by Kieron Kramer
The Rensselaer County Legislature considered 27 resolutions at its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 8. Only four of the resolutions related directly to the communities in the Eastwick area.
Perhaps the most important, at least to the people who live in and around Hoosick four corners, the intersection of NY Rt. 7 and South Street, was the resolution opposing the closure of the Hoosick Post Office. [private]The resolution was introduced by District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, and the entire Legislative body. The Hoosick Post Office was closed on July 3.
The resolution says, “This Legislative Body has a record of advocating for protection of quality of life and necessary services to support the residents and businesses of this great County…For generations, the residents and businesses of Hoosick have been served by the postal office at South Street and customers have come to depend on the facility for postal services…Closure of the post office will hurt community identity, possibly affect postal service and impact thousands of customers…The closure of the Hoosick Post Office will leave Hoosick with only one post office, located in North Hoosick, meaning residents will have to travel considerable distance to conduct postal business…Residents in cities and communities of comparable size in the Capital Region have better access to postal services, including access to more postal locations, and keeping the Hoosick Post Office open will help ensure fair and convenient postal service…this Legislative Body hereby opposes the closure of the Hoosick Post Office to ensure timely and convenient postal service to the residents and businesses of Hoosick.” The Clerk will transmit certified copies of this resolution to the United States Postal Service, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Chris Gibson and Congressman Paul Tonko.
It is fitting and laudable that Legislators look out for the welfare of their constituents, but, as well intentioned as it is, this resolution is somewhat misleading. First, the location of the Hoosick Post Office up until July 3 was in a space owned by a private business, The Big Moose Deli and Country Store, which may have other designs on the space and therefore did not renew the lease. There is not much the Postal Service can do about that other than to find a different location in the four corners area. Also, along with postal supplies and the accepting of items for mailing, the Hoosick Post Office provided only post office boxes. Street delivery to businesses and residents is done through the Hoosick Falls P.O. According to Maureen Marion of the U.S. Postal Service they have found an alternate location near the former post office to place the P.O. boxes. They have arranged for the boxes to be placed at Hos-Cot Builders, Inc., 628 South Street. And, the resolution implies that Hoosick residents would have to go to North Hoosick for postal counter service – unless, of course they stop into the Hoosick Falls P.O. Nevertheless, it will be inconvenient for those who live near four corners to be deprived of a P.O. It is hoped, and this resolution emphasizes it, that the Postal Service will find another space to lease in the four corners area for its customers there.
Schmigel Excavating To Fix County Manhole
At this session, Schmigel Excavating of Hoosick Falls was authorized to repair an existing manhole in the lower B parking lot of the County Office Building at 1600 Seventh Avenue in Troy. It is necessary to excavate, remove, rebuild and replace a portion of the existing brick laid manhole and make repairs to the storm sewer structure in the lower B parking lot along with restoration of the surrounding ground and pavement. The Buildings Department solicited proposals from two vendors for the scope of work, and Schmigel Excavating provided the lowest quote for the work in the amount of $7,329, which includes all necessary materials and labor.
Rich Senter Construction Approved For The Purchase Of Gravel And Ice Control Sand
Bids for the purchase of gravel and ice control sand were solicited and accepted in the May meeting. However, bidder Rich Senter Construction of Staples Road in Stephentown was inadvertently omitted from that resolution. Rich Senter Construction will now receive a contract for gravel and ice control sand in the amount of $5,000.
Money For DNA Testing
A resolution authorized payment to a biotechnology firm in order to conduct DNA analysis to assist in the prosecution’s criminal case, People of the State of New York v. Brendan Hoffman. The District Attorney’s Office sought out DNA analysis and mitotyping from Mitotyping Technologies of Richmond, VA. The DNA analysis and mitotyping cost will not exceed $5,535.
Brendan Hoffman, the 22 year old Stephentown man found guilty of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of a 2012 accident, received a sentence of 5 to 15 years at his sentencing hearing on April 25, 2014. Christopher Baker, a 24 year old RPI student and son of Stephentown attorney Brian Baker, was thrown from a car in the early morning hours of June 28, 2012. Hoffman left the scene of the accident, hiding out at a friend’s house for hours while Baker’s body lay in a ditch unnoticed by responders who were unaware anyone else was in the wreck. Hoffman’s lawyer is reportedly preparing to appeal the conviction. “I do not believe that Brendan was driving that night,” he said to Judge Debra Young at the sentencing. “I don’t believe that proof established that.”[/private]