I think that more of us are going to have to fight with (that being on the side of) Aaron Mair and Shawn Schultz. A few times, Rotterdam has won that local contest for the best drinking water in Schenectady County. Be sad to go from the best drinking water to somewhere in the ballpark of having NO drinking water, except trucking it in, wouldn't you say?
One has to almost believe that with all of the decades of the aquifer going unchecked, and our water supply still pristine, there shouldn't be too much of a panic now! Just keep it in check from here on.
It's exactly that type of logic that is used to approve project after project. It's flawed logic. We've been lucky, that's all. And eventually, there will be an adverse impact that could've been prevented but wasn't. The response will likely be "oops..." Who'll be accountable then?
If you've ever lived in an area where water costs real money (I have), it's easy to take what we have for granted. When it's been compromised, concern will be too late.
Don't worry Michael, when our drinking water becomes contaminated the town will just do a study then form a water district and have the residents pay for getting water any way they can.
There will ALWAYS be an 'oops' when man does anything. Perfection doesn't exist. Not now...not ever!
History has proven that the almighty dollar and power and greed has won out. There has always been 'stuff' over our great aquifer. And the good people of this town has fought their damnedest to protect it. And as you drive down Campbell Road, you can see that all of the hard work was done in vain. All of the town meetings, all of the editorials, the media coverage and yet the developments just keep rising.
And let us not forget that Mr. Gillen, the guy who runs the metroplex, encouraged the development of that area where Lone Pine is being built. He calls it the so called 'entrance to Rotterdam'. Along with 25 and 25A. He wanted the areas cleaned up and looking presentable and eye appealing. And let us not also forget that Mr. Gillen is a commissioner on the watershed committee.
So when and if the aquifer becomes and endangered species, let's not just hold the developers accountable, let us also hold Mr. Gillen responsible since he initially put the push on for the development of that area. Let everyone start writing letters to him!!!!!!
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
ROTTERDAM Town, county want vacant property Officials oppose development of plot BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
For years, the rotting Dutch Colonial home by the Great Flats Nature Preserve entrance has stood vacant, a reminder of two unhappy events in recent local history. Town officials evicted an elderly couple from the West Campbell Road home after declaring it uninhabitable in 2000. Four years later, the building was scorched during several arson fires touched off by a former Schonowee volunteer firefighter. Now, both town and county officials are maneuvering to acquire the blighted Kriunas property so it can be protected from future development. The property is located over a sensitive aquifer recharge zone and is facing foreclosure later this year. Rotterdam Supervisor Steve Tommasone said, “It is my hope that in the ensuing months, we’ll be able to get that property for the nature preserve trail. That property assuredly should not be developed.” County officials are not convinced of the town’s intentions to preserve the land and may hold onto the property themselves. County Attorney Chris Gardner offered the town’s failed 2006 plan to develop a recreation center near the nature trail as evidence the town is not serious about preserving land over the aquifer. “We probably want the county to control its destiny,” he said, “[Rotterdam doesn’t] seem to have a good track record with in environmental protection.” Besides the two-story house, the 0.6-acre property has a ranch house a short distance away from the Campbell Road exit eastbound of Interstate 890. Both houses are open to the elements and have deteriorated. The homes were relocated from Schemerhorn Road onto property owned by Edmund and Josephine Kriunas when the state Department of Transportation built I-890 during the 1970s. The couple lived in relative seclusion for decades, until paramedics tending to Edmund Kriunas discovered the refuse-choked home in July 2000. The Rotterdam Town Board ordered the property cleaned instead of demolishing the buildings. But the Kriunases died, leaving no heirs and two untended buildings. The property made news again in March 2004, when former fi refi ghter James Devine was charged with starting a fire in the house, seriously damaging a rear entrance. Devine was eventually sentenced to serve three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to arson. County records indicate the land still belongs to the Kriunases and tax bills are still sent to the address. No taxes have been paid since 2003. Despite having two uninhabitable structures located near a major highway and high-tension power lines, the property was assessed at $125,000 during the town revaluation last year. Town records updated during the revaluation list only a two-family home on the property. County officials recently investigated the structures after receiving a report of old paint cans and chemicals remaining on the property. However, county groundwater planner Jason Pelton said any toxic substances on the property are contained and located over concrete. “Fortunately, a lot of them are in the basement and fairly stable,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to do anything about it.” Regardless of which governing body assumes control of the property, Tommasone said the two dilapidated structures are a safety liability and must be demolished immediately. He said the town will immediately demand that the property is cleared by whoever takes control of the deed. “Those properties have been an attractive nuisance for kids in the area,” he said. “Someone is going to be injured there.” A first floor room at 146 West Campbell Ave. in Rotterdam is shown on Feb. 9. PETER R. BARBER/ GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER
County officials are not convinced of the town’s intentions to preserve the land and may hold onto the property themselves. County Attorney Chris Gardner offered the town’s failed 2006 plan to develop a recreation center near the nature trail as evidence the town is not serious about preserving land over the aquifer. “We probably want the county to control its destiny,” he said, “[Rotterdam doesn’t] seem to have a good track record with in environmental protection.”
I am shocked that no one has commented on 'this comment'!!!!
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
Okay so I'll bite! We (Rotterdam) don't even have a voice on the county legislature. They don't even listen nor give our representatives a chance to talk. And for that we should now want the 'county' to purchase property in a town that they give no voice to? I DON'T THINK SO!!
A fews years back the county legislatures, Judy Dagostino to be exact, set aside $500,000 for a park in Rotterdam. Where is it? THEY will choose where and how to spend it.
And Mr. Gardner doesn't think we will use it approrietly? Well what about that proposed littleleage park land that most new was wet lands that they paid way too much money for. OUR MONEY!!
They need to stop their 'partisan political governing'. It is 'we the people' that they are serving and should be listening to. Let US make the choice.
Quoted Text
“We probably want the county to control its destiny,” he said, “[Rotterdam doesn’t] seem to have a good track record with in environmental protection.”
I take offense to this statement. Did they forget that it was their (democratic party), that developed Campbell Road? Did they forget that it was Mr.'metroplex' Gillen who pushed to have the old main florist area developed? GIVE ME A BREAK!!
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
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Bill aims to protect water supplies Law would boost fines, penalties BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Sen. Hugh Farley still remembers a late-night phone call he placed to then Gov. Hugh Carey during the late 1970s to thwart a mining project located directly over a sensitive area of the Great Flats Aquifer. Farley was in his first term in the Legislature when he urged the governor to take action against the mining operation. The company was apparently undeterred by the paltry $200-p e r - v i o l a t i o n fine they faced for potentially polluting Schenectady County’s water source, recalled Farley, RNiskayuna. “For some companies unfortunately, they consider it a cost of doing business,” he said Thursday of the fine, which has remained unchanged since 1885. This week, the state Senate unanimously passed a bill aimed at toughening penalties for those who violate public health laws regarding drinking water supplies. Under the legislation, violators could face fines of up to $1,000 per day and be required to pay reparations for any damages. Particularly egregious offenders could draw a year in prison, according to the law. The state Assembly will now consider an identical bill sponsored by Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, who took up the legislation originally proposed last year by Paul Tonko before Tonko left the Legislature to head the New York state Energy Research and Development Authority. Kavanagh said the bill is now being discussed in the Assembly’s Health Committee. “We recognize there is an important need to strengthen penalties on those people whose activities threaten the water system,” he said. The bill was proposed after Rotterdam and Schenectady County officials voiced criticism over the weak penalties specified in the existing law. At the time, both the town and county were aggressively prodding a landowner to clean up an illegal junkyard off Route 5S in Pattersonville. Members of the Schenectady County Intermunicipal Watershed Board feared that Michael Marotta’s collection of old construction equipment and rusting vehicles stored over a sensitive aquifer recharge zone could one day contaminate the county’s water supply. Marotta was eventually fi ned $2,000 under the county’s public health law — the maximum. Rotterdam Supervisor Steve Tommasone was pleased to learn Farely’s legislation was advancing. The Town Board unanimously passed a resolution in August supporting the legislation, which has received broad bipartisan support throughout the county. “We’re all on board to see something through here that will obviously affect all of us in New York state,” he said. County legislators also passed a resolution supporting the bill this week. Legislator Judith Dagostino, D-Rotterdam, said those who threaten the county’s good water supply should face the stiffest of penalties. “The value of water is too great,” she said. “For violators not to be penalized accordingly is not right.”
And who is going to protect the aquifer from our very own government that is placing it in danger with new developments?
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
ROTTERDAM Man cited for junk asks for permit Officials doubt plan will get OK BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Michael Marotta has always maintained he uses his property in Pattersonville to store functioning construction vehicles for his business. Public officials disagreed, seeking fines and possible jail time for keeping a junkyard. Now Marotta is applying to the town for a special use permit that would allow him to legally keep such equipment on the property. Marotta filed an application with the Rotterdam Planning Department this week, requesting permission to build a contractor shop and equipment storage yard on his 5 acres off Route 5S. Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the town Planning Commission would review Marotta’s application as it would any other project. However, he said the landowner’s ongoing legal troubles with the town and persistent refusal to conform to its regulations is likely to work against him. “The current administration takes a very dim view of those who would violate our zoning ordinances and code enforcement,” he said Friday. The application comes as Schenectady County officials continue litigation against Marotta in an attempt to recoup more than $17,000 worth of cleanup costs and fines levied after he was found in violation of public health regulations last year. Marotta also faces court proceedings with the town after he was cited for violating Rotterdam’s ordinance governing the outside storage of junk and vehicles. Marotta pleaded guilty in April and is expected to be sentenced in July. The violation carries a maximum fine of $250 and up to 15 days in jail. Calls placed to Marotta’s attorney were not returned Friday afternoon. For more than two years, the town and the county have wrangled with Marotta over the use and condition of his vacant property, located near the Route 160 intersection with Route 5S. Both the county Health Department and watershed board filed charges against Marotta, charging that the old machinery and vehicles stored on it could pose a threat to a sensitive recharge area of the Great Flats Aquifer. County Attorney Chris Gardner said efforts to take control of Marotta’s property are continuing. County officials have requested a state Supreme Court judge allow them to assume control of Marotta’s land and then lease it to a third party until they could recover their money. “Essentially, you have an individual who is a scofflaw,” he said Friday. “We’re trying to put as much pressure on him as legally possible.” Gardner was aware of Marotta’s application to the town, but had not yet reviewed plans for his project. From the outset, he doubted the project would be a permissible use for the property. “My initial reaction is there are so many problems with his compliance with any provisions of the law, giving him some sort of special permit would not be sound public policy,” he said.
Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the town Planning Commission would review Marotta’s application as it would any other project. However, he said the landowner’s ongoing legal troubles with the town and persistent refusal to conform to its regulations is likely to work against him. “The current administration takes a very dim view of those who would violate our zoning ordinances and code enforcement,” he said Friday.
Ok, now I am really confused. First, is Tommasone saying that Marotta has a slim chance in hell to receive a special permit because Marotta was a 'bad boy' in the past. Or does he have a slim chance in hell for this permit because it is this all about protecting the aquifer?
Sorry folks, it still appears to be a witch hunt to me.
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
Logged
that no one has commented on 'this comment'!!!! 
