by Kieron Kramer
In an interview after the Rensselaer County Legislature’s session on Tuesday, District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote reported that they had received complaints from their constituents about tickets being given by State Police to truckers on Route 22 at the Route 2 overpass in Petersburgh. District 5 includes the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
[private]The Route 2 overpass has a 12 foot two inch clearance on the northbound lane and higher clearance on the southbound lane. Since Rt. 2 ascends at that location so must the overpass. People driving Rt. 22 at the overpass are used to seeing trucks heading north slow down and move over into the southbound lane in order to clear the overpass. If you are not used to it, it could be a little scary at first. Two tickets were given recently to a trucker who was heading north, one ticket because his truck was higher than 12 foot two inches and one ticket for crossing the yellow line. Goodermote said that there have been no accidents reported there. People who drive in that area will confirm that the entrance to Route 22 from the access road that passes by the Petersburgh Post Office is more dangerous by far since the line of sight is blocked by the overpass walls.
Goodermote, who was once in the trucking business, is particularly sympathetic to the truckers’ plight. Not only do the drivers get tickets, which would probably be paid by their employer, but they get a notice of the violation on their CDL license – a black mark that will follow them whenever and wherever they apply for a driving job in the State. Goodermote said that he has written to State Senator Roy McDonald’s Office looking for some remedy to the situation.
But what remedy can there be? Can Legislators ask law enforcement not to enforce the law? Not likely. Will the State DOT spend millions raising the overpass, which some people think of as an historic structure, for the sake of a few tickets? Not likely. This reporter suggested to Brownell and Goodermote that lowering the roadbed a foot or so at that location would be the quickest and cheapest way to remedy the problem. Neither Legislator said that he would petition for a specific remedy, and they haven’t decided yet whether they will ask the County Legislature to send a letter to the DOT about the matter or write one themselves.
John Turi Appointed Public Defender
The Rensselaer County Public Defender, Jerome Frost, retired from that position in January. At this Legislative session John C. Turi of Eagle Bridge was confirmed to take Frost’s place. Turi has been working as Frost’s assistant for a number of years and came highly recommended by Frost. Brownell and Goodermote both thought that Turi was an excellent appointment.
According to Goodermote, Turi’s father was a teacher at Hoosick Falls Central School. In fact, said Brownell, Turi, the father, was his seventh grade science teacher.
Local Materials Contracts
At this session the Legislature passed resolutions authorizing highway materials contracts – some for companies in the Eastwick area. Troy Sand & Gravel of West Sand Lake received by far the largest contract for hot mix asphalt products and trucking at $320,000 followed in second by Callanan Industries of Albany at $40,000. Contracts for gravel and ice control sand were awarded to Troy Sand & Gravel, $20,000, Rich Senter Trust, Staples Road, Stephentown, $25,000, R.M. Bacon, Inc, South Street, Hoosick, $5,000, Polaro Sand & Gravel of Poestenkill, $5,000, and William J. Hammersmith, Watson Road, Berlin, $5,000.
Stepping In
Because Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid was called away on business, Vice Chairman Stan Brownell ran the session. After the session several legislators complimented Brownell on the job he did in Reid’s absence. “There is a big staff here who does the work,” Brownell said.
[/private]