Tague: Zicha Site Figures Inaccurate, Believes Site Could Open Economic Opportunities

Last night we were contacted by Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague about our article Saturday regarding potential jail sites. He emailed us several updates on the project, including updated estimates regarding costs.

In our article we cited figures from Flood Recovery Manager Bill Cherry's October 3rd letter to the members of the Buildings and Purchases Committee and Law Enforcement Committee. In our piece, we wrote, "Water lines would need to be extended either from Schoharie four miles away or five to six miles from Cobleskill. Sewer lines may be extended one mile from Central Bridge depending on capacity. It is currently unknown if the site is still for sale."

Supervisor Tague sent us an email from October 17th, in which he cites information from Jack McDonald, the engineer of record for the Cobleskill to Howes Cave water system and the Central Bridge Water and Sewer District. McDonald's estimate is that running water from the corner of Route 7 and Zicha Road, a distance of 3.8 miles, would cost $2.9 million. McDonald stated that a one mile extension from Central Bridge would cost approximately $686,000. Tague called either "a cheap investment in the possibility of serious economic development to benefit the entire county down the Route 7 Corridor."

For Tague, this is the best possible location for the jail as it is near access points to the Capital District and near the courthouse in Schoharie. He cites the fact that the Central Bridge sewer system is new and the District recently received $5 million in grants for projects expected done by the end of 2017.

Seward: New Heroin Recovery Laws Taking Hold

As a member of the Senate’s Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction I have worked to enact new laws to fight the heroin and opioid abuse crisis.  The laws focus on a number of key areas including initiatives to increase access to treatment and support those who are in recovery.

Several changes in our laws are now in effect and just recently the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the agency that oversees and regulates insurance companies in New York State, outlined the revisions in a special guidance letter to health insurers.

The guidance issued by DFS outlines the new requirements insurers must adhere to in regard to medication, inpatient and outpatient treatment, and other vital addiction recovery services.

Here are some of the key changes that I have fought to enact.

Ending Prior Insurance Authorization for Immediate Access to Inpatient Treatment Services: Requires up to a minimum of 14 days of coverage for necessary inpatient treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) without prior approval or concurrent utilization review (UR) during those 14 days for in-network providers.

Lengthening the Amount of Time Families Can Seek Emergency Drug Treatment: Extends the amount of time a person can be held to receive emergency services related to substance use from 48 hours to 72 hours. This bill also ensures the provision of adequate discharge planning from treatment facilities, provides individuals with the opportunity to seek further substance use treatment, and requires the dissemination of information on the dangers of long-term substance use and treatment resources.

Using Consistent Criteria to Determine the Medical Necessity of Treatments: Allows providers to determine the most appropriate level of care for a client with a substance abuse disorder, regardless of what diagnostic tool is used to determine treatment service levels. Providers could use either OASAS’s Level of Care for Alcohol and Drug Treatment Referral (LOCADTR) or any other diagnostic tool approved by OASAS – increasing the ability of providers to make sure that patients are able to receive the treatment they need.

Authorizing Emergency Substance Use Disorder Medication Coverage: Requires insurance coverage, without prior authorization, for an emergency five-day supply of medications for treating a substance use disorder when emergency conditions exist. Any copayments or coinsurance collected for the emergency supply must not exceed the copayment or coinsurance otherwise applicable to a 30-day supply of such medication.

Expanding Access to Naloxone/Opioid Reversal Medication Coverage: Requires insurance coverage for Naloxone or other overdose reversal medication, whether it is prescribed to a person who is addicted to opioids or their family member covered under the same insurance plan.

DFS will review health insurers’ compliance with requirements for coverage during market conduct exams and will take action against any insurers found to have failed to meet all statutory and regulatory requirements for coverage of substance use disorder treatment.

The full guidance letter can be found on the DFS website at http://www.dfs.ny.gov/insurance/circltr/2016/cl2016_06.pdf.

Going forward, we must also take additional steps to target drug kingpins who prey on the addiction of others.  One piece of legislation that would help, known as Laree’s Law, would establish the crime of homicide by sale of an opioid controlled substance.  The bill (S.4163) would allow law enforcement officials to charge a dealer with homicide if heroin or an opiate-controlled substance they sell causes an overdose death.  The senate has passed the bill in each of the last three years, but the assembly has failed to consider the measure.  Those who prey on the addiction of others are abhorrent and should be dealt with severely.

Heroin and opioid addiction is a public health crisis and no one is immune to the crippling effects of this epidemic.  I will continue to work closely with community agencies, healthcare professionals, and local law enforcement to assess the effectiveness of these new laws and take additional actions as needed.
         
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            Senator Seward’s office web site is www.seward.nysenate.gov.
            Like Senator Seward at www.facebook.com/senatorjimseward.

A Look at the Proposed Jail Sites

A number of proposed sites for a new jail were discussed at Friday's Board of Supervisors meeting. The Buildings and Purchases and Law Enforcement Committees had a joint meeting on October 4th. The Chair of the Buildings and Purchases Committee, Gilboa Supervisor Tony VanGlad identified several sites as among the most advantageous.

The County is currently working with LaBella Associates engineering and planning firm, Lamont Engineering, BBL Construction Management, and the West Law Firm to determine cost estimates for each site. These reports are expected in mid-November.

According to information provided by Flood Recovery Manager Bill Cherry, the following are sites are considered:

Zicha Road: The site has no water or sewer and due to a slope the building would have to be placed close to the intersection of Zicha Road and Route 7. Water lines would need to be extended either from Schoharie four miles away or five to six miles from Cobleskill. Sewer lines may be extended one mile from Central Bridge depending on capacity. It is currently unknown if the site is still for sale.

A&S Garage: The former site currently has no water or sewer. Water lines would likely need to be run from the Village of Middleburgh, approximately three miles away. There could be significant environmental costs to clean up years of automotive debris. The site is currently for sale.

Fire Training Facility: This parcel was created by the dumping of soft fill from quarry byproducts. The site does have wetlands and soft spots and the only buildable site is where the Fire Training Facility stands. The building was constructed several years ago, half funded by state grants, which could cause issues with demolition. Both water and sewer are close but not on the parcel. The parcel is currently owned by the County.

Doc Reilly Park: This site does have water and sewer services at the property line. There are significant legal hurdles to turn a current park into a jail. This could be an insurmountable challenge according to the County's legal team. Furthermore, the parcel is in the 500 year floodplain and it is unknown whether the portion outside of the floodplain was inundated in 2011. The property is currently owned by the Town of Cobleskill, with a deed restriction limiting its use to a municipal park.

The Nark Farm on Shady Tree Lane: Has water, sewer, and natural gas services at the property line. The site is level and the facility would be largely out of the Route 7 viewshed. The corner of Shady Tree Lane and Route 7 would need substantial work to eliminate a steep angle of the intersection. It is estimated that this could be done within budget. The site is currently for sale.

Rubin Road Site: This site lies between Route 7 and I-88 across the road from MOSA. It has water, sewer, and natural gas at the property line. The parcel is rocky and sloping which could limit the size and positioning of the facility and further study is needed to see whether excavation costs would be prohibitive. The jail would likely be visible from I-88 but not Route 7. The site is for sale.

Mineral Springs Road: There are two Industrial Development Agency-owned parcels in the Town of Cobleskill. There is natural gas, water, and sewer access at the property line. These two could be combined to create the facility. This site has the lowest expected excavation and site-preparation costs. The building would be visible from part of the Village of Cobleskill and I-88. It is unknown whether the IDA would sell these parcels.

Forrester Road: This site has water, sewer, and natural gas access at the property line. The facility would sit higher behind the Dunkin' Donuts in Cobleskill. The property owner indicated they would not sell the site if it would be made into a jail.

Camp Summit: There is no water or sewer service near the site and the driving distance to the Schoharie Courthouse would be prohibitive.

According to the letter from the Treasurer, the County must consider several factors. These include the site being outside of the 500 year floodplain and not impacted by Hurricane Irene. It must be a minimum of 15-20 acres, but larger would be better. It should be adjacent to municipal water and sewer. It should be within ten miles of the County Courthouse. There should be minimal social impact, and not within a residential neighborhood. The County is looking to avoid eminent domain issues. The County is also prioritizing access to routes to the Capital District.

CRCS JV Football Team Loses to Schuylerville

Information from Karen Cuccinello

The Bulldogs scored a dynamic touchdown at the end of the game but it wasn't enough to overcome Schuylerville, which won 14-8.

Zombie Run a Success at Best House

Information and Photos by Karen Cuccinello

The Zombie 5K run was a success again held last Saturday and largely organized by Bobbi Ryan.

Age category 6-11 Harley Spohn (front left), 

18 and Over Erica Bornhoff (middle front)

12-17 Jack Burton (Right front)

back row- Zombie Goblet Team Winners: The Spartins (winners second year in a row)

Board of Supervisors: Jail Site Decision Later this Year

The Board of Supervisors discussed possible jail sites at their meeting today. Flood Recovery manager Bill Cherry spoke to the members about several potential jail sites.

Supervisor Larry Bradt was concerned about the designed capacity of the Central Bridge wastewater if the jail site was placed there. Supervisor Tague added, “I sent Bill [Cherry] the information.”

Supervisor Tony VanGlad of Gilboa discussed the twelve original sites recommended by Cherry and the Committee whittled it down to five potential spots. VanGlad would like to further reduce the number of choices to three and asked the Board to give opinions. He asked the Treasurer how quickly he would need a response. Cherry said that all five needed more information and requested the Supervisors waited until then to fill out any survey.

“We know that it has to be out of the 500 year flood plain,” Cherry said, “Topography is an issue. Distance from the County building is an issue.” Supervisor Federice asked about how the ranking is different than how the Seebold site was chosen. Cherry replied that many of the factors were similar but factors had changed.

Leo McAllister asked about a timeframe for choosing a jail site. “It would appear we need to make a decision relatively quickly,” he said. Cherry replied that even if the reports were in at the November meeting, the Board would still need time to review. He said that there could be intervening factor, including potential legal issues or cost. He said it would likely take until the end of the year.

State Police in Cobleskill investigate rolled over tractor trailer on I-88

On October 19, 2016 at approximately 3:30 AM State Police in Cobleskill investigated a tractor trailer rollover accident on I-88 Eastbound.  Investigation revealed that a 2007 Volvo tractor trailer was traveling Westbound on I-88 in rainy conditions, when the operator Robert K. Wilson, age 57, of Belchertown, MA lost control of the vehicle and traveled through the median, and across the Eastbound lanes of traffic before overturning onto its side in a ditch.  As a result Eastbound lanes of traffic were closed for several hours while the vehicle was being recovered.  Wilson was ticketed for Failure to Keep Right, Speed Not Reasonable and Prudent, Moving From Lane Unsafely, and Failure to Use Designated Lane.  He was transported to Cobleskill Regional Hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

Cobleskill Man Arrested for DWI

On 10/14 16 at 8:15 PM the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jesse J. Stanhope, age 24, of Cobleskill NY on Hite Road in the Town of Richmondville for several vehicle and traffic charges.

Stanhope was originally stopped for Failure to Keep Right. Upon further investigation he was additionally charged with the misdemeanors of Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 3rd Degree and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1st Degree a Felony for operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended after a previous alcohol related offense.

Stanhope was arraigned in Richmondville Town Court and released without bail to appear back in court at a later date

CRCS JV Defeats Ichabod Crane 22-8

Photos and information by Karen Cuccinello

Cobleskill-Richmondville's JV football team defeated their counterparts at Ichabod Crane this week.

CRCS JV half time huddle with coach Shuart at Ichabod Crane Central School

CRCS JV Football versus Ichabod Crane 1st touchdown of 3

State Police arrest three men for Burglary following trespass complaint in the Town of Broome

State Police in Cobleskill arrested three Connecticut men charging them with Burglary 2nd and various other charges following a trespass complaint on Bates Hollow Road in the Town of Broome on October 8, 2016.
Troopers arrested Daniel W. Tarantino, age 44, of Waterbury Connecticut, Carl R. Colangelo, age 51 and Matthew J. Colangelo, age 22, also of Waterbury Connecticut, charging all three with Burglary 2nd a C Felony. Carl Colangelo and Daniel Tarantino were also charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5th, a Class A Misdemeanor. The arrests were made following a complaint of an active trespass that was received through the Schoharie County 911 Dispatch Center. During the investigation Troopers located the defendants based on vehicle and personal descriptions. Stolen property from the the crime was recovered at the time of arrest. All three defendants were arraigned and remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of cash bail and given a return date of October 12, 2016 at the Broome Town Court. This investigation was a joint investigation headed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation with assistance from the SP Cobleskill Road Patro

Matthew Colangelo

Carl Colangelo

Tarantino

Esperance Man Arrested on DWI Charges

State Police based in Cobleskill arrested an Esperance man for Driving While Intoxicated and multiple drug charges following a traffic stop on October 8, 2016.

 Troopers arrested Roger E. Sulem, age 38, of Esperance charging him with DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 1st, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. The charges occurred after Sulem was stopped for a traffic violation on State Route 20 in the Town of Esperance. Sulem was arraigned on the charges and remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of cash bail. Sulem is expected to appear in the Town of Esperance Court on October 12, 2016 at 6:00pm.

MIddleburgh Business Assn Reviews the Last First Friday

Photo and article by Sheila Donegan

The business association in Middleburgh, known as MABA, has experimented with varying times for its regular monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month. It has varied between morning and evening hours, in the attempt to include as many members and guests who can attend. This month, it was 8:30am today, at the Green Wolf Brewing Co.

 Of course, the conversation began with the most recent First Friday event, October 7, and that will be the last one for this year. It gets darker, earlier, and it was suggested that visiting vendors be told they might want to arrange for some lighting when they participate in the autumn. The event was very well-attended, despite the school homecoming game. Lots of people showed up after that.

 As always, stores and restaurants in the village keep later hours, vendors are allocated a spot to set up, there may be special activities, and there is always music. Curiosity takes people up and down the sidewalks, and everyone seems to have a good time.

Sheriff's Office Unveils Project C.R.A.S.H to County High Schoolers

COBLESKILL - Following months of shooting film and countless volunteer hours, the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office unveiled a twenty-seven minute film to the bulk of the county's high school students at SUNY Cobleskill on Thursday morning as part of the department's Project C.R.A.S.H initiative to discourage distracted teen driving.

Photos by Timothy Knight

Spearheaded by Schoharie County Deputy Bruce Baker, in conjunction with SCCASA, the project began as an idea that soon took on a life of its own. A life that would not have become reality if not for the community's support.

The acronym for Project C.R.A.S.H stands for Creating Real Alternatives & Spreading Hope, which Deputy Baker hopes can fill the void left by DARE and other programs following Irene. 

Operating on the mentality that, "If we're going to impact the community, we need to include the community," Deputy Baker told The Schoharie News in a recent interview that all hands were on deck for this project. 

The film was showed in two viewings, hosted in the
SUNY Cobleskill Ballroom at Bouck Hall.

From involving the county's six school districts and various EMS/Fire Departments to Schopeg and LifeNet, volunteers came out of the woodwork to assist Baker in the development of the emotional video, which depicts the fatal effects of distracted teen driving.

The film's cast consists of high school students, law enforcement officials, first responders, local stage actors, and News10 ABC reporters, while video was shot and edited by the county's public access station, Schopeg. 

The first of many school buses arriving to drop off
hundreds of Schoharie County high schoolers for the premier.

Unveiled in two premiers to the entirety of the county's Junior and Senior high school students, News10 morning reporter Samantha DiMascio tweeted on the scene that students were crying throughout the film, with some even leaving the room altogether. 

Encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of community support and the students favorable response, Deputy Baker indicated that the Sheriff's Office will be tackling other topics in future films, including substance abuse and suicide prevention. Baker told The Schoharie News that he is eyeing the release of both by this holiday season.

The video has been published online by Schopeg for anyone to view, while the Sheriff's Office has launched a Facebook page to promote Project C.R.A.S.H.

Cobleskill Police Blotter

Monday, October 3, 2016

At 2:00 p.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Dane Knight, 21, of Cobleskill, NY, for Menacing in the 3rd degree.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and released on his own recognizance.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on October 18th at 5:00 p.m.

Friday, October 7, 2016

At 12:25 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Zachary R. Foland, 24, of Cobleskill, NY, for Aggravated Harassment 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th and 2 counts of Harassment 2nd.  He was arraigned in Cobleskill Town Court and remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $1000 Bail / $3000 Bond.  He is to return to Cobleskill Town Court on October 11th at 5:00 p.m.
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At 2:31 a.m. Cobleskill Police arrested Todd Mills, 42, of Cobleskill, NY, for DWI and other vehicle and traffic tickets.  He was released and is to appear in Cobleskill Town Court on October 25th at 5:00 p.m.

Fire Heavily Damages Main Street Building in Cobleskill

On Sunday, October 9th, 2016 at about 10:12 pm, the Cobleskill Police Department received a report of a structure fire at 695 East Main Street in the Village of Cobleskill. CPD Patrol units immediately responded and observed smoke coming from the building. Sgt. Harold Wilday entered the structure, a multi-unit apartment building, and was able to evacuate all of the tenants that were still inside of the building, as well as a cat belonging to one of the tenants. All tenants were evacuated safely without injury.

The Cobleskill Fire Department arrived on scene and, with assistance from the Richmondville Fire Department and County FAST team, was able to extinguish the fire.

The New York State Police and Schoharie County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene and assisted with traffic control.

The cause of the fire was investigated by the Schoharie County FIVES team and determined to be of accidental origin.

At this time, the building is uninhabitable, and the former occupants are being assisted by the Red Cross.

Man Arrested in Middleburgh on Weapons Charge

Sheriff's Deputies carried out an arrest in the Town of Middleburgh last week following a traffic stop. On October 6th, Robert D. Cooper, 43, of Schenectady, was arrested following a traffic stop on Route 145 in Middleburgh. He was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, which is a Class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket to reappear in the Town of Middleburgh Court at a later date.

Seward Man Arrested on Weapons Charges

Edward Merwin, 46, of Seward, was arrested on October 6th. He was charged with Menacing 2nd degree and criminal possession of a weapon 4th degree. Both are Class A Misdemeanors. He was issued appearance tickets to reappear in the Town of Seward Court at a later date.

Seward: Standing up to Domestic Violence

By State Senator Jim Seward

Since 1987, our nation has observed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Tragically, nearly one in four women and one in seven men are victims of domestic violence and abuse.  Domestic violence is a crime that rips apart the very fabric of families.  It can afflict every segment of society and knows no economic, ethnic or geographic boundaries.

I have been a strong voice against domestic violence and have worked to enact laws that combat this crime here in New York State.  Over the years, several measures have been adopted to help innocent victims, provide police and prosecutors with the tools they need to arrest and convict those who commit such heinous acts, and to increase the penalties imposed on the offenders.

In 2012, a landmark law was enacted increasing penalties for those convicted of domestic violence, creating several new crime classifications, and expanding protections available to victims.  Then in 2015, a pair of measures that were part of the senate’s Women’s Equality Agenda were signed into law:

Senate bill 5 prohibits discrimination against domestic violence victims in housing, and, under the provisions of the law, a violation of this prohibition would be a misdemeanor. The new law amends the Real Property Law to protect victims of domestic violence from discrimination when they attempt to rent or lease housing and provides victims a defense in eviction proceedings.  The legislation also allows the option of a civil action for a violation of the prohibition;

Senate bill 6 allows domestic violence victims to electronically file for orders of protection.  Victims of domestic violence face too many obstacles in securing protection from their abusers.  Some victims require immediate temporary orders of protection, but have no means to travel to the appropriate family court.  The legislation creates a pilot program to allow domestic violence victims to seek temporary orders of protection through electronic means rather than having to appear in person.   The new law also requires the Office of Court Administration to review and update their policies and services for all crime victims in the courts to make sure that their needs are being met so victims are truly protected.



The new laws are both key steps in assisting victims of domestic violence, however, there are additional measures I am continuing to fight for.  This year, a pair of bills were passed by the senate:
                   
S.6658 – The Domestic Violence Protection Act, also known as Brittany’s Law, that would create a publicly accessible registry of all individuals convicted of a violent felony and allow local law enforcement to keep track of their location.  The registry would be accessible to the public, similar to the registry of sex offenders that the state currently has in place;

S.3087 – Allowing domestic violence victims to testify via closed circuit television to avoid courtroom intimidation by alleged abusers. Current law only allows children who are considered vulnerable by a judge to testify via closed-circuit television. This legislation would also give domestic violence victims the option of testifying outside of the physical presence of their abusers to help facilitate cooperation with prosecutions.

While both bills passed the senate, the state assembly failed to bring either to the floor for consideration.

Domestic violence victims are often dealing with both physical and emotional trauma.  These bills ensure that victims are not mistreated further and are able to start rebuilding their lives.  In addition, Brittany’s Law would increase community awareness of predators and help strengthen public safety.

We are also fortunate to have several local organizations providing help to vulnerable individual.  I have consistently secured grant funds for these agencies to help them in their efforts to make our communities safer.  These agencies are lifelines and, in many cases, are all that stand between a domestic violence victim and a tragic situation.


By toughening our laws -- and continuing to increase public awareness -- we will better protect victims of domestic violence, while also bringing perpetrators of this terrible crime to justice.

Schoharie ARC Partnerships Fund Charity Partnerships

By Tammy Ruise

Schoharie County ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center has been working with the Wright-Schoharie Valley Lions Club on a collaborative recycling effort. Every Saturday morning, Jim Lord greets smiling faces of those returning cans & bottles at the Town of Wright Transfer Station. Mr. Lord saves the returns for pick up from the Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center. The recycling efforts help raise over $2,000 to benefit many local charitable programming efforts sponsored by the Wright-Schoharie Valley Lions Club including: hearing and sight initiatives, scholarship and student leadership programming, the Regional Food Bank and the Joshua Project to name only a few. Pictured are David DiNicola, General Manager for Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center; Jim Lord, Chair of the Lions Club Recycling Program and club director; Tom Snowdon, the Club's vice-president; and Kirk Playford, an employee at the Toe Path Redemption Center. Schoharie ARC has also partnered with the local Lions Club on other fundraising projects including pumpkin sales. Donations of redeemable cans and bottles (and other recyclable items) can be made at the Town of Wright Transfer Station on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m.) For more information on the Lions Club, their recycling program and their charitable efforts, please contact Ellen Snowdon at snowdeersnow@msn.com. Schoharie ARC's Toe Path Redemption Center is open Mon-Fri 9-4 and is located at 121 Opportunity Drive, Schoharie NY. Donations for the Lions Club may also be made at this location during regular business hours. For more information on Toe Path Redemption Center, Please call 51-295-8130.

Vote in Our Poll: Your Choice for President

2016 has proven one of the most interesting election cycles in memory. With the debate tonight, it seemed fitting to have our poll be about the race. Make sure to vote in our poll, located on the right hand column of the site. We'll be publishing the results later this week.