by Kieron Kramer
At the start of the Rensselaer County Legislature’s regular meeting on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Legislature, Martin Reid of West Sand Lake, asked for a moment of silence in memory of Bob Reiter of Stephentown. Reiter was the Director of the Veterans Service Agency for Rensselaer County. He died on November 18, 2013, after a long illness.
[private]The meeting ended with a resolution adjourning the Rensselaer County legislative meeting in memory of Robert M. Reiter. “Bob’s dedication to his position and his conscientiousness, sensitivity and kindness will be sorely missed by the administration and employees of Rensselaer County; he was truly an asset to all the Veterans he has helped throughout the years,” the resolution says. And it says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and infl uence 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.
According to the resolution, Reiter was born and raised in Troy and was the son of the late Thomas B. and Catherine Casey Reiter Sr. He attended Troy schools and served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. For the past thirty-fi ve years Reiter resided in Stephentown. He was employed by Al-Tech Spe-cialty Steel Corp. before taking a job as a mail carrier with the Troy Post Offi ce. After serving with the post offi ce, Reiter was appointed to the Director of the Veterans Service Agency for Rensselaer County. He held this position from 1999 until the time of his death. He was an active member of his community. He was a member of the Brunswick Elks where he was a past-Exalted Ruler; he was a 35 year member of the Stephentown Fire Dept. and a past president, the Sand Lake Kiwanis, a member of the Veterans of Stephentown, the Marine Corps League and other numerous veteran organizations. The resolution says, “Bob will be missed by his family: his wife, Deborah; his children Seth, Luke (Erin) and Emily (Matthew Sr.); his brothers Bruce, Paul, Thomas and Vincent; his fatherin- law Kenneth (the late Helen); his cherished grandchildren Kendall, Maddia, Lucas, Daniel, Matthew Jr., Cooper and Vincent.”
The Rensselaer County Legislature concluded its deliberations in memory of Robert M. Reiter and extended its deepest sympathy to his family, fully confident that his contributions to his 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 Robert M. Reiter.
Stop-DWI Crackdown Agreements For 2013/2014
The Rensselaer County Director of Special Traffic Operations has been advised by the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation, that Rensselaer County STOPDWI will receive one time funding in the amount of $62,407 of which $23,400 will be utilized in 2013 and the remaining $39,007 will be included in the Department’s 2014 budget submission. Last year the one time funding was in the amount of $65,820 of which $18,800 was utilized for fiscal year 2012 and the remaining $47,020 included in the Department’s 2013 budget submission. This funding will provide DWI crackdown enforcement through saturation patrols and checkpoints on the 2013 New York State recognized DWI Crackdown dates. The resolution revises the contracts with local police agencies for those agencies to perform the additional enforcement activities. The police agencies are the police in Troy, the City of Rensselaer, the towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush and Schodack, the Village of Nassau, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and the Village of Hoosick Falls. Hoosick Falls’ contract amount for DWI patrols will rise from $6,487 to $8,801.
Sharing Snow And Ice
A resolution authorizing the County Executive to execute contracts with various municipalities for snow and ice removal passed unanimously. The County of Rensselaer has historically contracted with a number of towns and with the City of Troy for snow plowing, salting and sand application on various segments of County roads. The Rensselaer County Engineer recommended agreements with the towns of Brunswick, East Greenbush, Petersburgh, Poestenkill, Schaghticoke and Schodack and with the City of Troy, all for the period of October 1, 2013, through April 30, 2014. Payments made to the towns and all considerations to the City of Troy shall be paid to a maximum total expenditure of $80,000. This total expenditure is $3,000 less than last year.
Zwack A Sole Source For Heavy Equipment Repairs
The County Highway Department has established that various manufacturers of heavy duty equipment have restricted the distribution of parts and authorized factory service through certain vendors within a reasonable geographic area of the County Highway Department thereby eliminating any opportunity to obtain competitive quotes for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and authorized service. The County Highway Department must maintain its heavy equipment and make repairs often without delay in order to keep County highways and bridges in good repair for use. Zwack, Inc. of Stephentown was designated as the sole supplier of Everest and CompuSpread heavy equipment repairs for a limit of estimated expenditures in the amount of $15,000 for each company.
Block Grant Application – Grants For First Time Homebuyers
A resolution authorizing the County Executive to submit a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant application to the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal passed unanimously. A public hearing on the Block Grant application was held at 5:51 pm. Jessica Garneau from the County Office of Economic Development and Planning spoke in support of the resolution. She was filling in for Linda von der Heide, the Principal Planner in that office, who, Garneau said, had an accident that afternoon and could not attend this hearing.
According to the resolution, the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act established the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program and pursuant to that program is making 2013 Federal Fiscal Year funds available to municipalities and counties on a competitive basis to address their housing and community development needs. The County of Rensselaer is an eligible applicant and intends to submit an application for Single Purpose Grants up to the maximum allowed amount of $750,000. There will be no fiscal impact to the County since the programs to be created by such grants will be entirely federally funded. The Small Cities grant will provide first time homebuyers with a grant of up to $20,000 for closing and acquisition costs. 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. The deadline to apply for these grants is January 14.
There are some restrictions that come with these grant awards. Garneau said that homeowners will have to keep the property for ten years otherwise the grant money will have to be repaid. The returned funds will be added to grant funds for use in other grants. The County will be named as a lien holder on the mortgage to ensure that the County will be notifi ed in case a sale is pending. When asked, Garneau was not clear as to whether or when the property could be rented by the homebuyer. This is a grey area District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, said in an interview after Tuesday’s Legislative meeting.
Randy Hall Reappointed
A resolution confirming the re-appointment of Randy J. Hall as Commissioner of the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services by the County Executive passed unanimously on Tuesday. Hall’s fi rst appointment was made after the retirement of John R. Beaudoin in 2009. According to the resolution, Hall has distinguished himself during his present term as Commissioner. The re-appointment of Randy J. Hall as Commissioner of the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services is for a five year term commencing on February 10, 2014.
A Resolution Of Passing Interest
A resolution authorizing the County Executive to execute vendor contracts for the medical examiner program was adopted unanimously on Tuesday. According to the resolution, the transportation of cadavers resulting from violent, sudden, unexpected, unattended or suspicious deaths in Rensselaer County is required of the Medical Examiner program. The County of Rensselaer has historically contracted with local licensed funeral homes to provide body transport services. The specific provider in any given situation is not determined until the time the service is needed and is based upon variables such as time of day and the geographic location of the body. The County of Rensselaer will contract with various licensed funeral homes within the County, with licensed funeral homes to be paid the sum of $185 per transport with the total amount to be expended on this service not to exceed the budgeted amount of $20,350 regardless of the vendors needed for body transport services throughout the year.
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