RENSSELAERVILLE — Can a town give away supplies or services to its residents"

The town board here, on the advice of William Ryan, the town’s attorney, decided in April to no longer provide buckets of salt and sand for residents during winter emergencies. This month, Barry Kuhar, a former board member, asked the board to reconsider its decision.

The practice was halted in April after the town was given photos by Vernon Husek, who spotted Highway Superintendent G. Jon Chase using a town loader to fill a privately-owned pickup truck with sand and salt.
In April, Ryan said that Chase’s actions were "official misconduct."

Resolutions passed in the 1990’s allowing town residents to take salt and sand from the town’s supply were illegal, Ryan said in April.

State law forbids towns to give away property for use that does not benefit the town, he said. Ryan recommended the town pass a resolution against the practice, and the board did.
At the town board meeting this month, Kuhar said winter storms are a "no-win for everybody." He said that one-third of town residents live on sloped driveways, and that the service would aid elderly residents.

Kuhar said that icy conditions could result in elderly residents falling and breaking hips, and added that it would lead to more fire and ambulance calls.
Kuhar said he asked Chase how much it would cost to have a supply of a salt-sand mixture for town residents. Kuhar said that Chase told him that a 10-wheeler load of salt and sand would cost about $300. Kuhar added that it would cost the town "$500, $1,000 tops."
"The deal is, is it worth saving money to prevent worst cases"" Kuhar asked.
Kuhar, concerned with the approaching winter, said, "It’s got to be done within a month."
"Three other towns in the state allow this," Kuhar said. "Just write a resolution," he asked the board.
"We live in a small town. The town always took care of us, and we always took care of the town," he said.

Other business

In other business, the town board:

— Heard from Highway Superintendent Chase during his report which seasonal roads will be closed and which will remain open during the winter. He told the board that the department has been doing patchwork, and clearing away brush and dead trees.

Chase also told the board that the snowplows are ready for winter, and told the board that a beam in the entrance of the newly-repaired salt shed is not straight.
"We need to get an engineer in there to take a look and make sure it was done right," Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg said;

— Did not accept bids on a waste-oil furnace;

— Approved to update its state retirement plan for $1,072 each year. The plan will be in effect Dec. 1;

— Heard a recommendation from Town Assessor Jeff Pine to make the position of deputy superintendent exempt from Civil Services exams. Pine said both the towns of Guilderland and Bethlehem had the positions of deputy superintendent of highways exempt, and that New Scotland changed the title of deputy superintendent of highways to highway foreman.
The current deputy highway superintendent, Earl "David" Potter, a long-time town employee, is required to take a Civil Service exam in order to keep his job since the Albany County Civil Service has made his position competitive. Some long-time workers in Albany County have lost their jobs recently when faced with passing the exam; and
— Heard an update from Tom Mikulka on the land-use committee and its progress. "We’ve taken your ideas and formulated a vision," he said. Mikulka said that the meetings, held on Tuesday evenings, are open to the public.

A townwide survey was sent out to residents, which nearly 35 percent returned. In August, visioning workshops were held at the three firehouses, and 104 residents attended.
"No one ever comes," Mikulka said of the weekly meetings. Mikulka invited anyone to come, and added that the committee is concerned that "all their work will be for naught."

Mikulka said that no board members attend the meetings. Becky Lewis, also on the land-use committee, corrected him, and said that Nickelsberg has been to a few.