Emilia Teasdale is reporting in The Columbia Paper the mayors of Kinderhook and Valatie traveled to Albany to learn more about the new state law that directs municipalities to find ways to share services. Under the legislation local municipalities are required to create a plan for saving property taxes, and to establish a committee or panel to review shared services. Kinderhook Mayor Jim Dunham said he assumed Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Morrell would be responsible for the plan, along with local mayors and supervisors on the panel, according to the letter he received from the state Conference of Mayors. Valatie Mayor Diane Argyle said she thought the party responsible would be county Controller/Auditor Ron Caponera. The panel, or committee, is expected to find ways to save money through the elimination of duplicative services, shared services, reduction of administrative overhead and better coordination of services. In addition to participants from county, city, town and village governments, local school districts are also expected to be offered a seat on the panel. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.