Rensselaer City Newsletter March 2023

RENSSELAER CITY NEWSLETTER

Over the past year, the City has been moving forward with revitalizing its Downtown and Business District as well as it residential areas. Two Senior Housing rehab projects were recently completed, modernizing both buildings and bringing them up to today’s safety standards. Two new residential development projects were also completed. A second apartment building at DeLaet’s Landing will house an additional 84 units as well as an outdoor swimming facility. BBL Construction will begin construction in the coming months on the old Barnett’s Mill near the Forbes Ave boat launch site that will provide upscale residential apartments on the second floor with commercial retail on the lower level. The McManus Center on Herrick Street will be renovated in the coming months as well and will eventually house apartments and retail. In early Spring, the city boat launch is expected to be packed with Striper anglers, kicking off warmer months. In late Summer, the city will host a car show and music festival with a second music festival taking place in early Fall. In June and July, Kiwanis will host weekly concerts over a span of 8 weeks at the North end fire station. Throughout the summer, there will be several other events as well as activities taking place.

Every 1st Tuesday of the month, Mayor Stammel attends lunch at the Rensselaer Senior Center. Mayor Stammel informs the Seniors of what’s happening in the City and answers any questions they may have. At previous luncheons, there have been rumors about the future of the current Senior Center. At the most recent luncheon, Mayor Stammel informed Seniors that the County is working on finding a new location and the owners of the current building have agreed to extend their stay for awhile. This extension will give the County time to find a new location and make any repairs or alterations to the building to serve the Seniors for many years to come.

The search for a new location continues and Mayor Stammel is looking for your help. Some residents have suggested the RVA building on Third Street as well as the new County Building on Rt 4. Please know that the RVA building is not adequate in size, nor is it safely accessible for our Seniors. The new County Building on Route 4 does not have space adequate for what the Seniors need and is further out of the city. Many seniors use public transit. If you have any questions about the Senior Center’s future or if you have an idea for a location that may work for our Seniors, please do not hesitate to contact the Mayor’s Office at (518) 426-9511. Mayor Stammel would be happy to hear from you!

Mayor Mike Stammel 518-426-9511

Office of the Mayor mike.stammel@rensselaerny.gov

Water Line Testing

Fire Captain Exam

Seeking Input on Hudson River Access

Scenic Hudson is creating a Hudson River Access Plan designed to help communities achieve their shoreline access goals. They are asking people to click on the link below to use the fun and easy-to-use interactive mapper to indicate where you use the shoreline and what you like to do there. You can also indicate what improvements are needed at existing parks and access points and perhaps most

importantly, where you’d like future access.

Scenic Hudson has already received many comments that will be useful in establishing new riverside parks and other access points. But they have extended the period to March 31, 2023 to ensure everyone has an opportunity to share their thoughts.

https:// defendthevalley.org/ campaign/river-access/

Department Highlights: Purchasing

Common Council Workshop

Meetings take place on the first and third Monday of each month.

The Purchasing Department is responsible for the purchasing of all materials, supplies, equipment and services required by the city. This entails processing all purchase requisitions, preparing specifica-

tions for contracts, conducting competitive bidding and awarding contracts. The principal objective of the Purchasing Department is to buy the right products, in the right quantity, at the right time, in the right place and for the right price. The City’s computerized purchase system encumbers funds simultaneously as the order is placed in the system.

Welcome Vendors!

The City of Rensselaer is partnering with the Empire State Purchasing Group Bid System and will post their bid opportunities on Bid Net Direct. As a vendor, you can register with the Empire State Purchasing Group Bid System and be sure that you see all available bids and opportunities.

By selecting the valueadded option, your company will receive emails once the City of Rensselaer has a bid opportunity that matches your company's business. In addition, the site handles bid opportunities, RFPs, and RFQs for other local agencies as well.

The city processes most invoices for payment within (30) days, and expedites payments where additional discounts for prompt payment are offered.

Rich oversees the Purchasing Department and along with the Purchasing Clerk Jessica Marvelli, they ensure our expenditures are following New York State guidelines and the City of Rensselaer’s procurement policies

Empire State Purchasing Group Bid System Home Page @ https:// www.bidnetdirect.com/ new-york/city-ofrensselaer

The city’s Purchasing Agent, Rich Berhaupt has served the City for over 20 years and has been doing a fantastic job!

Photo Compilation byDaveEllis RENSSELAER CITY NEWSLETTER

Open Space Plan - Public Feedback

There will be a community meeting held April 18th @ 6:30 pm at the Rensselaer City School for the Open Space Plan. The City’s Planning Department will be doing an educational presentation and soliciting feedback from the public. The Open Space Plan is a follow up to the City’s Natural Resource Inventory, which was completed in June 2020. The Open Space Steering Committee hopes to educate the public on the benefits of establishing local conservation areas, stormwater management areas, environmental justice areas, and public waterfront usage.

The city’s Open Space Plan will address the following areas:

1. Ensuring that future land use does not harm natural resources such as creeks and forested areas;

2. Prepares for the impact of new development on stormwater management (especially in floodplains and at the bottom of steep slopes);

3. Ensuring that neighborhoods in the city that currently suffer from quality of life issues resulting from the dump and the industrial area are recognized and prioritized in the review of future land use pro-

posals that might negatively impact air and water quality for these neighborhoods; and

4. Ensuring that private development of the waterfront includes public access and preparing the public for what that could look like in the coming years! (Especially with the Livingston Avenue Bridge replacement – once we are connected to Albany, it is reasonable to expect that the lands north of the bridge will be developed)

The steering committee will need public feedback so STAY TUNED! This study is anticipated to be completed mid-summer2023.

Fire Captain Exam Bulk Pick Up Schedule

Rensselaer County Civil Service has announced the upcoming Fire Captain exam for the City of Rensselaer to be held on June 24, 2023.

NOTE: Deadline to apply is May 12, 2023. Click on the link below to apply view the qualification and apply

https://renscoportal.mycivilservice.com/

Please follow the days below for when your trash is picked up on a weekly basis

For normal Tuesday pick up your date is April 24th

For normal Wednesday pickups your date is May 1st

For normal Thursday pickups your date is May 8th for normal Friday pickups your date is May 15th

Common Council Workshops 1st and 3rd Mondays

Last month, we informed you about the Common Council Meetings that take place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Did you know you can attend the Workshops on Monday’s prior to the Meetings as well? Workshops are open to the public and give you the opportunity to voice your opinion before the Common Council regarding the resolutions on the

table. Workshops takes place before the Common Council makes final decisions on placing a resolution on the agenda. At the workshop, you can help push an issue forward or stop a resolution’s vote. Sometimes by providing additional facts and/or information to the Council, you will give them more insight on how residents feel about an issue.

Please consider attending these Workshops that are held every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at City Hall (see Calendar on last page of this Newsletter).

Public speaking begins at 6:30 PM sharp. Agendas are posted on the City’s website the Monday prior.

Water Department News

By now you have surely seen a notice sent out by the Water Department asking homeowners to inspect their water lines for lead. While many have performed the test and submitted the information to the Water Department, there are still many who have not. Over the next several months our Water Meter Reader or one of our Code Enforcement Officers may

show up at your residence if you have not responded. They will have city identification and it should only take a few minutes to perform the test to determine if the water line from the street to the water meter is copper, galvanized, lead or other. The information is required by a State mandate and subsequently by our Water Department in order to meet

Letter to the Editor

the guidelines for the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) requirements by October 2024.

For more information contact the Water Department at: 518 462-6466.

Two neighbors in the 5th Ward had a large tree on their property line, but it was also within the City street right-of-way. The tree was visually dead, riddled with woodpecker holes, and several large branches had fallen through the years.

Last year, the neighbors contacted their 5th Ward Alderman, Eric Endres, and asked about having the tree removed to prevent possible property damage and ensure public safety. Mr. Endres visited the site and agreed to make a request to the City DPW for the tree's removal. Not too long after, the DPW Director, Jim Brady arranged to make a visual inspection of the location and the tree. Mr. Brady then informed the residents that the tree would be added to the worklist of trees to be taken down in the late Summer to Fall. By late Fall, not only had the treen been safely taken down, but the crew returned to grind down the large stump and tidy up the site. My neighbor and I could not be more pleased with the cooperation of all involved, their professionalism, follow-up, and the Tree Crew.

Tom Savrine 3/15/23

City Job Postings

The City of Rensselaer is seeking applications and resumes for the position of Engineering Aide. This is a full -time position (Monday-Friday 8:00AM to 4:00PM) with excellent benefits package. Salary or rate of pay for this position to be determined, and commensurate with education and experience. For full details on the posting go to:

https://rensselaerny.gov/application/ files/6016/7812/1648/

Engineering_Aide_Job_Post.pdf

Electronics Recycling Event

The Rensselaer County Legislature & the Environmental Management Council is sponsoring an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, March 25th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm in Troy at the Rensselaer County Office Building at 1600 7th Avenue, Troy NY 12180.

The event will take place in the parking lot (accessed off Congress Street. For more information visit:

https://rensselaerny.gov/events/rensselaer-countyrecycling-event-1600-7th-ave-troy-ny?

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Rensselaer Seniors Spotlight

Is Your Paperwork Done?

Back By Popular Demand, the Rensselaer County Senior Center will be hosting a number of informational sessions on Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Wills, Trusts and so much more. Just an over the counter drug can affect you in a negative way and put into question your cognitive ability. Our esteemed Director in Schodack, Barb Fausner had a terrible experience with Benadryl “She took a trip and never left the farm”. She’d be willing to share her experience with you. Don’t let someone else decide your last years of life. Take care of your business while there is no question of your ability. The court could appoint someone you never would have chosen to care for you and you would have no choice. Make life decisions easy. Take care of business. Bring a Friend This is Important.

Join Elder Attorney Debra Verni of Rowlands, Lebrou and Griesmer 11am April 20th

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 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.

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

Line Dancing every Tuesday and Wednesday 10:15 am 11:30 am

Silver Sneakers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1:00 pm 2:00 pm

Art every Friday 10:00 am 12:00 pm

Pinochle Game 1st Thursday and Friday of the Month 12:30 pm-1:30 pm

Crochet Hookers Needed

For the last 3 years, you girls have broken records in crocheting Shawls, Lap robes, Hats, Scarfs, Booties and Quilts. Although it is early, it seems the donations of items for our nursing homes has slowed.

I have some yarn here and are always happy to receive donations of yarn for this project. I realize this is a unique talent and am hoping there are some talented hookers looking for a volunteer experience. Your generosity of time and talent makes such a difference in the lives of our seniors in Nursing Homes. Christmas can be a time of great happiness or Great Sadness.

In 2022 we delivered 260 gift bags to local Nursing Homes, I can assure you put smiles on many faces. Please join us this year in making another broken record of gifts to our seniors. Let them know they are not forgotten.

Shawls are 20 x 55 and Lap robes are ?x? donations of yarn are greatly appreciated. We are open M-F 9am to 3pm we are located on East and Herrick streets in Rensselaer Call (518) 463-2166 for more information.

Gloria Fonda, Director Rensselaer Senior Center

City of Rensselaer Events and Meetings

APRIL 2023

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