Town News & Announcements

The Town Board will hold a second public hearing on Tuesday, March 18 at 7pm on the draft Comprehensive Plan Update.  At the first public hearing, only a handful of speakers shared their comments on the draft Plan.  You can access the Plan Update and its appendices online or review hard copies at the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall or the Guilderland Public Library.  

I again thank residents for helping the Highway Department’s snow clearing efforts by removing garbage cans, basketball hoops, and other obstructions from the paved surface, and not parking vehicles overnight on Town roads.  Highway plows have been very busy this winter, and more often working overnight and weekends.  So far, this winter’s snow amount is very typical but also different with lots of snowstorms but no storm dropping more than 6 inches. 

Please remember that, if your home has a septic system or cesspool that adversely impacts certain designated waterbodies, you may be eligible for reimbursement for replacement costs under the Septic System Replacement Fund Program.  I know several homeowners have taken advantage of this program to upgrade their septic systems. The program reimburses eligible property owners with grants for up to 50% of the costs (up to $10,000) of their eligible septic system projects. Grants are awarded only to those septic system projects that will significantly and quantifiably reduce environmental and/or public health impacts from cesspools or septic systems.   You can check your property’s eligibility by entering your property’s address.  This rare opportunity is a collaboration between the State, County, and Town, and property owners to address a pressing environmental and public health issue. 

The State’s deadline for applying for property tax exemptions is fast approaching with March 1, the tax status date.  If you are a senior citizen (65 years of age or older by December 31, 2025), a person with a qualifying physical disability, a veteran, eligible firefighter, or other exemptions, please make sure to apply before March 1.  The Assessor cannot extend the State’s March 1 deadline.  For more information on exemptions, please visit the website, call (518) 356-1980, or stop by the Assessor’s office. 

A reminder as spring weather approaches, you can reserve Tawasentha Park’s pavilions for family outings and local business events.  Walk-in reservations (with payment) have priority over phone, faxed or emailed reservation requests (with payment).  To request booking a pavilion, please submit a completed Request for Use of Facilities/Know the Rules and required payment (credit card, check or cash) to the Town of Guilderland. You can drop off the required forms or mail them to Guilderland Parks & Recreation Department at 181 State Route 146, Altamont, NY 12009, or faxed to 518-456-3156.   You can view the availability calendar for Tawasentha Park Pavilion Rentals.

Upcoming Meetings at Town Hall

The following is a list of dates and times for currently scheduled meetings of boards and committees at Town Hall over the next 30 days.  Please check the Town’s calendars for the latest news about public meetings and community events, possible changes in agendas and cancellations, and the latest contents of agenda packets.  Unless stated otherwise, each of the listed meetings start at 7pm, and are livestreamed on the Town website, Verizon channel 34, and Spectrum channel 1303.  Within days of the meeting, an indexed recording, with links to each listed agenda item, is also posted online.

Industrial Development Agency

Tuesday, February 25 (cancelled)

Planning Board

Wednesday, February 26

Town Board

Tuesday, March 4

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, March 5

Conservation Advisory Council

Monday, March 10

Planning Board

Wednesday, March 12

Town Board

Tuesday, March 18 

Zoning Board of Appeals

Wednesday, March 19

Tree Preservation Committee

Thursday, March 20 at 2pm (not broadcasted) 

Industrial Development Agency

Tuesday, March 25

Planning Board

Wednesday, March 26

Community Events & Resources

Please be advised that the 30-day annual review period for Albany County Agricultural Districts began on February 1 and allows property owners who have predominantly viable agricultural land to be included in a certified Agricultural District.  Landowners interested in adding a parcel to one of the County’s Agricultural Districts must complete an Agricultural District Review Worksheet.   If you have any questions, please check out the County’s website.  

Community Caregivers, which offers wide-ranging services and support for seniors and their supporters, has weekly lunchtime phone chats on topics of interest, including, on Wednesday, February 26 at 1pm, “A Foundation for Change: Habitat for Humanity,” with a talk by Erica Kelbe, Director of Development, Habitat for Humanity Capital District.  On Friday, February 28 at 1pm, Mary Therriault, RN will present “Caregiving Training Series: Elevate Your Impact,” a chat about effective communication for caregivers.  You can help with Community Caregivers in fulfilling its mission by volunteering your time and/or making donations.

The Guilderland Public Library’s upcoming calendar includes tonight from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, a virtual presentation of Strange History From along the Erie Canal at Schoharie Crossing, when a representative of the Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site, will share the site’s history related to the canal, railroad, and people, and will touch upon its strange history of murder, mayhem, arson, accidents and more.  

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is hosting Winter Survival: Insects in Winter on Saturday, February 22 at 11am, when you can learn how insects survive the winter, and then head out for an 0.9 mile hike to search for signs of them overwintering.   On Saturday, March 1 at 11am, the Preserve is presenting Owl Investigation, an indoor program to learn how owls live in the Preserve and the signs that they leave behind, including dissecting owl pellets.   

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy has opened 4-miles of trails in its Upper Bozen Kill Preserve, a 225-acre property at the end of Bond Road.  The new trail system also connects to the existing trail system at the Lower Bozen Kill Preserve.  The total trails are nearly 6 miles.  You can access the new entrance to the Upper Bozen Kill Preserve by continuing north on Westfall Road past the existing Lower Bozen Kill Preserve entrance and turn left on Bond Rd.  A parking lot and preserve kiosk is located at the end of the road.  The trail system is open year-round, and given its elevation, often, like this week, has sufficient snow for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.  

The New York State Library’s calendar of public programs includes, on Friday, February 28, from Noon to 1pm, the State Library is sponsoring an onsite walking tour of the State Library’s Local History and Genealogy Resources, including published genealogies, local histories, church records, Daughters of the American Revolution records, United States and New York State Census records, newspapers on microfilm, and city directories.

After deciding to shut down the government website that ships free COVID-19 tests to households, the new Federal administration reversed course, just before the shutdown and, for now, the program remains in effect.   There are rapid changes taking place throughout the Federal government, and you might want to take advantage of this opportunity.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.  

 Peter G. Barber

Town Supervisor