The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Rensselaer County Legislature – A Bank Needed In The Valley

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by Kieron Kramer
The Rensselaer County Legislature’s meeting on Tuesday, May 14, contained a sizeable amount of news regarding the Eastwick area. And this time it had nothing to do with Hoosick Falls sports. The families of Steve Kellar, Ersel Hickey and Ray Darling Jr. appeared in the well of the Legislature to receive  presentations memorializing  their loved ones. Funding for several bridges in our area, the new Dairy Princess and mortgage tax distributions were also on the agenda.
A resolution, introduced by Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, stating support for establishment of a bank in the State Route 22 corridor in eastern Rensselaer County passed unanimously.
The resolution says. “Due to a change in corporate priorities, the Bank of America located on State Route 22 in the Town of Berlin closed in 2012…The loss of the Bank of America means residents wishing to transact banking business need to travel a considerable distance to either the Town of Hoosick, the Town of New Lebanon in Columbia County or across the State border to Massachusetts…Transacting bank business for some residents in the eastern area of our county can sometimes mean a round trip of up to one hour…This Legislative Body wishes to recognize the need for location of a new bank and puts forth this resolution as a statement of support for such efforts and further pledges any possible help and assistance for such efforts.”
In an interview after the meeting Brownell said that following the appearance in area papers of last week’s news release about this issue, he was contacted through the Legislative offices by the Coxsackie National Bank which showed interest in the former Bank of America property. Brownell said he passed the information along to Berlin Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger, who has been trying to find a replacement for the Bank of America.
The property will be auctioned off on May 22 by the Max Spann Real Estate and Auction Co. There have been two open houses so far, on May 8 and May 15. Berliners are hoping that one or more of the bidders will be a bank. It is a turn key situation for a bank, Brownell said.