Mechanicville may ditch the Commission form of government
Mechanicville may change from the commissioner form of government in 2022, a story in the Times Union says. They will establish a city charter committee to review possible changes beginning in January and may put the issue to voters in a ballot in November.
“Right now we have five forms of government running simultaneously...We try to work together but…” said the city’s Commissioner of Accounts. He is leading the charge for change and wants to see a mayor and a city council, similar to Schenectady.
Hoffman Car Wash sells Jiffy Lubes
Hoffman Car Wash has sold its Jiffy Lube locations to another franchisee of the chain: Premium Velocity Auto LLC, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. They have 55 locations in 10 states, but these are the first locations in New York. The sale allows Hoffman to expand the car wash locations. The story says the company expects to add up to seven more locations in the next couple of years. They have 23 now.
No pot sales in Moreau
The Moreau Town Board voted to opt out of retail cannabis sales in a special board meeting on Wednesday, the Post-Star says. The board used fairly common reasoning: the state has not created regulations yet, so there might be unintended consequences of accepting retail sales, but people speaking during the public hearing used the also-common retort: retail sales locations (similar to liquor stores) and on-site marijuana cafes (similar to bars but with marijuana) will quickly go elsewhere, and if the town opts-in later, the opportunity to capitalize on the tax receipts will have been lost. The story does not state if the town opted-out of just retail sales or retail sales and on-site consumption.
$6.6 million to upgrade the visitor experience at Saratoga Battleground
“The Saratoga National Historical Park is in line for an extensive renovation of the park’s popular yet aging, self-guided battlefield Tour Road beginning in 2022,” a story in the Daily Gazette begins. The $6.6 million is funded through the Great American Outdoors Act. The project will increase accessibility; improve parking, trailheads, walkways, seating, exhibits and viewing areas. The current road is more than 50 years old. The project also covers $4 million worth of maintenance backlog, the story says.