Michael Gwizdala reports for the Troy Record that one Rensselaer County official wants to opt-out of the nickel charge on paper bags included in the state's new law banning plastic grocery bags as of March 1, 2020. “The people of our state face enough in taxes, and in Rensselaer County, we are working every day to lower taxes and reduce unnecessary fees. So we will opt out of this surcharge in our county,” said Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin. The City of Troy in Rensselaer County has already implemented the paper bag fee. But Legislature Minority Leader Peter Grimm, a Democrat from Troy, says McLaughlin just cannot decree it is so. "Rensselaer County isn't opting out of anything because nothing has been presented. Certainly, this is a conversation that we could and should have in the future," Grimm said. Rensselaer County Legislature Chair Mike Stammel, a Republican, agreed there would have to be a vote. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.