The District 5 Report from Legislators Brownell & Goodermote
February 2008

Greetings. As representatives of District 5 in the Rensselaer County Legislature, we are proud to report on actions taken by the County Legislature at the February 12 legislative meeting.

A resolution we sponsored asking the state Department of Transportation to conduct a safety of review of sections of State Route 7 in Hoosick, particularly in the Potter Hill area, was approved. We introduced this legislation in response to a number of serious motor vehicle accidents on that section of road in recent months.

Route 7 is used by many residents of District 5. A review by state DOT of the safety conditions of the road, including lighting and marking of the road, among other factors, can help ensure safe travel. Our request is now being sent to state DOT and we will update residents on progress of the review.

Along with asking the state to conduct a review of State Route 7, we have also expressed our concern with a directive by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to ban open burning, including the burning of leaves, tree limbs and paper. As legislators representing a rural area, we believe this directive would be overly restrictive for our area and is best dealt with at the local level. We believe DEC may ask state lawmakers to consider this issue and we will continue to voice our concern regarding this action.

The Legislature also approved funding for community libraries across the county, including $5,200 for the Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls. The Legislature also approved $157,000 for the Rensselaer County Soil and Water Conservation District and $421,191 for Cooperative Extension.

The Legislature appointed members to the county Fire Advisory Board, including James Hunt of Hoosick, William Seel of Petersburgh and Edward Fredricks III of Grafton. Appointments were also made to the county Environmental Management Council including Denise Jacon Church of Petersburgh and Mike Crandall of Grafton.

We also commended staff members at the Van Rensselaer Manor for their response to a fire at the Manor in December. The actions of these employees helped protect residents and extinguish the fire quickly without any major damage to the Manor.

The next regular monthly meeting of the County Legislature is March 11. Residents are welcome to contact us at our legislative offices by writing to the Rensselaer County Legislature, 1600 7^th Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 or by e-mailing us via the official legislative website at www.rensselaercounty.org.

The District 5 Report from Legislators Brownell & Goodermote
March 2008

Greetings. As representatives of District 5 in the Rensselaer County Legislature, we are proud to report on actions taken by the County Legislature at the March 11 legislative meeting.

A law to provide veterans of the Cold War with a property tax exemption was introduced at the March meeting, with approval expected at the April 8 legislative meeting. The law would provide veterans who served in the military between September 1945 through December 1991 a partial property tax exemption.

The county recently joined with other counties to file a lawsuit against several pharmaceutical companies to recover overpayments for Medicaid prescription drug purchases. The Legislature voted at the March 11 meeting to accept a $45,000 settlement from one company, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, and we are hopeful we will soon be reaching other settlements with other companies.

A resolution we sponsored opposing a proposal by the state Department of Environmental Conservation to prohibit the open burning of leaves, brush and paper was approved unanimously. The DEC proposal would change state law that allows towns with populations under 20,000 to decide whether to ban open burning, and would completely ban open burning regardless of population.

As representatives of several small communities in eastern Rensselaer County, we believe the open burning ban would unfairly penalize and inconvenience rural residents. The burning of leaves, brush and paper is relatively benign and the cost from transporting and depositing these items in landfills could be considerable. We believe small towns should be allowed to continue to determine whether open burning laws are necessary.

The Legislature also accepted funds for a farmland protection project in Petersburgh. In 2007, the county was chosen for four farmland protection projects, bringing the county’s total of farmland protection projects to eight. We are excited about opportunities to protect farmland and open space in eastern Rensselaer County in 2008 and beyond. The Legislature also passed a resolution recognizing National Agriculture Week.

Legislators joined to oppose reductions in federal funding and reimbursements to New York State as proposed in the president’s 2008-2009 federal budget. These cuts would unfairly penalize our state and many residents, particularly at a time when our state sends many millions more to Washington than we receive back.

We were saddened to see the closing of Haynes Ford in Hoosick. We have been in contact with county economic development officials to see what opportunities exist to redevelop this prominent site.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature is Tuesday, April 8. Residents are welcome to contact us at our legislative offices by writing to the Rensselaer County Legislature, 1600 7^th Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 or by e-mailing us via the official legislative website at www.rensselaercounty.org.

The District 5 Report from Legislators Brownell & Goodermote
April 2008

Greetings. As representatives of District 5 in the Rensselaer County Legislature, we are proud to report on actions taken by the County Legislature at the April 8th legislative meeting.

The Legislature voted unanimously to provide veterans of the Cold War with a limited property tax exemption. The exemption would go into effect in 2010 for qualifying veterans who served from 1945 to 1991. The program is similar to other limited tax exemptions for other veterans, and is administered according to state guidelines.

This exemption is an opportunity for the county to thank the many veterans of the Cold War. The Cold War was a pivotal moment in our nation’s history and helped protect the freedom and quality of life we enjoy today.

Legislators also adopted a resolution seeking a review by the State Attorney General of crude oil prices that have helped drive gasoline prices to record levels. Past investigations have helped stabilize prices and we are hopeful state officials join in a national effort to investigate these prices before the busy spring and summer driving periods. Legislators also approved a resolution seeking a break on the state sales tax for the sale of digitally-compatible televisions. Beginning in February, 2009, television signals will be broadcast digitally, requiring either the purchase of a new television or digital compatible equipment.

The Legislature also approved the purchase of materials for the repair and improvement of county roads during the summer months.

We sponsored a resolution recognizing Jessica Knuetter for joining the 1,000 Point Club at Berlin Central High School, having scored 1,000 points during her high school basketball career. She is the fifth player in school history to reach the milestone, scoring her 1,000^th point during her final game for the Lady Mountaineers.

The Legislature also adopted a resolution recognizing new federal standards for locomotive emissions. We believe the new standards, if followed by railroad companies and enforced by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, could have a positive impact for communities and residences located near railroad operations. We are especially hopeful these new federal standards have a positive impact with residents in Eagle Bridge, who have reported difficulties with freight trains operating in the area.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature is Tuesday, May 13th. Residents are welcome to contact us at our legislative offices by writing to the Rensselaer County Legislature, 1600 7^th Avenue, Troy, NY 12180 or by e-mailing us via the official legislative website at www.rensselaercounty.org.