GLENVILLE Board appointment on Koetzle’s agenda BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.
Anyone interested in applying for the vacant Town Board seat created by Chris Koetzle’s election as supervisor must apply by Nov. 27. Koetzle will take office on Jan. 1 and resign his current seat. Scotia-Glenville Republican Chairman Tom Neals is assembling a committee of about five people to review the resumes. Koetzle, councilmen-elect Alan Boulant and Sid Ramotar, and Councilman Mark Quinn will conduct the interviews. Republicans already will have four people on the board. However, Koetzle said the appointed person does not necessarily have to be a Republican. “We’re dedicated to looking for the right person,” he said. “We’re looking for someone who is interested in serving the town, who will complement the team that’s there already. This person will have to run for election twice in two years so it’s going to have to be someone that’s very committed.” This person will hold office until the end of 2010 but will have to run in November 2010 to serve in 2011, which would have been the final year of Koetzle’s four-year term. He said the incoming board members have been talking about bringing somebody on board with some engineering expertise.......................>>>>...............>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01402&AppName=1
From the time I was a little girl, I have wanted a life in small-town, Norman Rockwell America. For the better part of the last 10 years, I have been waiting and hoping to buy a home in the village of Scotia. It seems to be one of the last places where you can find a community park, a locally owned and -operated movie theater and grocery store, sidewalks for evening strolls, and a notable school district. Village taxes have always been high — even higher than the dreaded Schenectady County taxes, but it seemed worthwhile. That is the price you pay for those wonderful attributes. For a while it seemed to be a sound financial investment, since who wouldn’t want to buy my house when I was ready to sell? Unfortunately, the village is slowly becoming an eyesore and it breaks my heart. What is happening with the abandoned McDonald’s welcoming everyone to the village? What is happening with the run-down building being used for storage at the corner of Mohawk and North Reynolds? What is happening with property owners doing sidewalk work involving strips of ugly asphalt? If the village expects people to continue purchasing homes, and paying the taxes, to live in Scotia, then they need to make sure that the village is a good investment. The city of Schenectady finally began their wonderful restoration projects, and in the meantime the once-adorable village of Scotia continues to sink further into disrepair.
GLENVILLE Town administrator post to be cut BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.
Town Administrator Tony Germano’s contract will not be renewed as part of budget cuts planned by the incoming Republican administration. An e-mail sent to town employees said that the town administrator position will be eliminated effective Jan. 1 Supervisor-elect Chris Koetzle said the new administration is looking to achieve $200,000 in savings by reorganizing services at Town Hall. Germano’s position cost about $94,000 in salary and then another $40,000 in benefits, according to Koetzle. Also being eliminated is the contract with the town’s grant writer, Sue Lombardi, at a savings of $34,000. Koetzle said the incoming board anticipates a difficult financial year in 2010 with retirement and health insurance costs increasing. He also faulted the previous administration for using $1.4 million of surplus to plug a hole in the budget. In addition, the town has outstanding contracts with three labor unions. “We have no money set aside for that,” he said. For the time being, Koetzle said Director of Human Services James MacFarland will be the point person at Town Hall. MacFarland has several responsibilities, including managing the town’s parks, representing the town in labor negotiations and overseeing storm water management compliance. More will be put on the town attorney and Koetzle said he will take on a larger role as supervisor. The new board plans to look at nontraditional hours for Town Hall, he said. Koetzle said he anticipates that he would be at Town Hall once or twice a week in these new hours. “How it’s going to be organized, we should know shortly,” he said. “I will be there as much as I need to be there. ...................>>>>................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01200&AppName=1
Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus and the Rotterdam Town Employees had better brace for the same thing. The new "bored" will be making more cuts than Glenville. The Rotterdam Organizational Meeting will be held on 01/01/2010. I hope you all attend the love-fest!
In this economy everyone should be open to cut backs in employees, services and give-a-way programs, as my father told me many years ago there's no free lunch someone has to pay for it. This state/country is so top heavy with public employees that the few people who are still working can't afford to support the tax load to pay their salaries and benefits.
Oh wait, let me be clear about my little post. They are getting rid of Rotterdam Town Employees that know and do their job for "People Who Helped the Party". The Dems have already started to spend your money.
I don't agree with that philosophy of firing a person that's doing a good job in order to pay back someone for a political favor. I thought you meant that there would be a reduction in positions in order to hold down taxes and would mean a reduction in services.
I don't agree with that philosophy of firing a person that's doing a good job in order to pay back someone for a political favor. I thought you meant that there would be a reduction in positions in order to hold down taxes and would mean a reduction in services.
No from what I hear, the Dems are repaying political favors. Hopefully the organizational meeting agenda will be posted soon for all to see. I hope I am wrong.
I believe our people did the same thing as soon as they had the majority on the board. Remember??? Remember MaryM Reps are no better than Demos. Rotterdam proves that everytime there is an election.
The Glenville Town Board is hoping to revitalize the former Kmart site on Route 50. At the March 31 board meeting, Supervisor Chris Koetzle said that he was “looking for ways to create parklike space where residents can relax and shop.” It is said big-box stores like Target would be better along Freemans Bridge Road with other large retailers. Kmart was a major part of our “town center” for about 30 years. I, and many others, still miss it! A store like Target would attract shoppers to Glenville. I am tired of driving to Clifton Park to spend my shopping dollars. Does anyone else feel as I do?
SCOTIA Taxes to rise under budget plan Board gives nod to $40 increase for average residence BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Residents will pay an average of $40 a year more in taxes under a budget unanimously adopted by the Board of Trustees. The budget totals a little more than $8 million, an increase of $283,000 from the current budget. The tax rate would increase 3.15 percent from $10.40 to $10.73. The owner of an average home assessed at $125,000 would pay $1,341 in taxes. Mayor Kris Kastberg said the cost of the village’s operations has increased by more than 4 percent. In particular, the village’s health care expenses and retirement costs increased. He is tapping $420,000 from the fund balance, which would leave the village with $1 million in reserve, which he said is very healthy for a village of Scotia’s size. About $120,000 of the fund balance would be used to plug holes in the water and sewer fund. The other $300,000 would be allocated to the general fund. Half of that would be used to pave streets in the village in combination with a $146,000 CHIPS grant. The other half is funding various programs, including replacing the kids’ park fence in Collins Park, funding the Fire Department’s new paramedic program and purchasing a patrol car for the Police Department and a pickup truck for the Department of Public Works. .............>>>>..............>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1
GLENVILLE Vacant structure plan draws fire BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.
Residents on Wednesday panned the town’s proposed vacant building registry law, saying it would penalize homeowners unable to sell their property and do nothing to attract commercial businesses. The Town Board held a public hearing on the law, which would require owners of vacant buildings to register with the town and pay an annual fee. The fee would vary depending on whether the structure was residential or commercial. Michele Draves said her parents’ home is still vacant. The couple, Ralph and Mary Fazio, died from carbon monoxide poisoning while running a generator in their home during the December 2008 ice storm. “In this economy, a house can sit on the market for over a year and not be sold,” Draves said. The property is maintained and the lawn mowed, yet she would still be penalized under this law. “If I was living there and let the lawn get 3 feet high, it’s OK.” Ron Provost, who has lived in town for 54 years, called the law “garbage.” “You’re trying to grab a couple of nickels here,” he said. “This is crap. Somebody better go back to the drawing board or I’ll see you in court.” Edward Rosenberg of Gage Realty, who was formerly on the Town Board, questioned the law. “I haven’t heard one thing about how this will bring business to Glenville,” he said. Supervisor Chris Koetzle said the town is merely trying to address blight and send a message that it will not be filled with vacant buildings. There are currently 23 vacant commercial properties. He stressed that the law would apply only to unsecured properties. “We’ve got a problem in this town,” he said. “There’s no question about it. We’ve got too much empty space in our commercial corridors.” Koetzle said the town has done its homework. At least two dozen communities in New York state have this law including Albany, Cohoes and Watervliet. He left open the possibility that the board would tweak the ordinance at its next work session, possibly adding some sort of hardship exemption. “The intent is not to give residents a hard time.” ............>>>>..........>>>>...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01100&AppName=1
This is a hell of a time to impose these fees on vacant buildings. The economy is in the crapper and no one is buying anything. Good idea.....bad timing!
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
Schenectady County officials announced in a release today that the vacant McDonald's site on Mohawk Avenue, in the Village of Scotia, will be demolished by the fast food corporation and will address any environmental cleanup that is needed.
The site, which has been closed since 2005, will be demolished by the McDonald's Corporation, who will also take care of any environmental concerns in hopes of making it a shovel-ready site. In a release, Schenectady County Chairwoman Susan Savage had contacted the McDonald's corporate headquarters two years ago to talk about the impact of the site on the village. With the help of The Schenectady Metroplex, the county's economic development team has negotiated an agreement with McDonald's to demolish and clean up the site. McDonald's has also promised to landscape and maintain the site to help the appearance of Mohawk Avenue until the property is sold.
"McDonald’s has made a commitment to Schenectady County to demolish this eyesore at the gateway to Scotia and remediate any environmental issues on site," said Savage in a Tuesday, May 11, release. "This is a major step forward in our efforts to revitalize the Village of Scotia."
In return for the commitment to demolish the building by Wednesday, June 30, while addressing environmental concerns and landscape the site- the Schenectady Metroplex will provide $25,000 towards the cost of improving the site, according to a release from the county.
Logged
