NEW SCOTLAND – David Wukitsch has some large shoes to fill.

In a vote split along party lines, the town board appointed Wukitsch, a Democrat, last Wednesday to serve as one of two New Scotland town justices. Democratic board members Richard Reilly, Deborah Baron, and Margaret Neri voted in favor of appointing Wukitsch, while the two Republicans – Supervisor Ed Clark and Councilman Douglas LaGrange – were opposed.
Wukitsch replaces Justice Thomas Dolin, a Democrat, who announced in late March his resignation to "explore the possibility of running for other elective office." Republican Margaret Adkins is the other town judge; she is up for re-election in the fall.

Clark and LaGrange were in favor of appointing Republican Kenneth Connolly who served as town justice in New Scotland for 20 years, and continues to serve as the village justice in Voorheesville. Connollysaid he would not run for judge in the fall and offered to fill the post only until an elected candidate assumed office, Clark told The Enterprise earlier.
"I still believe we have a very experienced justice to fill in for the interim," Clark told the board last week, recommending Connolly.
"My sense is to appoint someone who could be there for a longer term," Reilly said before making the motion to appoint Wukitsch.
"He certainly has outstanding credentials," Reilly told The Enterprise of Wukitsch, adding that he’s a "fine candidate" for the position. "I think Tom is widely regarded as having been an excellent town justice, and those are big shoes to fill," he said of Dolin’s 14 years as town justice and his "good judicial temperament."

Wukitsch told The Enterprise that he is "grateful to the New Scotland town board" for appointing him to the position, and added, "I plan on seeking a full term in the fall."

Wukitsch, 51, grew up in Rotterdam, and has lived in New Scotland since 2000, he said, with his wife and four sons. He has been practicing law since 1982.

Wukitsch is currently a partner with McNamee, Lochner, Titus, & Williams in Albany, working in civil litigation as well as labor and employment law, he said.
As town justice, Wukitsch said, "I will strive to apply the applicable law to the facts of each case to the best of my ability."

He has also served as a confidential law assistant to former Senior Associate Judge Richard D. Simons on the New York Court of Appeals; was the town attorney for New Baltimore in Greene County; and was a lecturer and former contract grader for the New York State Bar Association.
"I think the town couldn’t do any better than to have him as a town judge," said the town’s attorney, L. Michael Mackey, who is also the Democratic party chairman in New Scotland. "He’s extremely qualified for the position" His demeanor and personality speak well for him; he’ll make an outstanding judge," Mackey said, adding that the two went to law school together in 1981 at Albany Law School.
Dolin said this week that he is continuing to explore his political options. "I do miss it," he said of being a New Scotland judge, "But I’m looking forward to doing other things."

After Dolin announced on March 30 that he would resign, he told The Enterprise that rules on judicial conduct did not allow him to talk about what post he might pursue until his resignation became official on April 15. He said after last week’s town board meeting that he is still discussing the possibilities with his wife.
Dolin said that Wukitsch is "an excellent choice" for town judge. "His legal background validates his qualifications for the position" I think he’ll do fine."
"Judge Dolin did great for the town for a number of years, and will certainly be missed, but he’s got a good replacement in Dave," Mackey said.
Wukitsch, who will be formally sworn in to office tonight (Thursday) at Town Hall on Route 85, said that he "will strive to do my very best" as a town justice in New Scotland.
Dolin said that he believes Wukitsch will be fair and compassionate. "I wish him all the best, and, I think we’re going to be fortunate to have him," Dolin said of his successor.

Senior housing on hold
Plans for a senior housing community on New Scotland Road have been pending for two years. Charles Carrow Sr., president and chief executive officer of Carrow Real Estate Services, would "like to see some action.," said Supervisor Clark.

Carrow is looking for the town board to talk to the neighboring town of Bethlehem in order to include his property in the water and sewer districts.
"I think, to be realistic, you need to approach them [Bethlehem] on a project-by-project basis," said Mackey, the town’s attorney.
Bethlehem doesn’t want developers approaching them about water and sewer, Mackey said. "They want to know that it’s a project the town wants," he said.
Carrow’s project has already gotten a general OK from the town’s planning board, said that board’s chairman, Robert Stapf, who was at last Wednesday’s town board meeting. "We need the town to go forward and talk to Bethlehem," he added.

Carrow, back in August, requested that the town adopt a senior overlay zone – an additional zone that lays over the existing zoning, and has additional requirements the development must satisfy. Carrow’s property falls within a commercial district.
"Anything that isn’t addressed in the overlay zone would default to the underlying zone," Reilly explained.

R. Mark Dempf, the town’s engineer, said that the town’s water committee does not have unanimous support for residential housing in a commercial district.

Other business

In other business at recent meetings, the town board:

– Transferred the contracts of Vollmer Associates to Stantec Consulting Services, which recently took over Vollmer. Dempf and Keith Menia will continue to be the town’s engineers;

– Authorized Stantec Consulting Services, the town’s engineering firm, to create high resolution, photo-quality mapping for the Northeast Quadrant, at an estimated cost of $4,000;

– Signed an agreement with Albany County for the Advanced Life Support program at a cost of $155,115. The program provides a fly car for medical emergencies;

– Announced that Affordable Waste was sold to Wright Sanitation, and will be taking over the trash pickup in the town;

– Discussed the possibility of constructing a 120-by-60-foot intermunicipal skateboard park with the village of Voorheesville. The board had no major objections;
– Heard concerns about the speed limit on Tygert Road and the Feura Bush Park neighborhood. Town Assessor Julie Nooney, who lives in the area of the Feura Bush Park, said that the speed limit upon entering the park, "is without a doubt a hazard." Supervisor Clark said that he would make the appropriate requests to the county that the speed be reduced;
– Authorized Highway Superintendent Darrell Duncan to sign an agreement with Stantec Consulting Services regarding the Krumkill Road slope stabilization investigation. Dempf, an engineer with Stantec, told the board, "The situation is not good," regarding the erosion of a section of the road after flooding in April. Dempf hopes that a project can be developed that will solve the issue "once and for all." He is going to look into whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency will consider reimbursing the town for the project;
– Heard from Dempf on the Heldervale Water District master meter replacement project. The district currently has only one operational meter, he said. "We need to replace the meter pit its in, and water-proof it," Dempf said.

At the opposite end of the district is another inoperable meter pit, he explained. A State Environmental Quality Review determined that the project would have minimal environmental impact, Dempf said;

– Approved an agreement for 2007 with Albany County for the emergency medical technician–defibrilation services;
– Authorized increasing the maximum amount to be spent on the Clarksville Water District Extension #7. The project was estimated at $430,000, but the lowest bid came in at $555,000. The cost could be reduced to $495,000 if the minimum-required amount of hydrants are installed. The typical cost to the homeowners, with the minimum amount of hydrants, would increase by about $14 per year, Dempf told the board. With the standard amount of hydrants, the increase would be about $34 per year. "It seems like the logical way to go with the lesser hydrants," said LaGrange. "I think it’s exciting that this project is moving," added Baron;

– Accepted Unifirst as the uniform company for the town’s highway department;

– Announced the names of three new town employees: operator Lansing Appleby, laborer James Kendall, and dog warden James Conde;

– Approved the membership of Linda Sue Kane into the Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company;
– Heard Reilly announce, "We’re making progress," on the zoning changes to the Northeast Quadrant of town. He said that the proposed changes have been passed along to the planning board for comments. Reilly added that he wasn’t proposing anything "that isn’t already in our comprehensive plan."

LaGrange updated the board on the status of the comprehensive plan; the town is working to combine sections two and 10, and weave in recommendations made by the Residents’ Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC).
Councilwoman Neri voiced her confusion. "RPAC was never formally adopted by this board," she said. Dempf said that only some of the recommendations would be worked in. "This board’s responsibility is to decide where the town should go," Dempf said;

– Approved a mileage reimbursement policy for town employees that addresses when reimbursement is appropriate and how it is calculated, so that the town does not incur costs for mileage of employees traveling to and from work;

– Announced the annual Relay for Life walk-a-thon will be held at the Voorheesville high school on June 2 and 3; and

– Announced that, on June 6 at 7 p.m., the Clarksville Church will host a program titled: A History of Clarksville Churches.