By DOUG La ROCQUE
Capital Region Independent Media
NEW LEBANON–The New Lebanon Town Board meet twice during the month of March, with each meeting considering a very important topic.
The first, held March 5, was a special meeting to consider a telecommunications code, in the works for more than a year. It deals with many aesthetics concerning cell towers but perhaps most importantly, radio frequency (RF) radiation poisoning emitted by such towers.
The attorney hired by the town to develop the code is a noted specialist in the field. Andrew Campanelli spoke via Zoom to the board and some members of the public. He outlined the proposed code and then took questions. He also warned the town about some “tricks” played by cell tower applicants, indicating a need for a new or larger tower because of a gap in coverage, when in fact the gap may only occur on one of the as many as 12 frequencies used for cell phone communications.
He also expressed a deep concern about RF radiation, indicating he receives calls daily about such and its potential cancer-causing implications. Concerns he says that are addressed in his proposed code.
A synopsis of the proposed code is available on the town website under the town board tab, and then the agenda for that March 5 meeting. At the regular town board meeting, it was decided to move the proposal forward for drafting into a local law which would require a public hearing before any adoption.
Full-time versus part-time
The status of the town supervisor position was one of the lengthy topics of discussion at the regular Town Board meeting on March 11. The position was changed to a full-time job after current Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling assumed office, primarily because of the workload associated with the role.
New Lebanon has several major projects going forward, including the walk-able downtown and the landfill closure among others. Supervisor Houghtling noted that these along with all the regulations and unfunded mandates that have been placed upon municipalities over recent years require many more hours than a part-time supervisor should be expected to put in.
She noted when she first took the position, she worked 30 to 40 hours a week for part-time pay, which equated to about $5/hour. She also mentioned many other supervisors in the county are also working full-time for part-time pay. Something Ms. Houghtling claims tends to reduce the pool of people willing to step up for the good of their communities.
Councilman Craig Skerkis, who when he first joined the board a little more than a year ago advocated for possibly returning to a part-time supervisor, now says with all the town has going on, he fears it might be dangerous to do so.
Given the past discussions about full-time versus part-time, Ms. Houghtling said she wanted the board to begin to debate this now, as any change would have to be made in the 2026 budget and take effect January 1, 2026.
Also at the meeting:
*The board received an email expressing concern about how a minor accident that occurred that morning involving a New Lebanon Central School District bus was handled. The writer bemoaned the fact that no law enforcement showed up at the accident site for 25 minutes, that no ambulance was called to evaluate the students on the bus and that they were in fact transferred to another bus and transported to school, before their was a police presence.
Supervisor Houghtling noted it was a school district issue and not a town matter but did promise to try to gather some more information. She did say, to her knowledge, the bus was rear ended but there were no injuries to the students or the driver
*The board did accept bids to close a local landfill, which total less than the $2.5 million the state legislature has promised to contribute toward the total bill
*Courtney Potter was appointed the new Planning and Zoning Board clerk
*The supervisor said funding for this summer’s broadband update is still in place and all of the town should be wired by fall.
The board will meet for a second time in April, solely to pay bills, as their regular meeting for that month has been moved up to April 1. A contract with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to provide court security was approved and a motion to change the FOIL Appeal Officer from the town supervisor to the town attorney was tabled to research the cost of making such a code change and was it even worth it.
