Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that Valatie passed two new local laws Oct. 10. Beginning in February, property owners with fire alarms that call in false alarms to the fire department will be fined. "Designs for private alarm systems must be submitted to the village building inspector and there is an application fee," Teasdale reports, but does not detail the amount of the fines or the fee. The Valatie board also passed a law mandating commercial building and any residential building with four or more units to dispose of their own garbage rather than using the municipal hauler. That law takes effect Jan. 1. And the village clerk says that Valatie offices will be closed Election Day, Nov. 7. Valatie's Village Board meets next at 7 p.m. Nov. 14. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.