into an agreement with Rensselaer County for interoperable backup communications dispatch of emergency services in the event normal 911 and dispatch operations are interrupted. Kelly worked with Chief Kevern and Rensselaer County Public Safety to negotiate no cost to the town and in return, the North Greenbush Police Department will receive licensure from the county and replace our call tracking system which will saving the town $40,000. Our first First Responders Community Day was a success and thank Bonnie Pangburn and Len Johnson for coordinating what will be an annual event, as well as the Ladies Auxiliary, DFD, WFD, NGPD, NG Ambulance, State Police, County Search and Rescue and Sheriff.
Welcome Marie Barbara as Secretary to the Town Court. We thank Felicia Dickinson for her years of service to the town. Michael Masone was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill the remaining term of John Dalmata. We thank John for his service. Mike has demonstrated his expertise, previously serving as a member of the ZBA, Town Board, Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, Codes Revision Committee and Youth Makes a Difference volunteer and serves as Ambulance Commissioner and Public Safety Committee member. Councilwoman Merola has been working toward obtaining credits for the town Climate Smart Communities Certification. Jessica reminds residents our Annual Halloween Parade and Trunk or Treat will be held on October 31st at 2pm. Please reach out to her at jmerola816@nullgmail.com if you would like to participate in the Trunk or Treat event. Our friends at Benetech will also be hosting theirs next door!
Town of Schodack 2021 School Tax Collection
SCHODACK – All school tax payments are due by October 29, 2021. Schodack School tax payments must have the penalty included with payment. All East Greenbush school tax payments paid after October 15, 2021 must also have penalty included in payment. Payments received without the penalty added will be returned as unpaid. No payments can be accepted thru this office after the October 29th due date. All unpaid bills will be handed over to Rensselaer County to be re-levied on the 2022 Property Tax Bills.
Please mail all payments to PO Box 436 East Schodack, NY 12063 or place in the secure green drop box located to the right of Town Hall entrance door. A stamped receipt will be returned if the entire bill is included with payment. Please add your phone number on your check so we can contact you with any issues with your payment. Current and past bills can be viewed, printed or paid on the town website, schodack.org. You can reach the office at 518-477-7935 with any concerns. Office hours during October will be Monday and Friday from 9:30 to 4:00, Saturday’s 10/16 and 10/23 from 9:00 to 12:00.
Town of East Greenbush Fall Cleanup
EAST GREENBUSH – Fall Cleanup will begin Monday, October 25th, 2021, and resume for the next 4 Mondays. The leaves must be in biodegradable bags and brush must be tied up into 4 foot bundles, placed out alongside of the roadway, but not in the road.
The dates are as follows: October 25th, 2021; November 1st, 2021; November 8th, 2021; November 15th, 2021.
Please be advised that these are the “ONLY” dates the Department of Public Works will be performing Fall Cleanup. If you miss these dates, you may bring these items to the Transfer Station, located at 246 Ridge Road, Town of East Greenbush. Residents must provide proof of residency, or a Transfer Station permit, and are allowed to bring these items all year long at no cost.
Please do not place bags of leaves or bundles of brush on the pavement, in front of culverts, or on top of catch basins. Place all items on the edge of the road.
Daniel Fiacco, Commissioner of Public Works
Town of East Greenbush
Town of Brunswick Fall Leaf Pick Up
BRUNSWICK -Leaf pick up will start on Monday, October 25th and run through Wednesday, November 24th unless there’s a significant snowfall. There is not a set schedule for pick up. The Highway Dept. will be out on a weekly basis.
This will be a leaf pickup only. No brush will be picked up.
Leaves must be raked to the edge of the road (not in the road because it is a vehicle/traffic law violation)
It’s important to avoid piling leaves in ditches. The vacuum machines cannot access leaves placed in ditches.
• If you are planning to use bags, they must be biodegradable paper bags
• No sticks, dirt or other debris should be placed in the bags.
• This is a labor-intensive job in a short season so it is important that we expedite this program as fast as possible.
• After the regular pickup schedule has been completed, or in the event of an early snowstorm prior to completion of the regular pickup, you must place the remainder of your leaves in biodegradable paper bags.
Please note – the leaf pickup was designed for residents who live in areas that do not have a place to dispose of their leaves. Due to the short season for leaf pickup, we encourage residents that are able to dispose of their own leaves to please do so at our recycling facility behind the highway department near the salt shed. This helps us to complete the town-wide program before inclement weather occurs.
Recycling Department hours are Monday-Friday 7am-3pm, Saturday 7am-2pm. Anyone who wishes to drop off their leaves may do so during open hours.
Any questions, please call the Highway Dept. at518-279–3461 ext. 100