by Kieron Kramer
It was cold enough to freeze a witch’s broomstick in the Chambers during Tuesday evening’s regular meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature. By the end of the meeting the temperature in the large room was 57 degrees. People started stamping their feet, not in political protest but just to stay warm. There was the temptation to build campfires in the gallery and huddle around them. When the resolution was approved to purchase an emergency response trailer, which passed narrowly by a 10 to 7 vote, the Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid of West Sand Lake joked, “We could use those blankets right now out of that trailer.” And the Clerk of the Legislature read the resolution headings faster and faster as the meeting went on until she sounded almost like Crazy Eddie.
The culprit was the thermostat robot which controls the air conditioning that pumped frigid air into the Chamber all day and all evening. No one could turn it off. Outside it was a mild, comfortable evening in the sixties. Apparently the thermostat is controlled by a program which in turn is controlled by some artificial intelligence off premises – perhaps way off premises – by the Siemens company. Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell had poked at the thermostat before the meeting and again as people trailed out of the Chamber. It did no good; robots don’t care if they are poked. In science fiction movies we are told that robots are programmed to never harm human beings. Not so.
At the end of the meeting Legislator Richard Salisbury, who was surprisingly hot under the collar, chafed at the Chairman. “Isn’t there a switch somewhere to turn that thing off; there is no reason for us to sit here and freeze to death; this is crazy,” he said. To which Reid promised, “We will find out why we can’t turn it off.” Talk about wasted energy. As the election draws near some folks might want to make government smaller; some might want to make it smarter.
Presentation To The Kenney Family In Memory Of The General
Earlier, during the Legislature’s presentation period, warm feelings were expressed toward the family of Brigadier General (Ret.) James A. Kenney of Hoosick Falls, who died on July 25, 2011. A resolution was passed last month adjourning the August meeting in his memory.
Legislators Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, made the presentation. Goodermote said, “I’ve known the Kenney family so long I can’t even remember when I didn’t know them.” He read the resolution:
“It is the collective sense of this Legislature that the life of James J. Kenney be memorialized and eulogized, for he was respected and admired by all who had the privilege to make his acquaintance, and even more so by the many who could call him their friend…born in Hoosick Falls, New York, and a resident there for all of his life, he was the only son of the late James Simons and Frances Mae Maley Kenney…He was a graduate of the former Walter A. Wood Memorial High School…At age 15, James started a military career lasting over 45 years when he joined the New York Guard. He enlisted in the United States Navy at age 17. Honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1947, he enlisted as a Private in the National Guard three days later. Working for the State Division of Military and Naval Affairs in the Adjutant General’s Office he rose through the ranks to the level of Colonel. Between 1954 and 1977 he was the Assistant Director of Military Personnel and Administration and State Quartermaster responsible for 90 N.Y.S. armories and 11 air bases. He retired in 1977 from the New York Army National Guard and was later honored with a brevet promotion to Brigadier General. Jim then joined the Army Reserve where he was assigned to a selective service unit as its commander…Jim also worked for the N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation for more than 54 years dating back to 1955 until the State dissolved his position as a Special Game Protector in 2009. Jim’s patrol covered Rensselaer County, but his favorite work detail was patrolling the Tomhannock Reservoir. Jim was a former Assessor for the Town of Hoosick, a member of the N.Y.S. Assessors Association, a member and former Board Member of the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, and he served on the Town of Hoosick Planning Board for many years. Jim was a member of the BPO Elks, American Legion and National Rifle Association as well as a life member of the U.S. National Guard Association…Jim was a devout Catholic and a lifelong communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls. James J. Kenney will be missed by his family: his loving wife, of forty-five years, Leona; his children, Stacy L. and husband Michael Flynn, Lt. Col. Kathleen F. Curran, and James J. Kenney II and wife Lori; his grandchildren Jonah, Sarah, Lane, Riley and Shamus; as well as his many friends and acquaintances; now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of Brigadier General James J. Kenney 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.”
Goodermote added that Kenney was also a Constable in Hoosick and attended the Town Court when Goodermote was a justice. “Jim Kenney was a friend of mine; I saw him in a lot of places, and he was always the same guy – he was a dear friend, and he really enjoyed patrolling the Tomhannock Reservoir [for the DEC as Special Game Protector].”
General Kenney’s daughter, Lt. Colonel Kathleen Curran, said a few words on behalf of the family. She had extended her leave to attend this ceremony. “My father worked three jobs yet still had time for double piggy-backs,” she said. And she added, “He was at every single one of my promotions because he was a person who made me want to be better and my brothers feel the same way.”
Brownell made some remarks. “He had a passion for County, State and community,” he said, telling about Kenney’s “obsession” with the Bennington bypass and his reading of every article about it for the many years that the project was underway. “He has left a legacy with his family here,” Brownell concluded.
In Memory of Charles Williams
The resolution passed this month in memory of Charles Williams says, “It is the intent of this Legislative Body to express sincerest sorrow upon the death of Charles Williams, which occurred on the twenty-fourth day of September, of the year two thousand eleven…He was the son of Andrew L. and Elizabeth (McGee) Williams and was raised by George and Katherine Schuster from the age of five…Charles began working at Haynes Ford in 1937 until 1941 when was drafted into the United States Army. He was honorably discharged in 45 and returned to work for Haynes Ford until September 1950. He then began a new job at the VA Hospital in Albany, NY, where he was in charge of the Motor Pool until 1959; he then worked at GSA in Albany until retiring in 1976…Active in his community he was a member of the Hoosick Volunteer Fire Department for sixty years, of which he acted as Fire Commissioner for fourteen years, was a custodian for voting machines for ten years…Charles was an avid bowler, enjoyed classic cars and spending time with his family. Charles Williams will be missed by his family: his wife of sixty-seven years, Elsie (Gardner) Williams; his two sons Robert W. and his wife Janet and Charles Andrew (Butch) and his wife Kathy; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; as well as many friends…now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of Charles Williams 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.”
Herrington Farm Named 2010 Conservation Farm Of The Year
The Herrington Farm of about 1,600 acres in Brunswick and Pittstown, the largest farm in Rensselaer County, was named the 2010 Conservation Farm of the Year by the Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation Department. A resolution was passed last month recognizing this achievement, and the Herrington family, including Legislator Ken Herrington, appeared in the well of the Legislature this Tuesday to receive the presentation of the resolution. Legislator Tom Walsh read the resolution and said a few words. To combat soil erosion the farm has been put into strip cropping and utilizes an intensive crop rotation program as well as using many other conservation measures, according to Walsh. He said the farm milks 680 cows per day, produces 18 million pounds of milk per year and has 500 head of young stock. Walsh said that this is the most difficult business to make money in because half the time, with the low milk prices, they don’t seem to break even. The Herringtons mix wood shavings used for livestock bedding with manure to make mulch that they sell to the general public. This makes up for the losses in milk income, according to Walsh.
Perhaps not all computer controlled programs are as objectionable as the thermostat in the room. Walsh commented on the automatic milking machines run by computer at the Herrington Farm. “It tells you what cows are producing and when they start not producing,” he said. “That’s when we put in a call to McDonald’s,” piped up one of the Herringtons.
CCE And 4H
Last Month the Legislature passed a resolution designating the week of October 2-8 as Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Centennial and National 4-H Week.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Bureau in New York is celebrating its 100th year anniversary as an organization that started by the hiring of a local Farm Bureau Agent in Broome County, NY, in 1911. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Rensselaer County was first established as the Rensselaer County Farm Bureau in April 1917 and later became the Cornell Cooperative Extension. It “continues to enable people to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work,” the resolution says.
According to the resolution, 4-H Youth Development has served one of every eight youths in New York State and continues to provide meaningful youth development experiences for over 3,384 school students in enrichment and special interest programs, 50 community and after school clubs, 691 youth and 277 adult volunteers of Rensselaer County. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County will continue to be active in such programs as the Schaghticoke Fair, farm business management, agronomy, horticulture, dairy, livestock, vegetable and fruit production, family living for teens, nutrition education, consumer education and youth leadership.
Mikaela Joyce Marbot, a senior at Hoosick Falls Central School was the spokesperson for the 4H teen ambassadors who came to this month’s session to accept copies of the resolution, suitably engrossed. Marbot participates at HFCS in drama and is on the bowling team, among many other activities. As a junior she won the Saint Lawrence Augsbury Award and Scholarship for ranking in the top of the class and having strong leadership and community service involvement. She also won the University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Award for her outstanding achievement in the humanities and social sciences.
Marbot gave an eloquent speech to the Legislature about what 4H, Head Heart Hands and Help, has meant to her. “These four words represent the power of 4H,” she said and added, “I am an extremely proud member of the Rensselaer County 4H program. Marbot is 17 years old and has been showing her Holstein cows at the Schaghticoke Fair for ten years. She said that 4H teaches you that hard work does pay off and enables you to connect with others. If this speech, given to a roomful of strangers, is any example she has learned her lesson well. “I love it,” she said. “I will miss getting up at 5:30 in the morning to milk and wash the cows. As I lead each wet cow into the barn I am happy.” The cows are happy, too, no doubt.
Regular Business
There was not much business conducted at this session that relates specifically to eastern Rensselaer County. One resolution thanked the emergency shelters in the County for opening their doors to County residents during the weekend of August 27 and 28 when Hurricane Irene hit the area. The resolution says, “After a call for mandatory evacuation, the Emergency Operations Center opened shelters in Rensselaer County. These shelters were made possible by many spontaneous volunteers who gave freely of their time to assist their neighbors, providing care with dignity and compassion.” Among the shelters named were Pittstown Ambulance, the Poestenkill Fire Department, the West Sand Lake Fire Department, the Johnsonville Fire Department and the Berlin Fire Department.
As in past years a resolution authorizing contracts with various municipalities for snow and ice removal and sand and salt application on various sections of County roads passed at this session. The County will enter into contracts with Brunswick, Poestenkill and Petersburgh among a few others, with a maximum total expenditure of $88,000 among all municipalities.
Meeting Date Changed
Because Tuesday, November 8, is election day, the Legislature changed the date of its November meeting to Wednesday, November 9. Presentations begin at 5:30 pm.