LATHAM and DELMAR – Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey and Bethlehem Town Supervisor David VanLuven each recently delivered their January state of the town address. Crummey, a Republican, and VanLuven, a Democrat, showcased similar accomplishments and priorities, such as infrastructure, open space, snow plowing and public safety, rather than differences.
Any difference lay more in approach. Van Luven, taking issue with those who “say government should do the bare minimum,” said government’s role is to “provide key services and tackle hard challenges.” Crummey described Colonie’s town government as having “boots on the ground” that was responsible for providing residents with sanitary sewer and public safety.
Both supervisors were optimistic about his Town’s strength and future.
Bethlehem Is Strong
During his speech on January 24 at Bethlehem’s Town Hall well attended by elected officials and residents, Van Luven said the state of the town is “strong.” He described Bethlehem as “safe, vibrant and beautiful” and “admired in the Capital Region and beyond.”
Reacting to world events in Israel and Ukraine, VanLuven said he encouraged people to “engage in civil discourse.” He said “we as a community grieve with our neighbors and stand with our friends as an extended support system.”
“Our Town categorically rejects anti-Semitism, Islamaphobia, and hate in all forms,” VanLuven said. “Our town strives to promote greater compassion towards every one of all backgrounds, religions and beliefs.” He called Bethlehem a “caring community where neighbors live together with respect and friendship.”
VanLuven cited the strength of the Town’s business community, identifying several new eateries or expansion of existing ones, as evidence of the community “getting together.” “This is notable because businesses large and small are vital parts of the Bethlehem community and critical drivers of our strong local economy.” He said the Town works hard to support these businesses.
Sustainability
Sustainability was VanLuven’s theme for the Town’s 2023 accomplishments and his vision for the Town’s future. “Climate change is a real and serious challenge even in a comfortable community like ours,” VanLuven said. “Sustainability… is therefore a core operating tenet for our Town government.”
Weaving together open spaces, technology and historic preservation, VanLuven highlighted the expansion of the town’s model compost facility, which in 2023 re-directed 2.2. million cubic feet of yard waste away from landfills and instead turned it into 670,000 cubic feet of compost and wood mulch.
He also re-emphasized protecting open space and farmland as a priority. He spoke about the 625 acres that have been protected over his last six years as supervisor, most recently with the acquisition of the 300+ acre Historic Health Farm, a conservation easement on 66 acres of forest land in Glenmont, and the planned acquisition of a 68 acre property in Selkirk from “two landowners who “want their land to stay undeveloped forever.” 80% of the Selkirk parcel’s cost will be paid for by a $195,000 community forest grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
On a smaller scale, a solar powered parking lot light was installed in Town Hall and the Town received delivery of its seventh electric vehicle. The town continues to make park improvements, including adding trails to the Onesquethaw Creek.
VanLuven also said that upcoming zoning code revisions propelled by the 2022 Bethlehem Forward Comprehensive Plan update, will “reflect this vision” of how to support growth and make the town “stronger and more sustainable in the future.”
Key elements of the zoning code updates, that continue to be worked on, include creating incentives for developing a greater variety of housing options, such as accessory apartments, two-family houses and multi-family buildings to provide housing options for a wider range of income levels, opening up commercial areas to mixed use, and focusing new residential development in areas already served with water and sewer infrastructure.
VanLuven also spoke about road safety, as a major component of the updated Comprehensive Plan. Apart from the Bethlehem Safe Streets education campaign to get drivers to slow down, he referred to sidewalk improvements, a Cherry Avenue multi-use path, connecting Kenwood Avenue with the rail trail and the Slingerlands commercial district. He also hopes ground will be broken in 2024 on a multi-use trail along Blessing Road in North Bethlehem as part of both road safety and sustainability.
Town Services
VanLuven spent a substantial part of his speech, as he has in the past, recounting all the services provided by the Town to its residents.
He addressed complaints he has heard about high Bethlehem property taxes, stating that he wanted to talk about “how little you pay for the great services you receive from the Town.”
The supervisor said the Town work force, which now stands at 225 employees, has decreased by 16 people since 2009. He exhorted residents to remember the Town actually receives only 12% of every property tax dollar paid. In 2024, 67% of property tax dollars goes to the Bethlehem Central School District, 4% to the fire district, 4% to the Library, and 13% to Albany County, leaving Bethlehem with only 12 cents for every dollar paid.
VanLuven said the Highway Department built and rebuilt 11, 700 feet of sidewalks, paved 10 miles of roads, plowed 118 miles of roads in several snowstorms, which has to be plowed in both directions totaling 360 miles with each pass. Returning to an analogy he has used before, he said the plowing is the equivalent of plowing from Delmar to Washington, D.C. He said that Bethlehem, unlike many municipalities, also clears its 45 miles of sidewalks.
In 2023, the Town’s Department of Public Works delivered 1.5 billion gallons of clean water to almost 12,000 homes and businesses through 229 miles of pipes. It also processed 1.7 billion gallons of sewage . He described the sewer plant’s effluent as “cleaner than the Hudson River it flowed into.”
The Parks and Recreation department hosted over 34,000 pool visitors and provided 650 children with swimming lessons. 14 concerts and performances were staged at Town parks.
The Town’s Senior Services department also got a shout out for its operation of the Town’s food pantry that in 2023 provided almost 14,000 meals and other necessities to families in need and for its volunteers who drove more than 89,000 miles taking residents to doctors’ visits, hair appointments and on other errands.
VanLuven pivoted to law enforcement and emergency services, advising that the police department patrolled 300,000 miles and answered 44,000 calls for service. Three new police officers will begin working in 2024 to replace retiring members.
VanLuven made a point of calling out the police officers as “our community members” and “neighbors” whose “children are in classrooms beside our own.” He spoke about his eight years as supervisor witnessing the “professionalism and compassion” of Bethlehem’s police officers, coupling that with the “community’s ongoing commitment to greater justice, equity and fairness…not just in words, but in actions.” He reported that starting last year, police officers’ work is recorded with both body and car cameras as an example of that commitment.”
He also said there are “three core reasons that our Police Department is so good”, including selectivity at hiring, rigorous training at hiring and during employment, and the culture of “service, respect and safety” maintained by police leadership.
The town’s court handled over 5,000 new traffic and criminal cases.
Delmar-Bethlehem EMS responded to over 4, 400 calls and transported more than 1,900 people to hospitals. VanLuven noted that these services were executed using over 58 volunteers, who logged over 15,000 hours of volunteer service.
VanLuven Concludes
He concluded that Bethlehem is “a wonderful community with good neighbors, valued businesses and natural beauty.” He encouraged everyone to “find hope in building a better Bethlehem by getting out to gatherings like this for real interactions with real neighbors and to be reminded again and again, how truly fortunate we are to call Bethlehem home.”
Colonie Supervisor Says 2023 Is Mission Accomplished
Crummey delivered his state of the town address as the keynote speaker before the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and Colonie Chamber of Commerce breakfast held on January 18 at the Century House in Latham.
Quoting from a 19th century historian, Crummey recounted that Arnold Toynbee once said that some historians hold incorrectly that history is just one damn thing after another, but actually history is built as a response to challenges. “Here in Colonie, during my first term as supervisor, we have met those challenges in the past two years,” he said. Crummey cited “tremendous strides” in public safety, infrastructure, the Town’s park system and enhancement of services.
Emergency and Law Enforcement Do Their Job
Crummey turned first to the Town’s police department, stating that the Colonie police department continues “to serve with distinction” and received more than 75,000 calls in 2023, a 4.7% increase over the prior year. Crummy noted the department uses the most up to date “policing technologies and techniques available.” As part of that effort, in 2023 Colonie, like Bethlehem, implemented a department wide body camera program, which he said provides for “transparency”, but Crummey focused on the “protection” body cameras provide police officers.
He also cited the adoption of a “Handle With Care” protocol, used to respond to persons with mental health challenges and intended to provide Colonie police the “best information as how to respond” in those situations.
Crummey, like VanLuven, also recognized the Town’s EMS workers, who received more than 14,000 calls in 2023, an increase of 1.5% over 2022. He referred to a grant the Town received to reduce death on Town roadways.
Crummey also recognized the Town’s volunteer fire department. “I can’t think of a higher order of volunteer service,” he said. To recognize that service, the Town adopted a local law giving volunteer fire fighters a partial property tax exemption of 10% to provide “further incentive for our volunteers.”
Infrastructure Meets Town Needs,But Improvements To Be Made
Town roads were at the top of Crummey’s list of accomplishments for 2023. He said in his first year as supervisor, the Town delivered the “largest road restoration program” in the Town’s history. In year 1 of Crummey’s tenure, 89 roads constituting 22 miles were restored and in year 2, 128 roads, constituting 26 miles, were also restored. Crummey promised to be “equally aggressive” in 2024.
Water was also on Crummey’s mind. The Town has capacity to deliver 30,000,000 gallons of water/day, far above its daily average usage of 10,000,000. He warned that Town water travels through 440 miles of underground pipes of which 2/3 are made of cast iron and can easily break under pressure because it does not flex. He said the Town will “move forward” on pipe replacement in the most challenged spots even in face of increased piping material expenses.
He also touted that notwithstanding increasing energy costs, the Town’s water pumps deliver 1,000 gallons of potable water to the faucets of the Town’s residents for only $4.75.
Calling a sanitary sewer service the “hallmark of a modern civilization”, Crummey reported that the Town had treated more than 4.5 million gallons of sewage daily.
Water Frontage, Parks and Open Space All Prioritized
Crummey focused on the Town’s shoreline and promised restoring the town’s water frontage as a 2024 priority. He advised that shoreline dredging will allow the Town to re-open boat access to the Mohawk River and that a $48,000 grant award was received that enabled the Town to remove 65 tons of water chestnuts from the Mohawk River Park’s shores. He also advised that the park entrance fee has been cancelled for Town residents.
Crummey said the Town’s parks also saw improvements. A master plan for the Town’s 36 hole golf course is on view on the Town’s website and ready for implementation. New pickleball and basketball courts were built at Kiwanis Park and outdoor skating was brought back after a 20 year hiatus to the pocket parks, although Crummey accused mother nature of being a “difficult partner.”
Open spaces also got some attention from Crummey who reported the addition of 127 acres of open space inventory along Sand Creek Road. He said that acreage would be used to provide an accessible network of hiking trails.
A Senior Center Is Needed
Crummey addressed that Colonie has no senior center. He said a Town of Colonie’s size should have a senior center, particularly given that nearly 20% of the Town’s population, “including me”, is 65 years or older. He said he wants “our senior citizens staying in Colonie to live, work and play. Let’s continue to provide seniors reasons for wanting to live in Colonie.”
Technology is the Key
Saying he has told all department heads that Colonie is “a customer focused government”, Crummey has directed that all applicants for permits and other requests should know the status of those items. To that end, on-line processes will be available so applicants know the status of any application and get comments in “real time.”
He also said he has improved cell service throughout the Town by signing a new local law that allows cell node installation. 10 cell node installations sites have been permitted for Verizon and 4 are already in use. “The dead zone between Menands Road and the Albany City line has now been eliminated,” Crummey said.
Green Is Also A Thing
Crummey mentioned that the Town’s green initiative was supported by the Town having designated 41 acres to be preserved and maintained by the Albany Pine Bush Commission. He also said the 4,000 Town streetlights were replaced with LED fixtures, that is expected to use 50% less electricity.
Town Is A Financial Success Story
Crummey focused on the Town’s current strength pointing to recent upgrading of its bonds by two bond rating services to a point Crummey characterized as “high grade investment quality for the first time in two decades.”
“I am pleased our Town has been recognized for our financial management and that those two pre-eminent bond rating agencies have the faith and confidence in our administration,” Crummey said. “I believe that our conservative approach to the Town budget and implementation of the Town’s first ever fund balance policy is proof we have prepared for a strong financial future.” Under the fund balance policy, the Town has now set aside two reserve funds — a capital reserve and a park fund.
Crummey Concludes
Crummey concluded his address by looking forward to his next four years “as I set out on the first ever four year term as Colonie Town supervisor.” He ended, “We are continuing to make Colonie a best place to live, work, and play.”
This story was featured on page 1 of the January 31st , 2024 print edition of the Spotlight
