[0:04] And good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming out to our town board meeting of October

[0:10] 1st, 2020. Six and please rise and join me in the pledge of allegiance.

[0:17] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for

[0:24] which it hands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[0:30] Thank you. Madam Clerk for the resolutions this evening.

[0:37] There are a few resolutions before the board. We'll begin with resolution 324, which is a resolution authorizing the supervisor to execute change order number 1 with LaBella Associates PC in connection with the West Albany Memorial Park Restroom Building Project.

[0:53] So moved.

[0:53] Second.

[0:54] Supervisor votes aye.

[0:56] Councilman Gamble.

[0:56] Aye.

[0:57] Feel?

[0:57] Aye.

[0:58] Kovacs.

[0:58] Aye.

[0:58] Please.

[0:59] Aye.

[0:59] Wine Garden.

[1:00] Aye.

[1:00] I'm a converse.

[1:01] Aye.

[1:01] The eyes have a supervisor.

[1:02] The resolution is adopted.

[1:04] Resolution 325 is a resolution authorizing the Leif and Water District to reimburse for overestimated

[1:10] water usage due to failure of the property owner to provide accurate water meter readings.

[1:16] So moved.

[1:17] Second.

[1:18] Supervisor votes aye.

[1:19] Councilman Gamble.

[1:20] Aye.

[1:20] Feel?

[1:21] Aye.

[1:21] Overtime.

[1:22] Aye.

[1:22] Lays.

[1:23] Aye.

[1:23] Lengarden.

[1:24] Aye.

[1:24] Ima Cumber.

[1:25] Aye.

[1:25] The I's Havett Supervisor.

[1:26] The resolution is adopted.

[1:28] Resolution 326 is a resolution authorizing the Latham water district to reimburse for overestimated water usage due to failure of the property owner to provide accurate water meter readings.

[1:39] So moved.

[1:39] Second.

[1:40] Supervisor votes aye.

[1:42] Houseman Gamble.

[1:42] Aye.

[1:43] Eal.

[1:43] Aye.

[1:44] Overtime.

[1:44] Aye.

[1:45] Lays.

[1:45] Aye.

[1:46] Lengarden.

[1:46] Aye.

[1:46] I'm McComber. Hi. The eyes have a supervisor. The resolution is adopted.

[1:51] Resolution 327 is a resolution authorizing the supervisor to execute a

[1:56] contractor's agreement with clean harbors and environmental services

[1:59] ink in connection with the sulfuric acid day tank neutralization and removal

[2:04] project at the Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant for the DPW Division of

[2:09] Latham water. So moved. Second. Supervisor votes aye.

[2:12] Hi.

[2:13] Councilman Gamble.

[2:14] Hi.

[2:14] Eel.

[2:14] Hi.

[2:15] Covax.

[2:15] Hi.

[2:16] Please.

[2:16] Hi.

[2:17] Flying Garden.

[2:18] Hi.

[2:19] Hi.

[2:20] Hi.

[2:21] Hi.

[2:22] Resolution 328 is a resolution awarding the contract to spring electric ink in connection with the high-lift pump station

[2:29] Generator automatic transfer switch replacement project at the Mohawk View water treatment plant for the DPW division of leaf and water

[2:36] So moved second supervisor votes aye

[2:40] Councilman Gamble aye field aye covex aye please aye wine garden aye and McCunbar aye the eyes have a supervisor

[2:47] The resolution is adopted.

[2:49] Resolution 329 is a resolution awarding the contract to angel construction limited in connection with the

[2:55] 2026 sanitary sewer repair program 2.

[2:59] So moved.

[3:00] Second.

[3:01] Supervisor votes aye.

[3:02] Councilman Gamble.

[3:03] Aye.

[3:04] Field.

[3:04] Povex.

[3:05] Please.

[3:06] Aye.

[3:06] Flying Garden.

[3:07] Aye.

[3:07] Emma Cumber.

[3:08] Aye.

[3:09] The eyes have a supervisor.

[3:10] The resolution is adopted.

[3:11] Resolution 330 is a resolution calling a public hearing.

[3:15] pursuant to Section 202 of the New York State Town Law relative to the annual estimate

[3:20] of expense of improvements and benefit assessment role for the town of colonies sewer improvement

[3:25] area.

[3:26] So moved.

[3:27] Second.

[3:28] Supervisor votes aye.

[3:29] Councilman Gamble.

[3:30] Aye.

[3:31] You.

[3:31] Aye.

[3:31] Covax.

[3:32] Aye.

[3:32] Please.

[3:33] Aye.

[3:33] Wine Garden.

[3:34] Aye.

[3:35] And the number.

[3:35] Aye.

[3:36] The eyes have a supervisor.

[3:37] Resolution is adopted.

[3:39] Resolution 331 is a resolution calling for a public hearing in connection with the fire protection

[3:44] Section services within the town's fire protection districts for 2027.

[3:49] So moved.

[3:50] Second.

[3:51] Supervisor votes aye.

[3:52] Pounceman Gamble.

[3:53] Aye.

[3:53] Field.

[3:54] Aye.

[3:54] COVAX.

[3:55] Aye.

[3:55] Please.

[3:56] Aye.

[3:56] Wine Garden.

[3:57] Aye.

[3:58] Emma Cumber.

[3:58] Aye.

[3:59] The aye's habit supervisor.

[4:00] The resolution is adopted.

[4:02] The resolution 332 is a resolution authorizing the supervisor to enter into an agreement with data works

[4:08] plus in connection with the annual maintenance and support services of the RICY plus live

[4:13] plan system for the colony police department.

[4:15] So moved.

[4:16] Second.

[4:17] Supervisor votes aye.

[4:19] Councilor Campbell.

[4:19] Aye.

[4:20] Phil.

[4:20] Aye.

[4:21] Kovacs.

[4:21] Aye.

[4:22] Please.

[4:22] Aye.

[4:23] Lion Garden.

[4:23] Aye.

[4:24] Emma Cumber.

[4:24] Aye.

[4:25] Aye.

[4:26] Aye.

[4:40] Aye.

[4:40] The board openly welcomes all public commentary.

[4:43] However, this public comment period is not appropriate for you to pose or present questions.

[4:48] As a reminder, the board meeting agenda and

[4:53] related agenda packet on the town website 24 hours in advance of each town board meeting.

[5:00] This posting provides the public with an opportunity to review proposed resolutions prior to each meeting.

[5:06] Questions may be asked and answers sought prior to any town board meeting by calling,

[5:12] emailing, mailing, or delivering a letter to the town supervisor's office, each and every

[5:17] town councilman or councilwoman or any of the town departments. The phone numbers and email

[5:23] addresses for the town supervisor, town councilman and women, and town departments are available on

[5:30] town's website, www.townaconey.gov.

[5:34] Again, please limit your comments

[5:35] to no more than three minutes in duration.

[5:37] Thank you.

[5:39] First, a tie-in up is Christopher Kelsey

[5:41] of the Comptroller's Office.

[5:48] Good evening, sir.

[5:49] Good evening.

[5:50] Thank you for forward for the times and I.

[5:52] I'd like to correct the record as it relates

[5:54] to a statement made by the final speaker

[5:56] during the public comment period

[5:58] at the town board meeting of September 24th, 2026.

[6:02] Ms. Weber alleged the town did not comply

[6:04] with the Town Law Chapter 26 Article 8 Section 106 as it related to the presentation of the 2026

[6:11] tentative town budget to the town board. Chapter 62 Article 8 Section 106 requires the

[6:19] town clerk to present the tentative town budget to the town board at a regular or special meeting

[6:25] on or before October 5th of each year. The town clerk did in fact distribute the 2026 tentative

[6:31] budget filed on September 30, 2025 to the town board members at the regular meeting of October

[6:38] 2, 2025. This is clearly documented at approximately the 41-minute mark of the meeting. The video

[6:45] of the meeting is available on the town's website. The town board then reviewed the tentative

[6:50] budget and on October 23, 2025, it unanimously voted to accept the tentative budget as the

[6:57] the 2026 preliminary budget.

[7:00] That evening, a public hearing on the preliminary 2026 budget

[7:03] was called for November 6th, 2025.

[7:06] Subsequent to the October 23rd meeting,

[7:09] the preliminary budget was made available

[7:10] in the town's clerk's office and on the town's website.

[7:14] The public hearing for the 2026 preliminary budget

[7:16] was held on November 6th, 2025,

[7:19] and the town board unanimously adopted the preliminary budget

[7:22] as the final 2026 budget.

[7:25] The final budget was then made available

[7:27] in the town clerk's office and on the talent's website.

[7:30] Thank you.

[7:31] Thank you, sir.

[7:34] Next, I sign up.

[7:35] We have Susan Lurillard.

[7:38] Good evening.

[7:39] Susan Lurillard here, town resident.

[7:41] I'm just going to reiterate a point I made up,

[7:45] well, actually not upstairs in the pre-ident.

[7:48] Let me interrupt.

[7:49] Have you, can you provide us here with your address please?

[7:52] I know.

[7:52] It's a public.

[7:56] I'm not going to get into that.

[7:57] But there's a New York State Office of Government opinion that anyone is not required to speak

[8:06] at a public hearing to provide their address.

[8:09] So, if you wouldn't mind if you wanted to.

[8:12] I live in the town of Colony, you know, where I live anyway.

[8:16] Getting back to my point at the pre-agenda session, I asked whether or not the town would

[8:22] and entertain scheduling some budget workshops for town residents to be able to ask questions

[8:32] about the budget prior to the budget hearing in November.

[8:38] And I just want to reiterate that I think that would be a very good idea.

[8:41] There are many towns in our area that have this practice to provide a copy of the tentative

[8:50] budget for their residents to review and ask questions at budget workshops.

[8:55] I think it's very helpful for the town as it's doing its budget to hear what

[9:00] residents would like to see in the budget. Any questions they have in that so

[9:08] forth. So basically that was what I had mentioned at the pre-agenda session and I

[9:20] There are several towns in our areas.

[9:22] I mentioned town of Rotterdam, town of Bethlehem,

[9:26] Knox, Queenmans.

[9:27] For example, have all had in our schedule

[9:30] to have budget workshops.

[9:32] So it's not out of the ordinary.

[9:34] And I think it would be very helpful in a good government

[9:37] move for our town to do this.

[9:39] Thank you.

[9:40] Thank you.

[9:43] Next we have Allison McLean Lane.

[9:49] Thank you very much.

[9:51] Yes, there is an opinion from the committee

[9:52] on open government that you do not need to provide identifying information about yourself.

[9:58] Personally, I am an elections official. I do not want to give out my address. And, you

[10:04] know, I hope that that would be respected. So, I wanted to thank the Colony EMS Department

[10:13] for everything they have done for my parents in the past year and a half. It's been a

[10:24] tough

[10:25] here. They've come and done the lift assist.

[10:37] I'm sorry. Their emotional generosity and their kindness

[10:41] has been beyond belief. They actually, 15 and a half years ago, saved my husband's life on the

[10:47] floor of an ambulance in Kimberly Square and actually used his EKJ as a training document for their

[10:55] staff. I am indebted to them for my entire effort.

[11:05] It's okay. Do you want to collect yourself and

[11:08] come back. Is that okay? Whatever. Okay. All right. Thank you.

[11:13] And I apologize for my emotion.

[11:19] Next we have Paul.

[11:21] I'd

[11:27] like to comment on a town employee that showed me something that was on the Internet or whatever it is.

[11:38] But Peter had an announcement and it was for a building at the West Albany Pocket Park.

[11:44] But it just showed him and a little piece of the building behind him.

[11:49] So I really couldn't see what it was.

[11:52] So I had to run down to West Albany to see this new building down in West Albany.

[11:58] I don't know whether some of the town board members have seen it yet.

[12:01] But I went down there and one of the town employees, very nice person,

[12:07] gave me a sneak peek.

[12:10] It isn't open yet.

[12:11] So I got a sneak peek at this building and it is beautiful.

[12:16] But also he gave me a little bit of a tour around West Albany Pocket Park.

[12:20] I haven't been down there in a lot of years.

[12:23] And the amount of work that's gone in to the West Albany Pocket Park and probably because

[12:29] of the employees of the Recreation Department, but it is unbelievable down there.

[12:36] New fencing and the ice skating rink and all the other things that are going on down

[12:41] there. I just think they're just doing a wonderful job. I would like to mention that perhaps

[12:47] the town board might consider putting one of those buildings behind town hall in the

[12:54] park in Newtonville just offhand might think of doing something like that because it's

[13:00] just the perfect size building to put in that park. So I'd like to thank all the town

[13:06] employees for doing a great job.

[13:10] Thank you, sir.

[13:12] And next, we have Jim Quirk.

[13:23] Good evening.

[13:24] Jim Quirk, 43-11 Avenue.

[13:27] There was a last-town board meeting

[13:29] I had raised some concerns about a couple of vacant lots

[13:33] near where I live that were severely overgrown,

[13:37] as well as an issue I had with or not an issue I have,

[13:40] but an issue that's actually kind of a safety issue.

[13:44] about the sidewalk on Delator Road that floods even with moderate rain.

[13:51] And Mr. Mavage, we asked me to speak to Andres about the little hats.

[13:55] And he seemed like a pretty mild matter guy.

[13:57] But he must have put the fear of God in the sun.

[14:00] But he, because those lots got cleaned up, especially the,

[14:03] there's one on the corner of Delator in Troy's connectivity road

[14:07] with the stewards, between the stewards and the Salvation Army.

[14:13] And they mowed that down nicely, but there's a lot of 302

[14:17] Troy's connecting road, just up the road to peace.

[14:20] And across the street from the Old Blasberg's gas station,

[14:22] if you're familiar with that.

[14:24] And they had a small army of guys there last week,

[14:27] and it cleaned up nicely.

[14:28] So I appreciate that very much to it.

[14:32] I just wanted to do knowledge in Andrus.

[14:34] I talked to about the lots.

[14:35] And I talked to Crate about the flooded sidewalks.

[14:39] And really, like I said, he got the job done with cleaning

[14:42] knows up and I've had conversations with Crate and they are working to come to some kind

[14:49] of solution to try to make that sidewalk passable and not blood and get covered with mud

[14:55] because, as I said, when I was talking about this last...

[15:00] The meeting is it, I think, part of the reason that there are people walking up Delator Road on the other side where there's just a small shoulder. It's extremely dangerous. I think part of that is because they can't reverse the sidewalk on the side that has a sidewalk. So, anyway, I just wanted to give a little acknowledgement to Anderson Crate and just to let the board know that they are responsive and working towards solutions. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

[15:28] That

[15:35] concludes the public sign-up for tonight.

[15:38] Okay.

[15:39] Madam Clerk, before we close, is there any service that you would like to do while we're on the record?

[15:46] Yes, and if I may just take a moment to address the board.

[15:49] I just wanted to echo the sentiments of the Comptroller in relation to the allegations that were set forth at the last meeting of September 4th.

[15:55] And again, concurring about those allegations in regards to legal requirements that were set forth in town law section 106.

[16:02] that they were ignored.

[16:04] And as Chris stated, the media files are available on our website.

[16:08] They contain the video in which I presented the tentative town budget to the board.

[16:12] And again, that was on October 2nd of 2025 at approximately the 41 minute mark of the video.

[16:19] I also made note of the date that it was filed in my office again in accordance with town

[16:24] law.

[16:25] And I would note that the tentative budget was filed on September 30th of that year as well.

[16:30] So once again, and again, in compliance with New York State Town Law Section 106-3,

[16:36] I would like to present the 2027 tentative budget to this board, which was filed

[16:41] in my office yesterday, which was the 30th day of September 2026, and again,

[16:47] in compliance with Town Law Section 106-2.

[16:50] Thank you.

[16:51] And thank you, Julie.

[16:52] While you're doing that, it's, you know, those kinds of bear allegations and

[16:57] suggesting that this town board is done something illegal.

[17:01] All it took was a phone call to the controller's office or

[17:06] to Julie's office to find the facts.

[17:10] But to come before a legislative body and just make false

[17:14] allegations of illegal conduct by this town board,

[17:19] it's just not healthy and all you have to do is call the

[17:22] department head and they'll tell you the answers.

[17:25] Chris, you've always made yourself available on all financial data as well and Julie you

[17:31] have as well.

[17:32] So we encourage a better dialogue between folks that really want to know the answers.

[17:38] As a result, these department heads every day field calls from constituents.

[17:44] I know my office does on a daily basis.

[17:47] People do have questions and they call us to get the answers and get the facts.

[17:53] credibility is so important in government today and being able to trust the people that

[17:59] are making those decisions. And all you have to do is contact the town and we'll get

[18:05] the answers for you like we do with the majority of citizens that have questions on a daily

[18:11] basis. It's not that difficult, we're always happy to answer questions. So I think the

[18:17] Department heads once again as well for rolling out here and being here to even answer questions

[18:22] tonight, or being available to answer questions on specific resolutions in a work session

[18:29] immediately before this meeting. So there's great opportunities to receive comment

[18:36] and to get answers. And it's the best way to do it as to get the answers by just asking

[18:42] the departments, and they're more than happy to do it, and most citizens do just that, or

[18:48] they call their town board members and they get the answers for them.

[18:52] It's not that difficult to get the correct information if that's what you really want.

[18:58] Nonetheless, I think the department heads too for galvanizing the employees every day.

[19:03] Mr. Russell pointed out how the employees and the parks and recreation department doing

[19:07] a fabulous job, not just at West Albany, but throughout our great town under the leadership

[19:12] of Jeff Madden, thank you, sir.

[19:14] in that way and we take great pride in enhancing all of our parks which we have done over the last four years with the support of this town board.

[19:23] So I thank you for doing that and mentioning the hard work of those folks each and every day.

[19:29] And so thank you for galvanizing the employees and being role models for them as well.

[19:36] At this point our next meeting is-

[19:38] We'll be back on October the 22nd.

[19:40] All right, we'll see you then safe drive home now. Thank you very much for coming out tonight

Town Board Meeting

Transcript