notes from the SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE 5209 Western Ave, Guilderland • (518) 356-1980 • www.townofguilderland.org Guilderland, NY - These past difficult weeks and likely many more to come will be remembered for COVID-19’s devastating impacts upon our lives, families, and local businesses. But it should also be remembered for the thousands of Town residents who played an indispensable role in our collective response. I start by thanking the Town’s first responders, Dispatch, EMS, Police, and Fire, who answer every call for assistance without hesitation. I also thank residents who are physicians, nurses, orderlies, and staff serving patients in hospitals and care facilities. I extend gratitude to our local businesses and their employees, cashiers, shelf stockers, truck drivers, postal workers, highway and parks workers, fire and building inspectors, janitorial staff and other service workers, who, despite personal risk, are showing up and providing essential services to our community. In this time of great uncertainty and special needs, it is comforting to know that neighbors are selflessly serving us all. I also thank you for staying calm, remaining safe, and for your kind words of support for the Town’s efforts in responding to this unprecedented health emergency. I appreciate your understanding that this severe disruption of everyday life often requires the setting aside of personal needs and allows for a collective community fight against this virus. Our community’s response to this pandemic will have long lasting positive memories, such as residents volunteering to deliver food to seniors, school teachers finding creative ways, like vehicle parades and rainbows in windows, to keep students connected with each other and their school. With Town facilities closed, your best way to contact Town departments is by email or mail, as noted on the Town website. And while there, please sign up for Town emails and Nixle notices including daily updates about the Town’s response to COVD-19 at www.townofguilderland.org/subscribe. You can also read the emailed updates (23 as of April 2nd) at www.townofguilderland.org/supervisorsoffice/pages/town-guilderlands-responsecoronavirus-covid-19 . While buildings are closed to the public, “essential services” are being provided, and employees are working from home to help with our return to normalcy. Parks employees have readied Town parks, open spaces, and hiking trails for your early spring enjoyment. The brochures for this year’s summer programs have been printed and are awaiting “backpack mail” delivery. Western Turnpike Golf Course has been refreshed for a new season, with 4
Mid-April 2020 |
The Nines, an Italian restaurant, as well as a refurbished clubhouse, dining rooms and kitchen. The new operators are eager to serve members, guests, leagues, banquets, and special events, and the public. Town staff is remotely working with UAlbany’s Master Studio graduate students on the Town’s comprehensive pathway project. The students are now working on topics identified at the March 2nd public session, advancing the Town’s goal of developing a multi-use trail system linking neighborhoods to desired destinations. The Highway Department is resuming road maintenance, including pick-ups of lawn bags and winter debris. To maintain physical separation, the Highway Department has only one-third of its employees working at any time and will take longer than usual to complete. Please be patient. The Transfer Station is maintaining regular hours with employees following mandatory health guidelines which may require wearing masks and gloves for your and their protection. The first Household Hazardous Waste Day of 2020 is still scheduled for Saturday, April 11th from 8:00am to 2:00pm at the Highway Department garage. It is an ideal event for physical separation because you stop your vehicle where directed, stay in your vehicle, and let the workers remove your household hazardous materials from your vehicle. The event requires a DEC-approved contractor who, despite COVID-19’s impacts, has run similar recent events. Please check the Transfer Station’s webpage or call (518) 861-6776 for up to date information and a list of accepted materials. Please understand that we are trying our best to keep you informed and provide services as much as possible. The success of this effort is not possible without community partners who are actively participating in this collective fight against COVD-19. Community Caregivers (www. communitycaregivers.org) offers reassuring phone conversations, referrals to anyone in need, and just a friendly voice. Community Caregivers is also holding lunchtime chats on interesting topics. Please call their office at (518) 456-2898 or website for more information. While the physical building remains closed until further notice, the Guilderland Public Library (https://guilderlandlibrary.org/) remains open online 24 hours each day with an e-library portal for access to movies, TV shows, e-books, audiobooks, magazines and much more like access during this crisis to the New York Times and ancestry.com.
www.OurTowneGuilderland.com
Peter G. Barber - Town Supervisor The Guilderland Chamber of Commerce has launched a new online small business hub (https://www.guilderlandchamber. com/guilderland-small-business-hub/) with information on how you can support our local businesses. Before venturing out, please call ahead because many stores are operating with limited hours. The Guilderland Food Pantry has seen an increased demand for its services and needs your help in addressing food insecurity. Please contact the Pantry for information about current needs at (518) 930-1001 or email guildfoodpantry79@gmail.com. You can donate online at: https://guilderlandfoodpantry. ccbchurch.com/goto/giving. Albany County Mental Health has increased its services for residents coping with stress and anxiety. If you or someone you know needs help, or just someone to talk with, call the County Hotline at (518) 269-6634, every day from 8am to 5pm. If you are experiencing or are aware of a psychiatric emergency, please immediately call the County’s Mobile Crisis Team at (518) 549–6500. All meetings of the Town Board, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Industrial Development Agency are cancelled through April 15th. Unless amended, Executive Order 202.1, which suspends the Open Meeting Law, allows for board meetings to be held electronically via video conference with a transcript provided at a later date. The Town will go beyond the Executive Order by providing a dedicated phone number for the public to callin during the meeting. Members of the public may listen to and view the meetings live online on the Town website or public access. Please check the Town website for updates. Thank you for taking time to read these notes. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at barberp@ togny.org. Thank you for staying safe and calm. Peter G. Barber, Town Supervisor
