As of this writing, there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the City or any of Rensselaer County, but that could quickly change.
City Hall, fire stations, the water treatment plant, and other municipal facilities are closed to the public to avoid contact that could result in viral contagion. If you feel the need to have an in-person meeting with anyone in the City administration, you can call 518-279-7156 and ask for the appropriate department to request an appointment.
Meanwhile, here is the services situation:
• Regular Friday morning pickup of trash, garbage, and recycled items will continue as usual.
• Bulk trash collection service has been postponed until further notice. Do not call the Department of Public Works (DPW) to schedule such pickups.
• The annual Spring Cleanup program is delayed until further notice. The street-sweeping program will continue, but tagging and towing of vehicles blocking that work will be suspended until further notice on designated routes. (Look for signage throughout the City.)
• To protect customers and employees, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has suspended meter equipment changes and non-emergency internal-leak investigations. During responses to emergency residential leaks, staff will take necessary precautions and require a minimum six-foot distance be maintained between customers and employees.
• DPU is preparing for operations with restricted personnel and will continue to provide potable water for any needs. Suppliers have been contacted and are set to continue deliveries. DPU staff has increased storage availability of chemicals to ensure the longevity of drinking water.
• Approval of public event permits has been suspended for a period of 30 days to mitigate potential spread of the virus at large gatherings.
• All city bills (taxes, water bills, parking violations, garbage fees, etc.) must be paid online or by mail. Property owners can utilize online bill pay options.
• Meetings of the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals are suspended until further notice. All permit applications and other transactions/services will be conducted via email, phone, or online.
• The City’s normal parking ticket dispute process is postponed until further notice. (So, tough luck if you get a ticket. You'll pay it online or by mail.)