Lowe’s gets the go-ahead New store to be built across from Wal-Mart BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
A new Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse will be coming to town next fall. The Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved a plan by the retailer to construct a 171,000-square-foot store on a 19.6-acre parcel off Freemans Bridge Road located across Dutch Meadow Lane from Wal-Mart. “We’re hoping to get started on construction this fall with a tentative opening basically this time next year,” said Rob Jess, senior site development manager for the company. “We think it’s a very strong market and a great place for us to locate a store.” The store would employ about 175 people, Jess said, with an estimated 70 percent of those being full-time workers. The commission also gave approval for a 12,000-square-foot building on the adjacent lot to house either a restaurant or retail use. Jess said afterward that they did not have any tenant at this point. The commission had delayed approval of the project last month to have more time review it. Little had changed except for some additional landscaping, including trees planted along Freemans Bridge Road. The board engaged in little discussion on the plans, but Chairman Michael Carr spent about 15 minutes reading the formal motions for approval with numerous conditions. These included requiring Lowe’s to construct protective barriers to prevent the spread of the contaminant perchloroethylene (PCE), a solvent; prohibiting them from using contaminated soil for backfilling; and requiring them to take contaminated soil off site. Last November, the Department of Environmental Conservation discovered high levels of PCE in six of seven test wells at the site, apparently from prior industrial use there. Lowe’s is not going to construct a road connecting Freemans Bridge Road and Sunnyside Road as was originally envisioned, because a traffic study said it was not necessary. Instead, they are going to widen a section of Freemans Bridge Road from the new store to Maple Avenue. However, the developer will be responsible for traffic upgrades. Phase one includes installing an intersection with traffic light in front of the store. Phase two is widening Freemans Bridge Road south of that intersection to the intersection of Maple Avenue and adding a left-turn lane. Ideally, the town would like both phase one and two done at the same time. However, the town has to obtain some property before a future phase of traffic improvements along Freemans Bridge Road can be implemented. If the second phase cannot be done concurrently, Lowe’s will place a to-bedetermined amount of funds in an escrow account for later work. Jess said he appreciated the time the board has put into the application. “I know we spent many nights and meetings going over this project,” he said. Lowe’s has more than 1,375 stores in 49 states and plans to open another 150 to 160 this year. Its closest location is in Niskayuna at Mohawk Commons. It employs 210,000 people throughout the company.
SCOTIA Village ratifies sewer agreement with Sch’dy BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
The village Board of Trustees ratified a new sewer agreement with Schenectady Wednesday that sharply increases the rates charged to the village, but phases the increase over three years. Trustee Armon Benny said the village will pay 25 percent of the increased rate in the first year of the new agreement, 50 percent in the second year, and the full rate by the third year. He could not determine exactly how much the village would pay because he said it would depend on the amount of sewage flow. In 2006, the village’s sewage bill was about $750,000. Benny said he appreciated that Schenectady officials agreed to phase in the increase in acknowledgement of the village’s financial situation. “We’ll really be able to invest in our system and that’s a testament of their understanding and recognition of our situation,” he said. Benny said the new contract will save the village $210,000 in the first year and $165,000 in the second year over what the cost would have been if the new rate had been effective immediately. The town is hoping to use some of this savings for infrastructure upgrades including replacing an emergency backup generator at its pump station. Mayor Kris Kastberg said the current generator is obsolete and the town cannot get parts for it. If the town had a major power outage, the town could face the possibility of sewage backing up into people’s houses. It would cost about $56,000 to replace the generator, Kastberg said. Benny said the town should hold off on purchasing the new generator just for a few weeks to see if there is any grant funding. He said after the meeting that the town’s plan is to upgrade its infrastructure to prevent groundwater from infiltrating into the sewer pipes. In the long run, this will reduce the town’s flow and save money. WOOD FURNACES ning outdoor wood-burning furnaces. “There’s pretty good documentation that these woodburning furnaces put off some pretty noxious fumes because of the low temperatures they burn at,” Kastberg said. The ordinance would impose a $250 fine on anyone having these furnaces and would require them to remove them. Also, the board introduced a new ordinance that would require backflow prevention valves on certain commercial water customers. Kastberg said this is to prevent a situation where if there were a big drop in water pressure, it would create a siphon effect that would put pollutants back into the drinking water. Kastberg added that the county is mandating that local communities have these ordinances. Public hearings on both ordinances will be held at the board’s Nov. 14 meeting.
WOOD FURNACES ning outdoor wood-burning furnaces. “There’s pretty good documentation that these woodburning furnaces put off some pretty noxious fumes because of the low temperatures they burn at,” Kastberg said. The ordinance would impose a $250 fine on anyone having these furnaces and would require them to remove them.
I didn't realize Al Gore was in town. Seems like some local Global Warming legislation. Can't have you clear out the old dead trees so new ones can be grown.
“There’s pretty good documentation that these woodburning furnaces put off some pretty noxious fumes because of the low temperatures they burn at,” Kastberg said. The ordinance would impose a $250 fine on anyone having these furnaces and would require them to remove them.
What is this guy nuts? So here are some people trying to save on their heating costs by probably cutting down their own trees for fuel, and the GOVERNMENT says 'no'. I told ya's all before, take a selected group of people's rights away, and yours will be next. Remember....BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble by burning wood you don't have to pay the tax on heating oil and natural gas so the city/county loses money so they pass a law making it illegal to burn wood because of air pollution. The businesses that sell oil and propane also influence the law makers and contribute money to their campaigns to protect their business interests.
Sorry, most people don't even have pencils anymore...and even if you find one, you won't find lead in it, since this has been replaced by graphite.
And since we now have to use pens, I don't know if I have a pencil, or a sharpener, that I could let you borrow, but I don't know that I could considering what you're thinking of doing, I'd be charged with being an accomplice, or worse yet.
GLENVILLE Public can comment on park development BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.
Few people commented on a recent public hearing on a plan to redevelop the Scotia-Glenville Industrial Park, but there is still time for them to submit their thoughts. A handful of residents spoke out at an Oct. 3 hearing on the proposal to raze some existing World War II-era buildings at the 310-acre parcel on Route 5 and construct more than 1.3 million square feet of new buildings. There would be a mix of buildings proposed including buildings of from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet targeted for office use; 30,000 to 80,000-square foot buildings for office and research and development uses; and 100,000-440,000-square-foot building that could be used for industrial and warehouse use. Comments on the draft generic environmental impact statement can be submitted to the town supervisor’s office or directly to Clough Harbour & Associates through 5 p.m. on Oct. 22. Neil Turner of 1965 Amsterdam Road admitted that some of the plan is “blue sky,” but he hoped to see the zoning changes implemented. “I think it could be done. Master plans that the town has generated have sort of (been) a mixed bag as far as results so far,” he said. Yvonne Matthews of 1675 Amsterdam Road expressed concern about industrial uses so close to a residential area. She hears the existing operations at the plant including idling trucks at all hours of the day. “We want to have our quiet enjoyment of our property,” she said. Matthews added that she wondered who would be enticed to come into the industrial park, especially because of the way it looks now. “What’s the incentive of them to put thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in a ‘burb?” she said. Henri Plant of 1541 Amsterdam Road wanted to know who would control the property that will be turned over to the federal government and who would enforce the rules as far as aesthetic design. Supervisor Frank Quinn said it would either be managed by the county, town or both. Industries that could be targeted to come to the park include truck transportation, warehousing and storage. wood products manufacturing, plastics and rubber manufacturing, nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, telecommunications, professional and technical services and waste management and remediation, according to a report prepared by consultants Clough Harbour. The report also lists the site’s advantages as being located less than a mile from Interstate 890 and a Guilford Transportation System rail line. Consultant Steve Wilson of Clough Harbour told the Town Board last week that the plan also includes a new road that would provide a direct connection from Route 147 near the high school. The new road would improve traffic circulation inside the park, especially for trucks. Copies of the report are available on the town’s website and can also be checked out at town hall.
GLENVILLE Town may eliminate 6 positions Officials hoping to reduce projected tax increase BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net
The Town Board is looking to cut roughly the equivalent of six full-time employees from its payroll of about 113 persons, as it tries to reduce a projected budget and tax increase. Supervisor Frank Quinn said the town is looking to reduce the departmental funding requests. During two budget work sessions, board members reduced the bottom lines of various departments, but did not give specific places to cut. “The intent of the board was to reduce the force, have a hiring freeze and reduce overtime,” Quinn said. Quinn said that the board has reduced the initial appropriations requests from departments from $12.4 million to $10.8 million. The total projected budget is $17.2 million, compared with the current budget of $16.7 million. The board also agreed to use more of the fund balance, or surplus account. Originally, board members were only going to draw $200,000 from the roughly $1.2 million account. The revised preliminary budget will take $500,000. Also, the town has adjusted the amount of revenue it projects to receive through sales taxes, mortgage taxes and other fines and fees from $4.3 million to $4.8 million. Initially that amount was held down due to the effects of a slower real estate market. The new budget projection requires $5.4 million to be raised in taxes, compared with $7.9 million estimated when the initial budget requests were compiled. All of these changes reduce the estimated tax increase from 68 percent to 15 percent, Quinn is seeking to reduce that further to 3 percent. Board member Mark Quinn, a Republican, criticized the Democratic supervisor for initially talking about the 68 percent tax increase figure, which he said was “reckless and unnecessary.” He also said the whole board should have had the opportunity to meet with every department head to look for potential ways to save money. The board voted 3-2 to adopt the preliminary budget and set a public hearing for Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Mark Quinn and board member Valerie DiGiandomenico voted against the measure. Supervisor Quinn, Deputy Supervisor Robert Bailey and Edward Rosenberg, Democrats, voted in favor. “Seventy-plus percent of our budget is staff and benefits for those staff. You either raise taxes or cut back on some of that staff. It’s not something any of us want to do. We really tried before we got to that point,” Rosenberg said. Mark Quinn and DiGiandomenico wanted to see more of the surplus account tapped.
See that? ANOTHER local municipality that is trying to give a CUT in taxes this year...and the County wants a 10% (9.7 might as well be 10) INCREASE??? Looking for every way to CUT???
Merge town, village police units, then build headquarters
I was delighted to see the Oct. 10 Gazette article concerning the positive nature of the ongoing talks about Scotia and Glenville collaborating on the idea of a new police station to be shared by both departments. This, however, will do nothing to ease the taxpayer’s burden, nor will it contribute much to improved community safety. If the town and village board members have their heads and hats on straight, they will only approve the construction of this state-of-the-art facility if the two existing police departments give up their turf issues and agree to merge as a single police department. It matters not what the new police department is named, but reducing the current redundant administrative and leadership costs to taxpayers would be a welcome relief. There is no reason for any patrolman to be out of a job; there’s enough work to go around — the chiefs, assistant chiefs, ancillary personnel and the unions can duke it out or contemplate which of them are ready to retire. BLANCHE FISCHER Glenville
GLENVILLE Union: Department understaffed Town holding off on filling police officer vacancy BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net
The town police union says the department is inadequately staffed and the situation will get worse as the Town Board is not filling a vacant patrolman’s position, citing fiscal concerns. Sgt. Stephen Janik, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said the department had 26 offi cers a few years ago but this year it is down to 22 officers. This is for a town that has 29,000 people and 51 square miles. “We’re the smallest police department and we’re the least paid,” he said. The Town Board last week tabled resolutions to hire a replacement for a vacant officer position and to allow the chief to promote someone to police sergeant. Town Supervisor Frank Quinn said the board is holding off on hiring anybody at this time because of its ongoing fiscal issues as it tries to reduce its 2008 budget. “If we don’t hire them now, it leaves money in the budget for ‘07. Obviously, it will increase the fund balance at the end of the year,” he said. Also, he said the board does not want to be in the position of having to hire anybody and then lay them off at the end of the year. He acknowledged that the union is concerned about staffing. “We’re also concerned about all the taxpayers in the town of Glenville that have to foot the bill. We’ve got to balance the needs and values of everybody — not just our staff,” he said. Janik said the town has a twoman minimum staffing level, which essentially means that an officer would be responsible for about 25 square miles. “That’s saying a police officer is responsible for a town the size of Clifton Park,” he said. “Does that make a lot of sense?” Last year, the union filed a grievance, claiming the town dragged its feet on hiring after their staffi ng level dropped from 26 to a low of 19. Janik said the PBA is considering filing another grievance against the town. The town and the union have had issues in the last few years. The union has been working without a contract since January 2006 and last month they filed for arbitration. Janik said the reason for the stalemate is that the town through its labor attorney was asking for about 48 concessions including health care costs, sick leave and compensatory time. One of the major sticking points is that the current contract states that for anyone in the union hired after 1990, upon retiring from the force they will not receive health care benefits until they turn 55. The town will only pay 50 percent of a family plan. This is effective only until age 62, when people qualify for Medicare. The union wanted this out of the contract. Those hired before 1990 get full health insurance benefits for the rest of their lives. Janik said in the surrounding police forces of Schenectady, Albany, Troy, Niskayuna and Rensselaer all receive health care through retirement and there is no age restriction. “We don’t feel that it’s fair,” he said. He said the union has not been playing “dirty politics” and had offered to increase its health care contribution from 10 percent to 15 percent or 20 percent, depending on an employee’s length of service, drop the prescription drug reimbursement, and put a cap on accrued sick leave. However, the town rejected these. Police Chief Michael Ranalli said until the Town Board finishes the budget, he does not know how the department will be affected. He said he can understand the board not wanting to add positions, but it could potentially affect ongoing initiatives. One initiative that could be lost is having a sergeant supervising the communications unit, which dispatches for eight fire departments and two police departments. “It’s going to force me to make some decisions on how to realign the existing supervisors,” he said. He said he is not sure how the current staffing stacks up against other departments of similar size. “Looking at the national average, we believe it is low,” he said. He added that he has not seen any indication that the ongoing union issues are affecting job performance. “So far, the people here have reacted professionally. They’re still coming in and doing their jobs.”
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