Rensselaer City Newsletter June 2023

RENSSELAER CITY NEWSLETTER

It’s that time of year again when the city finalizes plans for the new Fiscal year budget. Over the past few weeks I have met with each department to discuss their program’s budget and to ensure we are requesting enough money so all City services can be met. As always the Common Council was invited to attend each meeting. The schedule was as outlined below. 2nd Ward Alderperson Ernie Dambrose attended most of the meetings with the exception of Building/ Zoning, Fire and Police.

Monday May 22 Tuesday May 23 Wednesday May 24

Engineer Dept Assessor Dept Building/Zoning Dept

Planning Dept Purchasing Dept Library

Police Dept. Fire Department Youth Dept

I look forward to working together with the Common Council on the 2023-24 Fiscal Year Budget.

Mayor Mike Stammel and his administration continue to work tirelessly to improve Rensselaer.

Since Mayor Stammel was elected, business owners and developers have really begun to focus on and invest in our City. There are several new housing projects in different stages of development in our city, and one just received a major infusion of cash from Governor Kathy Hochul and Restore NY.

This grant is a vote of confidence in our city and this exciting project, and Mayor Stammel and his team pledge to keep working hard to overcome any obstacles, and keep our City moving forward.

Click on the link below to the story in the Albany Business Review:

https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2023/05/22/restore-ny-grants-redevelopment.html

Mayor Mike Stammel 518-426-9511

Office of the Mayor mike.stammel@rensselaerny.gov

Farmers Market

Summer Concert Series

Youth Summer Programs

Yard waste (grass clippings, leaves brush and twigs are scheduled for pick up on Mondays.

Spotlight Event– Comedy Night

Son of Egg in Rensselaer is hosting their first in a series of stand up comedy shows starting Saturday, June 10th starting at 8:00 pm. Headliners include Cristy Miller and Frank Vignola hosted by Brooklyn’s own Angela Cobb

The bar will be open and a full menu will be available throughout the evening. If you haven't stopped in yet, this night is the perfect time to experience their delicious Korean inspired cocktails and wonderful cuisine.

Tickets are $25 if purchased in advance or $30 at door. Check out their facebook page or click on the link below to get your advance tickets

https://www.facebook.com/events/245475401368916? ref=newsfeed

Son of Egg is located at 483 Broadway in Rensselaer

Summer Concert Series Begins

The Rensselaer Kiwanis will once again kick off its Summer Jam Concert Series at the North End Fire House on Washington Avenue starting at 6:00 pm on June 28th with Kilashandra

Bring your lawn chairs and grab a bite to eat from G-D Comfort Food Truck. Sit back and enjoy the music.

Dates for the Series:

7/12 The Lost Art Band

7/29 Donny Elvis

7/26 Diva and the Dirty Boys

8/2 Hands of Time

8/9 Bobby Vandetta and the Split

Memorial Day Parade - The Best

Congratulations to those who received awards for the following categories:

Best Musical Organization Rensselaer High School

Best Adult Color Guard O’Neil Post

Best Youth Organization RGSA Girls Softball

Best Appearing Fire Truck Rensselaer

Best Appearing Women’s Group O’Neil Post

Of

Best Float Based on Parade Theme City of Rensselaer Republican Committee

We want to thank all those who participated in making this parade happen this year it was a great day for a parade!

Photo Compilation byDaveEllis

Summer Community Fair @ Rensselaer Library

The Rensselaer Public Library is having a Community Fair on Saturday June 17th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to start their Summer Reading Program, “all Together Now:. Children make a pledge to read 15 minutes a day during the summer to get a free reader’s kit. The Friend of the Library will serve ice cream sundaes and popcorn, and there will be a balloon twister

and face painting. Community member will have tables, a fire truck, car seat installation inspection, music from Rensselaer High, give aways and fun activities.

The Library is located at 676 East Street, across from the train station. For more information about the summer events, visit www.rensselaerlibrary.org or call (518) 462-1193

Farmers Market Returns to Rensselaer

The City of Rensselaer is happy to announce the return of it’s Riverfront Farmers’ Market The Market is set to take place August and September on Thursdays.

The final details were being worked on at the time of this publishing. We will give you an update when they are finalized. Stay Tuned!!

Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff Exam

The Rensselaer County Civil Service has announced that the Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff civil service exam has been scheduled for September 9, 2023. Application deadline is August 4, 2023.

The resulting eligible list will be used to fill vacancies as they occur in the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Rensselaer, Towns and Villages within Rensselaer County. Appointment is not permanent until completion of the municipal police basic training program, (as required by General Municipal Law Section 209-q) and satisfactory completion of a probationary period.

Please go to the Rensselaer County Civil Service website for more information and to apply!

https://rensco-portal.mycivilservice.com/default/

Rensselaer Senior Class of 2023

Congratulation to the Senior Class of 2023 who will be graduating at the end of the month (June 22, 2023). We are so proud of all of our students hard work in accomplishing this milestone. We wish them much success on their journey to becoming productive and caring individuals.

City Hall Garden Club

The City Hall Garden Club would like to thank all those who participated and gave donations to the City Hall Garden this year.

Amy Lolik, Jackie Vath, Fran Welsh, Dave Ellis, Jeff Stuart and Erica Jackson for giving of their time to plant the flowers.

Sharon Martin, Sonny Lourina and Dave Ellis for their donations of plants.

Jeff Stuart for his design of the new garden on the 3rd Ave. Extension side of the building.

This year the Garden Club is dedicating the Garden to the Veterans of Rensselaer!

Spring/Summer Yard Work

The Department of Public Works would like to remind residents that yard waste (grass clippings, leaves brush and twigs are scheduled for pick up on Mondays. Please be considerate of your neighbors and neighborhood and properly dispose of your yard waste:

Leaves/Grass clipping must be in paper biodegradable bags. We will not pick up leaves/clippings in plastic bags.

Brush/Branches/Twigs should be no longer than 4 feet (not over 40 lbs) and must be tied together.

Cut Trees/Limbs or extremely large piles will be charged based on size. Also please be reminded that there is NO DUMPING on private or City property. Please NOTE: the following City Properties are prohibited from dumping are as follows: 4th Street area next to the Hollow and the end of Hazel Terrace, 6th Street entrance to walk path and 8th Street playground. In addition, dumping is prohibited along Forbes Ave.

If you are currently dumping in these areas, you must discontinue this practice and dispose of your yard waste properly. This practice is dangerous and against city ordinance.

Please know that you can and will be fined if caught.

Please contact the Department of Public Works at (518) 4629617 should you have any questions regarding this matter.

Rensselaer Seniors Spotlight

Dinner with Donny Elvis

Come join the Rensselaer County Senior Center on June 5th for a Special Dinner with Donny Elvis. Lunch menu consists of sausage, peppers and onions.

Call (518) 463-2166 FOR RESERVATIONS. Call early, seats are limited.

We are located at East and Herrick Streets in Rensselaer and are open Monday Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Lunch with Mayor Stammel

Join The Rensselaer Senior Center on the first Tuesday of every month and have lunch with Mayor Stammel. Mike Stammel is a public servant of the people and on this day he may be literally serving you lunch while informing you of what’s happening in both the city and the county. This is a great opportunity for a round table discussion on

issues that could be of interest to you and to get the facts straight from the Mayor. Call to make a reservation (518) 463-2166. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM until 3 PM.

WEEKLY PROGRAMS

Lunch Served every weekday 12:00 pm-1:00 pm

Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 1pm - Silver Sneakers

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:15am - Line Dancing

Thursday's (Every Other Week) at 1pm Arts and Crafts

Thursday's and Friday's at 12:30 - Pinochle

Friday's at 10am - 12:00—Art Class

Spotlightintoevents atRensselaer SeniorCenter

City of Rensselaer Youth Bureau

2023 Summer Recreational Program

Coordinator-JimKonstantakis

AssistantCoordinators-KristineKretzschmar&GabriellePrice

PHONE:518-462-5488

EMAIL: youth@rensselaerny.gov

Summer Fun Program begins July 5th - August 11th

The Youth Bureau will operate a 6 week recreational program from July 5th through August 11th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The program offers wholesome recreational activities for all interested children. Most activities will be within the Boys and Girls Club building at 544 Broadway, at the Riverfront Park and at East Street Spray Park.

Fun and games at Riverfront Park Staff may bring the children to Riverfront Park to play games and enjoy the park.

Community Building This year we are looking to take a few trips/tours this summer. The first being a tour of the Broadway Fire House on July 11th and a tour of the Police Station and Court House on July 19th.

Please NOTE: This program is not designed to provide daycare services for unsupervised children. Lunch will NOT be provided. You must register your child. Registration can be done at both the Boys & Girls Club (10 am to 4 pm) and at City Hall. Contact the Youth Bureau directly for more information.

Cool off this summer at East Street Sprayground!

Beginning July 5th, the Walter S. Pratt Memorial Sprayground located on East street will be open:

Monday-Friday 10 am to 6 pm

Saturday & Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm

Permits are still required and you MUST be a City Resident with your zip code of 12144. Contact the City Clerk at (518) 462-4266 to obtain a Resident Card.

Please remember to sign in as you enter the park and show your resident card.

Partition Street Project Update

Construction continues on the Partition Street Culvert over Quackenderry Creek. The watermain relocation has been completed. A meeting to discuss overhead utility relocation and next steps meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 9th.

Stay tuned here for updates about this and other projects happening in our City.

Zoning Board of Appeals Members Wanted!

The city is looking for additional board members for our regularly scheduled meetings and to ensure a quorum is met at each and every meeting. Over the last year our Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals have been busy with the new development that is taking place in our City. We are looking to appoint a few alternates to our Zoning Board of Appeals.

You must be a City resident to apply. Below is a link that outlines the powers and duties of the Zoning Board of Appeals. If you are interested please reach out to the Mayor’s Office directly at:

https://rensselaerny.gov/City-Departments/planningbuilding-and-zoning/zoning-board-appeals/rensselaer-zba

The Rensselaer City Newsletter

The Rensselaer Newsletter began its first launch this past January. Since then, it has become the place City Residents look to for news and facts about what’s going on in the City.

The Newsletter is produced and designed by volunteers Dave Ellis and Madeline Rizzo with content provided by City Hall employees as well as residents.

Inquires regarding articles, submission of articles or to be added to the Newsletter distribution list please send an email to info@rensselaerny.gov

We look forward to hearing from you!

Common Council Workshops & Meetings

If you are interested in what’s happening in Rensselaer, please consider attending the Common Council Workshops & Meetings to get the real scoop on what’s happening in your City. The Workshops are held every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month and the Council Meeting are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays both at 6:30 PM at City Hall (see attached Calendar for dates for this month at the end of this Newsletter).

Agendas are posted on the City’s website at https:// rensselaerny.gov/meeting-agendas-and-minutes each Monday prior to the Workshops. Your attendance and input are important and your community needs your support. We hope to see you there!

City of Rensselaer Events and Meetings

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