REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING MARCH 2, 2010
A regular Meeting of the Town Board of Guilderland was held at the Town Hall, Route 20 McCormick's Corners, Guilderland, NY, on the above date at 7:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll call by Rosemary Centi, Town Clerk, showed the following to be present:
Councilman Redlich
Councilwoman Slavick
Councilman Pastore
Councilman Grimm
Supervisor Runion
ALSO PRESENT: Richard Sherwood, Town Attorney
***************************************************************************
Supervisor Runion welcomed everyone to the evening’s meeting and asked for a motion accepting the minutes of the February 2, 2010 Town Board meeting.
MOTION # 36 Councilman Pastore moved to ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 2, 2010 TOWN BOARD MEETING. Councilwoman Slavick seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Abstained |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Opposed |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: No public comment
AGENDA ITEMS:
Item #1 on the agenda concerned adopting a resolution calling upon the Governor and State Legislature to continue to fund staff and operations at John Boyd Thacher State Park.
Supervisor Runion explained that Thacher State Park is located principally within the Town of New Scotland. The Town of New Scotland had also adopted a similar resolution.
It has been slated to be closed due to budget issues and to cover shortfalls within the State budget.
He stated that the Park was an important resource for the residents of Guilderland, who use the Park, which provides both recreational and historical significance to our area.
It also provides revenue for the Town of Guilderland and the Village of Altamont from tourists going to Thacher Park.
He further stated that its closure would be devastating for the local economy and would be detrimental to a great recreational resource
He said that he had read a number of articles and they said, “If you want to build a good community, build a park.”
Bert Schou, member of Friends of Thacher and Thompson Lake State Parks, thanked the Board for passing the resolution. He provided a petition for keeping the Park open and a web site.
Friendsofthacher.org.
MOTION #37 Councilman Grimm moved to ADOPT THE FOLLOWOING RESOLUTION CALLING UPON THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE TO FUND STAFF AND OPERATIONS AT JOHN BOYD THACHER STATE PARK.
WHEREAS, the proposed 2010-2011 New York State Budget proposal proposes $32.5 million in cuts to the operational budget of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), representing a 20% cut over current fiscal year funding; and
WHEREAS, to respond to these budget cutbacks, the Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation is preparing, for the first time in state history, to close to public
visitation a significant number of state parks and historic sites; and
WHEREAS, according to a report by columnist Fred LeBrun in the Sunday, February 14,
2010 Times Union newspaper, that John Boyd Thacher State Park is among the parks
slated for closure; and
WHEREAS, Thacher State Park provides significant recreational, economic, and quality
of life benefits to the Town of Guilderland, Village of Altamont, and surrounding
communities;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Town of Guilderland calls upon members of the State Legislature
and the Governor to continue to fund staff and operations at John Boyd Thacher State
Park in order to maintain full and safe public access to its trails, facilities, and roadways.
To be transmitted to:
Governor David A. Paterson
NYS Senate Leadership
NYS Assembly Leadership
Senator Neil D. Breslin
Assemblymember John J. McEneny
Commissioner Carol Ash, OPRHP
Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Aye – “I am in favor. I have been going to Thacher Park since I was a kid. My parents took me there; I went there on at least one school trip. My wife and I went there, one of the places we went on our first date. We take our children there. When family comes to visit, what is one of the places we take our family to see? It really is a jewel of the Capital Region. We do face some really serious budget problems in the State. The problem we have is we have to make choices. This is the wrong choice. There are plenty of other places in the State’s budget that could be cut, that should be cut, long before we cut parks. It is not
just Thacher Park; the list was some 54 State Parks and historic sites. Johnson Hall in Johnstown is another favorite place of mine and that is on the list. That is a big part of the history of all of upstate New York. So, I am absolutely in favor of this resolution, I think the Governor and the State Legislature have to find other places to cut before they cut parks.” |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye –“I am also in favor. I have always gone to Thacher Park as a child, as a teenager for picnics, for family gatherings. It is a jewel, as we have heard tonight. Also, given the proximity of the Park and the gas prices, it is close for all of the residents in the County to get there. Also, educational, a lot of student trips are taken there for hiking and that type of thing. So I am in favor.” |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye – “I am in favor of the motion. The proposal to cut more than 32 million dollars of the operational budget of the office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is quite alarming. It would be a travesty if Thacher Park were closed. Certainly, the consideration by this Board and the endorsement of this resolution, hopefully by the Board, unanimously, exemplifies our concern and the Town’s concern that we not close the Park. It is a tremendous asset, it is a tremendous opportunity for many people for recreational purposes and although this resolution is certainly not binding on the Governor or the State Legislature, hopefully they will heed our
concerns and the concerns raised by other municipalities. So I am in favor of the motion.” |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye – “I strongly support this resolution and hope that we can keep Thacher Park open. The proposed State budget is 134 billion dollars. Twelve years ago the State budget was 66 billion or to put it another way, we have increased spending more in the last twelve years than we did in the first two centuries. It is hard to believe with 134 billion dollar budget we cannot afford to keep Thacher Park open. Often times, parks don’t have special interests behind them. That’s why it is so important that Boards like this, and the people who have become so involved with the whole Save Thacher Park, Facebook, all of those people with the petitions. Our parks
are one of the few government entities that every citizen gets to enjoy, so we should all speak up to keep our parks open and protect them. I vote in favor.” |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye – “Of course I am in favor of the resolution. As all of the other Town Board members have mentioned, the Park is something that my children grew up going to, for both recreational reasons and educational reasons. It was sad to see the swimming pool at Thacher Park close. I know that there had been plans to establish some sort of spray pool at the Park, but that has probably been put on the back burner as well. As I have stated, I think the last thing we should be looking to do is to close State Parks, which offer great recreational opportunities for all of our residents of our community as well as the neighboring communities. So I am in favor. We
will transmit this resolution tomorrow. I know that there is a rally that is planned for tomorrow at the State Capital and I would like to make sure that we get the resolution up there at the appropriate time.” |
Item #2 on the agenda concerned adopting a resolution adopting the County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan for the purpose of making the Town of Guilderland a part of the plan and eligible for mitigation grant application and funding.
Supervisor Runion explained that the Town had received a letter from the County Sheriff’s Office indicating that the County Legislature had adopted this plan and was asking that the Town adopt it as well.
MOTION #38 Councilwoman Slavick moved to ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE COUNTY ALL-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING THE TOWN OF GUILDERLAND A PART OF THE PLAN AND ELIGIBLE FOR MITIGATION GRANT APPLICATION AND FUNDING.
RESOLUTION NO. 38
ADOPTING A COUNTY-WIDE, MULTI-JURISDICTION HAZARD
MITIGATION PLAN FOR ALBANY COUNTY
Introduced:
WHEREAS, The Commissioner of the Department of Public Works has
requested the adoption of a County-wide, multi-jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan,
and
WHEREAS, The Commissioner indicated that the plan is a joint project between the Department of Public Works, which has the responsibility for Hazard Mitigation,
the Sheriff’s Department Emergency Management Office, and all 19 municipalities in
Albany County in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and
WHEREAS, Through the adoption of the plan, the County and participating
municipalities will become eligible for hazard mitigation project grants once the plan
is approved by the NYS Emergency Management Office and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, By the Town Board of the Town of Guilderland, that the County-
wide, multi-jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan as filed with the Albany County Clerk
is hereby adopted, and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Town Clerk of the Town of Guilderland is directed to
forward certified copies of this resolution to the appropriate County Officials.
Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Aye |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
Item #3 on the agenda concerned authorizing the Department of Water and Wastewater Management to enter into an agreement with Barton & Logiudice, P.C. for engineering services to prepare a Beneficial Use Permit Application with NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation for an alternate disposal of the water treatment plants alum sludge.
The fee is not to exceed $7,900.00 and it is a budgeted item.
Councilwoman Slavick stated that, in looking at the figures, the Town would recoup the cost of the $7,900.00 in about 2.5 years. She further stated that this would be a cost saving measure for the Town.
Superintendent of Water and Wastewater Management explained that this material could be re-used for various purposes.
Councilman Redlich asked if the Town would have to go out to bid for the hauler.
Don Fletcher, Barton & Logiudice explained that only some haulers were permitted to haul alum sludge. They are approved as a part of the BUD application.
Further discussion was held regarding the significant cost savings.
MOTION #39 Councilman Pastore moved to AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BARTON AND LOGIUDICE, P.C. FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PREPARE A BENEFICIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION WITH NYS DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION FOR AN ALTERNATE DISPOSAL OF THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ALUM SLUDGE.
Councilman Redlich |
Aye |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
MOTION #40 Councilman Pastore moved to AWARD THE BID FOR SANITARY SEWER LINING TO THE LOWEST QUALIFIED BIDDER, LASH CONTRACTING OF LATHAM, PER THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEPT. OF WATER AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT. Councilman Redlich seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Aye |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
MOTION #41 Councilwoman Slavick moved to SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 20TH, 2010 FOR SECTION 8 CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM. Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Aye |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
MOTION #42 Councilwoman Slavick moved to ADJOURN THE MARCH 2, 2010 TOWN BOARD MEETING AT 7:58 PM. Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich |
Aye |
Councilwoman Slavick |
Aye |
Councilman Pastore |
Aye |
Councilman Grimm |
Aye |
Supervisor Runion |
Aye |
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Centi
Town Clerk
| 
