April 27, 2023
The Community Digest is TIMBER’s newsletter on recent news and upcoming events in Troy and the broader Capital Region. This month’s Community Digest is brought to you by the Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, representing over 10,000 workers in Troy and across Rensselaer County. If your organization would like to sponsor the next Community Digest, please contact greg@timbercorp.org.
AROUND THE HORN
Troy’s interactive lead map is now online. Residents are very strongly encouraged to self-report to the City of Troy, and to check that their results were accurately registered on the map. The estimated number of lead service lines in the City of Troy has increased from 3,500 to 4,500+. The EPA now estimates that there are over 494 thousand lead service lines in New York State.
Watervliet was recently awarded $4.98 million from the State to acquire land adjacent to the Watervliet Reservoir and address sewer drainage issues impacting the Hudson River.
A water main break at First and Canal in Troy has raised additional concerns about infrastructure quality. This was a separate incident from the water main break that swallowed a CDTA bus a month prior.
The Troy City Council proclaimed next month No Mow May. The resolution was introduced by Council Member Steele.
The Cohoes Common Council hosted an April Workshop regarding a range of infrastructure projects that includes the Columbia Street Phase II Sewer Separation, the City Hall Phase I Roof Restoration Project, and the Saratoga Street Pedestrian Accessibility and Commercial Corridor Enhancement Project.
Troy City Hall, which is rented office space above a restaurant called Hummucidal, was burglarized several weeks ago. There have been no updates since.
The Rensselaer County Legislature passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of a full body security scanning system. In the same meeting, the legislature opposed proposed amendments to the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee that would remove a seat for the Farm Bureau and add a Northeast Organic Farming Association representative.
Rensselaer and CDTC recently published a study to improve the city’s waterfront connectivity.
Green Island hosted a public hearing to consider the proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 23-24.
The Troy Planning Commission met to review several applications that include a conversion of the former Catholic Central High School building and a revision to the 449 River Street proposal.
The Troy Industrial Development Authority met to discuss a PILOT far in arrears, among other things.
NEW REPORTS
Per Troy’s recently released Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2022, the City is again in violation of the State’s lead and copper control requirements, with samples as high as 82.6 parts per billion.
The Office of the State Comptroller’s 2023 Report on IDA Performance found that tax exemptions for IDA projects totaled almost $1.9 billion dollars throughout New York State.
The New York Coalition for Open Government released a new report on local government transparency this month. Among its many findings: 75% of planning boards didn’t post their minutes online, 28% of counties never acknowledged FOIL requests, and 65% of county BOEs did not respond to calls or emails with information requests.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Cohoes' next Common Council meeting is tonight at 7.
On April 29th, the James Connolly Social Club will host the launch event for David A. Banks’ new book, The City Authentic.
On May 1st, TIMBER will join coalition partners in Albany to lobby in support of the Birds and Bees Protection Act. Please contact Lena Faustel (LFaustel@gmail.com) if you would like to join that event.
On May 2nd, TIMBER will join coalition partners in Albany to lobby in support of the New York Public Banking Act. Please fill out this Google Form if you would like to join that event.
Rensselaer County’s next Public Forum is on May 3rd.
The Rensselaer Common Council’s next meeting is May 3rd.
The Troy City Council will hold its next Regular Meeting on May 4th.
The Watervliet City Council will hold its next meeting on May 4th.
On May 25th, TIMBER members will attend the 2023 Troy Hidden Garden Tour to support the Friends of Prospect Park.
On May 25th, The Future of Small Cities will host ‘Beyond the 15-Minute City: Making Small Cities Walkable’ with Capital Streets’ James Rath, Verity Engineering’s Lindsay Zefting, and Walkable Albany’s Jackie Gonzales.
On June 8th, Capital Streets will be presenting Bike to Work Day in downtown Albany.
TROY ELECTIONS
Troy’s November 7th election will be the first to use Troy’s new map. We encourage readers to compare the map against your voter registration information in the NYS Board of Election’s lookup tool.
The mayoral contest will be between Rensselaer County Legislator Nina Nichols (D) and City Council President Carmella Mantello (R). Neither candidate faces a primary opponent.
Council Members Sue Steele and Emily Menn will compete against one another in the Democratic primary for City Council President, which will take place on June 27. The winner of that contest will face off against small business owner Brad Lewis (R) in the general.
In District 1, event planner Peggy Kownack (D) will compete against realtor Bill Keal (R).
In District 2, information security officer Shikole Struber (D) will compete against union electrician Ryan Brosnan (R).
In District 3, teaching assistant Kate Spain (D) will compete against nursing home administrator Beth Wright Clemente (R).
In District 4, civil engineer Aaron Vera (D) will compete against senior citizens program administrator Darcie Cunningham Casey (R).
In District 5, HR & DEI director Tiffani Thomas-Silverman (D) will compete against Council Member Irene Sorriento (R).
In District 6, retired state worker Carol Harvin (D) will compete against retired fire fighter Tom Casey (R).
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Troy has listed new openings that include a DPU Maintenance Manager, DPU Project Supervisor, Water Laboratory Technician, Fire Captain, and Fire Lieutenant. A full list of vacancies is available here.
The Troy Housing Authority is hiring a Maintenance Superintendent.
Joseph’s House and Shelter is hiring Emergency Shelter Support Staff, an Outreach Specialist, and a Volunteer Specialist. A full list of vacancies is available here.
CSEA Local 1000 AFSCME is hiring a Statewide Organizer.
NYSPEF is hiring a Contract Administrator.
Nelson Tree Service is hiring an IBEW Trimmer/Climber.
Lansingburgh Central School District is hiring a Secretary and Typist, among other positions. Those jobs are available here.
Troy City School District is hiring a bit of everything. A full list of vacancies is available here.
If there are stories, events, job openings, or meetings that you’d like to see included in future Community Digests, please reach out to greg@timbercorp.org. If you enjoyed this digest but didn’t receive it directly, you can sign up for future newsletters below.
