Matt Cook

RENSSELAERVILLE — The new supervisor hit the ground running at his first regular town board meeting and the town came out to watch him.

The standing-room-only crowd spilled out of the town hall’s meeting room and into the hallway.
"The more input we have, the better," said Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg. Nickelsberg was sworn in on Jan. 1. In the fall election, the Republican beat his Democratic opponent, David Bryan, 515 to 378. It’s Nickelsberg’s first public office.

The previous supervisor, J. Robert Lansing, a Republican, decided not to run for reelection. Instead, he ran for a council seat, receiving the highest number of votes.

Nickelsberg has been a Rensselaerville resident for only 10 years, but, he told The Enterprise, he has heard from others that Thursday’s meeting was the best attended in recent memory. He felt it went well.
"We moved it right along," Nickelsberg said. "We got a lot done."

The meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Under Lansing, meetings were held at 8 p.m. Nickelsberg said the change is permanent and it is meant to accommodate busy agendas and citizens who have to get up early for work.

Among other things, the board discussed the town’s procurement policy.
"We’re going to look very hard at everything that we spend money on," Nickelsberg said.

For example, Nickelsberg told The Enterprise, he and highway Superintendent G. Jon Chase will be looking into the price of oil. Currently, the town is paying about $5 per gallon for 400 gallons a year.
"We have never aggressively looked at other options," Nickelsberg said.

With everything from highway materials to the information technology in the town hall, the town will be searching for the best price and the best service, he said.

The burden for keeping costs down will also fall on town officers. For example, Nickelsberg said, officials attending the upcoming conference of New York’s Association of Towns in New York City will be required to do more than observe. They will have to present reports, Nickelsberg said, and come back with at least one good idea for the town.
"If we do that with everything that we spend money on, we will save a considerable amount of money," Nickelsberg said.

New law firm

Nickelsberg noted that the town’s new law firm, Tabner, Ryan, and Keniry, of Albany, will cost the town $1,000 less this year then the previous lawyers. On Jan. 1, the town appointed the firm to replace Town Attorney Joseph Catalano and Deputy Attorney Jon Kosich.

The town board’s Democrats, Sherri Pine and Gary Chase, voted against the chase. Nickelsberg, however, said he wanted to avoid any conflicts of interest. Both Catalano and Kosich live in Rensselaerville.

At Thursday’s meeting, Jeff Pine, a town assessor and code-enforcement officer, and Councilwoman Pine’s husband, spoke to the board in favor of Catalano.
"I’m kind of disappointed we lost a good man," Pine said. "I’m a little concerned we’re going to lose that personal touch that a resident would have."

Pine said he was worried the lowest person in the firm would be sent to Rensselaerville’s meetings.

Bill Ryan, a partner in the firm, said he will be attending meetings. He pointed out that his firm specializes in municipal law and has worked with towns like Colonie and Plattsburgh.
"These are annual appointments, so I feel very strongly that we have to try something that sounds and looks and feels better, and, if it isn’t better, that we change it," Nickelsberg told Pine.