GUILDERLAND — Summer is here and so are the construction projects.

At its last meeting of the summer, the town board listened to complaints about the construction projects going on at Schoolhouse Road, and awarded a bid for three sidewalk construction and intersection improvement projects.

The next town board meeting will take place on Sept. 4.

At the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting, three residents from Birch Drive complained about problems with the ongoing construction projects on Schoolhouse Road.

The Albany County Department of Public Works is scheduled to complete the project by June 30, 2008, according to department spokesman, William Anslow.
Anslow said that portions of the road are currently under "full-depth reconstruction," and the project will include new sidewalks, a round-about, and a re-alignment of the Russell Road intersection.

Depending on weather and utility availability, Anslow said, the project could possibly be finished earlier than expected. However, Anslow said, storms like the one on Monday slow down the process because it ties up the availability of utility companies and county workers.

One resident argued they were not properly notified and the other two complained of dangerous conditions left behind by workers.
Councilman David Bosworth said that every resident in the area should have received two postcards notifying them in detail of the project, but said he personally visited the site the night before and there were "some problems."

Another resident told board members that drainage covers were left open, open pits were left unmarked, and various construction equipment was left out for extended periods of time.
"For me," he said, "it’s something kids shouldn’t be going near."

Runion told The Enterprise yesterday that he spoke with Michael Francini, commissioner of the county’s department of public works, and relayed the residents’ concerns and sent him photographs of the complaints.
"This is the first we’ve heard of any complaints," Runion said. "There’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done"and we’re going to send the county a copy of our meeting."
One resident asked the board, "How do you tell a six-year-old who’s been inside all winter that they can’t ride their bike outside""

New sidewalks

The board approved three sidewalk projects which will include new sidewalks and intersection improvements on Carman Road; at1450 Western Ave. and the intersection of Parkwood and McKown Road; and at McKown Road and Woodscape Drive.

The town is using grants from the Capital District Transportation Committee and the Assembly John McEneny Multi-Modal Grant to help fund the projects. The bid was awarded to Callahan Industries, Inc., in the amount of $469,951.61, which was the lowest bid out of three. The highest bid came in at $541,164.60.
"We did the bidding and expect the work to begin immediately, last through the summer, and be finished in the fall," Runion said.

Other business

In other business, the board unanimously:

— Authorized the town to bring a lawsuit against the owner of 4379 Western Turnpike for violating various town codes. Runion said the last known owner of the property is Robert Hunt and that the building was damaged by fire several years ago and has since been abandoned.

Hunt’s home, where he created and sold various types statues, burned down in 2004. The Enterprise wrote extensively on Hunt’s plight when he was denied coverage from his insurance company. Hunt described the situation as "a total loss."
Zoning board attorney Janet Thayer wrote a letter to the town board asking for authority to bring the lawsuit on the town’s behalf after "several years" of trying to contact the property’s owner.
The violations include the storage of commercial equipment without a permit; having several unlicensed vehicles, including a camper, on the property; the accumulation of various debris and garbage; and containing a building that possesses a "significant health risk";

— Authorized a warrant adjustment at 100 Arthurs Place. There was an error in the town’s billing process, Runion said, which resulted in a bill of $406.78 for water usage when the actual bill should have been $70;

— Awarded a bid to New England Organics for a three-year contract to transport and dispose of the Nott Road Treatment Plant sludge. New England Organics currently hauls the sludge away, but was only awarded a yearly contract. The new long-term contract will save the town $2 per ton of sludge, according to Runion;

— Approved an out-of-district water connection from the Town of Rotterdam to a home at 733 Countyline Road;

— Authorized the bidding for site work and abutment construction for the Tawasentha Park foot bridge across the Normanskill; and

— Announced that the town clerk is now accepting applications for poll workers in the up coming primary and general elections. Training with new electronic voting machines will take place in August, said Town Clerk Rosemary Centi, and poll workers are paid $200 a day for general elections.