Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star Hudson Common Council President Claudia DeStefano abruptly removed Second Ward Alderman Tiffany Garriga as a member of the Common Council Police Committee Mon., Sept. 26. The action was taken during a public committee meeting attended by many residents claiming to be supporters of the former Police Commissioner Gary Graziano. Republican DeStefano removed Democrat Garriga after several in the crowd voiced displeasure over the alderman's critical views on the Hudson Police Department. Hudson Police Lieutenant James Delaney, saying he was speaking as a civilian, specifically asked that Garriga be removed “due to her inability to be fair and impartial in this committee.” As for her decision to remove Garriga, DeStefano pointed out that as Common Council President she makes the committee assignments, and can remove a member as she sees fit. DeStefano told Garriga she was off the committee to thunderous applause from the audience. “This may be a political stunt,” Garriga responded. Graziano resigned last week after Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton took issue with comments he made in a press release announcing the arrest of former Second Ward Alderman Quintin Cross, who was charged Sept. 15 with grand larceny. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail work has begun in Catskill to transform the former Daily Mail pressroom building into an outlet for the Athens-based Crossroads Brewing Company. A crew from the Greene County restoration and preservation company Directions North started the demolition of the interior of the building, located on Water Street in the village, on Mon., Sept. 26. Crossroads acquired the building in early June and hopes to have it fully restored and ready to open within a year. The building housed The Daily Mail printing presses and was used as a circulation depot for delivery drivers. The press operated at that location until February 2015. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Mid-Hudson News Network is reporting Scenic Hudson and the Greene Land Trust have announced a collaboration to protect 149 acres along the Catskill Creek. The Greene Land Trust will manage the land as part of Scenic Hudson’s “Save the Land That Matters Most” campaign. The property is located upstream from the village of Catskill and includes more than two miles of shoreline on Catskill Creek. The arrangement is intended to provide outdoor recreation and to help the community mitigate flooding. Plans for the property include the development of marked walking paths between a meadow and the creek’s shoreline. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Casey Seiler is reporting at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Mon., Sept. 26, signed legislation that will allow New Yorkers to be buried with their cremated pets at not-for-profit cemeteries. “For many New Yorkers, their pets are members of the family. This legislation will roll back this unnecessary regulation and give cemeteries the option to honor the last wishes of pet lovers across New York,” Cuomo said in a statement. The law, which takes effect immediately, amends not-for-profit corporation law, which previously banned the burial of animals alongside humans. Under the new law, cemeteries will not be required to provide for the interment of pets, but it provides the regulated option. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Amanda Fries is reporting in the Times Union protesters held a "Climate Justice Vigil" Sun., Sept. 25, outside the governor's mansion in Albany. The group cited environmental, health and public-safety concerns in their effort to convince Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take more aggressive action to stop the Algonquin Incremental Market pipeline. The vigil was sponsored by Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline and drew 21 people, including a Buddhist monk, and the members of several anti-fracking and anti-pipeline groups. Cuomo last year called for a halt to pipeline construction pending a review by state agencies of its safety and environmental impact, but the request was rejected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The major point of concern is the pipeline's proposed proximity to Indian Point. Parts of the pipeline would be located within 105 feet of the nuclear complex, and a pipeline rupture could cut off power to the plant and endanger those nearby, protesters said. AIM is a project of Houston-based Spectra Energy. It runs along the existing Algonquin line that carries gas from New Jersey and points west to the Boston area. Once running, it would bring hydrofractured gas from Pennsylvania through New York and on to Canada for export. Paula Clair, a protester from Garrison, noted that the AIM pipeline is due to be operational Nov. 1. "That's a little more than a month from now, so this is an urgent situation," she said. Read the full story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting the movie “Blind” will have its world premiere at the Woodstock Festival next month, and the film's co-star Alec Baldwin is scheduled to attend the annual event. Festival organizers made the announcement Mon., Sept. 26. The film, that also features Demi Moore, will be the opening night feature of the 17th annual event, which runs from October 13 to 16 at venues in Woodstock, Rosendale, Rhinebeck and Saugerties. The festival will also show "Loving," about an interracial couple sentenced to prison in Virginia in 1958 for getting married. The full festival lineup includes the screening of 130 films, panel discussions and special events. Information is available at Woodstock Film Festival [dot] com. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail the conversation about the proposed new Greene County Jail continued at a meeting of the county legislature's Public Safety Committee last week. Committee chair William Lawrence reported the jail task forces are still active and working on the design in collaboration with Delaware Engineering. Lawrence said a public input committee will be established in the coming weeks for residents to share their opinions about the project. The county budget will be developed in November, and it may, or may not include a new jail. County Administrator Shaun Groden pointed out there are a number of environmental concerns with the plan, including the impact on traffic and on wildlife. There is also concern about the volume of clay at the site. Groden said there is a potential drainage problem with the structure because clay has a poor absorption rate. Greene County currently boards its incarcerated people in other counties at the cost of $1 million per year, due to the condition of the existing county jail, Lawrence said. A public hearing on the new jail plan will be held at 6:20 p.m., Wed., Oct. 19 in the county office building in Catskill. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Local weather forecast:

Today: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny. High near 73. Tuesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 49.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 68. Wednesday night, a chance of showers, mainly after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 50.
THURSDAY: A chance of showers. Cloudy. High near 65. Thursday night, showers likely. Cloudy. Low around 53.

Sunrise today: 6:49 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:42 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 11:52 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

CANAAN Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 County Route 5, Canaan (781-3144).
CATSKILL Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CHATHAM Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at high school, 50 Woodbridge Ave., Chatham (392-1501).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors County Government Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
COLUMBIA Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting, 8:30 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Hudson (828-4718).
GERMANTOWN Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
GREENVILLE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Greenville (966-5055).
HUDSON Development Corporation meeting (tentative), 12 p.m. at 1 N. Front St., Hudson (751-1044).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Monday, September 26 (3:24). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)