Pass Civil Service exam
Trio keeps jobs at water plant



GUILDERLAND — Three water-treatment plant operators, who suddenly had to take Civil Service exams after years of service, passed their tests and were officially appointed to their positions at Tuesday’s town board meeting.

After controversy and several articles written by The Enterprise, Peter G. Letko, William R. Dodge, and Dean M. Sim, were all unanimously appointed from the Albany County Civil Service list by the town board. Collectively, the three men have worked at their jobs for over 25 years.
"Albany County Civil Service required all of the Albany County employees to take that test," said Supervisor Kenneth Runion during the meeting.

Board member Paul Pastore asked why there were four names on the list.

Runion explained that the other name was an Altamont worker, and that Runion was given a list of all the eligible names in the town of Guilderland by the Albany County Civil Service Department.

Runion told The Enterprise last month that the town might sue the county if one of the men failed the exam and was removed from his job by the Civil Service Department.

There have been three known Civil Service employees who have been fired in the town of Guilderland, and one in Voorheesville, because of failed exams since the Albany County Civil Service crackdown began.

Petty cash

The board also unanimously approved establishing a $150 petty-cash fund for the town court. Without the petty cash, the court cannot make change for people paying tickets, fines, or fees; they must presently pay everything in exact amounts.
"In the past, the justice court did not have petty cash," Runion said, adding that currently, people have to run out to an ATM or go to another town agency office in order to make change for payments.

Additionally, the board unanimously appointed town-designated consultants to begin reviewing the application of Atlantic-Pacific Properties, Inc., for zoning changes to 57 acres at their Winding Brook Road and Route 20 property. Behan Planning Associates and Delaware Engineering were appointed as town consultants for various projects pertaining to the Atlantic application.
"I thought Delaware Engineering has done a good job in the past, and I think they would be good for this project," said Runion. Delaware is going to work on the environmental impact portion of the application, Runion said.

Other business

In other business, the town board unanimously:

— Authorization the Department of Water and Wastewater to replace the electric control panel at Suzanne Lane Pump Station, which is a budgeted item;

— Approved the release of escrow funds held on behalf of Sandpiper Associates, L.P.;

— Accepted the bid of SM Gallivan for grinding and removing yard waste from the town transfer station for 2006. The bid was recommended by transfer station Superintendent Tim Spawn because it was the lowest bid. There will be four separate pickups throughout the year. The other two bids were put in by William Biers, Inc. and Wood Waste Reduction Services;

— Set a public hearing to amend alternative veterans’ exemption limits local law, which was established in 1998 and amended in 2001, and was recommended by Assessor Carol Wysomski. The public hearing is set for April 4 at 7:30 p.m. at town hall;

— Authorized Guilderland Police Department to bid for a building-access system which will be paid for by Homeland Security Funding.
"We received a grant from Homeland Security to reimburse us for a number of security items," said Runion. One of those items is a card key system, or a building-access system used primarily for the police department, Runion said;
— Adopted resolution implementing the National Incident Management System in order to receive federal-preparedness funding. Runion said courses and training of some town employees would have to take place over the next year in order to be eligible for the funding. "The county would certify that all local agencies have complied to the mandate," said Runion, who added, "We are ahead of the game in terms of training our employees"; and

— Accepted a utility easement from Precision Homes on Fuller Station Road, for water and sewer.