A New York State Designated "Quality Community"

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

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)(CHANGES IN 2009!), 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: Donna Conlin, Karen Vecchione and Lois Ciccolella are duly authorized US Passport Agents. Passports are taken Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Special arrangements can be made for group trips to have an agent visit your facility and accept passports for travelers. More detailed information and US Passport Forms may be viewed by connecting to the U.S. State Department at http://travel.state.gov. Please note that we have expanded our services to accommodate our customers and now take passport photos daily during regular business hours. The cost of photos is $9.00.
   
• 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

Attention All Dog Owners in the Town of Schodack

During 2010, the New York State legislature decided to discontinue the State's administration of dog licensing. While they still require that dogs be licensed and have proof of current rabies vaccinations, the administration was passed on to the local municipalities. Effective January 1, 2011, the Schodack Town Clerk will join with Town and City clerks across New York State by taking over the responsibilities previously done by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets pertaining to licensing of dogs.

In order to comply with the new statute, the Town Board adopted a local law to enact the provisions mandated by the State of New York.

To highlight some of the changes that will occur, my office will be sending out renewal notices to each resident during the month prior to their expiration. The State has mandated that all licensing entities collect an Animal Population surcharge of $1.00 for all spayed/neutered dogs and a $3.00 surcharge on all unspayed/unneutered dogs. These fees have been incorporated into the dog license fee set by the Board. Upon renewal, each dog will be assigned a new license tag which identifies them as a Town of Schodack dog. Having the increased burden of the administration of licensing which includes the costs of mailing, tags, forms and collecting the required surcharges, the Town Board and Town Clerk worked together to keep costs at a minimum to allow for these additional responsibilities and maintain an efficient and cost-effective program. The cost for a spayed/neutered dog will be $7.00 and an unspayed/unneutered dog will be $15.00. New York State still requires all dogs to be licensed by four months of age and to have current rabies vaccinations.

If you have a dog that is of age and unlicensed, you are in violation of State and Town statutes. Please be aware that if the Town conducts a dog enumeration, not only will you have to pay the licensing fee, but you will also have to pay an additional fee for having an unlicensed dog. If you have any questions please call the 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.

2009 CHANGES FOR HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES

The New York State Legislature has enacted changes for the Department of Environmental Conservation Hunting and Fishing licenses. Highlighting the major changes, she noted that prices for most licenses are increasing by $10.00. There are a few exceptions where they will remain the same and in one instance, the One Day fishing license will be reduced to $5.00. Most hunters will see a new charge of $10.00 for the Deer Management Permit (DMP); however, if you hold a Lifetime Sportsman license purchased prior to October 1, 2009, you will be exempt from the DMP application fee.

A more significant change, is the qualifying age for senior licenses. It increases from age 65 to age 70. This means that seniors between the ages of 65 - 69 will have to pay full price for the 2009 - 2010 licenses. The new annual license fees will be $29.00 for fishing and $47.00 for sportsman, plus the $10.00 for a DMP. If you are 70 years of age or older, a sportsman license will cost $10.00, plus $10.00 for a DMP and a fishing license will cost $5.00.

Due to these changes, seniors between the ages of 65-69 and even seniors age 70+, who traditionally purchase annual licenses might want to consider purchasing a Lifetime Senior license before these new prices take effect on October 1, 2009. Senior Lifetime licenses purchased before that date cost $50.00. It includes the privileges of small and big game, turkey, fishing and WAIVED APPLICATION FEES for DMPS. Senior Lifetime licenses, purchased on or after October 1, 2009, will cost $65.00, include the same privileges, but the $10.00 fee for the DMPs will NOT be waived. This increase and new rule about the additional fee for the DMPs holds true for any lifetime license purchased on or after October 1, 2009. Please note that even if you have already purchased an annual license you can still purchase a Lifetime license.

Two new licenses will be offered - a Trapper Super Sportsman, which will cost $88.00 with the additional $10.00 DMP fee and a Recreational Marine license at the cost of $10.00.

For more information regarding these changes and fee increases, please call the Town Clerk's Office at 477-7590. It is also available on the DEC website (http://www.dec.ny.gov).

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