by Kieron Kramer
On March 28, 2011, a tractor trailer truck carrying a load of propane, veered off State Route 7, crashed down an embankment, caught on fire and came to rest in Shingle Hollow Brook in the Town of Hoosick. The accident required the long term deployment of County personnel and required the diverting of traffic from Route 7 to CR-95. At the time the Rensselaer County Attorney commenced litigation against the owner and operator of the tractor trailer, Makria and Venezia Liquid Tank Line, Inc., in order to be reimbursed for the costs and damages suffered by the County. The defendants, Makria and Venezia Liquid Tank Line, Inc., have tendered a $60,000 offer to resolve this litigation.
[private]The Rensselaer County Legislature voted at the Tuesday, February 10, regular monthly meeting to support the legal settlement that will recoup $60,000 of the expenses related to the response to the trailer accident in 2011.
Legislators said they want the settlement to be the framework of a policy to recover taxpayer expenses when there is an accident or spill found to be the fault of a transport company employing tractor trailers and other vehicles. There has been a significant number of tractor trailer rollovers on Route 7 in recent years, and the expense of the response for such accidents is considerable.
In most cases, the rollover of tractor trailers has also meant significant delays in traffic, long responses by County and local emergency services providers and clean up of spills and other materials. Fuel and other substances have run into Shingle Hollow Brook during some rollovers.
“The settlement helps recover taxpayer expenses for one of a number of accidents involving tractor trailers,” said Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell.
Legislators have repeatedly called for safety improvements on sections of Route 7 in Hoosick following a series of tractor trailer rollovers. The State has made some improvements, and legislators have also hoped transport companies employing tractor trailers would urge their drivers to exercise more caution.
Farmland Protection
At the February 10 meeting the Legislature voted to continue work to safeguard farmland and open space through a partnership with the Agricultural Stewardship Association.
Since the County undertook a farmland protection program about a decade ago more than 3,500 acres have been protected. The Legislature hopes to add to the acreage protected in 2015. The annual contract with the ASA totals $20,000.
“Rensselaer County farms have been and continue to be a major source of employment and economic activity. This farmland protection effort has been effective in eastern Rensselaer County in helping keep family farms in operation, and we look forward to continued success,” said Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell, who represents District 5, which includes the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
Bond Refinancing
The Rensselaer County Legislature voted at the Tuesday, February 10, regular monthly meeting to support a bond refinancing that is expected to save County taxpayers $1.2 million. The refinancing of $15.2 million in existing debt takes advantage of lower interest rates and a favorable market. The County was able to utilize the County’s strong bond rating to help leverage the savings.
“The refinancing is a solid move by the County, with the expected savings helping the County maintain needed services and keep costs affordable. Rensselaer County has been able to stay under the state tax cap each of the past four years thanks to this kind of effective fiscal management, which I am happy to support,” said Brownell.
While staying under the tax cap, Rensselaer County has been able to continue to provide needed County services. The County Legislature has helped by keeping costs for operation of the legislative offices comparable to the early 1990s. The County insurance policy administered by the County Legislature has remained lower than in the early 1990s.
“The savings of $1.2 million is significant and will help the County administer needed services at a cost that is affordable to our taxpayers,” said Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid.
Local Bus Service
At the February 10 meeting the Legislature voted to authorize the County Executive to sign any contracts or agreements between the County of Rensselaer and Yankee Trails. The County has been applying biannually through the New York State Department of Transportation for Federal aid for operating assistance for a project to provide public mass transportation service on a continuing basis in the Towns of Brunswick, Pittstown and Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls. This program will provide for public mass transportation service for fixed route service between Hoosick Falls and Albany, run by Yankee Trails, Inc., for the County’s 2015 and 2016 fiscal years. The program is included in the 2015 Adopted Rensselaer County Budget and will be a part of future Rensselaer County budgets. The 2015 State funding allocation for this project has been calculated at $50,000 and is greater than what was originally budgeted in the 2015 Adopted Rensselaer County Budget.
Desertion In The War Of 1812?
A resolution requesting a formal review of the official record of Private Samuel Helms by the Army Review Board was passed on February 10.
According to the resolution, the War of 1812 included the deployment of troops in Rensselaer County, including at an area of the current Town of East Greenbush known as the Greenbush Cantonment. The troops stationed at the Cantonment included members of the First Regiment, New York Militia, ready for deployment in military action. One member of the First Regiment, New York Militia, Private Samuel Helms, was executed on a charge of desertion on July 21, 1813, while at the Cantonment.
The resolution says, “Research has brought to light new information regarding the legality of Private Samuel Helms’ execution, including whether the court martial was properly carried out, the possibility that Private Helms may not have been guilty of desertion and other factors deserving of review and consideration in light of the severe punishment administered to Private Helms…This Legislative Body recognizes the research compiled on this issue by East Greenbush resident Roberta Reno and other sources in supporting this resolution…Based on this research, this Legislative Body asks the Army Review Board to undertake a review of the records of Private Samuel Helms, and to consider removing the charge of desertion from Private Helms’ official record.”
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit certified copies of this resolution to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Representative Paul Tonko and U.S. Representative Chris Gibson.[/private]