April 7, 2009 Town Board Meeting

A Date was set (May 5) to hold public hearings on local laws to offer temporary tax assessment breaks for certain home improvements and improvements to historic barns.

Superintendent of Highways Todd Gifford explained that by waiting to this year to bid on aspphalt, the town realized a savings of over $335,000.00 because of the sharp drop in oil. Oil is a key ingredient in asphalt.

March 17, 2009 Town Board Meeting

In the public forum, senior citizen Marie Sbardella criticized Supervisor Runion's cuts to senior citizen transportation. Specifically, she mentioned the elimination of weekly trips to Wal-Mart and the elimination of senior transportation to the Guilderland High School play. A former driver for the seniors' department, Sbardella said things were changing involving the transportation, "not for the good."

There was extended debate regarding a proposal by Councilman Redlich that Guilderland police not write tickets for drivers with blood alcohol levels of .05. The debate surfaced during a discussion to add a third judge to the Guilderland town court.

The Board voted 4-1 (Redlich - lone dissenter) to ask the state legislature to pass a home rule message to make the third judge possible in Guilderland. The vote was not an approval for the third judge, it was for state authorization to allow the town board to approve it at later date if it chooses.

--- Mark Grimm