New Lebanon Town Board Moves To Help Preserve Union Free School

by Phillip M. Zema
The New Lebanon Town Board discussed traffic control, among other things, at its meeting on Monday, November 9. Due to an increase in negligent driving around Main Street, Pool Hill Rd., Spring Hill Rd., and Old Mountain Rd., local residents asked the Town to erect new traffic signs.
The recent closings of the Stephentown and Dalton roadside springs have led to an increased demand for spring water off of Spring Hill Rd. Unfortunately, local residents have noticed an increase in hazardous driving. Reckless speeding has nearly been the cause of multiple accidents, and neighborhood citizens requested that traffic safety measures be taken. While County officials will ultimately decide if any traffic signs are necessary, the Board needed to pass several resolutions in order to get the request to county. The resolutions passed, and so the County will now decide if a speed limit sign, a stop sign, and/or a guard rail should be implemented.
Plans For The Union Free School
Hoping to prevent the demolition of the Union Free School, members of the New Lebanon Historical Society discussed the merits of preserving the building. Helen Burton, President of the New Lebanon Historical Society, discussed the Society’s worry that the New Lebanon School Board would allow the Union Free School to be destroyed. Burton, as well as several other Society members, stressed both the historical and practical importance of the building. Although the school has not been used since the 1970s, it is a historical icon, New York State recognizes it as a historical building, and it could be used to satisfy a number of the community’s needs – it could function as a senior center, community center and/or a museum of education. The Board sympathized with the Society’s requests and, accordingly, passed a motion that will help preserve the building. The motion simply requests that Supervisor Robertson meet with the School District Superintendent. The goal of this meeting would be to postpone demolition of the building for at least a year. During that span, the hope is that grants will become available, which will provide funding for renovations.
A representative from Darrow School requested that the Board pass a resolution; the resolution would be the first step in allowing the school to receive federal funding for storm drainage improvements. To get the necessary funding, the proposal must ultimately be accepted by the County, State, and federal government. But before the request can move on to County, the Town had to give its stamp of approval. The Board did and, accordingly, will prepare a resolution for next month’s meeting.
HEAP Information Available
The Board also discussed the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). On November 23, a representative from the Columbia County Office for the Aging will be at the New Lebanon Library, and she will provide those aged 60+ with information about the Home Energy Assistance Program. If you are 60+ and need assistance in covering heating costs, Heap Assistance may be a viable option for you. If interested, you should go to the New Lebanon Town Library on November 23 between 10 am and 1 pm. Those attending ought to bring a driver’s license, proof of income and a current utility bill.
Worker Liability
In closing, a resident asked the Board to take measures to ensure that Town employees, before being hired, receive a background check. He also stressed that the Town should take measures to ensure that it is not needlessly liable for damages caused by its employees like having to pay damages caused by off-the-clock Town workers.
Mining Permit Questioned
Finally, there was concern that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) did not follow proper legal protocol. In short, without properly informing the Town Board, it extended a mining permit. The DEC, by law, is legally required to give the Board 30 days notice before providing or extending mining permits. Apparently, the DEC had failed to properly do so and had therefore violated one of its own rules. Moreover, it was stressed that, given circumstances surrounding the mine (i.e. it was unclear whether a legal issue concerning the pit had been properly rectified), the permit may have been illegally extended.