What Can An Email Contain?
by Doug La Rocque
The Monday, March 8 meeting of the Grafton Town Board started out with a discussion between Councilman Frank Lewandusky, Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum and Town Attorney Phil Danaher as to what information can be contained in an email. In particular, it dealt with payroll information that Councilman Lewandusky sent to other members of the board. Did it contain specific account information or not?
Attorney Danaher said any elected member of the board is entitled to have this information, though any personal banking account information must be repacked. Supervisor Gundrum indicated she was uncomfortable with this payroll information contained in emails, and did not want to discuss it any further.
The town apparently has two email accounts according to their discussion, one secure and one not. Mr. Lewandusky was asking for the password to the secure email, which apparently only the supervisor, town clerk and very few others have. He claimed the town printer was tied to the secure account, and he needed it to print documents. Attorney Danaher said that was easily solved, simply put the printer on the unsecured account.
Communications
The Grafton Trail Riders Club is inquiring about perhaps placing small signs on the large wooden town of Grafton signs at the east and west entrances to the town on NYS Route 2. No action was taken on this. The board also received a letter from Betsy Colvin, asking have the Yankee Doodle Band perform in the town park, where town based organizations and churches would be able to set up vendor stations to sell food or other desirable items. The town would have to pay the band. Again, it will be looked into.
Old Business
At the February board meeting, the lone residents of Horton Road complained about the speed vehicles were traveling along the road’s short distance. They noted that since it wasn’t posted, the legal speed is 55 miles per hour. They pointed out however, that because one can travel at that speed, it doesn’t necessarily follow that one should drive at that speed. They pointed out that Horton road is a small, one lane dirt road that runs off Route 2 behind the former Lena’s Restaurant. Supervisor Gundrum said she has spoken to both the Park Police and the Sheriff’s Department about more patrols in the area.
Hazardous Waste Disposal remains an issue for the Recycling Center. Currently, Rensselaer County does not have a waste disposal program, so the center has very limited or no way to dispose of it.
It was noted that the expense for last summer’s demolition of a condemned structure has been reimbursed by the county as part of the February tax payments. The county will relevy the cost on the owners’ taxes.
Negotiations are underway with Rensselaer County for its continued rental of the Everett Wagar Senior Center. The building is owned by the town.
The meeting wrapped up with a presentation of a VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) flag to the Corner-Etman-Smith Post made by Rensselaer County Undersheriff P.J. Higgitt. The flag will fly at the Veterans Monument in the Town Park.
Board meetings are usually adjourned in memory of town residents who passed away in the last month. Supervisor Gundrum simply asked for a motion adjourn this night, because as she said, blessedly, we have not lost anyone of late.