by Kieron Kramer
There will be a public hearing on December 10 at 5:30 pm before the next regular meeting of the Legislature on a Small Cities Grant application. In an interview after Tuesday’s Legislative meeting, District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, pointed out that the Small Cities grant will provide first time homebuyers with a grant of up to $20,000 for closing and acquisition costs. [private]There are some restrictions that come with the grant, Brownell said. Homebuyers can buy a home anywhere in Rensselaer County except Troy, which has its own grants. The amount of the grant will be determined according to household income and funding availability.
Apparently, there is plenty of money available. Households with 60% and below of median income can receive $20,000. Those with 61 to 80% of median income can receive $15,000. The maximum eligible income for a one person household is $43,550, and the eligibility increases, by approximately $6,000 for each household member up to eight members, to $82,050.
Short And Sweet
The regular meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature on Tuesday, November 12, lasted almost 40 minutes. The presentation period took only 15 minutes, most of the time taken up by the presentation to the 4-H-ers of Rensselaer County and a presentation by two 4-H-ers about what the 4-H Clubs are all about – “learning by doing, learning skills while having fun.” Last month the Legislature passed a resolution designating the week of October 6 – 12, 2013, as Cornell Cooperative Extension Week and National 4-H Week.
The adoption of 37 resolutions, all unanimously, was accomplished in 25 minutes. One resolution authorized the County Attorney to retain a law firm to represent County employees in a lawsuit entitled Keith Hancock, Tamera Thomas and Jason Dessingue v. The County of Rensselaer, James Karam, Anthony Patricelli, Jack Mahar and Elaine Young that has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York regarding violation of HIPAA regulations. The retainer agreement, with Carter, Conboy, Case, Blackmore, Maloney & Laird, P.C. of Albany, provides for total fees and disbursements not to exceed $40,000. According to the resolution, “this law firm has experience and expertise in defending lawsuits of this nature in the federal courts.” In a related resolution, the insurer of the County declined both indemnification and defense of the named defendants in this lawsuit. The County Attorney believes that the insurer wrongfully declined indemnification and defense. At this meeting he received authorization to retain the law firm of Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, LLP, of Albany which, according to the resolution, has “experience and expertise in dealing with and litigating insurance coverage issues on behalf of policy holders and claimants.” The proposed retainer agreement contains a cost ceiling of $50,000.
Also related to this issue, a resolution confirmed the appointment of the County HIPAA Compliance Officer. According to the resolution, many departments of the County create and possess healthcare records and this requires the County to become compliant with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The County Human Services Cabinet has retained Sword & Shield Enterprise Security to assess the County’s compliance efforts to date and to assist it in meeting those Federal requirements. Sword & Shield Enterprise Security informed the County that it must appoint an officer to oversee the administration of the County’s HIPAA policy, so the County Executive appointed Assistant County Attorney Jill Kehn as the County HIPAA Compliance Officer, and the appointment was confirmed at this meeting.
Security Equipment At Flannigan Square
A new door access control system, video security observation system and communication system for the Department of Social Services, Probation and Youth at the Flannigan Square Building will be financed by a lease-purchase agreement. The project will cost $836,108.
The resolution authorizing the lease-purchase agreement was passed unanimously in a roll call vote Tuesday. It said, “After considering such evaluation, the County Legislature hereby determines that it is in the County’s best interests to finance the acquisition of the equipment pursuant to the Lease-Purchase Agreement.”
Mortgage Tax Distribution
A resolution providing for the distribution of mortgage tax was passed at this session. The Rensselaer County Clerk has paid the Chief Fiscal Officer $1,702,899.11 which represents the local share of mortgage tax collection for the period April 1, 2013, to September 30, 2013. This is an increase of $85,470.28 over the same period last year but $150,443.94 less than the previous semi-annual period. The sum is due and owing to the cities, towns and villages of Rensselaer County. Municipalities in eastern Rensselaer County will receive the following amounts:
Current 10/1/12-3/31/13
Berlin $16,365.54 $12,602.47
Brunswick $213,724.64 $178,158.28
Grafton $23,723.06 $71,278.60
Hoosick $37,458.61 $52,319.00
Village of Hoosick Falls $7,740.59 $10,888.80
Nassau $42,543.30 $46,398.10
Village of Nassau $2,879.18 $4,966.89
Village of East Nassau $4,476.36 $3,117.68
Petersburgh $12,892.95 $10,704.18
Pittstown $53,406.68 $59,021.27
Poestenkill $64,689.03 $74,376.95
Sand Lake $123,486.95 $110,089.24
Stephentown $24,290.08 $26,061.61
Seized Grafton Property Reconveyed
On June 26, 2012, the County acquired title to a parcel of land in the Town of Grafton formerly owned by Heidi L. Akley. Akley remitted payment in full of the tax arrearage owed for the parcel to the County of Rensselaer before the scheduling of the public auction by the County to sell the property. The County has previously approved real property transfers to private individuals under similar terms and conditions and so authorized the sale of parcel 95.-1-4.2, located in the Town of Grafton to Heidi L. Akley.
Roof Repairs At The John Murphy Center In Hoosick Falls
A resolution authorizing roof repairs to the John Murphy Center, located at 69 Church Street in Hoosick Falls, passed unanimously. According to the resolution, the building was “in need of roof removal and replacement” and a contract for the work was issued to Larson Construction in the amount of $4,950 on June 27, 2013. “When rotting wood of the roof was later discovered an additional unforeseen expense in the amount of $850 was necessary to correct the issue, with purchase order number 48124 subsequently issued for said expense on September 13, 2013…The Charter threshold for this particular repair has been exceeded by $800 and services have been rendered by the vendor to correct the issue in full.” This resolution authorized payment of the remaining claim of $850 to Larson Construction, 57 Windy Hill Road, Hoosick Falls.
Trash Removal Contract
The County awarded a trash removal contract based upon the low bid amount per location and the ability to meet Rensselaer County specifications. The vendor chosen is Waste Connections, Inc. d.b.a. County Waste and Recycling Service, Inc. of Clifton Park.
County Waste will be paid $9,014 to pick up trash as the following locations:
A: Hwy, Main Garage
B: Hwy, Hoosick Falls
C: Hwy, Schodack
D: Hwy, Berlin
E: Hwy, Cropseyville
F: Aging, Troy
G: Aging, Schodack
H: Aging, Grafton
I: Bldgs, Hoosick Falls
J: Bldgs, Troy
K: Sewer, Troy.
The initial contract period will be effective from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014, with the availability of extending the contract for three additional one year contracts if mutually agreed upon by both parties.
In Memory Of June E. Kelleher
A resolution adjourned the November regular meeting in memory June E. Kelleher. The resolution says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and influence on the citizens of this county during their time on this earth; it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of a truly respected member of the community…it is the intent of this Legislative Body to express sincerest sorrow upon the death of June “Junebug” Elizabeth Kelleher.”
“June was born on July 3, 1925, to mother Myrtle Brown and father Elmer Frank…Junebug was a graduate of Hoosick Falls High School [Walter A. Wood High School]…She spent most of her life as a homemaker raising children but was employed during the war years in a munitions plant not far from her home in Hoosick Falls…A longtime resident of Lansingburgh, June and her husband Neil moved to Center Brunswick over ten years ago. June and Neil W. Kelleher were married in 1947 in the City of Troy.”
According to the resolution, June was an accomplished bowler in her younger days and spent a number of years as “one of those to beat” in the Women’s League’s at the Alpha Bowl in North Troy. Every summer meant a week or two at the beach in Maine, a tradition that dated back to June and Neil’s honeymoon. Junebug loved plants and animals; she’ll be greatly missed by her feline roommate DiDi.
“June will be missed by her family: her three children, Tim (Eileen), Neil (Lisa Massoth), and Tracy Klein (Peter); grandchildren, C.W. Kelleher, Kara, Shelby, Madelyn, Gwendolyn and Griffin; great-grandchildren, Alan, Johanna, Markus, and Robert; brother, Gordon (Mary); brother in-law, Robert (Sherry); sister-in-law, Sheila (late Donald); special niece, Karen; close friends, Ann, Margie, Dawn, and Matt; numerous nieces and nephews. June was pre-deceased by her husband, Neil W. Kelleher (2008); her parents, Elmer and Myrtle Frank; her brother, Everett Frank and sisters, Ardell Ford and Dorothy Canzeri; post-deceased, her sister, Gwendolyn…The Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of June E. Kelleher 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.”
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, to the family of June E. Kelleher.
County Budget Meetings And Public Hearings
The schedule for the review of the proposed 2014 Rensselaer County budget includes meetings and hearings in November and December, leading to consideration of the budget in early December. According to a release from the Legislative Majority Liaison Rich Crist, “The proposed 2014 County budget maintains important County services and the County’s strong fiscal position while staying under the State property tax cap.”
The schedule includes a public hearing on the proposed County budget on Thursday, November 14, at 5:30 pm in the Legislative Chambers. A public hearing on proposed changes to proposed County budget will be held on Monday, November 25, at 5:30 pm in the Legislative Chambers.
A special meeting to consider adoption of the 2014 County budget will be held on Monday, December 2, at 6 pm in the Legislative Chambers. The County Executive will return the adopted budget to the Legislature with approval or line item veto messages by December 4. A special meeting to consider budget items, in the instance a veto is issued, will be held December 4 at 6:30 pm in the Legislative Chambers.
A special meeting to consider any unresolved fiscal issues from the 2013 fiscal year, and any other matters will be held Tuesday, December 17, 6 pm in the Legislative Chambers.[/private]