GM reflects on 2018, looks ahead to 2019
GM Smith said a goal of his will be to come under the tax cap for his next proposed budget
WATERVLIET, N.Y. >> City General Manager Jeremy Smith said he was pleased with the many things that city officials were able to accomplish in 2018 and that he is looking forward to continuing those accomplishments in 2019.
Smith, who handles the dayto-day operations of the city, said that 2018 was filled with several highlights.
Smith touched on how the city performed many infrastructure projects in 2018, thanks, mainly, to monies from grants.
“We did a lot of infrastructure work in 2017 and 2018, with the majority of it being in 2018,” said Smith. “Over the last two years, we’ve replaced over 11,000 linearfeet of water main, 8,600 of that in 2018 and that includes adding copper services to the curb box off of those mains. It’s the largest infrastructure project that the city has undertaken in recent history.”
Along with replacing all of the different water mains, Smith said that all of the roads that had that infrastructure work done also had the road repaved curb to curb.
One of the many roads that city officials continued to focus on improving in 2018 was 3rd Avenue. Officials were able to put brand- new infrastructure underneath the road, new ADA sidewalks in some areas, along with some green infrastructure.
“It was a long time coming and a lot was done there,” Smith said about the 3rd Avenue project, which came to a close in 2018. “I don’t think I could be more pleased with how that roadway came out. We received a lot of compliments [on that road].”
Another important infrastructure project that Smith said took place in 2018 was the comple- tion of an emergency water connect upgrade with the Village of Menands.
Smith also touched base on how city officials were able to upgrade and add amenities to its parks and its facilities.
Another positive for the city in 2018 was its continued financial improvements, along with the unanimous adoption of the 2019 budget. City officials have been working together to continue to improve its financial condition after the state Comptroller’s Office ranked the city in fiscal stress from 2014-2017.
“We certainly don’t expect to do it all in one year or all in one shot, but we’re progressing and certainly trending in the right di- rection,” said Smith. “I’m very optimistic based on our projections for 2018 and what the expectations are for 2019 and we’ll continue to strengthen our financial condition.”
Looking ahead to 2019, Smith noted how city officials will look to finish improvements at the Watervliet Public Library/ Senior Center building. In 2016, the library received an expansion and in 2018 a new roof was put on the building. In 2019, Smith said that through a grant the city will improve accessibility to the building with new entryways.
Smith also mentioned the city’s community center project at the former Dutch Reformed Church and how grant funding will help rehab the anticipated multi-use building in 2019.
Another grant-funded project will also take place at Hudson Shores Park in 2019. Smith said the project at the park will provide better access to the river, shoreline stabilization, and add new amenities.
As the city general manager, Smith said that his New Year’s resolution for the city will be to continue to lead city staff in the right direction based off of recommendations from Mayor Michael Manning and the City Council, along with continuing to improve finances in the city.
“I guess if I had a major goal it’s to stay under the tax cap in my next budget presentation and finding ways to do that is really the goal for 2019,” said Smith.