by Kieron Kramer
In a ceremony on Veterans Day in Afghanistan 1st Sergeant James Meltz of Cropseyville received a Bronze Star. The news hit the wires on Veterans Day here in the States. On Wednesday evening, November 12, at the meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature, the Democrat Legislator who the Republican Legislators love to hate, Kevin Harrington of Averill Park, introduced a resolution as a late filing that honored Sgt. Meltz.
The resolution said, “Our brave men and women in uniform have dutifully answered the call to service and are currently serving our great nation with honor and dignity…While traveling from Kabul to Kandahar, 1st Sgt. James Meltz’s unit was ambushed by Taliban fighters armed with machine guns and grenades…One of the rocket-propelled grenades directly hit one of his up-armored Humvees and a fire ensued in the trunk of the vehicle, which later engulfed the vehicle in flames…Meltz responded with machine gun fire, and the ensuing fight lasted approximately three hours…During the battle, the Taliban forces took shelter behind a barricade after facing several hundred rounds of automatic fire from the New York soldiers. Meltz had to destroy the barricade with an anti-tank missile to force them out into the open, where they were eventually killed…The success of the battle has proven effective long-term in securing the area…1st Sgt. James Meltz is the top-ranking non-commissioned officer in Company D of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. Meltz has also served a tour in Iraq…this Legislature does hereby commend 1st Sgt. James Meltz on being awarded the Bronze Star on November 11th for Valor for his heroic actions of May 25th in Afghanistan.”
No sooner had Harrington introduced this resolution when a war of words broke out in the Legislative Chamber. Not a single member of the Legislature on either side of the aisle disagreed with the idea of honoring 1st Sergeant Meltz, but the Republicans argued that this resolution was out of order because at the Special Rules Committee, which meets before the session and at which late filings are brought up, the Chairman of the Legislature, Neil Kelleher, ruled that it could wait until the next session, at which the budget will be approved, in about three weeks time, on December 1. Although late filings are not uncommon in this body, this one was filed too late, according to the Republicans. They saw Harrington’s attempt to introduce this resolution at the meeting as grandstanding. And also, apparently, when the Chairman lays it down, no one picks it up.
A Family Matter
Chairman Kelleher had excused himself from the meeting to be with his family after the presentation period which precedes the regular business. At that time he and his family were presented with copies of the resolution adjourning last month’s session in memory of Cornelius “Neil” Kelleher, who died on September 4, 2008, Neil Sr., referred to as “Kell” by Majority Leader Robert Mirch was born in Troy, NY, on May 9, 1923. The resolution passed last month describing his life lists too many accomplishments to write here. He was a World War II veteran, serving aboard the destroyer USS Dashiell during some of the heaviest fighting in the Pacific theater. His duties included manning an anti-aircraft gun and commanding rescue boats that came to the aid of downed pilots and air crews. He received nine battle stars and a Purple Heart for heroism and service. He was elected Mayor of Troy in 1960 and to the New York State Assembly in 1966 retiring from that body in 1993. Mirch said that, in the eulogy he gave at the church, current Congressman Mike McNulty said that the only election he ever lost was to Kell. But Mirch said, “They became best friends,” and added, “Kell spent his entire life taking care of other people.”
Vice Chairman Republican Tom Walsh made the presentation, but all the Legislators, in respect and honor to Kell and “young Neil,” came forward for the presentation. Kelleher talked about his dad in an emotional moment. “I miss my dad; that is my way of keeping him here,” he said. Then he described a moment at the wake when someone said to him, “Anytime I bumped into your dad, I walked away feeling better about myself.”
In the Kelleher family, as in many others, the will to do public service is a legacy handed down from one generation to the next, and we are all the better for it. So, too, is the ability to make the people who meet you come away feeling better about themselves. If every mother and father everywhere could hand this way of being down to their children, imagine what the world would be.
Honoring Past Emergency Services Personnel
At this session the Legislature passed a resolution honoring past emergency service personnel who have passed away this year. According to the resolution, the Rensselaer County Emergency Services Memorial Ceremony held on October 5, 2008, at the Maureen Stapleton Theatre on the campus of Hudson Valley Community College was a time designated to honor past emergency services personnel who, by their faithful and loyal devotion to duty, have rendered invaluable service to our community and its citizens. The ceremony was sponsored by the Rensselaer County Ambulance and Rescue Association, Rensselaer County Fire Chiefs Association, Rensselaer County Law Enforcement Association, Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety and Hudson Valley Community College.
The resolution states, “Emergency Services personnel play an essential role in protection of lives and property in our local community. These individuals put forth the commitment and dedication to save the lives of others, often risking their own, provided services to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week, freely gave of their time to attend training, certifications and seminars and provided the highest level of professionalism in the performance of their duties.”
The honorees from the Eastwick area are: John Anderson, Fire Fighter Berlin FD, Edward Boughton, Life Member and Past Commissioner Eagle Mills FD, Patricia Davendonis, Fire Fighter Hoosick Falls FD, Burton Ernst, Fire Fighter Averill Park FD, Robert Fallon, Past Lieutenant Fire Police Brunswick #1 FD, William French, Member Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, Lionel Hill, Past Commissioner and Fire Police Captain Berlin FD, Robert Jansen, Fire Fighter Berlin FD, Clifford Lewis, Charter Member Pittstown FD, Darius Lingener II, Fire Fighter Petersburgh FD, Alvah Lohnes, Past Assistant Chief Hoosick FD, Richard Myott, Past Fire Police Captain Poestenkill FD, Nelson Phillips, Member Berlin Rescue Squad, Walter Purcell, Past Chief and Past Battalion Coordinator Center Brunswick FD, Thomas Restino, Fire Fighter Hoosick Falls FD, Bruce Rowe, Past Deputy Chief and Past President Nassau Hose FD, Robert Scoville, Life Member and Past Commissioner West Sand Lake FD, Ray Shaver, Life Member Center Brunswick FD and David Meron, Sr., Fire Police Officer Hoosick Falls FD and past member of the Pittstown FD and Raymertown FD, who lost his life in the line of duty.
Poestenkill ATV Champion
The Legislature also recognized the accomplishments of Andy Cummings, a 10 year old from Poestenkill, upon becoming the 2008 New England All Terrain Vehicle Motocross Racing Series 90 Limited Champion. The resolution states, “Within our children lies the future of our nation and to recognize the accomplishments of some exceptional children today will inspire other young adults to emulate their achievements, insuring a brighter future for this county…Andy Cummings is deserving of such recognition and Andy Cummings recently became the 2008 New England All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Motocross Racing Series 90 Limited Champion…In 2007 Andy was the 4th overall in the NEATV 70 Production Class, 4th overall in NEATV 90 Limited Class, the 2007 NEATV most popular rider and in 2006 he was the NEATV 50 Limited Champion…The dedicated work of this individual is worthy of praise and recognition. He has spent countless hours practicing to make his turns, breaking maneuvers and jumping agility accurate for these races.”
Stone Wall Hill Farm Conservation Easement
The Legislature also passed a resolution extending the term of the contract purchasing a conservation easement on the Stone Wall Hill Farm located on Route 22 in Stephentown from September 30, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
In 2006 the County of Rensselaer was awarded $276,675 in funding through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Agricultural and Farmland Protection Implementation Program for this conservation purpose. The grant is 75% of the total program cost, and a condition of accepting the grant funding was the ability of Stone Wall Hill Farm to secure the remaining 25% from external sources. The Agricultural Stewardship Association, Inc. (ASA) has pledged $5,000 from a private foundation toward the required match for the project. Dale Riggs and Donald Miles, owners of Stone Wall Hill Farm, have agreed to provide the balance of the required local match by donating a portion of their development rights and/or through a payment in cash for transaction costs. Since this grant program will be fully funded through the combination of State and private dollars, it will produce no fiscal impact to the County.
In order to facilitate the project, the County of Rensselaer is to contract with the Agricultural Stewardship Association, Inc., Greenwich, NY, for the period of May 10, 2006, through June 30, 2009 since the ASA is in the process of completing conservation easements on the property.
Mortgage Tax Distributions
The Legislature passed a resolution distributing $1,933,068.89, which represents the local share of mortgage tax collected for the period April 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008, to the cities, towns and villages of Rensselaer County in accordance with Section 261 of the Tax Law of the State of New York. This period’s mortgage tax total is $311,506 less than last year’s period, representing a bottom line disbursement to County municipalities of 13.8% less than last year. The Eastwick municipalities receiving this distribution are: (i=increase, d= decrease compared to last year’s period)
Berlin $13,733.62 d
Brunswick 148,393.45 d
Grafton 30,299.22 d
Hoosick 59,897.63 d
Hoosick Falls 12,320.39 d
East Nassau 2,769.42 d
Petersburgh 10,631.42 d
Pittstown 64,398.68 d
Poestenkill 72,962.69 i
Sand Lake 134,738.45 d
Schaghticoke 132,164.44 i
Stephentown 44,489.03. d
Other Business
Two Berliners were appointed to the County Fire Advisory Board. John Kanopka of Plank Road in Berlin and Walter Yerton of Old State Road, Petersburgh, were appointed for terms to end on December 31 of this year.
The County will purchase $605,000 of road salt, under the NY State bid, for $52.35 per ton. Citizens will be happy to note that the Legislature authorized the purchase of ammunition for the Sheriff’s Office, under the NYS bid. The purchase will not exceed $9,997 and is funded through the training account.
During the passage of a resolution urging a one year delay in State Aid reductions and/or in the increase of mandates, District 5 Legislator Lester Goodermote rose to emphasize again his “bugaboo,” as he calls it, about the adverse impact of unfunded mandates on the taxpayers and on the budgets of towns in eastern Rensselaer County. Unfunded mandates now take 90 cents out of every County tax dollar, he said. “New York State is in a financial crunch, but both funded and unfunded mandates keep getting bigger,” he said. He feels that unfunded mandates are an unfair way of passing along expenses to local communities.
Public Hearings On The 2009 County Budget
A second public hearing on the proposed 2009 Rensselaer County budget, which includes no property tax increase, will be held November 24 at 5:30 pm in the Legislative Chamber, located in the County Office Building, 1600 7th Avenue, downtown Troy. On December 1, the Legislature will be considering the budget proposal for approval.
For residents hoping to learn more about the County budget, the annual report of the County Auditor on the proposed 2009 budget has been posted on-line at www.rensselaercounty.org.