The Niskayuna Town Board on Tuesday, May 1, unanimously approved four bond packages, including various repairs, purchases and upgrades totaling $913,000.
The four bonding proposals passed uncontested when compared to the indoor recreation center debate, which was again front and center at the Tuesday meeting.
First, the town approved bonding $80,000 for the replacement and renovation of a portion of the Town Hall roof. Town Board members have previously said a compromised portion of the roof is causing damage to the building.
Infrastructure improvements were approved in the amount of $500,000 in bonds for the reconstruction and resurfacing of town roads, which includes drainage, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, landscaping, grading and right-of-way improvements.
The board also approved $50,000 in bonds to pay for improvements to the town’s transfer station.
All three of the bond packages could each be subject to a permissive referendum if a petition were brought to the town.
Not subject to a referendum challenge are $283,000 in bonds approved to purchase various town vehicles and equipment. The bond package includes $62,000 to purchase police vehicles, $60,000 to purchase a new bus for seniors, $70,000 to purchase equipment and vehicles for the Highway Department and $91,000 for police to purchase recording and radio equipment and a telephone system.
Councilwoman Julie McDonnell said the police department purchases and a new senior bus are needed expenses for the town.
Councilwoman Liz Orzel Kasper asked why the bonding proposed for the transfer station was increased by $25,000 to $50,000.
Councilwoman Denise Murphy McGraw said for six to eight weeks there has been a Recycling and Transfer Center Committee meeting weekly, with it switching to monthly meetings now. McGraw said “a number of things” were discussed for improvements and upgrades to the facility.
She also said the town is looking to call it a “recycling center” instead of a transfer station, because people seemed to be confused on what the building is for.
“We would like to increase the number of people in town that use the transfer station and recycling center, right now there are about 400 people using it,” McGraw said. “We would like to see that number triple.”
She said the town is looking to have a recycling center that would rival Saratoga County’s, which she called the “Taj Mahal” of recycling centers.
Proposed bonding totaling around $2 million for a new water and sewer garage to replace an aging facility will come before the board at a later meeting.
The board did call for three public hearings relating to the purchase of an additional emergency truck for the Water and Sewer Department not to exceed $79,000. The cost for the vehicle is divided between Consolidated Water District 1, Sewer District 1 and Sewer District 6, which accounts for the three public hearings.
The public hearings will be held at the Thursday, May 17, Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.