Assemblyman also driving force behind passage of constitutional amendment on November ballot to save taxpayers $53 million by going digital at State Capitol and stop wasting paper; notes passage of bill he co-sponsored to extend state pension benefits to veterans
Assemblyman Jim Tedisco (R,C,I-Glenville) today announced that the New York State Legislature has passed three of his bills to help taxpayers in the towns of Clifton Park and Ballston in the 112th Assembly District.
One Tedisco bill (A.9608/S.7279), is an amendment to enable the Town of Clifton Park to lease a cell phone tower on a light pole at the Clifton Common town park. Revenues received from the lease will be dedicated toward capital improvements to existing park and recreation facilities to benefit residents in Clifton Park.
Another Tedisco bill that passed today (A.9603A/S.7238A), authorizes the Town of Clifton Park to convey an easement for the placement of underground facilities and fiber optics at Veterans Memorial Park at Elks Trail on MacElroy Road, and allows access to adjacent private lands at the Clifton Park Elks Lodge. This legislation will improve cellular service in the area. In addition, revenues received from the lease of the easement will go to capital improvements to existing park and recreation facilities within Clifton Park.
The third Tedisco bill (A.9190/S.6905), designates Ballston Lake as an inland waterway so the towns of Ballston and Clifton Park can apply for grant money for the state’s Coastal and Inland Waterways Program.
All three bills passed the Senate and were sponsored by Senator Hugh T. Farley (R,C,I-Niskayuna). The bills will next be sent to the governor for his review.
“Passage of these bills adds value to taxpayers in the 112th Assembly District by supporting recreational opportunities in the town parks and waterways in Clifton Park and Ballston. I was pleased to work with Senator Farley and the local officials in the district to get these family-friendly measures passed,” said Tedisco.
Tedisco also was the driving force behind passage of a constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot this November to stop wasting paper and save $53 million at the state Capitol and go digital by enabling electronic copies of legislation on ipads and laptops to suffice on members’ desks.
“This November, voters will have the opportunity to help make Mother Earth smile by turning their ballot over and voting ‘Yes’ to the constitutional amendment I sponsored to go digital at the Capitol to save millions of tax dollars and stop needlessly wasting paper that ends up in our landfills,” said Tedisco.
Tedisco also noted that the legislature today passed a measure he co-sponsored and strongly advocated for (A.6974B) to provide up to three years of service credit to members of public retirement systems of the state for military service rendered during times of peace. Currently, veterans can buyback pension credit time if they served during designated periods of conflict -- even if they didn't serve in combat. This legislation corrects this to enable all veterans regardless of when or where they served to participate in the program. “This is important legislation because how can you put a dollar figure on what our veterans are worth?” said Tedisco.
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