There is a problem in Bethlehem, and it grows bigger each and every day.
Some of it cannot even be seen, with the exception of a few aging buildings, as much of it is underground, in the walls, or behind decorated facades. The problem is that Bethlehem has a long list of housekeeping that is quite overdue, and it has no capital project plan in place to replace and upgrade its infrastructure.
The Bethlehem Town Board is hoping to change that.
The 20/20 Advisory Committee suggested the town revamp its infrastructure and prepare for further economic development ventures such as the Vista Technology Park, the Selkirk Yard Industrial District, and a possible new Thruway interchange near Clapper Road.
Public Works Commissioner Josh Cansler gave a presentation on the current status of the town’s Capital Project Planning to the Town Board on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
We organized a committee earlier this year, Cansler told the board about the capital project plan. `It’s a blueprint for the community’s capital expenditures.`
Cansler said the town has gone on too long neglecting some of its structures and infrastructure as was evident with the town-owned home in the Henry Hudson Town Park that is slated to be destroyed.
He told board members Bethlehem needs to coordinate its needs for `five years and beyond,` by creating a plan and then updating it every year by order of importance and immediate need.
`As you can see, there’s a lot of names on this list, and there’s a reason for that,` Cansler said during a PowerPoint presentation on its current needs. `One of the problems we’ve had is we let some of our capital needs creep up on us.`
Cansler said the 1994 Clapper Road water plant was the last major capital improvement in Bethlehem aside from some sewer upgrades, which is a minor cost compared to a water plant.
`There hasn’t been a whole lot going on in that last 15 years,` said Cansler.
The first step was to take inventory of what the town had in its possession and to assess what needed to be done at each structure, according to Cansler. The final result was surprising, he said, when town officials learned `the real problems were on the facility side,` and that Bethlehem owns nearly 100 structures.
`It’s been quite an eye opener,` he said. `We really didn’t know the shape some of the buildings were in.`
Councilwoman Joanne Dawson told Cansler she was pleased with the prospect of a capital project plan.
`I just think the timing of this is excellent,` she said. `I really believe you make better decisions when you’re under some restraint and proceed with caution.`
Councilman Mark Hennessey said with so many other municipalities competing for the same tax dollars as Bethlehem, having a concrete plan is the best plan.
`The only way I think we’re going to get assistance from the government is to plan ahead,` he said.
That is something Supervisor Jack Cunningham has been stumping for, too, he said.
Cunningham attended a series of meetings with federal, state and county leaders and personally presented some Bethlehem projects to Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam; state Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Delmar; Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem; and County Executive Michael Breslin.
He said he also discussed the projects with representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
`We are working on a capital plan and have several projects, which really need federal, state or county funding and assistance, and we are being very proactive,` Cunningham said in a statement. `That’s the only way we are going to get projects on track and completed, particularly during this time of scarce resources at every level of government.`
Some of the projects Cunningham has been pitching are job opportunities at the Vista Technology Park in Slingerlands; development of the Selkirk Yard Industrial District; improving traffic flow along the Route 9W corridor; leveraging low-cost power from the Selkirk Cogeneration plant; and entering into a health consortium project.
`The concerns of the Bethlehem community are my concerns, and I will bring them to Washington as I actively seek funding for our projects and support for our community programs,` Tonko said in a release. `We have to do whatever we can to keep the great quality of life we enjoy here in our Capital Region communities.`
Councilman Sam Messina said a capital project plan is something he has been pushing for some time now.
`This is where the rubber meets the road in terms of good governance,` he said. `I think we should have been here a year and a half ago.`
He asked Cansler what kind of timeline was in place for an actual plan proposal.
`I can’t really give you an exact date; we’re cranking away on that,` he said. `Like I said, this was an eye opener. I wish we were further along.`
Hennessey told Cansler to continue to do his homework before submitting a plan.
`Now is the time to plan, take your time, do it right,` he said. `Now is not the time to spend money.` “