What happened at the Rod and Gun Club will never happen again. At least it should not ever happen again as long as Town of Colonie officials abide by a new spoils policy that was put in place by the Town Board tonight (Thursday, Nov. 6).
Nearly six months after New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a report that stated the previous administration in the Town of Colonie acted against the best interest of taxpayers in the town when they permitted spoils to be deposited and used on a paving job at the private West Albany Rod and Gun Club, town officials are taking measures to ensure that taxpayers’ best interests are always top priority by enacting a spoils policy.
Spoils are defined in the comptroller’s report as a composite material of dirt, tree bark and debris. The policy, that was passed after a 7 to 0 vote by the Town Board, affirms that when the town does have excess spoils, they must be dumped at a designated town dumping spot. Should a dumping spot not be available, the spoils can be distributed to private landowners at no charge to the landowner after superiors in several town departments, including the Department of Public Works, agree, or, as the policy states, so long as such disposal is found to be in the public interest of the town.
Those landowners would need to complete a request for spoil materials.
For more on this story, check back at www.spotlightnews.com, or read the Wednesday, Nov. 12 print edition of Colonie Spotlight.
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