The Long Road Back
by Michelle Van Horn
As New Lebanon joins the rest of the Capital Region entering Phase III of the state’s four-part COVID-19 reopening plan, the Come-Back Committee for New Lebanon informed the Town Board at its Tuesday, June 9 meeting, they are dedicated to supporting the Town and local businesses. The Committee wants businesses trying to come back to know they are here to help. They’ll go through your safety plan for reopening, answer any questions you may have, and support where they can, free of charge.
Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling would like to thank all who supported in reading, editing, and adoption of the Safety Plan for reopening New Lebanon, calling it “a beast of a document.” In fact, other towns have asked to look over her revised document and even want to ‘steal’ it, with credit to the Town of New Lebanon, of course. In preparation for coming back, Ms. Houghtling is asking for support for reopening the Town Hall, with which all council members who were approached were more than willing to oblige. For example, Norman Rasmussen will handle printing the 3-question health survey that will be mandated to be answered by every town employee who returns to work, as well as any resident or other person before entering the Town Hall building. Councilman Newton’s mission(s) are taking down partitions, creating 6 ft markers inside and outside the building, building partitions for each town member who needs them, and finding, ordering (and probably installing) an entry bell for the front door. Keep in mind that the Town Hall doors will remain locked, and opened only in response to ringing of the newly installed bell. New permits being approved will be handled via a plastic drop box. Air circulation for court and other meetings has been clearly stressed and will be managed. You can expect one-way directions into the building, and one-way out, which will be different, depending on where you enter/the purpose of your visit. Signs will be chosen, printed and hung to guide your way. Hand sanitizer stations, masks and other cleaning supplies will be at the ready upon acceptance of entrance into the building with the three magic questions being answered correctly. Really folks, just don’t come if you feel sick, are sick, or have been sick or exposed to others who are/have been sick. A know-what-to-expect pamphlet is due to be placed near the entrance for all who may show up, and the New Lebanon website already has all you need to know moving forward.
Online Versus In-Person Meetings
The Town is considering whether regular Town Board meetings should, or even can, remain via video conferences. Board members were asked their opinions on the matter. Councilman Newton suggested in-person, but at the pavilion, saying ‘you can’t get better airflow than outside.” Councilman Rasmussen, with an open, yet conservative approach said: “I’d be more likely to attend a meeting outside than one indoors.” Deb Gordon and John Trainor both prefer video conferences to in-person and the pavilion to the Town Hall courtroom. Keep in mind that mask-wearing is in effect while in the building during reopening phases, and who knows how long this will last. Long-term, there may even be permanent changes to how meetings are handled. Regardless of how the Association of Towns and Columbia County decide to move forward with government business dealings, New Lebanon will seek live video conference for at least regular Town Board meetings for its residents who cannot, or for whatever reason, do not attend in-person. Councilwoman Gordon believes this will open up options to a population that wouldn’t otherwise attend in-person.
Water Testing
Around The Landfill
As The Eastwick Press first reported two weeks ago, the Department of Environmental Conservation has again tested wells within a quarter mile downslope of the former landfill. The first round of testing experienced technical issues. Only the homeowners who have their drinking water supply tested will receive the results, but according to Supervisor Houghtling, most if not all have volunteered to share their results. The Supervisor says once these results are in, another three to four weeks, she will begin the process to close the landfill.
Several years ago, the Town received $650,000 from Columbia County to help defray the costs, something Supervisor Houghtling believes will be far less than what the final bill will be.
Other News And Notes
A Public hearing for proposed Local Law #1 will be held Tuesday, July 14, at 6:30 pm. A health screening will be implemented and mandatory to all who physically attend by answering those three health questions. The Town will be accepting emails for resident comments to be read who do not feel comfortable attending in-person. Deliberations about use of the Pavilion for the in-person meeting rather than the Town Hall Courtroom is being considered, with a PA system and mics already available for use. Check out townofnewlebanon.com for further updates.
The old Ghent Skate Park will soon be moved to its new home in New Lebanon in the Shatford Park area. Councilman Jesse Newton now has 14 volunteers despite their super-busy work schedules. Working on weekends, Newton and volunteers are slated to deconstruct and move the park in the next week or two. Newton’s hardware store, Country Squire, is donating much toward the large task. Supervisor Houghtling asked Jesse to keep track of expenditures and mentioned throwing a party for him with all that the business owner/council member/family man has taken on.
Local businesses will be granted the option to put up a temporary sign for the next 60 days. This idea aims to support drumming up business during pandemic hardship. Any sign must follow current sign laws regarding size, type, etc, except in construction and materials, which may be of a lower standard and quality than required by the sign statues. Temporary signs may be hung through the end of the day of August 15.
Three letters of interest have been received for residents wanting to join the Business and Economic Development committee and all will be accepted. It is expected that sub-committees will support the undertakings of all who are interested in joining, which will then report back to the regular committee meeting. Shawna Fitzsimmons, Operations Manager at the Shaker Museum at Mount Lebanon is one new committee member. Shawna rescinded her first letter of interest offered before COVID-19 hit and then reapplied. Cynthia Creech of Artemis Farm, and Josh Young, CEO of Pack Technologies and New Lebanon Farmers Market managerial support will also join the committee. Supervisor Houghtling offered a big welcome and thanks to all the new members.