This week, The Spotlight looks back on the first six months of 2011. We will look back at the second half of the year next week.
January
- While some people were resting from New Year’s Eve festivities, the Rotterdam Town Board holds its organizational meeting on Saturday, Jan. 1. At 1 p.m., the town meeting begins and recently elected Democrat Wayne Calder was sworn. The tone of the meeting is set quickly, as Supervisor Frank Del Gallo calls for an executive session to inform Calder about town employee matters on the agenda. Many spirited debates and discussions ensue before the meeting ends four and a half hours later.
- The Scotia Planning Board on Monday, Jan. 3, starts off the year by approving developer Bruce Tanski’s project to demolish the Scotia Diner, formerly Attanasio’s Restaurant, and three houses along Glen Avenue to develop a three-story apartment complex. The Scotia Diner still has yet to be demolished at the close of 2011.
- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reaches a settlement with Niskayuna over the town’s wastewater treatment plant exceeding capacity. Through negotiations, Niskayuna officials reduce the fine to $7,500 and suspend an additional $30,000 fine, which would be reinstated if the town fails to adhere to the order of consent. The residential building moratorium remains in place and prevents any new residential connections to the sewer system if the town didn’t accept the project by Dec. 3, 2010.
- Judge Stephen Swinton Jr. rules on Monday, Jan. 3, in Niskayuna Town Court that John Helm was violating sections 220-4 and 220-10D of the town code by keeping chickens on his property and fines Helm $20 dollars for every day since the notice was issued in early June 2010, which totals almost $4,000. Swinton says if the chickens were removed from the property within 72 hours he would entertain a motion to reduce the fine. The Helms claim they kept the chickens as pets, but town officials contested it was a code violation. John Helm expresses displeasure over the ruling but complies with the judge’s decision and removes the chickens from the property on Tuesday, Jan. 4.
- Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services had received fuel tax free from the Town of Rotterdam, but with taxpayer funding for REMS being cut from the town’s budget, Supervisor Frank Del Gallo tells the not-for-profit organization to look elsewhere to fill its tanks. On Tuesday, Jan. 4, Del Gallo sends Joe Vanderwerker, president of REMS board of directors, an email asking for the fuel key to be immediately returned to the town, according to Frank Salamone, an attorney representing REMS.
- During the Glenville Town Board organizational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 5, Town Supervisor Christopher Koetzle announces the search for resigning Councilman Mark Quinn’s seat is completed. Former Scotia police chief John Pytlovany eagerly steps up to the position. Quinn served on the board for seven years, but he was selected to be the deputy commissioner for elections in Schenectady County.
- After nearly two years of intensive eradication efforts, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation declares the Glen Oaks neighborhood in Glenville free of oak wilt, a devastating tree disease. On Friday, Jan. 7, DEC officials says measures to halt the spread of oak wilt, including tree and stump removal from the affected neighborhood, have been successful, but monitoring will continue in the coming years. The Glenville trees are the only confirmed instances of oak wilt in New York, but DEC officials are not clear on how the disease entered the town.
- The Schenectady County Legislature meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 11, becomes heated over a final resolution to replace two members of the county’s Industrial Development Agency, including Legislator James Buhrmaster, R-Glenville. Buhrmaster, who served on the IDA for seven years, is the sole Republican legislator on the board.
- Residents come out in force at the Wednesday, Jan. 12, Rotterdam Town Board meeting to protest the move of a senior center staffer, who, along with three other town employees, was appointed to a new position by Supervisor Frank Del Gallo. During the board’s agenda meeting on Monday, Jan. 10, Conrad Johnson, president of the Rotterdam CSEA, serves grievances to board members indicating the shift would abruptly change the town employees’ working hours. Del Gallo says the moving of employees falls within his authority.
- The proposed plan for a new Glendale Nursing Home addresses Glenville residents’ opposition to building on open space and town officials’ desire to keep the facility local. Plans are unveiled by the Schenectady County Legislature’s Human Services and Aging Subcommittee on the Glendale Nursing Home Wednesday, Jan. 26, and have the new facility being built in front of the current home, which would eventually be torn down.
February
- Towering stacks of pizza boxes are abundant at Proctors Theater Thursday, Feb. 3, during Pizza Wars. There is a wide sampling of Capital District pizzerias, with almost 30 in attendance, competing for the title of best overall pizza in the area. Participants place more than 1,500 ballots for their favorite cheese, pepperoni and specialty pizzas. An hour and a half before the planned conclusion, event staff barricade the entranceway and turned down any latecomers. 5th and Fifty Pizzeria of Scotia is the winner of “Best Overall Pizza.” The people’s choice winner for “Best Pepperoni Pizza” is captured by 3 Brothers Pizza in Glenville and Pizza Mare & Delicatessen in Colonie grabs both “Best Cheese Pizza” and “Best Specialty Pizza.”
- County Attorney Chris Gardner confirms tax-free fuel was provided to Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services on at least one occasion despite earlier claims to the contrary. The Spotlight filed a Freedom of Information Law asking county officials to first provide copies of all the records pertaining to the sale of fuel to REMS, but the only document provided is an internal memo Gardner wrote to Director of Public Works Joseph Ryan regarding the sale of fuel at county pumps. Since no records on the sale of fuel are given, another FOIL request is filed seeking records of any county fuel provided to or obtained by REMS. The second request yields no additional documentation.
- The Schalmont Board of Education unanimously passes a resolution to close Woestina and Mariaville elementary schools at the end of the school year. Also, all fifth grade students will be moved to middle and high school complex. Closing the two schools is estimated to save $1.2 to $1.4 million to help close a budget gap of around $2.4 million for the 2011-12 school year.
- The Glenville Town Board approves the creation of the town’s Business Sign Replacement Program for 2011. The program uses money appropriated to the Revitalization and Economic Development Investment fund in the 2011 budget to enhance and promote the business community in the town. A total of $35,000 is to be used to provide a 50/50 funding match up to $3,000 to replace one on-site sign per business. The focus of the program is to replace signs that are out of compliance, and funds are available until they are exhausted.
- The New York State Public Service Commission grants National Grid a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need on Thursday, Feb. 17, for the company’s proposed new 115-kilovolt electric transmission line from Spier Falls in Saratoga County to Rotterdam in Schenectady County. The new line is to stretch 33 miles along National Grid’s existing rights-of-way, but 20- to 25-foot-wide land easements will need to be acquired for vegetation management.
- Rotterdam Supervisor Frank Del Gallo sticks to his dismissal of the town’s senior center Project Coordinator Diane Marco after she was reappointed to the position at the beginning of the year. Residents express support for Marco during the Rotterdam Town Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, before the board fails to pass a resolution appointing John DeGeorgio, former director of the town’s parks and recreation program, who retired in 2009.
March
- Niskayuna is the first town to sign on to Open Stage Media’s vision for an enhanced countywide public access system, joining the City of Schenectady. The Niskayuna Town Board votes to allow Supervisor Joe Landry to enter negotiations with Open Stage Media for public television access at the proposed annual fee of $5,000.
- Andrew Kohout is selected to be Scotia’s new public works superintendent after a vacancy was created when the village removed the former superintendent at the beginning of the year after a one-year probationary period. Kohout, a Democrat, leaves his trustee position, which he held for just over two years. Republican Thomas Neals is selected by Democrat Mayor Kris Kastberg to fill the vacancy until the November election.
- Supervisor Frank Del Gallo says he’s determined to make John DeGeorgio the head of Recreation and Senior Programs, but when the resolution fails to pass the Rotterdam Town Board a second time, Del Gallo says, “Whatever way I’ve got to do it, I’m going to do it.” Del Gallo says he will check what the law says pertaining to appointments and “that’s the way it is going to be done.”
- The Glenville Town Board approves the Glenville Police Benevolent Association’s contract on Wednesday, March 16. While the PBA and town officials have clashed previously, both sides are able to reach an understanding on concessions and raises. Changes in the contract are estimated to save the town $37,000 in 2011, which will help offset the cost of raises totaling $70,000. Also, the board has to retroactively distribute 2010 raises, estimated at $49,500.
- Presentations are abundant during the daylong Mohawk Watershed Symposium at Union College in the Olin Center on Friday, March 18, but outside the auditorium there are various posters set up and one addressed studying core samples from Collins Lake in Scotia, taken in 2000, which led to the discovery of a pattern of flooding in the area. Kaitlin Clark and Donald Rodbell from the Geology Department at Union College present the research.
- The U.S. Department of Energy, URS Corporation and CH2M Hill discuss plans to continue cleanup of the KAPL site of radioactive material on Thursday, March 17, at Niskayuna Town Hall, while addressing the leak last year that affected nearby land and the Mohawk River. Many in attendance are wary about moving forward with the removal of materials on the site, despite project officials’ efforts to quell concerns.
- The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium is awarded $25,735 through the Save America’s Treasures grant program to preserve one of Thomas Edison’s earliest recordings and to use modern technology to hear the recording for the first time in many years. The fragile tinfoil recording is believed to be the second oldest recorded voice of an American using Edison’s phonograph.
- The Scotia-Glenville Board of Education holds a public forum on Monday, March 28, allowing the public to address concerns with proposed budget cuts. Several proposed cuts are restored by the school by, including those to the foreign language sixth-grade exploratory program, summer school for grades 6 to 12, and the 1-2-3 Success program serving around 50 students with support services.
- Schenectady County officials announce on Tuesday, March 29, the award of a $330,000 grant from the New York State Department of Transportation to use towards improvements and expansion of the county’s Airport Business Park in Glenville.
April
- The proposal to dissolve the Scotia Police Department is tossed aside Wednesday, April 5, after much public outcry. The Village of Scotia and the Town of Glenville had just begun consolidation talks after Scotia Mayor Kris Kastberg approached town officials, but the Village Board of Trustees on April 5 unanimously chooses to forgo any future talks.
- The Niskayuna Board of Education settles on a 3.95 percent tax levy increase after approving the $77.2 million 2011-12 budget. The proposed budget includes a spending increase of 1 percent, or $740,000, which school officials say was the lowest spending increase in at least 25 years. Out of the 29.5 full-time equivalent positions cut in the budget, teacher cuts account for 2.9 FTE.
- The Schalmont Board of Education on Monday, April 11, approves a proposed budget of $41.8 million, with spending reduced by $550,000 compared to the 2009-10 budget. Staffing cuts are primarily achieved through closing the Mariaville and Woestina elementary schools.
- Civil War Living History Day is held at Mabee Farm Historic Site in Rotterdam Junction, on Saturday, April 16, and brings to life conditions faced during the Civil War. The event is tied to “One County, One Book,” a historical novel about Mary Sutter, a midwife dreaming to become a surgeon who finds the Civil War gives her just the opportunity she needs.
- The Mohonasen Board of Education settles on a $42.9 million 2011-12 budget, which leaves residents with a 2.5 percent tax hike. The approved budget includes 34.5 FTE position cuts.
- The Rotterdam Town Board on Wednesday, April 13, passes a resolution to move Del Gallo’s $13,000 Town Board salary from the town’s general fund to the senior center’s budget to cover the cost of renovations to the center’s kitchen because the town failed to follow through on grant funding promised by Sen. Hugh Farley. The grant funding finally came through in October and Del Gallo’s salary then was designated towards the senior center
- Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, announces Thursday, April 14, she is stepping down to take a position as the deputy commissioner of Tax and Finance for the Office of Real Property Services with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. On Monday morning, April 18, Democrat Judith Dagostino, formerly vice chair of the County Legislature, assumes the role of chairwoman. Scotia Trustee Cathy Gatta is chosen by county Democrats to fill Savage’s seat.
- After 37 years of eyeing road safety improvements along Glenridge Road in East Glenville, the New York State Department of Transportation rolls out an $11.7 million project to finally get the job done. Glenville Supervisor Christopher Koetzle announces on Wednesday, April 20, the state funding was secured.
- The first of two public workshops is held at the South Schenectady Fire District 6 Firehouse in Rotterdam on Tuesday, April 26, to present issues and possible solutions for transportation and land use improvements around the Five Corners intersection in Rotterdam. BFJ Planning, based out of New York City, conducted the study. One proposed solution to improve traffic flow is to build two roundabouts on the east and west sides of the center intersection, but the main problem with the solution is both roundabouts would fall directly on top of operating gas stations.
- The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sends a letter to Niskayuna officials on Monday, April 27, on what revisions are needed to the town’s formal plan for fixing inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. Town officials say they will continue to negotiate with the DEC on their recommendations before a final plan is approved by the state agency.
- Schenectady County and college officials present on Thursday, April 28, the $3.9 million project to build a new music building, which would be prominently featured upon entering the campus grounds. The facility would add much-needed space for students and teachers of the cramped music program with a 12,600-square-foot space to practice, perform and take classes.
May
- The long-awaited decision for the Rotterdam Town Board to choose between Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services and Mohawk Ambulance Service takes another step forward on Monday, May 2, as both agencies give presentations during a special meeting. While not much has changed from past proposals, REMS adds free billing services and says it would give all advanced life support revenue to the town.
- More than 25 people apply for the superintendent opening at Niskayuna Central School District, but the district selects Susan Salvaggio, superintendent of Sodus Central School District. After narrowing down applicants to fill Superintendent Kevin Baughman’s position, Salvaggio is selected by the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 3. The board’s formal appointment is made Thursday, May 12, after negotiating a contract.
- Republican Schenectady County Legislator Robert Farley announces Wednesday, May 4, he won’t seek reelection after having held his District 3 Legislature seat since 1995. He says his decision to not run again is based on personal reasons, and he doesn’t have any immediate plans to seek another elected position.
- Children clutching fishing poles stand alongside their parents and family members at the start of the 19th Annual Indian Kill Open House and Fishing Day at the Indian Kill Nature Preserve in Glenville on Saturday, May 7. Anyone under the age of 15 years old is invited to try to hook the biggest fish in their age category. The atmosphere isn’t overly competitive, however, because most people were just happy to be out with their families.
- The Schenectady County Legislature votes 13-2 in favor of the weighted voting system on Tuesday, May 10, with Republicans Robert Farley and James Buhrmaster casting the dissenting votes. The local law becomes effective the first day of 2012, and is meant to balance and equally represent the four districts after results from the 2010 census.
- After months of volunteer efforts, Rotterdam Supervisor Frank Del Gallo dedicates the town’s new Veteran’s Memorial Park located next to Town Hall on Sunday, May 15. Anthony Troiano, past commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 88, leads the celebration and Congressman Paul Tonko serves as a keynote speaker. Del Gallo put his 2011 Town Board salary of $13,000 toward the project. Also, around $6,000 was collected from 25 business owners to help fund the project, along with several volunteers working on the monument.
- The Rotterdam Town Board chooses the not-for-profit Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services over Mohawk Ambulance Service to provide ambulance service for the town for the next two years. Discussions stretched on for months about which ambulance service provider should be awarded a contract, but the decision during the board’s meeting on Wednesday, May 11, happens swiftly. The service will be up for bid again in two years.
- The Glenville Town Board on Wednesday, May 18, honors Scotia resident Kurt von Maucher for his years of service on the village’s parade committee, which dates back to 1978. Councilman Sid Ramotar also announces that May 25 would be declared Kurt von Maucher Day throughout the town.
- Schenectady County and Niskayuna officials announce on Wednesday, May 18, that a ShopRite will move in to the former Farm Fresh supermarket location. The site has been vacant since 2004, after Farm Fresh closed six months after opening. Grand Union left the site in 2001 when the company went bankrupt. The ShopRite project is estimated to be a $12 million investment.
- In late May, State Supreme Court Justice Vincent Reilly Jr. rules in favor of former Rotterdam Town Board member Gerard Parisi’s lawsuit against the Town Republican Committee endorsements for the2011 election. The decision hinges on the committee not providing proper notice of an April 14 meeting. According to the committee’s by-laws, a meeting to vote for endorsements requires each member to receive a mailed notice five days before the meeting.
June
- The Rotterdam Town Board votes unanimously to begin negotiations on the Grand Union renovation project. The project proposes renovating the existing Grand Union building at 2696 Hamburg St. and transforming it into a new town police and court facility.
- The Safety Village Project, which includes a scaled-down village with buildings and streets, is unveiled to Glenville officials. The project aims to provide a realistic learning experience for safety issues. The facility would be located off Vley Road, in Glenville, near the intersection of Route 5, on an unused piece of land. Glenville officials appear to support the project during a Town Board work session meeting on Wednesday, June 8.
- Schenectady County officials and The Chamber of Schenectady County unveil the county’s “Return the F.A.V.O.R.” discount program to benefit veterans on Tuesday, June 14. Any honorably discharged veteran residing in the county is eligible for the program, which provides veterans with a discount at participating local businesses. The Schenectady County Clerk’s Office starts issuing cards the following month on July 1.
- The ALCO Historical & Technical Society announces on Thursday, June 16, plans for the American Locomotive Company Heritage Museum to be located in Schenectady at 1910 Maxon Road. Artifacts begin entering the 18,000-square-foot museum on June 1.
- A line of people stretch outside Niskayuna Town Hall on Monday, June 20, for ShopRite’s job fair in anticipation of the store moving into the former St. James Square. Groups of people gather into the Town Board Room, which sees around 500 people. There is a mixture of reactions from attendees, with some pleased at the event and others wishing they hadn’t waited in line.
- Glendaal Elementary School students had work for several months creating a film to help quell bullying problems called “How to Unmake a Bully.” There is the fanfare of a red carpet entrance on Friday, June 24, at Scotia-Glenville High School, which is a surprise to the fifth graders and a reward for their hard work.
- The Scotia-Glenville Board of Education unanimously approves a new two-year contract with the district teachers union on Monday, June 27. The contract for the 237 teachers holds a 1 percent salary increase in the 2011-12 school year and no “cost-of-living” salary increase the following school year. The contract also holds an estimated savings of $76,000 from switching employees out of two HMO insurance plans after the salary increases.