New Lebanon To Litigate Landfill Closing

by Thaddeus Flint
The night was sultry. A bored looking well tanned Sheriff’s Deputy sat in the corner. Now and then a lanky young man with a crooked smile wearing a muscle T-shirt and handcuffs was herded in and out of the room to a Judge’s chambers in the back by a red-faced State Trooper. Was there going to be trouble? “No, no; no trouble,” said the Deputy. This distraction at Monday’s New Lebanon Town Board meeting was caused by the simple fact that New Lebanon, without a Town Hall of its own, shares its meeting room in the American Legion building with the Town Court.
Ironically, although there may be no trouble for New Lebanon, there could be trouble on the horizon for Columbia County. The Board voted unanimously (Council Member K.B. Chittenden was not present this night) to retain the services of the law firm of Young Sommer LLC to litigate its position in the ongoing, seemingly endless dispute of who is responsible for the costs of closing the landfill located in an old gravel pit run by Reginald Sherman Jr.
According to a press release provided by Town Clerk Colleen Teal, “In the 1981 Agreement between the Towns and Villages and Columbia County, the County government took over solid waste management within the County and agreed to reimburse the Town for the costs incurred in the operation of the landfill and agreed to implement closure.” The closure in New Lebanon stopped in 1990 when the property owner and the County disagreed over costs. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation then stepped in and demanded that the Town complete the closure at the expense of residents. The Board does not agree. “The Town Board does not believe it has a legal obligation to close the landfill,” states the press release. Young Sommer LLC is recognized as “one of the top environmental law firms in New York State.”
So after 21 years nobody is going to go to jail for garbage, yet. Which is just as well. Arlo Guthrie once sang, “I don’t think I can pick up the garbage with these handcuffs on.” But they are going to court, maybe. As Council Member Doug Clark pointed out, “The County is not really giving us any other options.”
Ducks In A Ruhe
The smiling  man in the handcuffs ambled through the meeting again, vigilantly pursued by his perspiring Trooper, and then Fred and Barbara Ruhe addressed the Board about a duck. “Now we have a duck,” said Mrs. Ruhe. They admitted they liked ducks, but the fact that their property near the Theatre Barn on Route 20 was turning into a wetland was not their cup of tea. According to Mr. Ruhe, an unnamed stream had meandered onto their property and was now forming a small pond spacious enough for waterfowl to call home. They had advised the Town previously of the predicament. Could the Town please do something before the situation got even worse?
Highway Superintendent Jeff Winestock, who already has many projects on his plate getting the roads in shape before winter shortly returns, said that he hoped his team could get out there soon to clear the blockage. “If I don’t get to it by the end of next week you can tar and feather me and run me out of town. Come to think of it, tar and feather me and run me out of town even if I do get to it,” he said. The Ruhes appeared happy with this response and Town Supervisor Margaret Robertson advised them to keep the lone duck from being washed away. “There is your Thanksgiving dinner,” said Robertson.
Economic Development
Clark then updated the Board on the recent work of the Economic and Business Development Committee. Ideas are being considered for the Route 20-22 corridor and a design consultant has submitted a report to the New York State Department of Transportation on the state of the sidewalk project, specifically in regard to the future construction for the Hannaford Supermarket which is looking to build on the lot next to the Off Track Betting parlor.
Senior Assistance
Kathy Murname, of the Education and Recreation Committee then explained how that committee was working in conjunction with the Senior Advisory Committee to identify those residents, such as seniors, who might require assistance when it comes to essential needs like heating and food, through such mailings as tax notifications and the Town’s news letter. Other towns have already started putting the same plan into effect. She would keep the Board updated on their progress. “This has been a concern of mine for a long time,” said Robertson, “great work.”
Union Free School
A letter was read from resident Bud Godfroy stating his views in regard to the Union Free School. This building has been sitting derelict for years, fenced in to a tiny wretched pasture like a blind, lonely, aged pony nobody has the heart to put down. The Town’s Historical Society is working hard to save it, hoping to find State grants to have the structure basically rebuilt from its shell into a town hall. Godfroy disagrees with this plan. Stating that the building is a burden to taxpayers and the cost of repairs “monumental,” he believes the time has come for the building to come down. “The Union Free School has outlived its usefulness,” wrote Godfroy, of the Town’s Nationally registered landmark.
The Board then voted to accept a contract with the Rensselaer County Humane Society for storage of dogs picked up by the Town’s Animal Control Officer. Canines out alone sightseeing the various sites of New Lebanon will now be taken to a doggy retreat at Pondview Kennels and held for only $20 a day. “A significant difference” over the old rates, pointed out Robertson.
Clark then briefed the Board on the latest Town Hall location search. The Town has been searching for a larger location for the hall for some time. Clark proposed that $2,500 be spent on a feasibility study of a property just adjacent to the current Town Hall. This building was once a grocery store and then a liquor store, both run by the Donnelly family. The building is almost identical to the Town Hall and could possibly be refurbished as the Town’s Court and Judges’ offices. The same amount was approved last April to study a location across from the proposed Hannaford site on Route 20. Once knows as Judy’s Gifts, that site would cost taxpayers over $400,000 to procure and renovate. Perhaps hoping to find a kinder, gentler solution to residents’ pockets, Clark said, “I think it’s worth a hard look.” The property is situated at a corner of Shatford Park. “It would also clean up that whole corner of the park,” said Clark. The proposal was approved unanimously by the Board members present.
The Board then went into executive session to discuss its secrets. The members of the public went out to the parking lot. The smiling man and his Trooper had disappeared. Some residents surrounded the Deputy. “What are you doing here?” someone asked. “The Sheriff sent me,” responded the Deputy.