• This week Potsdam’s new Economic Developer, David Thurlow, has invited Village Board members to a Visioning Exercise “to brainstorm and explore key elements of our community’s collective identity and vision for the future of the village”. This meeting will be held in the Civic Center Meeting room after the regular Board meeting on Monday 21 October. Curious to hear each board member’s hopes for future Potsdam? This may provide that opportunity.
• The Director of Potsdam Village’s Recreation Department, Trey Smutz, has developed flyers advertising activities available via our Rec Department – and they look great: Whether to reserve a spot for a Pine Street Arena Ice Skating Birthday Party; or to kayak & paddleboard in summer; or to ice-skate, hockey & snowshoe in winter; or to enjoy pickleball, all the information will soon be available and posted on the village website and FB page.
• Potsdam’s skatepark project moved forward! Economic Developer Fred Hanss released two “Statements of Qualifications” from two firms able and willing to design a skatepark for Potsdam. The statements will be studied by the Skatepark Committee who will deliberate which of the two firms would make the best design. The Board likely will follow the recommendation of the Skatepark Committee and hire that firm for design plans. Once drawn, the design plans will be used by a yet-to-be-determined construction firm to build the skatepark. Funding for all this from NYS DRI.
• A number of home owners who have endured too many flood events has invited members from the 3 overlapping municipalities of the village, town and school to assemble in one space to discuss the growing frequency and intensity of rain storms. What might we, collectively, do to mitigate the damage of more frequent and intense rainstorms, snow melts and wind storms? The meeting will be held on Monday 28 October at 7:00 pm in the Town Office’s Community Room.
• The ElectroScan lead detectors are still surveying the village’s water lines for lead contaminants.
• SUNY Potsdam hosted a one-day Local Government Conference geared to Assessors, Clerks, Board/Finance members, Code/Planning members and DPW crews. I attended the DPW sessions on the growing concern around PFAs or forever chemicals in our environment. More on PFAS in future.
• Climate Smart Community co-organizer Sue Powers has requested the village administration’s involvement in efforts to examine options for free or low cost composting drop-off sites for residents. Efforts to introduce food scrap recycling at CPH hospital and PCS schools are on-going.
That’s all for this week’s continuing developments on the village board…
Local Government Matters 