Town Board Meeting

The Town of Jay Town Board held its monthly meeting last night. At the beginning of the session, the Town was gifted a beautifully crafted lectern, which you can see in the attached picture, created by Town of Jay resident Terry Walters. It was put to use immediately and is lightweight enough to be utilized for dedications, announcements, and events town-wide. A huge thank you to Terry for creating this piece at no cost to the town.

The meeting included standard updates from Department Heads and Committees. I provided updates on current projects, grant programs, and other town business. If you would like to watch the video of the meeting, it is available as usual on our website.

 

Water District Income Surveys

The Household Characteristics Surveys mailed to our water districts were due back today; however, RCAP Solutions will continue to accept them after today. Currently, we have a return rate of approximately 25 percent, but we need to reach 60 percent to qualify for certain grants and funding. We will be following up this effort with door-to-door visits to achieve the necessary response rate.

In order for us to keep our water rates as low as possible, we need your help. Please take a moment to fill out this information, which is kept strictly confidential by RCAP Solutions, a not-for-profit organization. If you prefer to complete the survey online, you can visit: https://bit.ly/JayWaterSurvey . Thank you for taking the time to help us help you.

 

Community Garden Plots Available

It is time to get your hands dirty at the Town of Jay Community Garden! Located on Grove Road, directly across from the Grove Athletic Fields, our garden offers a secure space to grow your own fresh produce or flowers this summer. We have 10×10 and 4×6 plots available for a seasonal fee of just $20.

To ensure a great growing experience, the site features on-site water access and is protected by a locking gate. To reserve your spot or ask any questions, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 518-647-2204 x104. Plots fill up fast, so do not wait to reach out.

 

Northville School Meeting

This week, I was invited to join a conversation regarding declining enrollment, increased costs, and funding shortfalls with Northville School. AuSable Valley and the towns that make up the district are not alone in these challenges. To ensure the sustainability of our district, we must look beyond traditional budget cuts and think outside the box to provide expanded educational opportunities that attract young families.

We discussed how Northville plans to share teachers with surrounding districts to provide additional opportunities, such as foreign languages and college-level courses, to create a compelling reason for families to move to the area. This dialogue reinforced my belief that protecting our local school and investing in the infrastructure of family life, including housing and community connectivity, is essential to ensuring our town remains a vibrant, sustainable place for the next generation to thrive.  I plan to continue my dialogue with our district to continue to find solutions that benefit us all.

 

I hope you have a great weekend,

Matt