Village officials did not have to look too far for a new building inspector after its previous shared services agreement failed to live up to expectations.
The Altamont Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Dec. 2, approved a shared services agreement with the Village of Voorheesville for building administrator, code enforcement and fire prevention services. The contract was effective the following day and holds an annual cost not to exceed $10,335. The agreement will be reevaluated quarterly.
The Town of Guilderland had a similar shared services contract with the Altamont, but the agreement did not meet expectations, according to village officials. At the same meeting, the board also approved ending its contract with the town effective Tuesday, Dec. 9.
“The arrangement with the town, which has been in place for several years, had what appeared as growing pains originally,” said Altamont Mayor James Gaughan. “It really was not as effective as we would have liked it.
Gaughan said Town Supervisor Ken Runion reached out to him a few months ago in regards to terminating the shared services agreement. Gaughan asked Runion to wait a few months, so he could find a replacement.
Town Planner Jan Weston, who was working with the village, had switched from being a full-time employee to part-time, according to Gaughan. Weston had less time to work with the village after changing her hours.
“The availability of staff at the town for particularly night meetings, although we agreed to pay an overtime rate and reimburse them, was just not a desirable thing,” said Gaughan.
Altamont’s contract with Guilderland cost about the same as the village’s new contract with Voorheesville. Under the approved contract, Voorheesville Codes Enforcement Officer Glenn Hebert will work on site in Altamont for five hours weekly.
“I am excited about it, because it is like having more of a real person all of the time for those functions that we need,” said Gaughan.
He also said a record would be kept of when Hebert is working for Altamont, and if the hours fall below the contract amount, then Voorheesville will only bill for hours actually worked.
Hebert does have experience working with other municipalities while employed at Voorheesville, so he has had a similar role in prior shared services agreements.
Gaughan said the village attempted to find someone to serve as building inspector through the “normal way,” but the only person that applied was not a certified building inspector.
The arrangement with Voorheesville happened somewhat by chance, because Gaughan had called Voorheesville Mayor Robert Conway to see “how it worked at his end.” The inquiry led to the shared services contract being hashed out.
The agreement should also allow Altamont to meet its upcoming tax cap requirements under the state’s rebate program.
“We believe it should be an excellent opportunity to achieve a goal of shared services for us, as well as meet the tax cap,” said Gaughan.
The first year of the rebate program, municipalities and school districts only had to present a budget below its state mandated tax levy limit for homeowners to get a refund for any tax levy increase. The rebate in the second year hinges on implementing a cost-saving initiative through various means, such as a shared services agreement.
“The Village of Altamont has a tax levy amount that has been stable … every year for the last several years,” said Gaughan.
Guilderland though is still helping Altamont save some money, because several years ago the village handed off its property assessment duties to the town.
“They are doing it basically at no cost for us, which is a good thing,” said Gaughan.
