PRESS RELEASE
February 18, 2008

Members Appointed to County Environmental Board

The Rensselaer County Legislature appointed fifteen county residents to the county Environmental Management Council at the February 12 legislative meeting, with the EMC set to begin meeting later this month.

The EMC serves as an advisory body to the Legislature, helping review and research environmental issues. Members of the EMC also help explore community involvement on environmental and natural resource protection issues.

The EMC members will work closely with Environmental Management Council Director Ann Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy helps manage the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve, an inter-county government recycling program, county Adopt a Roadside program, farmland protection efforts and other environmental issues.

The EMC is expected to review issues including review of toxic contamination issues in the Nassau Lake area, management of the Preserve, expansion of hiking trails in the county, noise and safety issues along railways and recycling efforts, among other environmental issues. Open space protection is also expected to be an issue, with the county recently selected for four farmland protection projects, more than any other county in the state.

“We have had effective work on the environment for years, including the founding of the Preserve, start of an Adopt a Highway program and county recycling. Ann has proven to be an effective EMC director and the revitalized EMC will help do even more,” said Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher.

Those appointed to the EMC include Ed Bruhn of Troy, Christian Ozack of North Greenbush, Jim Barrett of Troy, Sim Adams of Brunswick, Legislator Keith Hammond of Poestenkill, Mike Crandall of Grafton, Denise Jacon Church of Petersburgh, Carl Greene of Berlin, Leon Fiacco of North Greenbush, East Greenbush Councilman Phil Danaher, Michael Kenney of Schodack, Raymond Nalley of Schodack, Tim Dormady of Nassau, Bill Niemi of Brunswick and Kelly Travers-Main of Schodack.

“There are a lot of environmental issues in Rensselaer County and the EMC will be a great sounding board for those issues. We are looking forward to getting started with the revitalized EMC board,” said Legislator Alex Shannon.

Kelleher, Shannon, county Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas, county Planning Director Robert Pasinella, county Sewer District Director Gerry Moscinski and Soil and Water Conservation District Chairman Omer Brenenstuhl will also serve in advisory roles to the EMC.

“We have a good-cross section of residents volunteering to serve on the EMC.  Their energy and experience will be a great benefit to the county,” said Legislator Laura Bauer, member of the Legislature’s Environment Committee.

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