A New York State Designated "Quality Community"

 
Personnel
Donna Conlin, Town Clerk
Karen Vecchione, Deputy Town Clerk
Lois Ciccolella, Deputy Town Clerk

New (10 Aug 12) Information about Dog Licenses

Duties
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Adopted Town Board Resolutions from the most recent Town Board Meeting.

Lois Ciccolella, Deputy Town Clerk....
This Deputy Clerk takes dog licensing to a new level!

While Town Clerks are generally credited with issuing licenses, that is only a small part of this complex job. Many duties are mandated by law in this multi-faceted office, but there are also a number of other services that we provide to town government and offer to the public. As the most accessible form of government, we are here to serve and assist you. We try to respond promptly to your questions in a courteous, professional manner. If we cannot help you, we will refer to you to the office or agency that can. If my staff or I can be of service, or you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (518) 477-7590 or stop in and see us. We are located at 265 Schuurman Road (across from Burger King on Rtes. 9 & 20). Our offices are on the first floor, to the left as you enter the building. Stop by and say hello and see our bright and cheery office space!

The Town Clerk is the:

• Registrar of Vital Statistics: As Registrar of Vital Records, the Town Clerk is responsible for keeping a permanent record of all births and deaths that occur within the boundaries of the Town, as well as all marriage licenses that are applied for at our office. Birth, death and marriage records are not open to the public for inspection. For genealogical searches, death and marriage records become available fifty (50) years after the date of issuance. Birth records become available after seventy-five (75) years. Please contact the Town Clerk's office for more detailed information.
   
• Filing Officer for the Town: All local laws, oaths of office, affidavits of publication, resignations, petitions, annual budgets, fiscal reports, assessment rolls, bonds, and other pertinent town documents are filed in the Town Clerk's Office.
   
• Permit Issuing Agent: Issues licenses and permits for marriages, dogs, conservation (hunting and fishing), duck stamps, bingo, games-of-chance licenses, handicapped parking (download a .pdf form from DMV), the Transfer/Recycling Station Rules and fees, peddling and soliciting, trailers, and street-openings (excavation). Under the New York State Education Law, the Clerk's Office can issue Certificates of Residency (How to get one?) to individuals who will be attending Hudson Valley Community College.
   
• The Town Park, located on Poyneer Rd., has a wonderful pavilion for your next event. The Town Clerk administers the rental of the facility. The application for facility use and regulations is available in MS Word format  or Acrobat - .pdf - format.
   
• Records Management Officer: The Clerk acts as custodian of all permanent Town records and provides for the storage, retrieval and disposition of records for all departments of the Town. All records are maintained in accordance with New York State Record Retention and Disposition Schedule (MU-1).
   
• Records Access Officer / FOIL: All Freedom of Information (FOIL) requests are administered through the Town Clerk's office. In 2006 Governor Pataki approved legislation (Chapter 182 of the Laws of the State of New York) to amend the Freedom of Information Law. It requires that all entities, having electronic capabilities to receive and respond to FOIL requests via e-mail. So in compliance with that directive, you may submit requests by either of the following methods:

  Request for Records Printable Format - If you would like to request information in person, by mail or fax (518-477-2439) you may use this form (printable Adobe Acrobat .pdf format).
  Request for Records by E-mail - may be copied and pasted from this form (MS Word document) to your email.
  All requests should be directed to donna.conlin@schodack.org.

  
  
• Recording Secretary to the Town Board: The Town Clerk attends all Town Board meetings and authors the minutes, which are retained permanently for legal and historic purposes. The official Sign Board for the Town is maintained by the Town Clerk's Office and all identified meeting dates and affidavits of publication are posted on the Board as prescribed by law.
   
• Cash Control Officer: The Town Clerk is responsible for the collection and disbursement of funds to the state, county and local fiscal officers of all fees collected.
   

Other Services:

• The Town Clerk's Office also sells Zoning Maps, Zoning Books, Subdivision Books, and Town Maps.
   
• US Passport Agents: The Town Clerk's Office is an official Passport Acceptance Facility. We accept Passport applications Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We also take Passport photos daily. The cost of the photos is $9.00. Due to new passport regulations, only two clerks are now agents. We suggest that you call the clerk's office at 477-7590 to be assured that staff is available to accommodate your needs. Special arrangements can be made for group trips to have an agent visit your facility and accept passport applicationss for travelers. More detailed information and US Passport Forms ('http://travel.state.gov') may be viewed by connecting to the U.S. State Department via the link in this sentence.
   
• Notary Publics: Notaries are available during regular business hours; call for shut-in service. A picture ID is required when requesting this service (i.e. - Driver's License, passport, military ID, etc.)
   

The Town Clerk's Office also performs many other duties for the town departments, (i.e. - orders general office supplies, submits press releases for the Youth and Recreation department, issues applications for registrants of the Youth and Recreation Summer Program, etc.).

Under the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the county governments oversee all election responsibilities. In Rensselaer County, the clerks of local governments assist the Board of Elections with various aspects of the process, such as working with the election inspectors, calling in results, and registration of voters. Voter registration froms may be downloaded in English or en Espanol

New, August 2012: Dog Owners in the Town of Schodack did you know...

That New York State mandates that all dogs over the age of 4 months be licensed in the municipality in which it lives? We recognize that many residents are not aware of this state and town law. In order to license your dog, proof of current rabies vaccination (Rabies Certificate) is required for all dogs. Rabies is a contagious and serious disease spread from animals to people, so having them vaccinated, helps to protect not only your dog, but you and your family. If your dog is spayed/neutered you must also provide a copy of the spaying/neutering certificate. The cost of licensing your dog is very nominal - $7.00 for a spayed/neutered dog and $15.00 for an unspayed/unneutered dog. This is an annual license.

That the Town of Schodack will be conducting a dog census from July 2012 - September, 2012? Residents will be receiving a licensing information card in the mail that needs to be filled out and returned to the Clerk's Office with the proper documentation. A $5.00 census fee per dog will be charged during the enumeration period if you own an unlicensed dog. You can avoid paying this additional fee by licensing your dog now! You can stop by the Town Clerk's office at 265 Schuurman Rd., Castleton, NY 12033 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., or you may license by mail. Just send in the proper fee and documentation as noted above. All information will be copied and returned to you.

That the Town of Schodack has a leash law? When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash no longer than 12 feet. However, if you are walking your dog in the Town Park, the leash cannot be longer than 6 feet. Any dog found running a large may be seized pursuant to law. The owner is subject to impoundment fees and a fine. For the well being of your dog, yourself and your neighbors, be a responsible pet owner and leash your dog when it is not on your property. Remember too - Love Me, License Me. If you have any questions please call the Schodack Town Clerk's office at 477-7590.

WILD ANIMALS AND SNAKES

General Municipal Law §209-cc, requires that each person owning, possessing or harboring a wild animal must report its presence to their local municipal clerk before April 1st of each year. This information is then provided to emergency services personnel so that they may protect themselves, other people and the animals when responding to an emergency. "Wild animals" includes non-human primates, members of the wild cat, dog and bear families, all venomous snakes, all constrictors and pythons 10 feet or greater in length and members of the crocodile and alligator families 5 feet or greater in length. For more information, a complete list of animals and/or required forms contact Donna Conlin, Schodack Town Clerk at 265 Schuurman Rd., Castleton, NY 12033, by email, or telephone 477-7590.

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