Signing bonuses aren’t doing it
Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing & Heating Contractors Inc. is thinking of offering a snowmobile or a bass boat as a sign-on bonus for experienced plumbers since their offer of $10,000 cash brought in just a handful of potential workers, none of whom had the experience that would make them eligible for the bonus, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. The story references a report from the National Federation of Independent Businesses which says 46% of business owners had unfilled openings in June.
Anti-slaughterhouse petition started
Kilcoyne Farms, of Hudson Falls, wants to build a slaughterhouse and educational facility, to teach the butchering process, but a petition on change.org is fighting the location on Ferguson Lane in the industrial park next to the Warren County Airport, a story in the Post-Star says. The petition had 68 signatures on Thursday, the story says. A local, pro-animal organizer is concerned about traffic issues, real estate values and pollution, the story says.
Virtual meetings may be here to stay
A special session of the state Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that allows localities to hold virtual meetings—rather than in-person—until Jan. 15, the Daily Gazette says. “If videoconferencing is used to conduct a meeting, the public notice for the meeting must inform the public that videoconferencing will be used, identify the locations for the meeting, and state that the public has the right to attend the meeting at any of the locations,” states Open Meetings Law, the story says. Municipalities are making the switch/don't switch decision now.
Ballston possibly opting-out of onsite pot consumption
Ballston may ban future marijuana stores from allowing consumption on premises. Whether or not to allow onsite consumption is a choice all localities must make by Dec. 31. Officials are worried about public safety if people get high and drive home, a story in the Times Union says. Leaders wondered if banning on-site smoking would stop driving-while-high. People might smoke on their own and drive or go to a pot lounge in another locality and drive home from there, the story says.