GUILDERLAND — The state of Guilderland is diverse, says Supervisor Peter Barber.

Before highlighting Guilderland’s update of its comprehensive plan and improvements in safety and parks, Barber, in his annual State of the Town address on Tuesday, referenced the town’s support of economic diversity, gender diversity, and cultural and ethnic diversity.

He spoke first of the “chaos” caused by the federal government, referencing the federal cuts in housing support.

“Some people are really panicking …. These are the people who are essential to our community for our businesses and whatnot and, if you have a situation where they are concerned about the most basic need, housing, it’s very disturbing,” said Barber. “It’s completely unnecessary.”

Barber also said the $100,000 federal grant that Guilderland had received to replace its town-hall generator was cut.

“The president decided to cancel anything involving DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Barber. “I have no idea how that grant has DEI, but the bottom line is: It’s gone.”

He also referenced the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement crackdown, saying, “ICE in our community is a concern for residents. I think we all were shocked to see the recent videos of the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis, a mom and an ICU nurse, simply for protesting what they believe to be unconstitutional ICE actions.”

Barber said he was proud of Guilderland’s police chief, Daniel McNally.

“He’s been very proactive in trying to meet the needs and trying to address the concerns of people in our community,” said Barber. “He met with members of Guilderland Indivisible, with local organizers of the No Kings march. He has had regular meetings with the people who have any concerns about ICE activity.”

Barber also said, contrasting Guilderland police with ICE agents who wear masks and no identification, “We have a police force that is very proud to wear its badges and its identification …What we want is it’s encouraging people basically to recognize that our town police are not … immigration enforcement officers.”

Guilderland Police, Barber said, are following a directive issued by the state’s attorney general in January 2025.

“Town police do not cooperate in any way with the immigration enforcement,” said Barber. “Absent a judicial warrant, town police do not share any non-public information with ICE. In fact, the town police have no prior knowledge of ICE activities in our town.”

Barber went on, addressing the score who came to listen to his speech, many of them town employees, “If a refugee or immigrant is stopped for traffic violation, it takes 15 to 20 minutes just like anybody in this room might get stopped. They’re not held for enforcement by ICE.”

Barber stressed, “We have probably one of the most diverse communities in the state. We have over 60 languages spoken in our schools.”

He projected a slide that showed 17.5 percent of households in Guilderland speak a language other than English.

“You can see it in our restaurants; you can see it in our establishments,” he said. “We’re trying to meet the needs of a growing and diverse community.”

Alluding to economic diversity, Barber said he was also proud of the work done by Guilderland’s town planner, Kenneth Kovalchik, in getting Guilderland certified as a pro-housing community.

“That basically means that we’re committed to trying to provide affordable and workforce housing in our community,” he said.

He went on to reference the town’s support of gender diversity, thanking Deputy Supervisor Amanda Beedle “for her advocacy on behalf of the Pride flags that flew in June” at the town hall.

Barber went on, “I’m also very proud of the Ukrainian flag that was posted within days of the Russian aggressive invasion.”

He noted the war in Ukraine started four years ago as he said the worn Ukrainian flag flown at Town Hall had to be replaced.

Planning, public safety, parks, and local history

Barber said over 3,000 people participated over the course of three years in updating Guilderland’s two-decades-old comprehensive plan.

The plan makes more than 80 recommendations, said Barber, cautioning against “NIMBYism.”

“They think it’s a good idea, but not in my neighborhood,” said Barber, who encouraged residents to read the 182-page plan, which is posted to the town’s website.

The task ahead for the all-Democratic town board will be to codify the recommendations.

Barber touched on the town’s dilemma of having to follow the state comptroller’s recommendation on use of sales tax, which resulted in a 162-percent increase for Guilderland residents who live in the village of Altamont while in the rest of town residents saw a slight decrease in their property taxes this year.

Barber noted the police department now has 44 uniformed officers, the largest number in the town’s history — two are stationed in the schools and others are working on traffic safety.

More sidewalks are planned for public safety, said Barber, thanking grant-writer Donald Csaposs for the funds he has secured.

Barber praised the highway department for keeping both roads and sidewalks clear during this snowy winter.

“This year, we’re going to continue discussions about lowering the town’s speed limit on town roads from 30 to 25 miles per hour,” Barber said, noting, “It’s a very complicated process.”

The two roundabouts in town — one on Carman Road and the other at Crossgates Mall — have been successful in reducing injuries, he said.

The town has 160.5 miles of roads, Barber said, and the highway department, using its own equipment, repaves them on a rotating basis.

“I wish we could do 10 miles a year,” said Barber, “but, unfortunately, right now, given inflation and cost, it’s less than six miles.”

Barber touted the expertise of Guilderland Emergency Medical Services, which is handling record calls, he said, with 6,878 calls last year and 4,240 hospital transports.

Since the population is aging, Barber said, “It’s only going to get more.”

Barber also praised the parks department and said the town is set to open its 10th park next year, Kaikout Kill Park, which at 28.1 acres is about 65 percent of the former Hiawatha Trails Golf Course on Route 155.

“It’s going to have a muli-use trail system, picnic tables, bird-watching at a pond,” said Barber.

He mentioned other park improvements and said the girls’ softball field at Keenholts Park will have lights for night games. The goal, he said, is to put girls’ softball on par with boys’ baseball.

Barber also highlighted the town’s $4.4 million investment in replacing over 13,000 water meters with meters that have remote monitoring. 

He noted, too, how water use doubles or triples in summer months and spoke of the importance of conservation.

The town is working to restore its wells, rather than relying solely on the Watervliet Reservoir. The 2 million gallons per day from the restored wells would match winter water usage, Barber said, reducing dependency on buying water from Albany or Rotterdam.

“I don’t think any town can be more transparent," Barber said, noting all the documents that are posted on the town’s website

“Not only are we transparent,” he said, “but we also welcome public comment.”

Barber noted the town’s many senior services and praised Mary Ann Kelley, who coordinates those services.

Barber said he gets more calls about Costco than anything else in town. The membership-only warehouse club is expected to open in August, said Barber.

He commended the town’s planning and zoning boards for their review of the project, which was challenged in court several times.

Barber concluded by talking about the importance of preserving history.

He praised Dave Jenkins of the parks department for caring so well for the town’s historic building and thanked Town Historian Mary Ellen Johnson for choosing colors for the repainting of the Schoolcraft House.

Barber said he loved the Cobblestone Schoolhouse, built in Guilderland Center in 1860. This year, its cedar-shake roof will be replaced.

Barber mentioned the success of the town’s first tree-lighting festival and parade at Christmas time and its continuing salute to veterans with its Hometown Heroes banners program at TawasenthaPark.

The town has a committee working on honoring the 250th anniversary of the founding of the nation. Barber displayed a seal featuring wheat shocks and a barn to commemorate the 250th anniversary.

“I don’t think people realize that this area was known for being the bread basket for the armies,” he said.

Describing Guilderland two-and-a-half centuries ago, Barber said, “This is basically akin to a civil war taking place. We have family members that are divided, communities divided … and they’re each trying to support their armies.”