by Kieron Kramer
State of the County
Before the Rensselaer County Legislative session on Tuesday, March 10, County Executive Kathleen Jimino gave her annual State of the County address. It is basically the same address every year. Hitting the same themes as in prior addresses she discussed the need to increase the tax base in the County by encouraging economic growth, the continued savings through the efficient management of County services, this year with particular emphasis on shared services between County municipalities, the importance of volunteerism within the County without which there may be a shortfall in the services for veterans, seniors and the more vulnerable residents in the County and the burden of unfunded State mandates which now cost the County 90 cents out of every tax dollar collected, an increase of 1 cent per dollar over last year.
One major difference from prior years is the condition of the national economy and the effect of the downturn as it trickles down through states, counties and households. “The Governor is proposing a State budget that would cost Rensselaer County an estimated $4.8 million through cuts in aid and direct State program cost shifts to counties,” Jimino said. “We can only control what we can control and remain both vigilant and mindful that we must balance the services and needs of our residents and businesses with their ability to afford property taxes.” In spite of this ominous statement, Jimino said, “We [will] deliver them [local services] in a way that clearly shows a personal touch and caring by not only our County employees but from a host of volunteers from every corner of the County.” Sounds like more volunteerism will be necessary.
Jimino was particularly proud of the County’s bond rating which was upgraded recently by “municipal finance experts” in response to “the County’s management practices as shown by our improved financial condition.” So the County’s financial position is in good shape?
In a metaphor meant to be clever, Jimino said, “The bottom line is that we cannot relax in our efforts to continue on the path to county economic solvency and cannot afford to turn down any opportunity to fertilize our county economic field so that we can harvest our own produce of progress. In doing so, we must remain ever vigilant of efforts to destroy our crop of accomplishment by the State who, if the Governor’s proposed budget is any indication, seeks to harvest the field for their own consumption at the expense of our county taxpayers, despite local taxes throughout our state already being 79% higher than the national average.” This is clever because it alludes to the importance of the agricultural base of the County. However, it calls to mind a sight and a smell that proves once again that extended metaphors are best left to professionals.
In the era of the Great Depression Republican President Calvin Coolidge said, “The business of government is business.” In 2009, this Republican, Jimino, said, “We need to take care of the public’s business by being financially responsible while responding to the very real challenge of helping people live in these trying financial times.” Is the business of government now the people’s business? If so, it’s good that we’ve cleared that hurdle again. Granted, the role of our government will be debated for as long as we are a republic.
Recognitions
On Tuesday, March 10, the Rensselaer County Legislature unanimously passed resolutions honoring four individuals, two teams and a town from the Eastwick area.
Dave Sadowsky – Petersburgh
A resolution was passed commending Dave Sadowsky upon receiving the Platinum Award in HUD’s 25th Annual Best in America Living Award (BALA) Competition. Dave Sadowsky, Architect P. C., of Petersburgh, received the award on Tuesday, January 20, from the United States Housing Secretary Steven C. Preston for his design of the Universal Design/Green/Affordable/Housing Prototype Home in Schenectady, NY. The Platinum Award is HUD’s highest honor.
According to the resolution, this award recognizes the excellence and features of the first of 13 homes, recently completed and sold, being built and marketed to lower income, owner-occupant families under Schenectady’s $2 million Affordable Green Housing Initiative. The BALA program showcases homes that illustrate the best in design quality and success in the marketplace. The 2008 BALA competition’s panel of twelve judges was composed of builders, marketing experts, architects, land planners, developers, design professionals, interior designers and editors from Professional Builder magazine.
Dave Sadowsky is a 1977 graduate of R.P.I. and started his own firm specializing in energy, socially conscious design in Petersburgh in 1984. His firm’s resumÄ includes multi-family affordable housing, numerous senior and municipal community centers, senior housing, commercial and renewable energy projects. Locally, he has recently designed the Everett Wagar Senior Center in Grafton. His firm has been geared towards “green” design, and he is a certified LEED AP (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design Accredited Professional). Sadowsky’s work has won several prior awards on a national level, including seven national Awards of Excellence for Project Design.
Kevin Miller – Stephentown
A resolution commended Kevin Miller upon his retirement as Stephentown Postmaster after 18 years and 36 years with the United States Postal Service.
According to the resolution, Kevin Miller started in 1973 with the post office in Albany and then served as Postmaster in Lebanon Springs for a year and a half before becoming Postmaster in Stephentown in February of 1991. He was apprehensive moving from a smaller post office in Lebanon Springs but grateful to the two clerks in Stephentown who took him under their wing when he arrived. Since 1991, Stephentown has grown from two postal carriers to three and from 955 customers to 1,300. Kevin Miller has gotten to know his customers during his tenure and considers them his “extended family.”
Matt Brownell – Hoosick Falls
A resolution commending Matt Brownell for winning the 34th Annual Troy Bowling Association Championship “over a pool of exceptional competitors” passed unanimously.
According to the resolution, which acknowledges “a milestone in the life of a resident of Rensselaer County,” the 25 year old Hoosick Falls native uncorked games of 247, 245 and 244 for a 736 triple in his qualifier game at Green Island Lanes. He then won all three of his games wearing down his opponent with a strike in the ninth and two more strikes in the 10th for a victory of 197-160 to become the 2009 Troy champion.
Brownell, a maintenance electrician, is averaging 230-233 in three leagues at Barbecue Recreation this season and has thrown eleven 300 games and seven 800 triples. He scored his first 300 game, at the age of 16, when he was an eleventh-grader at Hoosick Falls High School. As a member of the Panthers’ bowling team. Matt helped his school win the WASAREN League title each of his last three years during which time his best average was 202. Brownell’s top victory is the New York State Masters Championship, in Syracuse, that he claimed two years ago. Matt is the son of Rensselaer County Legislator Stan Brownell, who represents the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
In Memoriam – William Chamberlain
The Legislature passed a resolution in memoriam of William Chamberlain, who died January 30, 2009.
According to the resolution William “Hink” Chamberlain was born in Hoosick Falls, the son of the late William D. Chamberlain and Theresa Jacobs Chamberlain and the husband of the late Virginia Whimple Chamberlain, who died November 29, 2008. He was a United States Army veteran serving during the Korean War and worked for the Norton Co. in Watervliet for thirty-eight years, retiring in 1989. He was a longtime R.P.I. hockey fan and always enjoyed his part-time job and the many people he worked with over the years at the Field House. As an active member of his community, he was a member of the Germania Hall Association, Lansingburgh Veterans, Brunswick Elks, Italian Community Center Bocce League and former member of Christ and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. William Chamberlain will be missed by his family – his son William D. Chamberlain Jr. and wife Nancy, two daughters, Meredith Chamberlain-Abreu and husband Mark and Paula Latran and husband Christopher, his grandchildren, Ryan, Patrick, Dylan, Brendan, Olivia and Justin, two sisters, Carol and husband John and Marjorie, his sister-in-law Helen, several nieces and nephews and his many friends and acquaintances.
The resolution ended, “The Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of William Chamberlain and extends its deepest sympathy to his family, fully confident that his contributions to his community will live on to serve as a legacy for all.”
HFCS Bowling Team
A resolution commended the Panther bowling team for winning the Section II C-D Tournament for the second time in three years with a score of 6,147, beating the second place team by 300 pins. The HFCS bowlers had the fourth highest total of all A, B and C-D Section II teams who competed. The team finished its season with an impressive record of 49 points won to 7 points lost and a match record of 12 wins, 1 loss and 1 tie. The members of the Hoosick Falls Bowling Team, under the guidance of Head Coach Bob Lang and Assistant Coaches Dick Weeden, Walt Callahan, Jack Fitzsimmons, Chuck Pelletier and Louis Schmigel are Corey Callahan (Captain), Danielle Pelletier (Captain), Justin Carter, Brett Sargent, Jake Colliano, Patrick Mulvihill, Peter O’Neil, James Lynch, Chris Pelletier, Mitchell Andrew, Cody LaFlamme, Mikaela Marbot, Jordon Colvin, Joe Wolfrum, Bryan Callahan, Logan Brogue and Josh Conn. The resolution concluded, “The Rensselaer County Legislature does hereby commend and offer congratulations to the coaches, team members, families and supporters of a team well deserving of praise and recognition.”
HFCS Cheerleaders
A resolution passed commending the Hoosick Falls Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading teams upon winning trophies at the CNY Winter Cheerfest on Sunday, February 8, at the Scotia Glenville Spirit Invitational.
The Panther Junior Varsity Cheerleaders took home a third place trophy, and the Panther Varsity Cheerleaders took home a first place trophy. The Varsity team also won the small varsity division at the UAlbany Showdown and in total took home two first place trophies and three second place trophies, according to the resolution.
The resolution said, “…along with coaches Katie DiMaggio and Haley Decker the following Junior Varsity team members are deserving of such recognition: Liz Leva, Morgan DiMaggio, Sharri Forbes, Brooke Davendonis, Kristi Pierce, Bre Lewis, Ivy LaFlamme, Brigitte Sevigney and Ashley Dunevant” and “along with coaches Terri Milliman and Haley Decker the following Varsity team members are deserving of such recognition: Hannah Caron, Maeghan DiMaggio, Lacey LaCroix, Kayla Snyder, Lindsay Hoyt, Brooke Sargood, Amanda Sargood, Sam Niles, Cindy Randall and Sarah Gleason.”
Town Of Stephentown 225th Anniversary
A resolution honoring the Town of Stephentown upon the occasion of its 225th anniversary was passed. The resolution acknowledged with profound respect and admiration a milestone in the history of the Town of Stephentown and stated that “it is the intent of this Legislative Body to convey its compliments and felicitations to citizenry of Stephentown as the Town celebrates its 225th Anniversary.
According to the resolution, the stony and forested land of eastern Rensselaer County had long been inhabited by Indians until 1766 when settlers came from Rhode Island and Connecticut looking for new homes and farmland. On March 29, 1784, the Town of Stephentown was formed from the Grand Patroonship of Rensselaerwyck and named in honor of Stephen Van Rensselaer. By act of the New York State Legislature, Stephentown became a township on March 7, 1788, with Caleb Bentley having been named the first Town Supervisor at the first Town meeting held on April 20, 1784. When the first census was taken in 1790, Stephentown was the ninth largest town in the United States containing 33,538 acres of land with 7,053 residents and ten hamlets, more than it has today.
The Stephentown Historical Society, founded in 1973, has transcribed the New York State Library’s 1803 – 1856 diary of Stephentown farmer, George Holcomb, who recorded the local social and economic history of the Town, excerpts of which appear weekly in the Eastwick Press. A copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, will be transmitted to Beverly McClave, speaker for the Stephentown Historical Society.