Ballston supervisor outlines goals
Several projects lined up this year
BALLSTON, N.Y. » Town Supervisor Tim Szczepaniak delivered the annual State of the Town report on Tuesday evening, outlining an auspicious-looking list of accomplishments made in 2017 and highlighting several ambitious projects for 2018.
This was the third time Szczepaniak delivered an annual report, which is part of the town’s commitment to continue to improve communications between town officials and residents, he said.
During the nearly hour-long report, Szczepaniak reported that sales tax and mortgage tax revenue exceeded the 2017 projections and said that the board succeeded in maintaining “prudent” spending within budget parameters. He also reported that a new financial report was implemented for monthly board meetings, which has been wellreceived and helped to facilitate greater understanding of budgetary considerations. He added the town received a “no designation” status rating from the Comptroller’s Office. He explained that meant the town is not susceptible to fiscal stress.
The three major initiatives the town is working on for 2018 include three sewer projects, tackling the town’s water infrastructure challenges, and new zoning implementation designed to bring zoning into consistency with the comprehensive plan laid out by the town.
The Ballston Lake Sewer District was approved by the Town Board in 2015, funded by a $2.5 million grant — the largest grant received by the town — and a $7.65 million loan, one half at 0 percent interest and half at 1.17 percent interest. The town is working with Kim Kotokoskie, an environmental engineer, who is acting as sewer project manager on the three projects.
Szczepaniak said the town has an opportunity to connect the proposed Route 50 South Sewer District project with the Lake system, calling it a “onetime, unique opportunity” that will be lost if the town fails to approve the project.
According to Kotokoskie, the Route 50 project will connect through Lakehill Road and is consistent with the town’s zoning. There will be four different public hearings to discuss the project, the first one being held on Jan. 25. A pubic vote will follow the hearings to determine if the projects will move forward together.
The water infrastructure and revenue is another key issue the town will tackle this year. According to Szczepaniak, the town is losing 38 percent of its water due to aging infrastructure and old, outdated meters that are not working properly and need to be replaced.
“If we do nothing, the fund will be bankrupt,” said Szczepaniak, adding that other options must be explored. The water infrastructure committee will be exploring both long and shortterm options. The board has applied for a $100,000 grant to ob-
tain new meters and start working on repairing or replacing aging infrastructure.
The third major initiative has been a focus on zoning. Working with an independent consultant, the Zoning committee has made a total of 24 changes to existing zoning, including the removal of density bonuses, the creation of a new zoning map and new zoning for a variety of agricultural businesses and usages. Other changes were implemented to further protect water quality and to update environmental and conservation regulations.
Other accomplishments include the creation of new active and passive recreational parks. Fireman’s Grove is one project that the town hopes to transform into a venue like Wiswall Park in the village of Ballston Spa. The 12-acre parcel will be purchased for $145,000, using Parks and Recreationdesignated funds. The vision is to create a farmers’ market and family entertainment venue that will attract residents, he said.
Szczepaniak said the town’s Emergency Management committee has implemented at comprehensive plan and conducted “table top” exercises and conducted extensive training to be prepared for catastrophes. Szczepaniak said people who don’t think catastrophes can happen in Ballston “need to think again,” and he added that the board supports the mission of the emergency management committee.
Szczepaniak gave a review of new business coming to the town, which includes the new CVS currently under construction in the south end of town, the new Stewart’s Shop that will replace the strip mall on Route 50, known around town as “Frontier Town,” and due to be demolished in May 2018.
Other projects include a new medical complex located across from the post office, which will bring 100 new jobs and will be the second largest employer in the town.
On the northern end of the town, a new project at the site of the defunct Getty gas station on the corner of Brookline Road and Route 50 is currently in front of the Planning Board, and the Lansing project on the corner of Charlton Road and Route 50 is currently under construction and will add several more jobs.
Szczepaniak pointed to other accomplishments the town experienced during 2017, including being recipients of a $160,000 Microenterprise Grant program, which was awarded to five businesses in town, which will result in business growth and the creation of new jobs. The town also approved the purchase of a new $210,000 truck for the Highway department, and the creation of a new fuel station, which will be subsidized by a grant created by former state Sen. Hugh Farley.
The town also recognized Calvary Church for being named to the National Register of Historic Places.
The town implemented monthly staff meetings of town employees, which Szczepaniak said was a very important step in improving communications and giving staff an opportunity to be heard. One of the results of the monthly meetings will be the installation of a new phone system to replace the outdated system. He also announced the employees will now be offered two health care options, something Szczepaniak said the employees deserved.
In closing, Szczepaniak thanked the many volunteers who work with town employees and officials throughout the year, noting that much of the work could not be done without their assistance.