GUILDERLAND — In the Spring, Guilderland’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of — cleanliness.

At a brief town board meeting on April 1, the bulk of discussion had to do with clean-up.

John Decatur, who lives on Fuller Station Road and walks a five-mile loop in his neighborhood, told the board he counted 22 signs advertising the same business and, when he complained to the town, was told, if the signs are taken down “the same contractor puts these signs back up,” likening it to a game of Whac-A-Mole.

Decatur suggested the town could consider the signs as litter and charge $50 for each infraction. “At 22 signs, that’s $1,100 — you lien this gentleman’s business, I can guarantee you his signs will not reappear,” said Decatur.

Ted Neumann of Altamont spoke next, complaining about the abandoned cards in yards and driveways, noting “probably 10 from Altamont to, say, Stuyvesant Plaza.”

“I was curious if anything can be done,” he said, noting the cars were not titled and had no license plates.

James Melita, the town’s attorney, responded, “The zoning code actually does cover that … I know the building department often addresses these issues.”

“But someone has to make a complaint,” said Deputy Supervisor Christine Napierski.

“Exactly,” said Melita, “to put the office on notice; that’s all.”

At the end of the meeting, Supervisor Peter Barber went through a long list of events happening in town near Earth Day, which is on Tuesday, April 22, this year.

On Monday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Town Hall, the Guilderland Garden Club is hosting the Capital District Audubon Society for a presentation on curbing bird strikes, which the club says kills thousands of birds each year as they fly into glass buildings and windows.

Then, on Friday, April 25, in honor of Arbor Day, the town’s Tree Preservation Committee and the town arborist will be at Tawasentha Park to hand out 110 tree seedlings, including sugar maples, eastern redbus, and concolor firs. The event, which runs from 1 to 4 p.m. is first come, first served until the seedlings are all gone.

Saturday, April 26, is Town Park Cleanup Day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers can choose any park to pick up litter with more directions available on the town’s website.

“These are all rain or shine,” said Barber. “So, if it’s pouring rain or snowing, they’re taking place anyway.”

Also on Saturday, April 26, is Clean Up Guilderland Day, organized by Kathy Burbank. She urges residents to gather a team and says supplies will be provided.

“Litter is really everyone’s problem because the wind carries it along. It’s not a business or resident’s fault because trash is gathering at their place,” Burbank told The Enterprise last year when over 100 people volunteered for her cleanup.

“That’s really focusing on cleaning up Route 20 and 146, but also neighborhoods,” said Barber. “So it’s basically where you like to clean up and there’s also arrangements for picking up the bags.”

Also on April 26, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Farnsworth Middle School, at 6072 State Farm Rd., is holding its annual Guilderland Recycling Extravaganza from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Caring for Your Cemetery Day is also on Saturday, April 26, from noon to 2 p.m. at the town-owned cemetery in Guilderland Center on Osborne Road.

“You’ll be able to see how to clean cemetery stones … It’s pretty fascinating,” said Barber.

Other business

In other business at its April 1 meeting, the Guilderland Town Board:

— Authorized Barber to sign the agreement with Park Playhouse for the performances of “Oklahoma!” at the Guilderland Performing Arts Center.

The Playhouse is being paid $20,000 for four performances — at 7:30 p.m on July 31, Aug. 1 and 2 and at 3 p.m. on Aug. 2;

— Authorized a request for proposals to get a new ambulance with the money to come from the town’s  Ambulance Replacement Fund.

“We have a regular practice of replacing our ambulances,” said Barber, “and, thanks to the board, we have plenty of funds set aside for his specific purpose”;

— Approved a consultant agreement with Creighton Manning for the replacement of the culvert carrying a Bozen Kill tributary under Leesome Lane in Altamont.

Barber said “ouch” after naming the cost at just over a million dollars.

“Which we are getting a grant for,” Napierski added.

“Yes, we’re getting a grant for all of it,” said Barber, crediting Donald Csaposs  for securing the “very competitive” grant; and

— Approved the name "Courage Way" for the private street that services the proposed New York Oncology & Hematology property and other properties on private street, which approved the name.