The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Stephentown

New Wrinkle In The Stephentown Uniforms Story

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by David Flint

The Stephentown Town Board’s decision last week to scrap their contract with a uniform rental company may have been a little too hasty, at least in the eyes of the rental company. The Town Board has now received a letter from an attorney acting on behalf of the Unifirst Corporation threatening legal action unless the Town stays with the contract or coughs up $12,000 to get out of it. 

At the last Town Board meeting on August 18, the Town Board passed a resolution establishing an $800 annual stipend for Highway Department employees for purchasing and maintaining their own work clothing. The Board had decided that continuing the services of a uniform rental company was just too expensive. After it was brought to their attention that they had paid Rus Uniforms over $8,000 for the service in 2007, Town Supervisor Tom Sherman recently switched the contract to Unifirst. But Sherman reported at the last Board meeting that it appeared that with all the extra charges included, the Town would not be getting off much cheaper, if at all. He calculated that either company would have the Town paying between $6,000 and $9,000 for uniforms for five people. The Board concluded that an $800 stipend would be reasonable and would save the Town between $2,000 and $5,000. The resolution they passed provided for a $263 pro-rated portion of the stipend to be paid on September 1.

But Attorney John J. Connor of the Syracuse law firm Craig J. Billinson & Associates says in effect, “Not so fast!” In his letter he pointed out that the rental agreement specifies that if the service is terminated prior to the expiration of the agreement, the customer must pay 50% of the rental charges for the remainder of the term of the contract. That, he said, comes to $8,467.20. Moreover, the customer also agrees to purchase whatever clothing or other merchandise that has already been issued, an amount that Connor calculated to be $3,444.20. Adding an amount of $133.80 for services already rendered, the total comes to $12,045.20. 

Sherman contends that there in fact was no contract. The Town, he said, had only signed up to try the service and the Board decided to cancel after receiving the first invoice. He said he has spoken with Connor and explained that to him. He will discuss the matter further with the attorney in the coming week, but Sherman is confident the Town is not liable for cancellation charges, and he expected that the matter can be resolved without any litigation.

Stephentown Fire Dept. Treasurer Survives Fatal Crash

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by David Flint

Bill Jennings reports that he is doing well physically but still suffering mental stress after surviving a head on crash on Tuesday, August 12 in which the other driver was killed. 

According to Sgt Mark St.Germain of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, the accident occurred on Garfield Road in Stephentown at 9:05 am about a half mile east of Woodward Road. Jennings, a Fire Commissioner and Treasurer of the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, was driving westbound in a 2003 Toyota pickup truck when he was struck head on by a 1983 Chevrolet sedan driven by Erika Jellison, 20 years old, from North Adams. Apparently, he said, Jellison went too wide on a curve in the road and lost control of her vehicle. 

Jennings said he tried to avoid the crash but there was no room. He was gratified to see his colleagues from the Stephentown Fire Department and Rescue Squad arrive quickly on the scene. Miraculously he had suffered no major injury and was released from the scene with the understanding his wife Ellen would transport him to Berkshire Medical Center to be checked out. He did suffer a sprained ankle and lots of sores, bruises and scrapes, but the worst was the emotional stress and the knowledge that the young driver of the other car had not survived. It was a totally unnerving experience unlike any he had ever had, Jennings said.

Taking Woodstock Comes To Stephentown

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by David Flint

Filming of the movie “Taking Woodstock” which has begun in Columbia County is scheduled to move into Stephentown next month. Representatives from Tuxedo Terrace Films appeared at the Stephentown Town Board meeting Monday evening to explain the process and allay residents’ concerns. 

The film is based on a memoir by Eliot Tiber who, while managing his parents’ seedy motel in the Catskills

The former Shady Rest Motel on Route 20 in New Lebanon has now become the El Monaco Motel, replicating Eliot Tiber’s parents’ seedy motel in the Catskills in 1969. (David Flint photo)
The former Shady Rest Motel on Route 20 in New Lebanon has now become the El Monaco Motel, replicating Eliot Tiber’s parents’ seedy motel in the Catskills in 1969. (David Flint photo)

in 1969, ended up playing a pivotal role in bringing about the Woodstock Festival. The film is produced by James Shamus and is directed by Oscar Award winner Ang Lee, (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,” “The Ice Storm”). Tuxedo Terrace is a production company in association with Focus Features, a specialty films unit under NBC Universal.

 

Location Manager Joe Guest said that Sullivan County in the Catskills has changed a lot since 1969, so,

 searching for a replica of Tiber’s motel, they found one in New Lebanon, the former Shady Rest Motel on Route 20. It has now become the El Monaco Motel. The fact that Producer James Shamus is a resident of Columbia County might have had something to do with that. Then they began to search out other scene locations in the surrounding area and settled on three locations in Stephentown. 

 

A half mile stretch of Route 43 between Calvin Cole Road and Tinley Road will be used to show part of the traffic jam that occurred on Route 17B in Sullivan County, the road leading to the Woodstock Festival. There will be up to 300 extras in the scene and some 200 vehicles from the 60s or earlier. Preparation work and a rehearsal are scheduled for Sunday, September 14, followed by filming the next day and completion of clean-up on Tuesday. Guest said they are still looking for extras for this scene.

In October the Stephentown Evangelical Church near the intersection of Routes 22 and 43 will become the Church in Bethel where the Town Council had its meetings. Filming is scheduled for October 2 and 3. 

Finally, the bar of the Stephentown Hotel will be used to represent the bar at the El Monaco Motel, a center of activities during the concert.  Filming at the Hotel is scheduled for October 6 and 7. 

Town Supervisor Tom Sherman intimated that he and the film company had gotten off to a rough start because he had only found out that the company was scouting out locations in Stephentown after complaints started coming in about vehicles blocking roads and driveways in the vicinity of Stone Bridge Pond. In past weeks he has been working closely with the company and with residents, County and State offices, the Fire Department and Post Office to resolve any disruption issues that might arise. He and Highway Superintendent Neil Gardner also spent time working out detour routes around the filming sites. He also invited location crew representatives and the concerned residents to the Town Board meeting to discuss and resolve their issues. 

A number of residents expressed concerns, especially those living on Williams Road by Stone Bridge Pond. They wanted to know who is liable if anything goes wrong, how were residents to gain access to their homes when roads are blocked off, where would work vehicles for the film be parked and how would Stephentown benefit. Some were worried about large numbers of unknown persons from all over in the area and the possibility of break-ins. Williams Road residents wanted assurance that vehicles would not be using the old abandoned Route 43 bridge which is already deteriorating and if it were to collapse could cause flooding in nearby homes. 

Guest said the company would provide a certificate of insurance that covers the Town. Individual residents whose property is affected would also receive a certificate of insurance specifying the company as liable, and there will be written location agreements specifying payment, restoration of property and protecting all parties. He said they had been working with NYSDOT and the State Police setting notifications and signage for road closures and planned detours and providing for placards for residents’ vehicles to ensure they have access to their homes. Guest explained that actual filming rarely lasts more than five minutes at a time and in between there is a lot of preparation and wait time, allowing for necessary traffic to move through the area. He said they did not know yet exactly where they will be parking all their work vehicles. They would like to use part of Williams Road, but they would be working with residents on that. They plan to use part of Old Route 43 by Stone Bridge Pond for a film scene but only the western end of it. The deteriorating bridge will not be used, and they would consider banning even foot traffic over it. 

Guest added that extras are closely supervised. The company wants filming to be accomplished quickly and efficiently, and they can’t have people wandering off the set. 

Regarding school buses and emergency vehicles, Guest said there will be an emergency lane of adequate width along the south side of Route 43. Radio communications from the State Police will enable them to know instantaneously when an emergency vehicle is coming through. Arrangements will be made for volunteer firemen responding to a call in their own cars to enable them to get through any restricted area quickly. 

Guest noted that all the people on the location crew are New Yorkers and they want to make this a positive experience for the Town. They have been and will be working with the Governor’s Motion Picture Office, taking advantage of tax incentives for filming in upstate New York, and they want that office to know they have done a good job, cleaned up after themselves and left everything as they found it. They have been buying everything they possibly can locally. He said the company would be willing to make donations to Town organizations. Although one resident kept pressing for specifics on this – to whom, when, how much – Guest said they would be working with the Town Board on that so organizations seeking donations should talk to the Town Supervisor. 

The Board passed a resolution giving its approval to the filming “contingent upon all permit approvals from the State of New York and the County of Rensselaer.” Councilman Larry Eckhardt was appointed liaison between Town residents and the production company. Sherman accepted responsibility as the “point man” to oversee that all agreements are carried out satisfactorily.

Stephentown Town Board Action – Uniforms Resolved

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by David Flint

At its meeting on Monday, September 18, the Stephentown Town Board decided to scrap contracts with uniform companies in favor of providing a stipend of $800 a year for each Highway Department employee for the purchase and maintenance of his own work clothing. After it was pointed out several months ago that bills paid to a uniform company appeared to be excessive, Town Supervisor Tom Sherman opted to try a different company. He found, however, that when you add up all the extra charges, both companies were charging a similar amount. Highway Superintendent Neil Gardner provided figures after the meeting that showed the new company was actually charging more than the old one. In any case, Sherman said that either company would have the Town paying between $6,000 and $9,000 a year on uniforms, an amount he characterized as “ludicrous.” The stipend will not be included in an employee’s paycheck and will not be taxable. It will be put in the budget each year with consideration for inflation. 

Stephentown Seniors 40th Anniversary

The Stephentown Seniors have expended all but $545 of the $13,000 provided in the Town budget to subsidize their trips. The Board passed a resolution approving the usage of the remaining $545 toward the Seniors’ 40th Anniversary Party to be celebrated on September 27. 

Purchase Order System

The Board continued its discussion about instituting a purchase order system. The system would use a pre-numbered form in triplicate, with each department having its own identifying letter. Sherman said it would enable him to have real time access to information on outstanding invoices, fixed assets and the amortization schedule for insurance purposes. Invoices would be matched with purchase orders and vouchers. Councilman Larry Eckhardt agreed, saying it would provide excellent checks and balances. Councilman PJ Roder said that the Board would first have to thoroughly revisit the Procurement Policy of 1993 before adopting a purchase order system.

Roads Evaluation And Equipment Inventory

Sherman commended Councilman Mark Prescott for the excellent job that he and Highway Superintendent Gardner did on the evaluation of all Town roads. The evaluation specifies the work that is needed on each of the roads and will be most useful in seeking grant money.

Sherman reported that the inventory of Highway Department equipment has also been completed and is available at the Town Clerk’s office. 

Beds At The 

Transfer Station

Councilman Roder advised that two concrete beds are needed at the Transfer Station for roll-off dumpsters. The Board passed a resolution authorizing the Town Clerk to advertise for bids to construct two 10’ by 24’ slabs six inches thick. The bids will be due on September 12. 

Hazardous Waste Day

Sherman announced that ERCSWMA’s fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will be held on Saturday, September 20, at the Nassau Village Hall from 9 am to noon.  Persons bringing items should call ahead (686-7540) or register online (www.ercswma.org) to let ERCSWMA know what they are bringing. 

Nora Way To Become Town Road

Sherman reported that the Board now has all of the deeds and other documents necessary to start the process for the Town to take over ownership of Nora Way in North Stephentown. He expected that might be accomplished by October. 

Dog Control

Mark Prescott read Dog Control Officer Lynn Burns’ report. There were 4 calls received in the month, 3 dogs running free, 1 ticket issued and 3 new licenses. One report of abuse was handled by consultation with the owner. 

Trash And Speeding On Newton Road

Jeannette Roberts complained to the Board that garbage and refuse has been strewn all along Newton Road, either from people losing bags on their way to the Transfer Station or willfully dumping their trash, including in one instance a couch, along the roadside. She also complained of people speeding and passing dangerously on the narrow road. Sherman said he would speak with the State Police about it. 

Cemetery Needs Help

Elizabeth Hanlon, Secretary and Treasurer of the Garfield Cemetery Association, reported that the Association needs help because they are no longer able to properly maintain the cemetery from proceeds from their investments and plot holder fees. Supervisor Sherman and Councilman Eckhardt responded that although the Board does not currently budget any money for cemeteries, they recognize that Town cemeteries are an important part of our heritage and older cemeteries no longer have income from sales of plots. They said they would entertain a request for assistance submitted as part of the budget process which begins September 1.  Any such requests should be supported by solid figures regarding the need. 

Town Park

Councilman Prescott reported that work on restoring the landscaping at the Town Park at the intersection of Routes 22 and 43 is progressing. He expressed gratitude to Hankle Lumber of Hoags Corners for donating five yards of mulch to help with the project. 

Deposits & Spending

The Town Clerk reported she had turned over to the Supervisor the sum of $718.68 for the month of July. The office of the State Comptroller has not yet provided the amount of the distribution from the Justice Court Fund for the month of July. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $4,894. 

The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $21,135.24 from the General Account and $24,650.59 from the Highway Account.

The Board set their next regular meeting for Monday, September 15, at 7:30 pm, to be preceded by a public hearing at 7 pm on a change in the local Dog Control law and another public hearing at 7:15 pm for a proposed local law on tax exemptions for Cold War veterans.

SOS – Seniors Of Stephentown

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by David Flint

A recently established alternative seniors club in the Town of Stephentown is doing well according to its founder, Mary DeFreest of West Road. DeFreest says membership in the new club, the Seniors of Stephentown (SOS), is up to 40 now and with 18 to 25 seniors showing up at meetings they have outgrown their initial temporary gathering place which is the DeFreest home at 334 West Road. She said she was “overjoyed and surprised” at the response. 

DeFreest and some others recently broke off from the Stephentown Seniors, a club that will next month be celebrating its 40th anniversary. The reason for the split was irreconcilable differences with the leadership. DeFreest said she recognizes that there are many wonderful people in the Stephentown Seniors and she wishes them well as they celebrate their anniversary. 

DeFreest said the new club is in the process of finding another meeting place. They have two prospects and they expect to be meeting in one of them by next month. Meetings are at noon on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

According to DeFreest the new club will aspire to be community minded, providing friendship, transportation to the doctor or store or just a friendly visit to whoever is in need. They will put a major emphasis on support of the Stephentown Food Pantry, with each member who attends a meeting bringing some food item for the Pantry. 

Sometime next year the club expects to talk about sponsoring trips. There is no thought yet about requesting any subsidy from the Town. DeFreest said that may also be discussed next year but for the moment they are more interested in doing something for the Town rather than taking from the Town. 

Town Supervisor Tom Sherman last month proposed that the Town Board expend up to $5,000 a year from a contingency fund to partially reimburse members of the Stephentown Seniors who volunteer to drive people in need to the doctor or store or food pantry. The resolution was tabled until the details could be worked out, but Sherman says the plan is still under consideration. He would not comment on whether such reimbursement would apply to members of another club such as the SOS. He also declined to comment on whether the Town Board would subsidize trips for more than one senior club.

No Give-Backs In BCS School Tax

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by David Flint

The Berlin School Board in four of the five past years has voted in August to reduce the tax levy approved by the voters in May, finding some money from the fund balance to reduce the proposed tax increase. This year there are no give-backs. On Tuesday the Board  formally approved the tax levy of $8,317,221 that the voters OK’d in May, an increase of 4.85% over last year. Based on assessed valuation and equalization rates, the levy results in the following tax rates per thousand and percentage changes in the individual towns. Only one town, Poestenkill, will see a decrease this year.

Berlin $57.60 5.4%

Grafton             $175.62 3.1%

Petersburgh        $25.49 3.5%

Poestenkill         $61.29 -1.7%

Stephentown      $48.00 3.1%

Interim Business Manager Scott Hunter noted that the true value tax rate for the District as a whole is now $14.40 per thousand of assessed value. There has been a steady decline in that figure since 2002-03 when it was $19.92 per thousand, the decline was accounted for by a combination of smaller tax levy increases and a substantial increase in assessed valuation. The rate is still about $3 more than the State average. 

Superintendent’s Report

Interim Schools Superintendent Charlotte Gregory said she had attended a Stephentown Town Board meeting at which the production company for the movie “Taking Woodstock” presented its plans for filming in the Stephentown area. Gregory was concerned that school buses might be delayed on September 15 and 16. She said the Town Supervisor subsequently contacted her, and she will go with staff this week to see what the situation is. The production company has offered compensation for any individuals or organizations that are inconvenienced. Gregory suggested that instead of monetary aid the company might provide someone with professional expertise to come and speak with students about film making. They will discuss this at a later date. 

Gregory said the staff has done an excellent job with summer school. Instruction and transportation schedules for the opening of school are progressing well. Training sessions have been held during the summer focusing on school safety, and there will be more in September. With the resignation of the High School Guidance Counselor, the school has received 200 applications for his replacement. Gregory said ten of these have been selected for further screening. 

Healthy Schools

Board Member Elizabeth Miller reported on her attendance, at a Healthy Schools Leadership workshop held in August in Syracuse. Three other members of the District Health Council also attended, participating in discussions of diets, health education, physical education, AIDS and more. Miller said she was impressed with the work of the Healthy Schools Leadership Institute. She also noted that Berlin looks pretty good with respect to other schools. She learned that most schools, including Berlin, are out of compliance with State requirements on elementary physical education. However, it was pointed out at the workshop that schools can use certified outside activities such as participation in dance lessons or community soccer to make up some of the requirements. 

Miller said the District Health Council is in the process of planning for the future and refining their goals. They plan to increase their membership and they will be seeking grant opportunities and looking into alternatives for food service. 

The Board will have a goals workshop on August 25. They also set a Capital Project workshop meeting for Wednesday, September 3, at 6:30 pm at Berlin Elementary School and their next regular meeting for Tuesday, September 16, at 7 pm at the High School.

Stephentown Historical Society To Visit Berkshire Attractions

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The Stephentown Historical Society will visit two Berkshire County attractions for its annual field trip on Wednesday, September 3.  They will tour the workshop of the Berkshire Carousel Project in Pittsfield, MA, in the morning to learn the history of carousels and see a demonstration of carving a carousel horse.  Berkshire Carousel will provide a coffee break to the group.  After a picnic lunch, the group will tour the Mission House in Stockbridge.  This property of the Trustees of Reservations was built by Reverend John Sergeant, missionary to the Mohicans, in 1739.  The house contains an outstanding collection of eighteenth-century American furniture and decorative arts.  The grounds feature gardens designed by noted landscape architect Fletcher Steele, a replica of an old cobbler shop and a small Native American museum that tells the story of the Mohicans.  The afternoon will conclude with a stop at Friendly’s for ice cream.

The group will meet at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road for car-pooling at 9:30 am.  The $7 cost includes admissions and a gas donation for the drivers.  Each person should bring his or her own brown bag lunch and beverage.  Participants should phone Pat Bowman to reserve space at 413-738-5420, leaving your name, number of people and phone number.

Stephentown Extra Helpings: Order Now

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The Extra Helpings Community Food Buying Club is available again in Stephentown beginning with the September delivery.  The Extra Helpings program is part of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.  It allows anyone to buy nutritious food at lower-than-retail prices.  There are no limits on age, income, number of bundles, or geography so all smart shoppers are welcome and encouraged to participate.  

The September choices are:  

ź a $20 basic bundle consisting of four 6-oz. chicken cordon bleu, a 3 lb. box of John Morrell, all-meat franks, a 3 lb. box I.Q.F. boneless chicken breasts, 1.5 lbs. of Holton beef patties, a 1 lb. bag coleslaw mix and 1 pt. of grape tomatoes.  

ź Special #1 is  8 lbs. of boneless fresh pork loin for $19.  

ź Special #2 is two 2.5 lb. bags of all-beef fully cooked meatballs for $12.  

ź The meat box contains 2 lbs. of cranberry and apple stuffed pork chops, 3 lbs. of honey mustard flavored chicken breasts, 3 lbs. of home style beef patties, 2 lbs. of maple breakfast sausage links and 3 lbs. of chicken patties for $30.

Orders for September delivery can be placed on Thursday, August 28, from 3:30 to 6 pm at the Stephentown Federated Church on Garfield Road.  The September order deadline is September 3.  Payment must be made when ordering;  only cash or postal money orders are accepted.  

The pick up date is Thursday, September 25, from 3:30 to 6 pm at the Stephentown Federated Church.  You may have another person order or pick up your order, but any food not claimed during the pick-up hours will be donated to the food pantry.  

For additional information, call Audrey Foody 518-733-5872 or Paula Dibble 518-733-0699.

Sand Lake Historic Churches Tour

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The Sand Lake Center for the Arts, Sand Lake Historical Society and the Zion United Church of Christ will present an Historic Church Tour: Sand Lake Churches on September 7 from 1 to 5 pm The cost is $10 per person. Visit the many historic churches in the Sand Lake Area. Start at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts, a renovated church building originally constructed in 1835, where you will pick up tickets and a map and then visit some or all of the many churches in our community.  

The Sand Lake Center for the Arts is located at 2880 NY 43, one half mile east of the blinking light in Averill Park.  Call 518-674-2007 or visit www.slca-ctp.org for more information.

The Zion’s United Church of Christ, 741 Taborton Rd. will be part of the Sand Lake Churches Tour.
The Zion’s United Church of Christ, 741 Taborton Rd. will be part of the Sand Lake Churches Tour.