Rensselaer County Legislature – July Meeting

A Split Personality
by Kieron Kramer
The Rensselaer County Legislature sometimes acts like one big family regardless of political party and sometimes not. This split personality was apparent when the Legislature held its regular meeting on July 14. Deputy Minority Leader Keith Hammond, a Democrat from Poestenkill, presented a surprise resolution to Chairman of the Legislature Republican Neil Kelleher on behalf of the grateful clients at Arc. The Arc is the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hammond had asked Kelleher if he could obtain some tickets for the clients to a ValleyCats minor league baseball game at Joe Bruno Stadium. “We do a lot of battling, but when we asked Neil Kelleher for some tickets, he got 50 for us,” said Hammond. Hammond also presented Kelleher with a Governor Paterson bobble-head doll (that’s what they offered at the Stadium that night) and a T-shirt signed by all the clients in appreciation for the fun night at the ballpark that Kelleher and the ValleyCats had provided. If you’d like to learn more about Arc, the Rensselaer County Chapter is located at 79 102nd Street in Troy, 518-274-3110 or www.rensselaerarc.org.
On the other hand, when it came time for the Legislature to vote to appoint Catherine B. (Kay) Vandenburgh of the Lansingburgh section of Troy to the  seat vacated by Laura Bauer of Troy, who has taken a position with the County Probation Department, the Democrats voted as a block against the appointment. “An appointment should be a happy and proud occasion, but a certain cloud has been cast, raising questions about the appointee,” Minority Leader Ginny O’Brien said. “Because of these media reports,” she said, “I will not be supporting the  resolution.” O’Brien was referring to the reporting by print and television media outlets in the Albany/Troy area that the  Vandenburghs owed past due property taxes. Hammond said, “I felt bad for Mrs. Vandenburgh; I’m sorry she had to go through it [media scrutiny].” Then he said he would not vote for her because he is a Democrat and the Democrats had no input in the decision. Hammond’s statement echoes that made at the national level except the parties are reversed. In response Kelleher said that he doesn’t feel he needs to apologize for the fact that “we are a democracy and the folks who get the most votes in this Chamber carry the day.” Enough said.
In response to the property tax questions Majority Leader Robert Mirch of Troy said that he had seen the media presentations. “This cloud  is over the appointee’s husband not the appointee, and he paid his taxes in full today.” Kelleher said, “I’ve been a friend of the Vandenburghs my whole life. What Kay is guilty of is trying to help her husband’s business.” And then he added, “I’m delighted that nobody in this Chamber had anything to do with the media discovery.”
For her part Kay Vandenburgh said that she was honored to serve as a member of the Legislature. And she added, “Troy  is not a city of political parties; it is a city of families, neighbors, hopes and dreams.”
The issue has not gone away however. As new tax improprieties have surfaced, the Democrats announced on Tuesday that they are calling for the Ethics Committee to convene and review the Annual Disclosure Statement provision of the Local Code of Ethics. They said that the guidelines to preclude potential conflicts of interest and safeguard public trust are not strong enough.
The Democrats’ announcement summarizes the tax questions. It said, “Questions about current standards arose when Kay Vandenburgh, whose husband Kevin is a close friend of Chairman Neil Kelleher, was appointed to the County Legislature. Shortly before her appointment documents surfaced showing that the business she manages, Pip’s Athletic Lounge, Inc., owed over $42,000 in overdue property taxes. The taxes owed, dating back to January 2006, were paid on the day of her appointment, July 14. Additional owed taxes came to light in the Sunday, July 26, edition of the Times Union which listed the Vandenburghs’ business, Pip’s, in the “State Tax Warrants” section as owing $10,027 in state and local sales tax collected in 2008.” In the Democrats’ announcement Legislator Flora Fasoldt, representing Sand Lake, Schodack and Nassau, said, “Do people really think that someone who doesn’t live up to their responsibilities as a citizen should hold public office?” Vandenburgh had been appointed by a 12 to 6 party line vote.
Local High School Athletes Honored
On a happier note the Legislature honored the athletic achievements this spring of area high school students with two resolutions.
Casey Gilbert
One resolution commended Casey Gilbert of Berlin Central School upon a terrific track season. The resolution said, “Cognizant of the hard work and steadfast commitment by some of the exceptional youth in our County to excel in competitive sports, it is consistent with the duty of this Legislative Body to recognize their achievements.”
According to the resolution, “Casey Gilbert  is  a senior track and field athlete for Berlin High School who finished first in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 54.01 seconds at the State Championships in Cicero-North Syracuse High School, becoming the first Berlin student-athlete to win a New York State Championship…highlights include Casey placing fourth at the Federation Championship, being named Berlin’s track and field most valuable player, being named the school’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete,  holding 8 of the 18 Berlin track and field records including the 200 meter race, the 400 meter race, the 110 meter hurdles, the 400 meter hurdles, the discus, the pole vault, the high jump and the 1600 meter relay.”
A copy of the resolution,  “suitably engrossed,” will be transmitted to Casey Gilbert.
HFCS Softball
The second resolution honored Hoosick Falls Softball upon a successful season. It said, “It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize the youth of our County whose superior achievements have contributed to the vitality of this community…the  Hoosick  Falls  High  School  softball  team  recently completed a successful season in local and state competition.”
According to the resolution the “Hoosick Falls High School softball team compiled an overall record of 24-6 in league play and tournaments played throughout New York State…highlights include a WASAREN League record of 11 wins and 3 losses, 2009 Class CC Champions, 2009 Class CC/C Section II Champions, Regional  Champions  as  well as  being New York  State  Semi-finalists. The members of the Hoosick Falls High School softball team, coached by Charlie Weeden, Kerrie Branigan, Ralph Quackenbush and Denise Campbell,  are Kayla  Brownell,  Emily Ciuk,  Marissa  Davendonis,  Jackie Kimball,  Katie Kovage,  Nicole LaCroix,  Julia Luciano,  Melody Mentiply, Karley  Morin,  Carly  Pine,  Jenna  Priore and  Rachel  Quackenbush.”
A copy of the resolution,  “suitably engrossed,” will be transmitted to the team members and coaches of the Hoosick Falls High School softball team.
In Memoriam
On a sad note a resolution in memoriam of Marguerite Greaney of Berlin was passed near the end of the session.  The resolution said, “Consistent with the duty of this Legislative Body to recognize the contributions of the citizens of Rensselaer County, we honor in memory a woman who gave unselfishly of her time and effort to worthy causes throughout our beloved County, and…it is the intent of this Legislative Body to express sincerest sorrow upon the death of Marguerite Greaney, which occurred on Wednesday, the tenth day of June of the year two thousand nine.”
According to the resolution, Marguerite Greaney was born in the Bronx, NY. She lived in Berlin before passing at the age of 74 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. She was educated at Our Lady of Angels School in New York City and the New York City public school system. Before her retirement,  she was employed as a histology technician at Francis Delia Field Hospital in Manhattan. She was also employed at the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Marguerite will be missed by her family – her husband John, her  son  Michael  and his wife Lorraine  Greaney, her daughter  Maureen  Greaney,  two grandchildren, Adam and Shaunna, and two sisters, Catherine and Isabelle, as well as several nieces and nephews.
The resolution ended, “the  Rensselaer  County  Legislature  concludes  its deliberations in memory of Marguerite Greaney and extends its deepest sympathy to her family,  fully confident that her contributions to her community will live on to serve as a legacy for all.
Purchase Of Grafton Culvert Authorized
A resolution was passed unanimously authorizing the purchase of an aluminum box culvert and necessary accessories to replace the culvert which carries County Road No. 85 – South Road over an unnamed stream in the Town of Grafton. The purchase will be made at the State bid prices. The aluminum box culvert has a 15’6” span and a 7’3” rise and, with accessories, will be purchased from Contech Construction Products, Inc. of Round Lake, NY, for $38,728.01.