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Rensselaer County Legislature
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Overview The Rensselaer County Legislature is the lawmaking body for the Rensselaer County, a county in the United States state of New York. The 2000 census listed the county’s population as 152,538. Located approximately 150 miles north of New York City, the county seat of Rensselaer County is the City of Troy, which is known as the birthplace of Uncle Sam. The county is bordered on the east by the states of Vermont and Massachusetts. The county includes two cities, Troy and Rensselaer, and fourteen towns, including Berlin, Brunswick, East Greenbush, Grafton, Hoosick, Nassau, North Greenbush, Petersburgh, Pittstown, Poestenkill, Sand Lake, Schaghticoke, Schodack and Stephentown. The Legislature has 19 members. The members are elected from multi-member districts, with one exception. Six legislators represent the City of Troy (District One), one legislator represents the City of Rensselaer (District Six), four represent the towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush and Poestenkill (District Two), four represent the towns of Brunswick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke (District Three), four represent the towns of Nassau, Sand Lake and Schodack (District Four), and two represent the towns of Hoosick, Petersburgh, Grafton, Berlin and Stephentown (District Five). The County Legislature is elected as a whole every four years, with the next election for legislators scheduled for all members on Election Day, November, 2009. Members of the Legislature The Legislature currently includes 13 members who comprise a Republican caucus, and six members who comprise a Democratic caucus. Republicans have won majorities in the Legislature in 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2005, and elected veto-proof majorities three consecutive terms, including 1997, 2001 and 2005. Veto-proof refers to the thirteen votes needed to override vetoes by the County Executive. The Chairman of the Legislature is Neil J. Kelleher of Troy. Kelleher was first elected to the Legislature in 1989. His family is well-known in Rensselaer County as his late father, Neil W. Kelleher served as Mayor of Troy and a longtime member of the New York State Assembly. The elder Kelleher passed away in 2008. Along with Chairman Kelleher, officers include Vice Chairman of the Legislature Thomas Walsh Sr., Vice Chairman for Finance Richard Salisbury, Majority Leader Robert Mirch and Minority Leader Virginia O’Brien. O’Brien recently announced her plans to seek office in the Town of East Greenbush as a member of the Town Board where she served previously. Majority members also include Legislators Laura Bauer (Dist. 1), Jim Brearton (Dist. 1), Ken Herrington (Dist. 3), Martin Reid (Dist. 4), Alex Shannon (Dist. 4), Stan Brownell (Dist. 5), Lester Goodermote (Dist. 5) and Mike Stammel (Dist. 6). A vacancy was caused in early 2009 but the passing of Legislator Nancy McHugh (Dist. 1), who died after a serious illness. Troy resident Michael Picarillo, who is known for his work with the Troy Department of Public Works and involvement in community and charitable activities, has been selected for appointment to McHugh’s post. Recent Events Involving the Legislature Rensselaer County was one of a handful of municipalities to approve a budget for the 2009 fiscal year that does not raise county property taxes. The 2009 budget also included a modest surplus and adequate funding for needed county services. The 2009 budget that did not raise property taxes was supported by all Republican members of the Legislature and opposed by all six Democrats. Respected financial analysts Standard & Poor’s recently recognized the sound financial management of the county and upgraded the county’s credit rating. New York State is one of only several states in the nation to require counties to pay a portion of the costs of social programs, including welfare and related services, in the form of un-funded mandates. Many local governments across New York State have complained about the enormous financial pressures caused by state mandates. Mandates currently comprise 90 cents out of every county tax dollar. Legislators have adopted numerous resolutions seeking reform of un-funded state mandates, and have supported efforts initiated by other county officials across the state to bring about mandate reform. Legislators have worked for years to bring attention to the need for comprehensive remediation of a toxic waste site in the Town of Nassau, which has resulted in contamination in nearby Nassau Lake. The Legislature has also advocated for clean-up of the former Fort Orange Paper Company site in the Village of Castleton, Town of Schodack, which was found to have asbestos and other contaminants on site. The Legislature was successful in convincing the federal Environmental Protection Agency to undertake removal of a portion of the asbestos, which resulted in a lien being placed on the property by EPA. Following a request by the Legislature in March, the EPA agreed to release a $3 million lien on the property in return for a share of the proceeds if the county completes a sale of the property. Legislators Alex Shannon and Martin Reid said the EPA lien release would give the county greater flexibility in finding a new owner for the property. History The County Legislature succeeded the Board of Supervisors. The Legislature was formed forty years ago via a vote of county residents, who also decided to create the position of County Executive. The duties of these positions, and the overall operation of county government, was set forth in the County Charter. Deceased members of the County Legislature and Board of Supervisors are remembered on a Memorial Wall in the rear of the chambers of the County Legislature. A ceremony including current and former legislators and members of the deceased lawmaker’s family are included in the ceremony. 
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