Notes from the Supervisor

5209 Western Ave, Guilderland • (518) 356-1980 • www.townofguilderland.org

Guilderland, NY - As we approach the anniversary of the pandemic’s arrival, I thank residents for their patience and words of appreciation as Town staff continues to provide, to the greatest extent possible, “contact-less” delivery of Town services. Due to increased infection rates and viral spread in our community based, and advice of the Medical Director and EMS Department, the Town is maintaining a State of Emergency that will prevent public access to Town Hall and other buildings for the foreseeable future.

Despite this emergency declaration, Senior Services is transporting seniors for grocery visits and medical appointments. The Transfer Station has regular hours and services. Highway crews continue with clean-ups, removal of debris, and road maintenance. Water & Sewer responds to calls for services and emergencies. Parks & Recreation are maintaining parks, open space and trails under health guidelines. Building and Fire perform regular inspections for building and other permits.

The Town is adding useful tools to its website (https://www. townofguilderland.org/) where you can access more services, forms, and records, and also reach departments by phone or email. There is a secure drop box at the Town Hall entrance for delivering tax payments for which you will receive a mailed receipt. You can look-up the payment status at www.taxlookup.net

A reminder that you can sign-up for my daily COVID-19 updates (now at over 300 consecutive daily emails) at https://www. townofguilderland.org/subscribe. While there, you can sign up for a variety of other Town notices and Nixle notices for road closings, alerts, announcements etc.

Town parks, open space, and outdoor spaces have also remained open. The Town’s "Get Out and Walk This Winter" program involves keeping open Tawasentha, Keenholts, DiCaprio, and Nott Road Parks during daytime hours this winter with paved surfaces plowed for winter walking. Western Turnpike Golf Course is also open for walkers but only on cart paths. When measurable snow returns, Town’s parks and Vosburgh 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.

I thank the students and professor in the UAlbany Planning Department’s Graduate Studio for its inventory of the Town’s open space, identifying connections to neighborhoods, parks, schools, libraries, and businesses, and possible non-motorized route options as part of the Town’s development of the “green infrastructure” envisioned in neighborhood studies. The students also held public meetings and social media for soliciting public comments. Due to the pandemic, the students were not able to publically present their findings and final recommendations. The final student project is available at https://www.townofguilderland.org/planning-department/pages/ parks-trails-and-open-space-project-ualbany-graduate-planningstudio-2020

The Parks & Rec Department is accepting reservation requests for Tawasentha Park’s three pavilions, including the restored Chalet building. You can obtain information and a Request for Use of Facilities Form at https://www.townofguilderland.org/parksrecreation/pages/tawasentha-park-pavilion-rentals or by calling its offices at (518) 456-3150.

EMS Department recently took possession of its first new ambulance

I am pleased to report that the EMS Department recently took possession of its first new ambulance since starting the Town’s ambulance service in June, 2018. With the help of talented Highway Department mechanics, the ambulance fleet of heavily used ambulances has remained in full service throughout the pandemic. The new ambulance will reduce the wear and tear of these essential vehicles. Since the start of the pandemic, Town ambulances have transported more than 200 positive COVID-19 patients, with more calls recently to private homes than nursing facilities and daily transports not seen since April.

COVID-19 vaccinations are now taking place and, under State DOH’s guidelines, are prioritized for nursing home staff and healthcare workers, and will next include essential workers and persons 75 years or older. The Governor’s guess is that the general public should be eligible in March and April. State DOH has launched “Am I Eligible? App” which can be accessed at https://am-i-eligible. covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ You can check your current vaccine eligibility and connect with providers to obtain a vaccination.

With winter weather here, please remember to keep a safe distance from Highway Department plows, and look out for Parks Department’s sidewalk plows that are often hard to see when clearing snow banks. Please help firefighters by keeping fire hydrants free of snow and ice and making sure that your house street number is visible from the road. Town code prohibits overnight parking on Town roads during winter months so that the Highway Department may safely clear and maintain roads. An illegally parked vehicle can delay or prevent a snow plow operator from clearing the road, and could result in a towing.

Highway trucks are now picking-up discarded Christmas trees which will be turned into mulch at the Transfer Station. You can help the crews with the pick-up and mulching process by making sure that your tree is free of ornaments, lights, etc. and is removed from the disposal bag. Please do not place the tree on the paved road surface and keep it away from stormwater drains. There is no need to call the Highway Department about pick-ups. Highway trucks will pick-up trees into February and circulate year-round for lawn bags and tied debris.

There is still time to participate in the Town’s online survey which is intended to help prepare recommendations and action items in the final report of the Town’s Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee. More than 300 residents have taken the survey of experiences with law enforcement and expectations for possible police reforms. Your participation is greatly appreciated. More information about the committee and the survey is available at: https://www.townofguilderland.org/police-reform-andreinvention-collaborative-committee

On Wednesday, January 13th at 7pm, the Guilderland Central School District is hosting a panel YouTube presentation about COVID-19 testing in the schools, plans for the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, and preliminary budget information. More information, including how to submit questions ahead of time, is available here: https://www.guilderlandschools.org/twenty-one-confirmedcases-reported-between-dec-29-and-jan-4/

On Friday, January 15th from 9am to 6pm, the Red Cross is holding another blood drive at Town Hall. With Town Hall closed to the public, there will be posted signs for direct entry into the donation room. All donations are tested for COVID-19 antibodies, with results made available within one or two weeks. Based on new FDA guidance, persons who received a COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to make donations. There is no deferral time if you received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You can easily arrange a donation time by entering the sponsor code “guilderlandtown” at www. RedCrossBlood.org

On behalf of the Town of Guilderland and its employees, we wish all of our residents, their families, and businesses a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year.

Peter G. Barber Town of Guilderland Supervisor