by Kieron Kramer
Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature was full of business pertaining to the Eastwick area – from the memorializing of John Greaney of Berlin to the awarding of funds to area youth programs, from the purchase of highway equipment in Stephentown to the commendation to the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls for its 100th anniversary.
[private]The resolution commending the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls (The Center) on its 100th Anniversary says, “It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when an occasion of importance is brought to our attention, the same should be memorialized by us for the edification and emulation of others…Attendant to such duty and fully in accord with its longstanding traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to convey its compliments and felicitations to The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls (The Center) upon celebrating their One Hundredth Anniversary.”
According to the resolution The Center’s mission is to create an individualized resident experience. When the need arises for short term or long term rehabilitation care, the dedicated staff is there to provide the love and care they would give to their own loved ones. For the past one hundred years, including weekends, holidays, blizzards and emergencies, The Center has provided the most essential services to many residents throughout Rensselaer County and other surrounding counties.
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, to The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls.
Funding For Various Youth Programs
A resolution passed at this session awarding funds to 23 youth programs across the County, five of them local.
The resolution says, “The Rensselaer County Department for Youth was duly established and exists by virtue of Article 16 of the Rensselaer County Charter and has among its duties youth development and delinquency prevention projects…The 2014 Rensselaer County Adopted Budget…provides appropriations for the recreation and education of the children of Rensselaer County…Those persons who and organizations that seek to avail themselves of these funds must be approved by the Department for Youth…The funds to be expended by Rensselaer County for the recreation and education of the children of Rensselaer County are one hundred percent reimbursable through the New York State Office of Children & Family Services.”
The following entities have been approved by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, and their associated contract costs are provided as follows:
Grafton – $2,000
Hoosick – $2,188
Petersburgh – $2,000
Poestenkill – $2,000
Stephentown – $2,000
In Memory Of John T. Greaney
John Greaney was formerly the Town Justice of Berlin and the former Republican Town Chairman for Berlin. The resolution passed Tuesday in memory of John Greaney says, “It is consistent with the duty of this Legislative Body to recognize the contributions of the citizens of Rensselaer County; we honor a man who devoted his life to serving his community, and it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of John T. Greaney.”
According to the resolution, Greaney was born in The Bronx, NY. He was son of the late Dennis and Julia Coffee Greaney. The resolution says that he graduated from Fordham University and, it says, he received his Masters Degree from Williams College. Greaney was employed by the Allstate Insurance Company and the New York State Senate, Office of State Senator Guy Velella, prior to his retirement.
The resolution says, “John will be missed by his family: his son, Michael (Lorraine); his daughter, Maureen; his grandchildren Adam and Shaunna. John was predeceased by his wife Marguerite “Peggy” Many…now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Rensselaer County Legislature conclude[s] its deliberations in memory of John T. Greaney and to extend 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 John T. Greaney.
The Purchase Of Highway Equipment
A resolution was passed authorizing the County Highway Department to purchase a new stainless steel sander. According to the resolution, the Highway Department requires replacement equipment in order to effectively maintain and improve the County highway system and requires a new stainless steel sander to apply chemicals and abrasives during the upcoming winter months. Quotes for a new stainless steel sander were solicited in accordance with Rensselaer County’s procurement policy, and a new 2014 Bengal Zwack Z513H Stainless Steel Sander will be purchased from Zwack Incorporated of Stephentown for $13,995.
Stephentown Tax Roll Corrected
A resolution correcting the Stephentown tax roll says, “Pursuant to Article 5, Section 554 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, the tax levying body at a regular or special meeting, upon the presentation of an application filed pursuant to this section, shall examine the application and approve said application where it is determined that an error does exist…Based upon the recommendation of the Director of the Bureau of Tax Services, the following parcel has been found to contain an error that is correctable and or refundable pursuant to the aforementioned section of the New York State Real Property Tax Law…the Rensselaer County Chief Fiscal Officer is hereby authorized and directed to correct the 2014 Stephentown Tax Roll by making the following correction and chargeback the appropriate amounts to the appropriate taxing jurisdictions.” The tax on the property owned by Henry and Maretta Warner of Stephentown was $9,973.89. It has been reduced by almost half to $5,319.39.
September Meeting Change Of Date
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the County Legislature falls on Tuesday, September 9; this same date is Primary Election Day. According to Rule No. 1 (B) of the Rules of the Rensselaer County Legislature, when a regular monthly meeting falls on Primary Day the meeting shall be held the day after at its regular designated time. Therefore, the September meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature will be held on Wednesday, September 10, at 6 pm.
Majority Counsel Moves On
Craig Crist, who has been the Legislature’s Republican Majority Counsel for a number of years, has left his post. According to District Five Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, in an interview after the meeting, Crist’s firm expects to do much more business in Rensselaer County and Crist keeping the position of Majority Counsel to the Legislature would constitute a conflict of interest.
At this meeting Dave Gruenberg filled the position of Majority Counsel on a temporary basis, according to Brownell and Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls. Unlike Crist, Gruenberg does not seem to be looked on favorably by the Democratic Minority in the Legislature, who have no counsel of their own and who relied on advice from Crist occasionally.
Seth King Fundraiser
Brownell and Goodermote said they would be attending the fundraiser breakfast for Seth King at the Grafton Firehouse/VFW Hall on Saturday, August 16, between 8 and 11 am.[/private]