Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting

The Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, December 17, 2012 at 7:00PM.

The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Town Hall and is open to the public.

Sandy Hook

Give pause today to think of and pray for the victims, the survivors and their families in Sandy Hook. 

Though we may not know them, they are our family, friends and neighbors. 

REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6!!

East Greenbush aims to foil invasive milfoil

Published: Monday, October 08, 2012

By James Breig
Special to The Record
http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2012/10/08/news/doc50721b896c0a1404045503.txt

Grant Application Public Informational Meeting

The Town of East Greenbush Planning Department, in conjunction with the East Greenbush School District, will hold a public informational meeting on Tuesday, October 2nd at 7:00p.m. to present a grant application through the New York State Department of Transportation’s “Safe Routes to School” grant program. The grant application will be focused on pedestrian accommodations along Gilligan Road near the Howard L. Goff Middle School. The meeting will be held at the East Greenbush Town Hall, 225 Columbia Turnpike.

The 2013 Tentative Budget Released by Supervisor Langley

The 2013 tentative budget stays within the 2 percent tax cap once again this year while absorbing significant increases in mandated pension and healthcare costs. The Town is also continuing the practice of reducing the inter-fund debt to eliminate negative fund balances in the General and Highway Funds. The proposed budget contains a net tax increase of 14 cents per thousand of assessed value (about $28 per year on a house assessed at $200,000) while continuing to provide critical services including police, public works, and ambulance at the current levels. My administration is committed to continuing the progress the Town has made in eliminating our deficit, balancing the budget, making government more efficient, and ensuring that our residents continue to receive the services provided by our dedicated staff. The Town Board members and I have worked together to make certain this is a responsible budget. As always, my door is open to any constituent who would like to discuss this, or any other Town matters. To view the 2013 Tentative Budget follow this link

Special Town Board Meeting

A Special Town Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 27th at 4:30 p.m. to present the 2013 Tentative Budget to the Town Board.

Following are the "Leading" Candidates from yesterday's Primary races according to the Rensselaer County Board of Elections web-site. Note that certain races may have been contested in more than one County, making these results "partial".  For more complete results, go to http://www.rensco.com/pdfs/election-results/StateLocalVoteReport.html

STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF RENSSELAER
PRIMARY ELECTION
13-Sep-12
Rensselaer County
County Court Judge
78 out of 79 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Chris Maier	1,535	41.13%	X
Family Court Judge
78 out of 79 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Catherine Cholakis	81	55.10%	X
East Greenbush
Town Justice (WOR)
6 out of 6 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Mary Pat Murphy Donnelly	24	85.71%	X
Town Justice (IND)
6 out of 6 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Mary Pat Murphy Donnelly	140	80.00%	X
Town Justice (CON)
6 out of 6 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Mary Pat Murphy Donnelly	98	58.68%	X
State Senator - 43rd District (REP)
56 out of 57 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Kathleen A. Marchione	2,242	52.35%	X
State Senator - 43rd District (CON)
56 out of 57 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Kathleen A. Marchione	329	55.39%	X
State Senator - 44th District (DEM)
22 out of 22 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Neil D. Breslin	1,147	79.16%	X
Member of Assembly - 107th District (WOR)
54 out of 55 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Write-in	62	52.10%	X
Member of Assembly - 107th District (DEM)
54 out of 55 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
Cheryl Roberts	1,516	72.92%	X
Member of Assembly - 108th District (DEM)
24 out of 24 election district(s) reported.
CANDIDATE	VOTES RECEIVED	PERCENTAGE	LEADING CANDIDATE
John T. McDonald, III	997	58.65%	X

REMINDER - Library Budget Vote & Election

Thursday September 6, 2012

9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

-----------------------------------------------------------

There are two five-year Trustee positions available in our upcoming budget election. The candidates are:

Lisa Fox;

Michael Poost; and
Phil Vecchio.

For details on the proposed budget for 2013 see: http://www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org/images/Board_Information/2013%20Budget%20Info%20Sheet%20in%20bw.pdf.

Town Board Special Meeting

A Special Town Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 6th at 4:30 p.m. in the community room.

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee

The Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, September 10, 2012 at 7:00PM.
 

The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Town Hall and is open to the public.

Happy Labor Day

Today is Labor Day, the "unofficial end of Summer". Hopefully we'll have plenty of good weather left, a beautiful Autumn and a mild Winter.

 

The US Department of Labor, states that Labor Day "is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country." http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

 

We can still revel in "the social and economic achievements of American workers (and) the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country" and I suggest that we wholehearted do so.

 

We marvel at the accomplishments of labor… the soaring skyscrapers, expansive highways, fabulous cars and trucks, beautiful homes, etc., and appreciate those who built them. And we should remember and celebrate labor's and our own accomplishments.

Saturday in the Park Fall Festival

"Saturday in the Park" Document Shredding Day

The City of Rensselaer and the Town of East Greenbush will join together on Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 1 to 3 pm. at Saturday in the Park, Hampton Avenue near Onderdonk Park to host a document shredding day.

The East Greenbush and Rensselaer Police Departments encourage all residents to help prevent identity theft by bringing unwanted papers containing personal information to be shred. It is open to Town of East Greenbush and City of Rensselaer residents and is free of charge. No businesses.

• Only documents containing personal identifying information will be accepted (i.e. bills, bank statements, old checks).
• Please do not bring books, magazines or newspapers and other recyclables.
• Staples and paper clips do not need to be removed.
• Please remove all metal from hanging file folder and spiral bound notebooks.
• Please limit the amount of items to be destroyed to 2-3 file boxes.

You will need to dispose of any boxes, cartons, etc. used to transport your items to be shredded. These items will not be shredded or disposed of by the Town.

For more info, contact:

Daniela Lanni  – Town of East Greenbush

(518) 477-4194

Richard Berhaupt – City of Rensselaer

(518) 462-2251

Library Budget Vote & Election

Thursday September 6, 2012

9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

-----------------------------------------------------------

There are two five-year Trustee positions available in our upcoming budget election.  The candidates are:

Lisa Fox;

Michael Poost; and
Phil Vecchio.

For details on the proposed budget for 2013 see: http://www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org/images/Board_Information/2013%20Budget%20Info%20Sheet%20in%20bw.pdf.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Any person registered to vote in the Town of East Greenbush general elections can vote on the budget.

Voters may apply for an absentee ballot. Applications can be picked up in the library at the Reference Desk. Applications must be personally delivered to the library, to the attention of the Director, no later than August 29, 2012.

Ballots need to be postmarked no later than the day before the election, September 5, 2012.

To Poop or Not to Poop....

Fire  away here for  all your  support or  criticism of the   Sewage Treatment  plant.   Too much on the other thread.   Have  at it here - keep it  to the  point.

Aurora, Colorado Shooting / Shooting at Sikh temple

Shooting at Sikh temple in Wisconsin leaves at least 7 dead, including gunman

Also keep the the victims of this shooting, their families and their friends in your thoughts and prayers.   The victims were attacked at a Sikh temple near Milwaukee on Sunday.

Sikhs to hold memorial in East Greenbush

Monday, August 6, 2012

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Sikhs-to-hold-memorial-in-East-Greenbush-3765849.php#ixzz22noKAAo9

Aurora, Colorado Shooting

12 people were killed and 58 wounded in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado this past Friday night.

Please keep the victims, their families and their friends in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your day. 

Let's also thank the first responders who placed their own lives in jeopardy to help others. 

It's reported that the shooter's weapon jammed or the senseless loss of innocent lives would have been worse.

Board of Ethics Meeting

The Board of Ethics will hold a meeting on Monday, July 23rd at 7p.m. The meeting will be held at Town Hall.

MUSIC IN THE PARK

The East Greenbush Department for Community and Recreation proudly announces Music in the Park located at Onderdonk Park, Hampton Avenue across from Hampton Manor Lake.  Tuesday evenings, from 6 - 8:00pm.

Rich Kelley will be providing
    Hot dogs:        $2.00

    Chips:             $1.00  

    Soda:              $1.00  
   

Feel free to bring a lawn chair! 

Relax and listen to the sensational artists!

We encourage friends, families and neighbors to join together in celebrating the summer season by enjoying the music, the outdoors and the company.  Bands include:

                        Band of Gold              August 7^th

                        WhiteWater               August 14^th

                        Triskelle                    August 21^st

                        The 3 Jay’s                August 28^th

            SPREAD THE WORD!  LET EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE ANNUAL EAST GREENBUSH “MUSIC IN THE PARK!” THE MORE --- THE MERRIER!

Any further questions, feel free to call

Carmela at Community and Recreation at 477-4194

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee

The Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, July 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. 

The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Town Hall and is open to the public.

Congratulations, Meghan!!!

Dougherty wins at All-Star Game

East Greenbush girl takes age-group title in contest
Staff reports
Times Union
Published 10:58 p.m., Monday, July 9, 2012

Meghan Dougherty of East Greenbush bested two other finalists in the 9- and 10-year-old girls' softball division and captured the top prize in her age group in the Pitch, Hit & Run national finals Monday in Kansas City.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Dougherty-wins-at-All-Star-Game-3694589.php#ixzz20D7NGtYj

Board of Ethics Meeting

The Board of Ethics will hold a meeting on Monday, July 9th at 7p.m. The meeting will be held at Town Hall.

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee Meeting

The Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, July 9, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Town Hall and is open to the public.

WISHING ALL EAST GREENBUSH RESIDENTS A SAFE HOLIDAY

As we celebrate Independence Day 2012, let us not forget the sacrifices our forefathers made on our behalf so that we can enjoy this wonderful country we live in.

It may not be perfect, but we all can celebrate the rights that we so openly enjoy thanks to the brave early Americans who had the fortitude to stand up for what they thought was correct and righteous.   Let us also thank those who sacrificed to defend and retain these rights.

                                         Happy Independence Day !

Special Town Board Meeting

A Special Town Board Meeting will be held at 4 PM on Monday, July 9 in the Community Room at Town Hall.  The subject of the meeting is pending litigation as a result of the DEC Order on Consent.

QUOTING THE EXPERTS

It appears that some residents of East Greenbush may be laboring under misconceptions about certain provisions of the law.  Below, I quote and provide citations from relevant authorities on these topics with emphasis added for pertinent sections.  I’m not an attorney so I offer no interpretation.  I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Pete Stenson

= = = = =

Module 2 - Codes of Ethics and Other Local Actions

“The OSC model codes of ethics are intended to be used as a starting point by any municipality that intends to adopt or amend a code of ethics. The OSC model code of ethics for local governments addresses the issues required by Article 18."
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/training/modules/protecting/two/coe_include.htm

= = = = =



Open Meetings Law

Ҥ108. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as extending the provisions hereof to:
2. a. deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses.
b. for purposes of this section, the deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses means a private meeting of members of the senate or assembly of the state of New York, or of the legislative body of a county, city, town or village, who are members or adherents of the same political party, without regard to
(i) the subject matter under discussion, including discussions of public business,"
http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/openmeetlaw.html#s108

= = = = =

Conducting Public Meetings and Public Hearings

http://www.dos.ny.gov/LG/publications/Conducting_Public_Meetings_and_Public_Hearings.pdf

“What Are Public Hearings? — A public hearing is an official proceeding of a governmental body or officer, during which the public is accorded the right to be heard.”

“The board members may want to ask questions of witnesses in order to clarify facts and opinions presented in their testimony. In addition to questioning witnesses, the board may permit members of the public to question witnesses at the hearing. If it does so, the board should be careful not to turn the hearing into a debate. Open debates of public issues tend to raise people's emotional levels, diminish the board's control over the hearing, and tend to discourage some witnesses from testifying.”

= = = = =

STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
COMMITTEE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT
OML-AO-05210
December 2, 2011

“Second, while the Open Meetings Law clearly provides the public with the right “to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy” (see Open Meetings Law, §100), the Law is silent with respect to public participation. Consequently, by means of example, if a public body, such as a town board does not want to answer questions or permit the public to speak or otherwise participate at its meetings, we do not believe that it would be obliged to do so. On the other hand, a public body may choose to answer questions and permit public participation, and many do so. When a public body does permit the public to speak, we believe that it should do so based upon reasonable rules that treat members of the public equally.”

http://www.dos.ny.gov/coog/oml_listing/op.html

= = = = =

“Town Law §27. Compensation of town officers and employees.

1. The town board of each town shall fix, from time to time, the salaries of all officers and employees of said town, whether elected or appointed, and determine when the same shall be payable.”
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$TWN27$$@TXTWN027+&LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=EXPLORER+&TOKEN=35461891+&TARGET=VIEW

= = = = =

“Town Law §63. Presiding officer and rules of procedure.

The supervisor, when present, shall preside at the meetings of the town board. In the absence of the supervisor, the other members shall designate one of their members to act as temporary chairman. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number may adjourn. The vote upon every question shall be taken by ayes and noes, and the names of the members present and their votes shall be entered in the minutes. Every act, motion or resolution shall require for its adoption the affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the town board. The board may determine the rules of its procedure, and the supervisor may, from time to time, appoint one or more committees, consisting of members of the board, to aid and assist the board in the performance of its duties.”
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$TWN63$$@TXTWN063+&LIST=LAW+&BROWSER=EXPLORER+&TOKEN=16226857+&TARGET=VIEW

Today is Father's Day

EG Talks extends a Happy Father's Day to all who are so blessed.

Meeting Notices of Interest

Ethics Board Meeting

The Board of Ethics will hold a meeting on Tuesday, June 19th at 7p.m. The meeting will be held at Town Hall.

Spotlight on Youth Awards
Youth Award recipients entrants will be honored at a ceremony on Wednesday, June 20th , 2012 at 5:00 p.m. in the East Greenbush Town Hall, located at 225 Columbia Turnpike. Light refreshments will be served.

Notice of Public Hearing
The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush has scheduled a public hearing for a Local Law regulating Outdoor Recreational Shooting and the establishment of Approved Shooting Range Criteria within the Town of East Greenbush. The hearing is scheduled for June 20, 2012 at 6:00p.m. at the East Greenbush Town Hall. 

Notice of Public Hearing

The Town Board of the Town of East Greenbush has scheduled a public hearing for June 20, 2012 at 6:30p.m. at the East Greenbush Town Hall to hear public comments regarding a proposed Local Law establishing a code of Ethics of the Town of East Greenbush.

Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee

The Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting for Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the Community Room at Town Hall and is open to the public.

Today is Memorial Day

Although established to commemorate those who died in the service of their Country, Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) is virtually indistinguishable from Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day) which honors all veterans of all wars.   

Regardless, be sure to think of those who gave their lives for this great Nation and their families who endured their loss. 

Thank those veterans who are still with us. 

They fought and many died so that we could enjoy the liberty and prosperity that we do today.