Saturday April 20, 2024 
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.
Annual Election of the South Schodack Fire District
SCHODACK – NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Election of the South Schodack Fire District will take place on December 8, 2020 between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the South Schodack Fire House, 1567 Bame Road, Castleton, NY, for the purpose of electing one Commissioner for a five (5) year term commencing January 1, 2021. Only persons residing in the South Schodack Fire District on or before November 8, 2020 and registered to vote with the Rensselaer County Board of Elections on or before November 15, 2020 shall be eligible to vote. Candidates for District Office shall file their names with the Secretary of the South Schodack Fire District no later than November 20, 2020.
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
“A Note from Your North Greenbush Tax Receiver”
NORTH GREENBUSH – Here are a few reminders and useful information for the upcoming 2021 Tax Season:
As we know, the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to cause many changes in our daily lives, and it goes without saying that this year’s property tax season will be a little different than previous years. Due to the pandemic the Town of North Greenbush will not collect “in-person” 2021 property taxes at the Tax Receiver’s Office or any other Office within Town Hall. Instead, you have three safe payment options: payment by mail; payment at the two Pioneer Bank Branches in Town; and payment online with a credit card.
When paying at the Pioneer Bank Branch you must bring your entire tax bill and your payment check or cash for the full amount of your bill. In return, the Bank will supply you a stamped receipt for your payment in full. Pioneer Bank does not accept credit cards for payment.
When paying by mail, please return the tax bill along with your check for the full amount shown on the tax bill. If you request a receipt of payment, please check off the box located at the bottom half of your tax bill and send in the entire bill. A receipt will not be issued without the return of the entire bill.
Please do not send cash thru the mail! Only checks will be accepted. Make checks payable to: Thomas F. McGrath, Jr. Rec. of Taxes and mail them to 2 Douglas Street, Wynantskill, NY 12198. Please be certain that the written dollar amount on your payment check is the same as the numerical dollar amount on the tax bill. Also, please sign and date your payment check. Neither the Town nor the Bank will be able to process your payment with such errors and your payment will be returned, which could result in a late payment. (Optional, please write your phone number on the memo portion of your check, so we can call you if we find any payment discrepancies).
You will avoid late fees by mailing your tax bill and payment check with a postmark before the late date printed on your bill. Your check date cannot be used as the payment date to avoid penalties.
If your taxes are paid by your Bank or Mortgage Company through escrow and you receive a tax bill directly, please do not send payment unless you are certain that your bank has discontinued your escrow payment. Please call us if you are not sure.
When calling the Town Tax Receiver Office (518-209-7506), please leave a clear and concise voice message along with your phone number.
As I enter my fourth year as Receiver of Taxes, I have truly enjoyed working in this capacity and will continue to work hard for all the residents of the Town of North Greenbush.
Sincerely, Tom McGrath Jr.
North Greenbush Tax Receiver, 518-209-7506 email: TMcGrath@nullnorthgreenbush.org Town Website: http://www.townofng.com/
A copy of your 2021 Town of North Greenbush tax bill is available online at: egov.basny.com/northgreenbush/
Nassau Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
NASSAU – The Nassau Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Supervisor (two-year term), Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a four-year term), Town Justice (four-year term), Tax Collector (two-year term), and Superintendent of Highways (two-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Pat Piniazek, Chair; Nassau Democratic Committee; via email: patpen1018@nullgmail.com.
The Nassau 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 4: Towns of Nassau, Sand Lake, and Schodack) to submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
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.