After a somewhat warm and wet December, the forecast for the start of the New Year has a likely winter storm for the weekend.  The Town Board’s 2024 organizational meeting takes place this evening at 7pm, with swearing-in of newly elected Town Board members and Highway Superintendent.  The Comprehensive Plan Update Committee meets next Tuesday, January 9 at 7pm when the CPUC will start reviewing draft recommendations and goals. More details are below.  

Town News & Announcements

With winter weather forecasted for this weekend, please remember that overnight parking is not allowed on Town roads, except where allowed by posted signs.  Please also take time to remove basketball hoops and other obstructions from the paved surface that might hinder snow removal and ice treatments by the Highway Department.   

Highway Department crews have begun picking-up discarded Christmas trees.  Please note that these trees are recycled as mulch so please do not wrap trees in plastic, and remove ornaments, tinsel, etc.  There is no hurry.  Highway trucks pick-up lawn bags and tied brush on a year-round basis.  

Tawasentha, Keenholts, DiCaprio, and Nott Road Parks are open for daytime use.  Western Turnpike Golf Course is now also open for walkers on cart paths.  When measurable snow finally arrives (maybe this weekend), Town parks and Vosburgh Open Space trails are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, with groomed trails at the golf course.  Sledding is available at the Winter Recreation Area just past Tawasentha Park.  Nordic ski and snowshoe rentals are available at the Parks & Rec Office during business hours.

Please remember that dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, including in Town parks, with the exception of the Nott Road dog park and the new dog park behind EMS Station 1 in Westmere.  While you may know that your dog is friendly, the Parks & Rec receives complaints from park patrons who are confronted by unleashed dogs while enjoying Town parks with their family and children.  

Parks & Rec has opened reservations for Tawasentha Parks’ pavilions for the 2024 season.  Walk-in reservations (with payment) will take priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests (with payment).  A Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules form must be submitted with payment and a signed Know the Rules form. To request booking a pavilion, residents must submit the Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and full payment (credit card, check, cash or money order) to the Town. Forms can be dropped off or mailed to the Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.  

A reminder that the 2024 property tax bill will look different and much easier to understand.   With last year’s payoff of the bond for the Town’s purchase of Western Turnpike Golf Course, the separate tax line for the golf course has been eliminated.  The separate tax lines for ambulance districts have also been eliminated.  These lines have been moved to the Town’s General Tax.  The new property tax bill also deleted separate lines for pass-through charges by the County for local election and the State for retirement contributions, and were also added to the Town’s General Tax line.  Because the State does not allow showing tax lines with zero amounts, these four lines were added to the Town’s General Tax line and created a double-digit growth, but the overall Town tax is again well-under the State’s property tax cap by nearly $100,000.  

At its next meeting on Tuesday, January 9 at 7pm, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee will continue its review of draft goals and recommendations prepared by subcommittees on wide-ranging topics, and discuss scheduling its next public workshop when the preliminary goals and recommendations will be shared for public input.  The CPUC will also discuss a future land use map that would provide a framework for land use regulations.  

Tomorrow from Noon to 5pm, the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Town Hall.  The Red Cross is offering a new long-sleeved Red Cross Tee to donors.  You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering “guilderlandtown” for the sponsor code. 

Covid-19 Update

The CDC reported this week that hospitalizations nationwide increased over the past week by 16.7% and the death rate increased by 10%.  The CDC’s current map shows that, except for a handful of counties with “low” rates, all of New York State, including Albany County and neighboring counties, now have “medium” rates.  No county currently has a “high” rate.  

State DOH’s most recent COVID-19 summary indicated that COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are both increasing in the State.  Albany County DOH’s most recent wastewater COVID-19 surveillance report shows that the presence of the COVID-19 virus in the Town’s wastewater is “high” and “quantifiable,” with more than 50 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, and is also at a “higher” rate when compared to the State’s numbers, and that in-patient hospitalizations over the next 10 days is expected to increase.   

A reminder that the Federal government has expanded its program under which you can receive by mail free at-home COVID-19 tests.  The program now allows for eight home tests per household which means that if you recently placed an order for four tests, you can now order four additional tests at no cost.  

Community Events and Resources

The Guilderland Public Library’s calendar includes seminars on interesting topics and conversations with well-known authors.  On Wednesday, January 10 at 8pm, the Library is hosting a virtual conversation with best-selling author Rebecca Serle about her novel, One Italian Summer, In Five Years, The Dinner List, and many more.  The Library offers a wide-variety of seminars by authors and prominent persons, and taped recordings of prior events.  

A reminder that the Library offers several free weekly gatherings for the community’s benefit including Let’s Talk: Coffee & Conservation for Seniors on every Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm, with coffee, tea, snacks, and lunch available at the Café’ con Mel, the Library’s new café.   The Library’s events calendar also has LEGO Free Play, Teen Drop-In DIY, and other interesting group activities.   

The Guilderland YMCA has several upcoming opportunities including a Family Fun Night on Saturday, January 13 from 4pm to 6pm, with arts & crafts, ping pong, bounce house, swim evaluations, and more.  Registration is required.  On Saturday, January 20 from 10am to 11am, the YMCA is holding a mental health workshop series at no cost. 

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve’s January calendar is full of activities for children and adults, including Morning Meander for Adults on Friday, January 5 at 10am, Pine Bush Pups: Sleeping, Sleeping All Winter Long on Tuesday, January 9 at 10am, Pine Bush Pups: Winter Birds on Tuesday, January 16 at 10am, and much more.

For the month of January, the Town’s Community Gardens is the designated recipient of $1 for each Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet purchased at the Hannaford Supermarket in Guilderland.   

I hope that you had an enjoyable and relaxing New Year’s Day.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor