Nearing completion
Plan to protect rural character



RENSSELAERVILLE — After long hours of work, the land-use committee has nearly completed plans for the town’s future.
"Last night, for the first time in a long time, we shut the meeting down after two hours," said Vernon Husek, who chairs the committee.

At the town board’s January meeting, Ray Welsh, a committee member, estimated the committee had worked between 2,800 and 3,000 man-hours on the plan.

The plan is on the town’s website, said Husek, adding that it was put up for public viewing only days after its first draft was completed. The committee’s public hearing on the comprehensive land-use plan was held Jan. 19, and a small group of people asked questions about the plan.
"There were about 40 people," he said, adding that the majority of the people at the meeting were either committee members or town officials. The committee is made up of 13 individuals with one alternate.

The moratorium on development, enacted so the plan could be formulated, will be lifted April 27, Husek said.

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.
"The principal theme"is to protect the unique and abundant natural features and resources that make direct and indirect contributions to those aspects of life in Rensselaerville most valued by residents. Our residents and landowners have been consistent in their overwhelming support for a plan to protect these resources," says introduction of the draft plan.

The plan includes strategies to maintain the town’s rural character, opens spaces, enhance agriculture, and protect critical habitats.

The committee, he said, is now doing final editing and will present its second draft to Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg at the town board’s meeting on Feb. 8, said Husek.

Husek hopes the town board will then set its public hearing for the comprehensive plan.

Other business

In other business, at its Jan. 11 town board meeting, the town board:

— Heard from Nickelsberg that the town’s taxes are down 11.4 percent from last year. Nickelsberg suspects this is the largest tax cut in the county, and the town’s history. Nickelsberg added that he believes the town has never had a double-digit tax cut.

The tax rate this year is $8.03 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, down from 9.02 last year.
"We’ve been called an idiot, and all we can say is: 11.4. Thank you very much," said Nickelsberg;

— Heard from Nickelsberg that there will be a presentation on the Hilltown Senior Center in Berne on Feb. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Rensselaerville Town Hall. Developer Jeff Thomas is planning to build rental units on the west end of the hamlet of Berne for the elderly;
— Heard from Nickelsberg that, in the summer, the youth, which he called "the most important asset of this town," can join Berne-Knox-Westerlo students from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the program’s two-week camp. The cost for each child is $100 per week per child, and the program will include historical trips;
— Heard from Nickelsberg that a federally-funded youth program, lasting six weeks, will allow youths to work for town government. "Parks, grounds, town hall — whatever we can to keep them busy," he said.

Nickelsberg told The Enterprise this week that the program will last six weeks, is available to individuals between 15 and 18 years old, and those participating will be paid the minimum wage;

— Heard from Nickelsberg that he, Councilwoman Myra Dorman, Councilwoman Sherri Pine, and planning board members Richard Amedore and Muriel Thrasher will be attending the Association of Towns conference in New York City in February. Nickelsberg appointed Amedore to be the head delegate and Dorman is the second delegate.

Resident George Dempsey asked if the town will get a report from the five members attending the association’s meeting in February. No board member responded;

— Heard from Nickelsberg that the last time the town changed its fees, for things such as marriage and dog licenses, was in 1995. Nickelsberg said the town’s budget in 1995 was around $1 million, and the town’s budget is now $2.3 million.
Cost have gone up, he said, and, "We have to take a hard look at raising those fees." Councilwoman Pine brought in a list of the fees that New Scotland uses;

— Heard from Town Clerk Kathy Hallenbeck that the town issued eight marriage licenses and two death certificates in 2006. There were no births, Hallenbeck said;

— Heard an update of the highway department’s activities during the past month during Highway Superintendent G. Jon Chase’s report. The department, he said, cut brush, repaired equipment, and had been salting and sanding during the past month. Three trucks were broken down, and are now ready for the winter, he said. The town, Chase said, has its own vibrating roller, bought two years ago.

Chase submitted his road projects for the year. The department is budgeted $265,000 for road repair in 2007. The list of projects the highway department plans to complete in 2007 totals $260,551.50;
— Appointed Marion Cook as chair of the youth committee. Cook proposed the youth committee take area youths to the Young Men’s Christian Association in Delmar. Children, she said, "complain that they’re bored, and there’s nothing to do around here."
Cook was impressed by the programs offered at the YMCA. Cook also reported that the YMCA is close to the town. "From here, it’s 20 miles," she said. Cook asked for a member of the town board to be on the youth committee. "We really appreciate you stepping up, Marion," said Nickelsberg;

— Welcomed new members and accepted the list of members of the Rensselaerville Fire Company Battalion. The new members of the battalion are: Sarah Benson, Rebecca Cartwright, Charlotte Cooper, Phyllis Fitzgerald, Penny Grimes, Diana Holmer, Donna Kropp, Pat Parker, Cheryl Pierce, Mary Jane Schroeder, Lynn Urrutia, Kathy Wank, and Linda Sue Yelich;

— Heard from Albany County Legislator Alexander (Sandy) Gordon that the town of Knox is reviewing a wind ordinance from the town of Clinton. Gordon recommended all of the Hilltowns consider a wind ordinance with one set of standards;
— Accepted the resignation of planning board member Tim Lippert. Lippert served on the planning board for 11 years, and recently moved to Berne. "You were a wonderful member. Without people like you, this town shuts down," Nickelsberg said;

— Inducted Planning Board chairman Alynn Wright to the Volunteer Hall of Fame. The requirement for induction, Nickelsberg said, is 30 years of service. The first inducted was Barry Cook.
Wright, said Nickelsberg, has worked for the town "in a non-pay way" for 35 years. "I’m stunned," Nickelsberg said. "Thirty-five years is just a very long time," he said. A plaque with both Wright’s and Cook’s names will soon be made for town hall, Nickelsberg said;

— Heard from Rob Koenig that the town needs someone who is asbestos-certified to clean the hall;

— Heard a recommendation from Bob Tomczak. Tomczak said he normally cannot attend town board meetings and that the meeting minutes are not published on the town’s website until two months after meetings are held. Tomczak asked if a draft of the minutes could be put up on the website until they are approved, and then updated on the site.
"I don’t know why we couldn’t," said Councilwoman Dorman. The draft of the minutes, typed by Hallenbeck, are completed 10 to 14 days after the meeting; and

— Welcomed new member, Joseph Grandchamp, to the Medusa Fire Company.