NISKAYUNA Niskayuna passes social host law Town joins fight against underage drinking BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net.
Niskayuna has become the latest municipality to pass legislation targeting underage alcohol parties. The Town Board voted 5-0 Tuesday to make it a crime to host underage alcohol parties, regardless of who supplied the alcohol. “Most parents are good and responsible and don’t allow young people to drink in their houses,” Supervisor Luke Smith said. “But some people are ignorant and do allow them to do it. This is another consequence for them.” The law was first proposed by some concerned parents, who complained that current laws would not penalize parents who know of a drinking party in their house but do not provide the drinks. The new town law now means that hosts of such parties could face a $250 fine or 15 days in jail. The law also targets the person with control over the premises, who knows, or has reason to know, that a party is taking place. That means if parents are away on a trip, the person throwing the party would be liable. A public hearing on the issue earlier this month brought out Margaret Brennan, the woman who proposed the law locally. She called it another tool to fight underage drinking. As it stood, she said, if police couldn’t determine who supplied the alcohol and if they weren’t drinking when officers arrived, they had little recourse other than simply sending people home. Town resident Leslie Gold, however, spoke out at the hearing saying she believed it could also be used as a tool by children wanting to get back at parents. Niskayuna is the latest community in the Capital Region to pass such a law. Other communities including Gloversville and Stillwater, as well as localities in Massachusetts, Minnesota and California, have either passed such social host laws or are considering them.
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BIGK75
June 27, 2007, 9:44am
Guest User
I don't really see this being a big problem in Rotterdam, but is it something that we need to address proactively?
NOPE! If this happens in Rotterdam, and the accused are 'homegrowns', than you can bet they know a cop and it will be brushed under the rug. Happens all the time...for sure! Rotterdam has it's own set of 'brush under the rug' laws!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
What is the definition of a "drinking party" and how far into your life will it extend???....to the glass of wine with pasta dinner for a 13 year old?....to a glass of champagne on New Years with your 15year old??......etc etc......I dont care what other parents do--no matter if they are the "cool well known popular family" or not.....you know the ones--"oh, so and so's dad owns such and such business they have a pool, hot tube and theater in their house"......"so and so's mom is real nice. She's like one of the kids." etc ......here we go another cry to "Big Brother"......this is almost worse than High School....I left that...has anyone else???????
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
NISKAYUNA Police officers tough to fi nd Department has 4 vacancies, only 1 filled BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net
Niskayuna police knew it would be hard to replace officers lost to retirement. Those officers had years on the job. But officials didn’t think replacing them would be this hard. The Niskayuna Town Board this week accepted the appointment of Bethany Vena as the department’s newest police officer. She enters the academy next month. The problem is, they needed four and they couldn’t find the candidates. “We were all surprised,” Police Chief Lewis Moskowitz said recently. “There was a time 20 to 25 years ago when I came on that people were chomping at the bit to be a police officer.” Niskayuna’s problems, however, appear to be the exception rather than the rule locally. Scotia and Rotterdam police departments reported no problems filling openings for one and two offi cers respectively. In Niskayuna, Moskowitz estimated they went through 20 candidates, exhausting the entire town civil service list for the first time. Some candidates weren’t interested. Others couldn’t pass agility tests. One didn’t even take the tests; he got lost on the way, Moskowitz told the board. The next police academy won’t be held for another six months, meaning the 30-member department will have to make do with what they have or hope for transfers from other departments, officials said. In Scotia, Sgt. Thomas Moran recently reported no problem getting finalists for their one opening. The finalists, he said, were all Scotia residents. “It’s nice when you have people who have grown up here and have been a part of the community,” he said. Rotterdam police had two openings. Deputy Chief William Manikas reported no problems finding candidates. The town’s pool of candidates is generally strong, Manikas said. But they were looking for two, not the four Niskayuna needed. “The more you need, the more difficult it is to find highly qualifi ed candidates,” he said. “We’ve been lucky.” Schenectady police undertook a highly publicized recruitment effort to find officers to fill 16 openings. Officials there reported success in filling many of those. The exact number, however, was unavailable. Niskayuna may have to go the recruitment way, as well, Moskowitz said. The town’s most recent position came open after officer Gary Connor retired Friday after nearly 29 years on the job. Whoever replaces him will have some work to do. “He’s taking a lot of knowledge and experience with him,” Moskowitz said.
Law targets teen tippling Niskayuna's social host measure closes loophole on underage drinking
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer First published: Monday, July 2, 2007
NISKAYUNA -- She doesn't condone it in her home, and Cheryl Adamec doesn't want anyone on the streets making alcohol readily available to her 17-year-old child. "I don't want another parent making that decision on my behalf," said the Niskayuna mother.
Adamec belongs to a local community group that backed a recently approved town law that makes it illegal for adults to allow a person under the age of 21 to consume alcohol while on their premises.
That is key because teens often consume alcohol at private house parties at which adults often turn a blind eye to the drinking because it's under their roof and not at some watering hole. Town officials say they hope the local law deters parents from looking the other way when a minor attending a party at their home sneaks sips of alcoholic beverages.
"You can't give alcohol to other people's children and think they are going to act responsibly," Niskayuna Supervisor Luke Smith.
Under current state law, an adult can be held liable if they serve, or purchase, alcohol to a minor. If the minor, however, will not give the name of the adult who supplied the liquor, law enforcement has little or no recourse.
Supporters say the social host measure, which the Town Board passed unanimously last week, closes that loophole by allowing police officers anywhere on private property when a complaint is filed by a neighbor. The law in Niskayuna also covers drug use.
While the statute is mostly aimed at adults, anyone over 16 who holds a gathering at which alcohol or drugs are consumed by minors is breaking the law.
Violators could face fines of up to $250 or a maximum of 15 days behind bars.
The Niskayuna measure comes three months after 18 Niskayuna High teens were slapped with in-school suspensions for attending parties at which liquor was served before going to a high school dance.
Niskayuna police have said some of the teens pilfered the alcohol from their homes without their parents' knowledge.
But even before that incident in late March, the measure was being discussed by local elected officials.
At least a dozen municipalities in New York have similar social host laws on the books, and the idea is being contemplated in several other communities.
"It's a matter of taking a positive action to make sure folks in our community are aware and responsible," Adamec said.
Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by e-mail at pnelson@timesunion.com.
That is key because teens often consume alcohol at private house parties at which adults often turn a blind eye to the drinking because it's under their roof and not at some watering hole. Town officials say they hope the local law deters parents from looking the other way when a minor attending a party at their home sneaks sips of alcoholic beverages.
How many 'parent friends' have told me as I was growing up and even to this day:"I would rather have it done under my roof where they were safe. Then we could talk about it." (this statement would include-drugs(mainly marijuana),sex and alcohol and foul language music)
Raise your hand if someone you know at work, home or school has made a statement similar to this one to you all in trying to be a PC cool parent.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Okay...then lets also do something about the parent who wants his/her kid to smoke his/her first joint with the parent so the kid will be smoking pot with parental supervision. I know a couple of them too!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
NISKAYUNA Increase forecast in budget as costs rise over income Officials eye possible 11.4 percent tax rate hike, look for cuts BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Gazette reporter Steven Cook contributed to this report. Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Debt service and the anticipation of lower revenue streams may force a 11.4 percent increase in Niskayuna’s tax rate, according to figures outlined in the tentative 2008 budget. Town Comptroller Paul Sebesta said the town will need to levy $5.85 million through property taxes, a $408,675 increase over this year’s figures. He said the increase is partially a result of lower anticipated mortgage and county sales tax revenues. “Revenues are basically flat and our fund balance is basically at its limit,” he said. Overall appropriations in the $12.48 million proposal increased by $448.447 or about 3.6 percent. Sebesta said more than $102,000 of this increase can be attributed to the town’s debt service. The debt service increases will help pay for a $200,000 drainage project, $100,000 to pave the bike path and more than $60,000 of improvements to both the Town Hall and recreation center. Sebesta said the cost of borrowing money also went up. Homeowners will pay about $3.96 per thousand of assessed value, according to the budget; commercial property owners will pay a rate of $6.99. Sebesta said a residence assessed at $135,000 — an equalized value of about $245,000 — will pay about $54.83 more in town and highway taxes above the 2007 bill of roughly $480. Supervisor Luke Smith said the budget increase reflects elements the town doesn’t have very much control over. He said there are very few items the town could cut without reducing staff or programs. “This is a no-growth budget,” he said. “There’s no new staff and no new programs.” Smith said he’ll look to the Town Board for ideas to reduce the tax rate increase. He said work sessions begin this week. “But we’ve got to be realistic. I’m not going to do it just to give a low tax rate,”, he said, Sebesta also saw few places where the budget could be trimmed. He said other main increases in the budget include health insurance costs, contractual salary increases and the cost of highway department materials. Deputy supervisor Liz Orzel Kasper said Monday she’s looking for a better explanation for why the fund balance dropped from $392,000 this year to $273,000 reflected in the budget proposal. Fund balance is money left over from previous years. Kasper said she wants to keep the town’s present level of services, but thinks cuts are possible. “It’s like having a dinner party and not serving colossal shrimp. We’re going to be cutting out the shrimp.”
The debt service increases will help pay for a $200,000 drainage project, $100,000 to pave the bike path and more than $60,000 of improvements to both the Town Hall and recreation center.
I can see the $200,000 for a drainage project. But I think that maybe they could save the $100,000 to pave a bike path and the more than $60,000 for improvements to the town hall and the recreation center. I don't think they are so important right now.
Supervisor Luke Smith said the budget increase reflects elements the town doesn’t have very much control over. He said there are very few items the town could cut without reducing staff or programs.
Perhaps it is time to look at reducing staff and programs. When times are bad, an austerity budget must be adopted. When things get better, the surpluses should be used to pay down debt and reduce property taxes.
The cost increases in the benefits received by town employees must be shared between employer and employee as is the case in private industry.
Our elected officials must learn that the tax revenues are to be spent prudently with expectation that tougher times may be just around the next corner.
Perhaps it is time to look at reducing staff and programs. When times are bad, an austerity budget must be adopted. When things get better, the surpluses should be used to pay down debt and reduce property taxes.
The cost increases in the benefits received by town employees must be shared between employer and employee as is the case in private industry.
Our elected officials must learn that the tax revenues are to be spent prudently with expectation that tougher times may be just around the next corner.
NISKAYUNA Union flap stalls DARE DARE future shaky, but officer still to educate students BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net
Niskayuna’s retired DARE offi - cer will return to the district soon to teach substance abuse prevention, just not in the way officials had hoped. The Niskayuna School Board Tuesday night voted to bring back Gary Connor to run an interim substance abuse prevention program that is not DARE — drug abuse resistance education — but covers many of the same areas. It was a distinction town officials said became necessary because of a last minute dispute from the police union, which sought assurances about the program’s future that officials said they couldn’t provide. Instead, Connor is developing an interim prevention program aimed at fifth-graders while a committee examines the future of the DARE program in Niskayuna schools. “It doesn’t use DARE material, but it will use Gary’s 17 years experience in teaching drug prevention awareness,” Superintendent Kevin Baughman said. Connor worked as the district’s DARE officer for the past 17 years while a member of the Niskayuna Police Department. He retired this past summer. Officials had hoped to bring him back this year in his old capacity while Niskayuna Police addressed staffing issues and the ad hoc committee examined the DARE program. Baughman said he hoped to have a committee report by February. The town and school district were to also share the cost of the position, something that hadn’t been done before. But what was thought to be a done deal, one that had been talked about for months, fell apart the week school started when union officials notified the town of their concerns, Police Chief Lewis Moskowitz said. They also threatened legal action if the plan went forward, Moskowitz said. Officials with the police union could not be reached for comment. Instead, school officials spoke with Connor in recent weeks to develop a new program. Baughman said he sees Connor as bridging the gap between the programs. The program is to include 13 lessons for fifth-graders, instead of the usual 17. An eighth-grade booster course won’t be included, but other programs are being added, Baughman said. “It is not a DARE program, but it is a program that fills in the health curriculum on importance about awareness of substance abuse,” Baughman said. “And what better person to have than Gary, who has worked with fifth-graders in that kind of program before.” Connor’s services are to be retained at a cost of $10,170. The DARE officer worked in each of the district’s five elementary schools and the middle schools, providing not only prevention information, officials said, but also positive interaction with a police officer. Connor, who was not at the school board meeting, said the union’s stance was as much a surprise to him as it was to the town. He said later that the new program was a supplement to what the students won’t be getting through DARE. “What this is is for the kids,” he said. “This is a program that we can get in there now so that they can have some education.”
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