Coronavirus Times At Town Hall
By Michelle Van Horn
Like a majority of the town and village board meetings this month, the Tuesday, April 14 session of the New Lebanon Town Board’s monthly gatherings was conducted, for the first time, via a teleconferencing format. Perhaps the most important news to come out of the meeting was COVID-19’s possible impact on town revenues. The Eastwick Press first reported last week that up to $650,000 was in jeopardy, with Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling feeling the town realistically might see a loss of $250,000. She has asked all department heads to immediately look to roll back their budgets. Councilmember Jessie Newton said he has already trimmed roughly 25 to 30 thousand dollars from the parks and recreation budget, with the Town Clean-Up Day and Music in the Park postponed or even possibly canceled for the year, depending on how the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds. Also, the contract for the re-fitting of the pavilion is being extended by six weeks. Councilmember Norman Rasmussen perhaps put it best, when he said “this is a sucky year and we have to suck it up and get out of the red.”
Not So Fast Please!
A number of town residents continue to speak out about vehicles traveling too fast on the town and county roads. The Town has recently asked the NYS Police for increased road patrols, and at its suggestion, has borrowed one of those signs that tell you how fast you are going and blink when that is too fast from the village of Chatham. The device has been placed on a county road, with West Street and Cemetery Road other possible locations.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The program has so far fulfilled over 60 requests from families in need of support, with over $3,500 having been donated to the cause by town residents, and over 35 volunteers having stepped up to extend a helping hand. This support is readily and willingly available to any single person or family who live in New Lebanon regardless of age, religion, ethnic background, political party, sexual orientation, or any other possible different point of view. If you need help, or know someone who does, you are encouraged to reach out to Superintendent Tistrya Houghtling at 518-505-1535 or send an email to supervisor@townofnewlebanon.com.
New Appointments
The Board made a number of appointments this night, naming Maggie Banker as Dog Control Officer. They recently changed the title from Animal Control Officer and made it an hourly versus salaried position. The reason for the change was simply stated that the vast majority of the calls were for dogs.
The Board increased the number of seats on the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) from six to seven, naming Jenna Barbary to the additional seat. The Columbia County Office for the Aging will now have three representatives form New Lebanon, with Mary Young and Sarah Conly joining David Russell in those positions.
Back in February, letters of interest were requested to create a Task Force for becoming a Climate Smart Community-the 1st step after acknowledging that climate change is a manmade problem and pledging to do what they can to combat the problem. 12 letters of interest were received – 8 from the public, and 4 from CAC members Steve Powers, Bruce Shenker, Bob Gilson, and the newly appointed member, Jenna Barbary. Powers will be the Chair, and Shenker, who is also New Lebanon’s Environmental Management Council’s county representative, will be Coordinator.
Grow The Valley
The publishing of the newsletter will be postponed indefinitely since COVID-19 news changes from one day to the next. Instead, Town Clerk Marcie Robertson will continue to do her outstanding job maintaining the town website with up-to-date information, as well as sending email blasts to those signed up for town news.