Legislative Highlights
Submitted by the Rensselaer County Legislature’s Majority and Minority Offices
At their most recent meeting on Tuesday, July 9, the lawmakers reappointed Bill Film as the Director of Real Property Services. The office assists the various towns in the county with property assessments and prepares town, village and county bills.
Lawmakers from both sides of the political isle joined together to unanimously pass a local law establishing a one-year moratorium on solid waste management facilities within one mile of the Hudson River. Minority Leader Peter Grimm says “the law will protect the Hudson River and other municipal drinking water sources that could be subject to harm when adjacent to such facilities.” According to Legislative Chairman Mike Stammel, during the one year moratorium, “the legislature can work with riverfront communities in the county to identify the impacts of such facilities on the local environment and the Hudson River.”
The problems surrounding the current Dunn Landfill in the City of Rensselaer, represented by Chairman Stammel, was the impetus for the law.
The release from the Minority Office indicates it will be introducing amendments to the law at the August meeting, which it says will make the law more comprehensive.
Other Highlights
The Legislature approved a new contract with the Police Benevolent Road Patrol representing deputies in the County Sheriffs Department. Both parties expressed deep appreciation for the duties these law enforcement officials perform.
The Legislature also passed a resolution supporting the New York State Private Well Testing Act. This resolution, introduced by Legislators Bruce Patire and Jeff Wysocki, is meant to support the State legislation that would require the testing of any private well before the sale or lease of a property. The data collected could help track the migration of emerging contaminants such as PFOA and PFAS, because water does not follow town and village boundaries. It would also provide credible data about drinking water to communities that are near landfills, Superfund sites and other areas of possible groundwater contamination.
The lawmakers approved the purchase of a three-story fire training tower to replace the current 40-year old facility in North Greenbush and passed a resolution authorizing agreements for the transportation of children with special needs.