Police Review And Music Top Board Meeting
The March 11 Schodack Town Board meeting brought some good news to the residents of Schodack by approving Supervisor Harris to contract with musicians to perform at the 2021 Music in the Park. Harris is optimistic that this popular summertime event will happen. At this point, the bands scheduled to appear at the Schodack Town Park will be:
Peaceful Country Band – June 1
Kyle Borgault Band – June 8
Gone Grey – June 15
Triskele – June 22
Yankee Doodle Band – June 29
The police department was another topic of conversation at the meeting with the certification of the Town of Schodack Police Department Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Plan. This plan is in response to Executive Order No. 203, issued by Governor Cuomo in June 2020. The plan will be submitted to the Director of the Division of the Budget to announce the “town’s intentions.”
According to Harris, “it was a lot of work and effort by members of the community, local police force, non-profit, faith-based, and community groups and elected officials.” The Board approved a proclamation to commemorate officer Jeff Arno’s retirement from his 20 years of service to the Schodack Community. Arno began his career with the department in 2001 after serving with the Columbia County Sheriff and Nassau Police Departments. Arno also demonstrated his commitment to the community by serving as a member of the Castleton Fire Company and on the Schodack Fire Investigation Unit. Police Chief Hourigan described Arno as a “dedicated officer who his colleagues and community respect. We will miss him.”
Building and construction was the final topic in the meeting. The planning board has been approved as the lead agency in an EAF review for two large projects in the Schodack community, the Hart Business Park on US Route 9 and the Scannell Properties #508 LLC project on Route 150. The Castleton Consolidated Sewer Extension No. 1 Project proposal was approved and will have a public hearing on April 8 at the Schodack Town Hall at 7:05 pm. The proposal will involve making improvements in the Maple Hill Road area. Eleanor Drive’s speed limit was a concern. The Board approved a request that the New York State Department of Transportation conduct a traffic safety study to evaluate if the speed limit is appropriate.”