by Kieron Kramer
A sad time for Lester Goodermote and his family was addressed at the close of Tuesday night’s Rensselaer County Legislative meeting when Chairman of the Legislature Neil Kelleher said to the legislators, “Before we go, please join me in keeping Lester Goodermote in our prayers. He and his family are dealing with a difficult situation; his mom is in the Hoosick Falls Health Center. Let’s keep her in mind as we head home this weekend. God bless you Lester.”
Goodermote left immediately after the meeting for obvious reasons, but his fellow District 5 Legislator Stan Brownell commented on Goodermote’s situation. These men represent the Towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls in the Legislature.
Goodermote’s mother, who is in her 80s, suffered a severe stroke and is comatose. According to Brownell, her medical insurance would only allow her to stay in hospital for four days so she was moved to the Hoosick Falls Health Center on Sunday, during the snowstorm. Brownell also said that Goodermote told him that his mother is wasting away and that the outcome is bleak.
For his part Stan Brownell has put a difficult situation of a very different kind behind him this November. According to a release from the Legislative Majority, “A court matter in the State of Vermont involving Rensselaer County Legislator Stan Brownell has been resolved. Brownell had originally been charged with driving under the influence this past summer. However, in a plea agreement accepted in late November, Brownell pleaded to a non-alcohol offense of negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Brownell paid a fine of $1,000 to satisfy the plea to a lesser, non-alcohol offense. The charge was filed in the Town of Chester, Vermont. ‘I am happy this matter has been fairly resolved. I had maintained that I had not been driving drunk at the time of the incident, and I am glad that the disposition of this case reflects that fact,’ said Brownell. ‘DWI is a serious crime and one that claims too many lives. I want my constituents to know that I place great importance on sober driving and that commitment will continue,’ added Brownell.”
In an interview after Tuesday’s meeting, Brownell said, “I don’t want that involved in my life ever again. I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time with the wrong plates on my car. They [the police] are doing their job, and they are doing a good job at it.” Needless to say, Brownell is very relieved that this episode in his life is over.
Bronze Star Recipient Honored
At tonight’s meeting the Rensselaer County Legislature passed a resolution honoring 1st Sergeant James Meltz of Cropseyville upon being awarded the Bronze Star for Valor in Combat in a Veterans Day Ceremony in Afghanistan. Sgt. Meltz was recognized for his actions in combat on the night of May 25 and 26, 2008.
According to the resolution, which was quoted in full in the Eastwick Press coverage of the Legislature published on November 21, 1st Sgt. James Meltz’s unit was ambushed by Taliban fighters while traveling from Kabul to Kandahar. One of the up-armored Humvees was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and caught fire. Meltz responded with machine gun fire. The 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. 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.
The Most Popular Rider
At this Tuesday’s presentation period Andy Cummings of Poestenkill, whose grandparents live in Berlin, was
given a copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, that passed at last month’s meeting and which recognized his accomplishment of becoming the 2008 New England All Terrain Vehicle 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.
In an unusual turn, Cummings presented a signed, framed, professionally produced photograph of him in action to both Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell. Brownell was so stunned that he forgot until the last moment to give Cummings his copy of the Legislature’s resolution when the Cummings family was leaving the well of the Legislature. “What he gave us is better than what we gave him,” Brownell said after the meeting. “That was really nice and professionally done. It’s nice to see families do things together,”
Brownell added. Cummings’ parents and grandparents had come into the well to accompany Andy and to take pictures.
Andy, a very poised ten year old addressed the Legislature and said, “I couldn’t have done this without my parents, and thank you to all the Legislators, especially Stan and Lester. I’m looking forward to next season. Happy holidays everyone.” Everyone in the Chamber was taken with Andy, and, as the Cummings family prepared to leave the well of the Chamber, Chairman Neil Kelleher said, “I think we just figured out why he was the most popular racer.”
Tyler Sawyer Likely To Become County Auditor
A resolution was passed at this session of the Legislature recognizing the achievements of Lisa Massoth and “praising the career of a woman whose example has enriched the lives of the members of this Legislative Body and the residents of our County.” Massoth is stepping down as County Auditor, a position she has held for ten years, to work for the County Executive. According to Stan Brownell, Massoth will be focussing on insurance fraud issues. Brownell is also “95% sure” that former Grafton Town Supervisor and current Deputy County Auditor Tyler Sawyer will be appointed to the position of County Auditor at the “clean-up” meeting on December 18. “He’s done a fantastic job [as Deputy Auditor], and it’s an easy transition,” Brownell said.
Radio Towers
Two resolutions were passed, one to fund improvements to the Grafton Radio Tower and one to continue the lease agreement for the property of the LeBarron Road Tower in Hoosick. These are two of the radio towers in the County emergency services communication system that relay radio transmissions on 800MHz from the County 911 Dispatch Center to emergency service agencies throughout the County.
The Grafton Tower resolution authorized the extension through July 31, 2009, of a grant in the amount of $28,000 from the New York State Senate, disbursed through the New York State Department of State, for the purpose of purchasing and installing a new generator at the Grafton Radio Tower. Any positions, programs, expenditures and/or agreements or contracts authorized or established will terminate if the funding is discontinued.
The other resolution authorizes execution of a radio transmitter site lease agreement for the LeBarron Road Tower. The County had entered into a no-cost agreement with Crown Atlantic Company, LLC, effective through November 30, 2008, and now wants to renew the original agreement at no cost to Rensselaer County effective December 1, 2008, through November 30, 2009, with an automatic extension on a year-to-year basis unless the co-location agreement is terminated by either party with at least 365 days prior written notice to the other. The agreement is for approximately 2,500 square feet of ground space at 242 LeBarron Road, Hoosick, for the purpose of operating a radio transmission facility with a 300 foot radio tower, associated radio equipment and components and a masonry structure.
About four years ago the emergency service agencies in eastern Rensselaer County, particularly in the Hoosick area, complained strenuously about the unreliable transmissions from the County Dispatch Center. Brownell said, after Tuesday’s session, that the transmissions are “a lot better” now because the signal that used to be sent to the Grafton Mountain Tower and then relayed to the other towers is now sent to the LeBarron Road Tower in Hoosick first and then relayed. “We finally got to the right people, and they changed the protocol,” he said.
Shared Services
A resolution authorizing the County to enter into agreements with Petersburgh, Brunswick, Poestenkill and Schaghticoke, among other towns, for snow plowing and salt and sand application on County roads located in those towns passed Tuesday. The County has been entering into the agreements for years to help hold the line on expenses and ensure that needed snow removal services are delivered efficiently. The roads included in this agreement are easier for the towns to reach resulting in the roads being plowed in a timely manner. The agreements run through April 30, 2008. Under the resolution, the County will pay six towns a combined amount of $80,000.
BCS Lead Agency For Feasibility Grant
A resolution authorizing an agreement to evaluate the feasibility of shared municipal services as a co-applicant also passed. According to the resolution, the Rensselaer County Highway Department, through a task force consisting of school district officials, town officials, County officials and other public entities, wishes to investigate various opportunities to reduce overall governmental costs by sharing services. The New York State Department of State Shared Municipal Services Incentive Grant Program 2008-2009 presents an opportunity to receive fiscal assistance in developing viable, cost effective programs to reduce governmental costs by sharing resources and services. The project would be entitled the Eastern Rensselaer and Columbia County Shared Vehicle Maintenance Facility Feasibility Study and would identify opportunities to reduce public agency spending and provide superior service in vehicle maintenance operations by sharing facilities.
At its School Board meeting on November 18, the Berlin Central School District Board voted to become the lead agency in applying for a grant for the feasibility study. The Legislature’s resolution stated that the amount of the grant requested by the BCS, as lead applicant, shall be $25,000, plus $1,000 for each co-applicant exceeding two as allowed by the grant application process. The Town of Berlin has already agreed to be a partner. Other possible partners would include the Hoosick Falls School District and the towns of New Lebanon, Stephentown, Petersburgh, Grafton and Hoosick. Each of the co-applicants shall in equal shares fund the first local share, which is 10% of the total project amount, not to exceed $700 per co-applicant.
Cheney Library Gets Grant
The County Legislature authorized nine Community Program grants for the 2009 year. Nine organizations and agencies which provide unique and specific community programs which benefit the residents of Rensselaer County will enter into a contract with the County for the grant amount. Among the organizations receiving grants are the Brunswick Library which will receive $7,400 and the Cheney Library of Hoosick Falls which will receive $5,200.