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Image provided by: Guilderland Public Library
TheMtanwnt Enterprise-Thursday^March 16,20<)S ' ' ti By Michelle O'Riley WESTERLO — Westerlo resi- dents and leaders are eager for the state to pass legislation con- cerning tax-exempt properties. Aline Galgay, the town's at- torney, told the town board at its meeting last Tuesday there is a rising concern that the increased number of non-profit organiza- tions buying tax-exempt prop- erty in the area will constitute a major loss of tax revenue for the town. With changing vacation pat- terns in recent decades, moun- tain resorts, once popular for family vacations, have closed and are often sold to religious or other not-for-profit organiza- tions. Other concerns are that the current tax-exempt law does not specifically define how much profit these organizations can, bring in and still be eligible for ously bringing in. money because advertisements for services they provide'are posted locally. At- torney Galgay said that, as long as the profit from these activities are paying for the services being offered, then the organizations are really not profit-making. When asked if the town could amend this law, she responded that only the state, not the town, could adopt changes to the cur- rent tax-exemption law. Currently, the law does not address limitations on the num- ber of acres that can be claimed under tax exemption. It states only that any portion of the property that is not used for purposes such as religious or patriotic services is subject to full taxation. This is determined by how the organization de- scribes the use of property on the application for tax exemption and a state property assessor's review. 'We are the ones being affected, you [New York State] need to do something about this.' property-tax exemption. In addi- tion, the town board would like to see new legislation passed that would place limitations on the number of acres that can be included under tax exemption. Currently, the New York State Real Property Law authorizes an exemption from property taxes for certain not-for-profit organizations. The law states that the organization, its mem- bers and its employees, cannot receive profit. However, the law also states that there ifaay be an exemption for the collection of profit if reasonable compensa- tion for services performed fur- thers the organization's pur- poses. This is where things get blurry, since reasonable compen- sation is not clearly defined. The Westerlo Town Board members said that not-for-profit organizations in town are obvi- The town provides these tax- exempt properties with free services such as fire-fighting, emergency rescue, lighting, and in some cases waste removal, said board members. The board also pointed out that taxpayers, not the tax-exempt organiza- tions, are paying for these serv- ices. The town of Westerlo plans on working with other local towns to get new legislation passed. The tentative plan includes drafting a resolution from the towns urging the legislature to look more closely into the regu- lation of tax-exempt properties. According to Galgay, a bill proposing such changes had been introduced but the status of that bill is unknown. \We are the ones being affected, you [New York State] need to do some- thing about this,\ said Galgay. Other business In other business, the^ town board: — Discussed a request from the town's judges t o hold court one day a week. Currently, court is held on Monday and Thursday nights. Board mem* bers were concerned that one night would not be enough to handle the current caseload. Residents at the meeting asked if this would also mteaii ^de- crease; in ifee^ was d^cif ed tfiat ;more r in|orma- tipn;wOuld : ^e needed since any changes•• woulij also affect the court clerk and cpurl bailiffy — DiscUs'sed the renewal of a service contract with Mo- hawk and Hudson River Hu- mane Society for the housing of animals picked up by the town's control officer. If renewed, the town will pay $1,750, an in- crease of $1,000; — Awaits a response from the state for approval to put a rediice-speed sign on Shultz Road; — Discussed dates for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the town park for the new water tank. Tentative dates are March 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 as well as April 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7; — Opened bids for materi- als for the highway department such as crushed stone and as- phalt; — Approved a change or- der from engineers for work in the water district and approved partial payment for an electrical contract. The board also renewed a service contract to maintain a generator and renewed a con- tract for emergency . medical services and the purchase of a lift for the highway department; — Heard a proposal to purchase a new copier machine instead of renewing the existing copier's service contract. The board also heard a proposal to purchase a new printer. Ac- cording to Supervisor Richard Rapp, the current printer is \very very, very tired.\ The board agreed to look into the actual cost to buy a new copier and printer. Safe Child ID Cards, issued in Altamont by the police depart- ment, list a child's name and physical characteristics, and have a picture on the front and fingerprints on the back. Altamont PD issue Safe Child ID cards By Matt Cook ALTAMONT — The village police department is joining a state-wide effort to better docu- ment children, in the hopes of finding them more quickly when they go missing. On Saturday, March\ 25, be- tween 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Altamont Fire Department, the Altamont Police will be issuing Safe Child ID Cards. \It's always a good idea to have ID,\ said Altamont Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Salerno. The cards are part of the state Division of Criminal Justice Service's Operation Safe Child. Each lists a child's name, gen- der, race, date of birth, eye color, hair color, height, and weight,, along with a color photo on the front and digitally-recorded fin- gerprints on the back. The idea, Salerno explained, is, if a child does disappear, his or her parents can give the ID card to police, eliminating the time needed for officers to take down information in the critical early stages of a search. When parents sign up for an ID card, they have the option of entering their child's informa- tion in. a state database. If the child is lost, Salerno said, police can then share the information instantly with other agencies. \It can be done in a matter of minutes instead of in an hour or . more,\ Salerno said. Altamont Police officer Patrick Thomas noted that, a few years ago, a child was lost at the Altamont Fair. Though she was found, her parents spoke English poorly, so it was hard for them to describe their daughter. If the parents had had an ID card for their child, Thomas said, police would have been able to start looking for her immediately and probably would have found her faster. The card can also function simply as identification. \If [parents] just want an ID to get their kids through the air- port, it can do that,\ Salerno said. At the event next Saturday, children will be photographed and fingerprinted. It only takes a couple minutes, Salerno said. Elsewhere in Albany County, Safe Child ID cards are available from the Albany County Sheriffs Department, the Albany Police, and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Clover Patch serves campers with developmental disabilities Clover Patch Camp in Glen- ville serves as a day and over- night summer camp for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Operated by the Cen- ter for Disability Services, the camp also serves as a respite for families, providing a fully acces- sible facility (including an acces- sible therapeutic swimming pool) with trained staff. The accredited camp opened in 1965. As a not-for-profit agen- cy, the camp relies on volunteers to open and close the facilities and to entertain campers. The camp is looking for dynamic, energetic, creative people to work there. To receive more information, request an application, or to set • up a tour of camp, call Assistant Director Laura , Taylor at 384- 3081 or e-mail her at Ltaylor- @cfdsny.org. 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