Looking Back and Ahead
Supervisor eyes accomplishments, upcoming projects
NORTH GREENBUSH, N.Y. » Town Supervisor Lou Desso said he is proud of what was achieved during the second year of his administration in 2017.
“For the past two years I have been proud to serve North Greenbush as its supervisor. I am very proud of the work we have done and the actions taken to ensure the fiscal stability of the town and to make our town an even greater place to live, work and raise a family,” said Desso.
Of all the accomplishments that occurred in 2017, Desso said he is most proud of the town’s ability to cut the property tax rate for 2018 by 3 percent.
“It took 10 years of stringent fiscal control, realistic town budgets, and carefully planned mixed economic development to get us to a point where we can give back to our residents,” explained Desso. “With our tax stabilization fund now at $1.1 million we are in a great financial position to protect taxpayers and possibly reduce property taxes again in the near future.”
Some other achievements made under Desso include $4.75 million in grant money for infrastructure improvements bringing Desso’s grant accumulation to almost $11 million since becoming supervisor in 2016. Another accomplishment mentioned by Desso was the completion of a town-wide Comprehensive Plan, including architectural design guidelines to ensure that new businesses coming to North Greenbush will preserve the character of the town.
Desso also highlighted how town officials negotiated a mutually beneficial five-year contract agreement with the North Greenbush Police Department; appointed a new police chief to replace retiring chief Robert Durivage, and also — with the help of the town’s non-profit organization North Greenbush Youth Make a difference — they have expanded and improved all youth activities, created a Teen of the Month program, and upgraded all of the town’s special events and summer camp program.
Desso, who recently started his second-term as town supervisor in 2018, also said he is pleased to see tenants such as Shop Rite and Cap ComFederal Credit Union fill space in Van Rensselaer Square Shopping Plaza, which had been vacant for nearly a decade.
“We anticipate the completion of the Van Rensselaer Square Plaza in 2018 with several stores already under contract and be-
ginning construction. Included in the stores that have signed leases are Home Goods, Michaels, TJ Maxx, Five Below, Chili’s Restaurant, and Hanzo Sushi & Hibachi,” said Desso.
Desso said that other developers remain interested in coming to the town in the near future.
“The town is fortunate that quality developers remain interested in investing in North Greenbush and we will continue to work with them on projects that are of value to our residents,” Desso said. “Those projects consist of residential, single and multi-family, and retail/professional developments throughout our Town that will have a very positive impact on our community through services for residents, job creation, and tax revenue.”
Also in 2018, Desso said that the town will continue infrastructure improvements along with improvements to the town’s recreational department.
“We will continue infrastructure improvements throughout town with one such project being the water transmission line extension on Route 43 from Snyder’s Lake to Defreestville, which will provide better water pressure and fire protection to the southern portion of our town,” said Desso.
He continued, “The Route 4 Corridor vehicle and pedestrian road improvements will get underway with $8 million in federal highway [funds] received working in concert with [the state Department of Transportation,]” he said. “And of course we continue to improve our parks and recreation areas for residents with improvements to the Williams Road Little League and Town park facility with the construction of two new ball fields, new rest rooms, and a pavilion. Additionally we have raised over $4,000 in donations for construction of a dog park on donated land that will be built in 2018.”
Desso, a Republican, said that a 2018 New Year’s resolution for him as town supervisor would be work with town and state officials to continue to improve the town along with ignoring “ugly” politics.
“I resolve to ignore ugly political pressure when leading our town into the future. I will work together with all members of our Town Board to find common ground and compromise to ensure we are always doing what is best for the residents of our great town,” said Desso. “In addition I will continue to work directly with our state officials in order to provide top notch services our residents deserve; always remembering to bring my wife along on the journey.”