by Kieron Kramer
The brutal killing of the bay Skye, owned by Dawn Feathers, in her stall on Hill Road in Hoosick prompted County Legislators Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell to introduce a resolution at Tuesday night’s Rensselaer County Legislative session calling for the State to strengthen Buster’s Law, a law which, several years ago, established the felony category of aggravated cruelty toward animals.
Residents in Rensselaer County have been upset and shocked by serious incidents involving depraved and inhumane acts against animals, including the killing of two young cats whose bodies were dumped locally, the alleged deliberate starvation of a dog in Troy and, most recently, the killing of a horse in Hoosick after the animal’s throat was slit.
Goodermote and Brownell, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls in the County Legislature were joined by the Republican majority in introducing this resolution which passed unanimously. The resolution proposes a psychiatric examination for anyone convicted under the statute and prohibitions that can prevent persons convicted under the statute of owning companion animals again. The resolution said, “This Legislative Body also believes stricter requirements for probation of individuals convicted under the statute should also be considered by state lawmakers during the coming legislative session. The outcry caused by the tragic killing of a horse in Rensselaer County has led to renewed calls for a strengthening of Buster’s Law to protect pets and justifies naming the amendment to the law “Skye’s Amendment.” Certified copies of this resolution will be sent to NYS Senator Roy McDonald, NYS Assembly Majority Leader Ronald Canestrari, Assemblyman Tim Gordon and Assemblyman Tony Jordan.
Brownell announced to the Legislators that Casey Webster has started a petition web page entitled “Justice For Horse Murdered During Robbery” which has a petition to which people can add their names. Brownell said that there are more than 650 names entered including people from Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy and most states in the US. Casey is the daughter of Tommy and Mary Webster of Hoosick, he said later.
Goodermote and Brownell said after the session that they thought that the “companion animals” reference in Buster’s law should include horses and other animals.
Grafton’s Ray Darling World Arm Wrestling Champ
A resolution commending Ray Darling of Grafton upon becoming an eight time champion of the World Arm Wrestling Federation passed unanimously at this session. The resolution said, “A County is only as great as those persons who give commendable service to their community, whether through participation in voluntary programs, through distinctive personal achievement in their professional or other endeavors or simply through a lifetime of good citizenry…Ray Darling is a contractor from Grafton, 64 years old and an eight time champion of the World Arm Wrestling Federation…Ray will soon be traveling to Kelowna, a ski town in British Columbia, to try and win his ninth championship title…This event will attract up to six hundred wrestlers from fifty different countries and the winner will receive a gold medal.”
According to the resolution the matches take place on metal tables with pads for the elbows, and the competitors pull as much as they push, trying to stretch an arm away from the body, using the torso, back and even legs. It said that Darling, a thirty year veteran of the sport, competes against men less than half his age and still manages to beat them. This takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Training can consist of running, weight lifting, finger and wrist strengthening, climbing rope and palming mini-bowling balls that weigh up to ten pounds. “We wish him well for many more championship titles,” the resolution concludes.
A copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, will be transmitted to Ray Darling.
Local Snowmobile Clubs Get Money To Maintain Trails
The Legislature passed a resolution tonight authorizing the Rensselaer County Executive to execute snowmobile trail grant agreements with the Rensselaer County Snoriders, Inc., Grafton Trail Blazers, Inc., Hoosick Trail Masters, Inc., Black River Raiders Snowmobile Club, Inc. and Stephentown Trail Riders. The clubs will receive contracts in the following amounts:
• Rensselaer County Snoriders, Inc. – $19,300
• Grafton Trail Blazers, Inc. – $20,825
• Hoosick Trail Masters, Inc. – $14,300
• Black River Raiders Snowmobile Club, Inc. – $4,875
• Stephentown Trail Riders – $2,625.
The resolution says that the State of New York provides Snowmobile Trail Grant funding annually to municipalities and their snowmobile trail clubs to maintain snowmobile trails open to all snowmobilers. The County of Rensselaer, together with its snowmobile trail clubs, has applied for and received funding for the maintenance of snowmobile trails in the towns of Berlin, Grafton, Hoosick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke. The total amount of State funding for this purpose is $61,925, $33,475 more than last year. This grant is totally state funded and will produce no fiscal impact to the County. The purpose is to provide recreational opportunities for County residents.
Casey Gilbert From BCS On County All-Star Team
A resolution passed unanimously commending the 2008 Fall All-Star athletes from Rensselaer County high schools. Among the All-Star athletes honored are Matt Welch from Tamarac HS in Golf, Winslow Murdoch, Tyler Shaw, Danny Costello, Chris Hansen and D.J. Goyer from Tamarac HS in boys soccer, Sara Cowan from Averill Park HS and Heather Konieczny from Tamarac HS in girls soccer, and Casey Gilbert from Berlin High School in boys cross country.
Sawyer Appointed Auditor
The Legislature appointed Tyler Sawyer, past Grafton Town Supervisor,
to be County Auditor. He had been Deputy County Auditor.
Carlton Coon of Hoosick Falls, a member of County Fire Battalion 5, was appointed to the Rensselaer County Emergency Radio Communications Committee at this session.
Other Resolutions
The Legislature passed a resolution amending contract amounts from various contracts for the County Highway Department. The quantities of materials and/or services to be purchased from some of these vendors were underestimated.
Several local businesses among others are the recipients of these contracts:
• Donovan Tree Service of Mechanicville will provide for tree and stump removal for $65,000.
• Troy Sand and Gravel of West Sand Lake will provide hot mix asphalt products and trucking for $300,000.
• Delurey Sales & Service of North Hoosick will supply International Truck parts, repair and service for $150,000.
The Legislature passed a resolution opposing elimination of the State’s STAR Rebate program. The STAR program provides school tax relief based on income levels and has been in place for a decade. Since 2006 a portion of the overall STAR tax exemption has been provided as rebates in the form of a check. According to the resolution introduced by the Republican majority, the Governor’s proposed 2009-2010 State budget would eliminate the rebate checks.
Out Of Touch?
With the inauguration of Barack Obama only a week away, the ghost of politics past reared its head at this session. A resolution calling for a change in State law to require a special election to fill the expected vacancy of a US Senate seat from New York was introduced by the Republican majority and passed strictly along party lines, 10-6, three Republican legislators were absent. From a Republican point of view, anything is better than having a Democratic Governor make the appointment.
Legislator Martin Reid of West Sand Lake introduced the resolution and said, “The Governor has two powers I detest, the power to pardon – a throwback to monarchy, and the power to appoint. In Illinois the Governor tried to sell the Senate seat; we don’t know if in New York State someone is trying to buy the Senate seat.” Democratic Legislator Keith Hammond of Poestenkill wondered if Reid would “offer the resolution if the seat was going to a Republican.” He said several Republicans were appointed as judges and Reid did not call for a special election.
Minority Leader Democrat Ginny O’Brien of Rennselaer said a special election would be a waste of time and money. She said it would cost $135,000 to hold a special election in Rennselaer County and $16 million statewide. “When we are running deficits why think about incurring a statewide expense of $16 million?” she asked.
If irony is appreciated at all, there was plenty when a resolution passed opposing tax and fee increases in the proposed State budget. The resolution encouraged the Governor and State leaders to consider other methods to balancing the State budget. Reid said that budget cuts could reduce the deficit without raising taxes or fees. He wants the Governor to cut funds for the arts, for public radio, for stem cell research, for tort reform and for acquiring parks and maintaining open spaces. He doesn’t want to cut them to zero, he added, just partial cuts. Special election, anyone? A least the Chairman of the Legislature Republican Neil Kelleher appreciated it. “Let’s do away with the next couple of election cycles,” he joked.