YEAR IN REVIEW
Mayor Bill Keeler discusses first year in office; looks ahead to 2021
COHOES, N.Y. » Overseeing a city can be a difficult task for any mayor, and managing a city during a pandemic doesn’t have a playbook.
When Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler was sworn into office in January, it’s safe to say that he did not think his first year in office would turn into what it has been like due to the coronavirus.
“In March, everybody had to deal with the pandemic, not just the health aspect of it for the community and businesses, but also the economic fallout related to the pandemic,” Keeler said during a recent phone interview.
Although the pandemic was a curveball for many elected officials, Keeler said the city was able to still accomplish some tasks this year. One accomplishment noted by the mayor was working with state officials to create a new bill to ban burning of AFFF firefighting foam with PFAS chemicals, specifically at the Norlite facility in the Spindle City.
“We were still able to do a lot,” Keeler said. “Our energies were certainly diverted to the Norlite issue and the pandemic.”
The first-year mayor also
discussed improvements to City Hall to fix a roof that leaked, paving more roads throughout the city, and fixing leaky water lines in certain areas of the city.
Keeler also highlighted the city welcoming nine new businesses during a time when many communities saw businesses close due to the pandemic.
“The community has really rallied around businesses and have been throwing a lot of support their way,” Keeler said while noting how the city created take- out weeks for restaurants as well as an eat-in-the-streets initiative.
Keeler was also able to appoint a new police chief as well as a new commissioner of public works this year.
Keeler, a retired State Trooper, selected Todd Waldin to become the next police chief and appointed Stephen Hennessey to become the next commissioner of public works. Keeler praised the job that both individuals have done in their new roles.
The pandemic did come with some difficult decisions, which led to the decision to terminate the contract the city had with Music Hall Alliance for management of the Cohoes Music Hall. Keeler said by ending that contract, the city was able to save $250,000. The city eventually selected Playhouse Stage Co. as the new operator of the Cohoes Music Hall.
According to the mayor, Cohoes is facing a $1.4 million+ COVID-19- related drop in revenue in 2020, with equivalent revenue declines anticipated in 2021. This includes a 20% shortfall in New York State aid payments equaling $550,000 and an $800,000 decline in County Sales Tax receipts. The City is also experiencing a significant decline in user fees, permits, and other revenue.
The city also incurred unexpected costs due to eight city employee retirements resulting in severance payments in excess of $500,000 in 2020, according to city officials.
Steps taken, beginning in April 2020, to offset anticipated revenue losses included reconstituting contracts for management of the Cohoes Music Hall for a savings of $250,000; reducing payroll costs via attrition, furloughs, and layoffs; and containing overtime costs in all departments, Keeler noted.
Looking ahead to the New Year, Keeler mentioned how the city plans to convert to LED street lights as additional savings. The mayor also provided a New Year’s resolution for the city.
“[ My resolution would be] that we get through the pandemic safely and everybody does well,” the mayor said. “And as soon as [the pandemic] is over that businesses can [get back to normal] and that everybody can start enjoying their lives in Cohoes again.”