John E. Lawler - Town Supervisor

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  

I am very proud of our Waterford community, especially when recognized by others as a great place to live. Recently, the Town was designated by the National Council for Home Safety and Security as the twelfth safest community out of 962 towns in New York State. Waterford has also been recognized this year as one of the top 500 towns and cities in the United States in which to enjoy the outdoors by Millennial Personal Finance. These recognitions are a true reflection of our culture in Waterford and I thank each and every one of you for making Waterford what it is, “A safe and happy place to live”. 

To continue moving Waterford in the right direction, the Town is working on updating our Comprehensive Plan.  The current Comprehensive Plan was developed in 2002 and primarily focused on the Village.  This new plan will focus on the Town of Waterford outside of the Village and will incorporate current trends and best practices for land use, zoning and planning.  This plan will offer recommendations that will be a blueprint for the future development, growth and preservation of the Town. It is designed to guide not only the physical, environmental and economic development of the Town, but also addresses social and cultural resources. My sincere thanks to the volunteer committee for their diligent and hard work over the past 18 months to  create the proposed plan. Check our Town Calendar for public meeting dates that will be held by the Town Board to discuss the plan.  A copy of the draft plan is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office or at the Waterford Public Library.  The draft plan can also be viewed on the Town’s website. 

With winter behind us and spring in full bloom, it’s time to look forward to summer. The Town will again offer a wide variety of sponsored programs and events for our residents to enjoy.  The Town swimming pool opens on June 17 and will again sponsor free swim lessons. Our Town parks program at Clement Park begins on June 26, and the Waterford Harbor Farmer’s Market opens on June 4 and will be held every Sunday thereafter from 9am-1pm.  

Beginning July 6, the Waterford Public Library will hold its Summer Reading Program every Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm at the Library. We are excited to introduce outdoor “Movie Nights” this summer to be held at various locations throughout the Town.  Dates and locations are still being confirmed and will soon be posted on our website.  Other upcoming events include Steamboat Meet on July 1and Tugboat Roundup on September 8-10 which will include the second annual Tugboat Chug 5k to be held on September 10.  These events will be held at the Waterford Harbor Visitors Center and we will continue our tradition of fantastic fireworks displays. 

We are planning much needed repairs to the promenade at our Waterford Harbor Visitor Center with the aid of a grant received from the New York State Canal Corporation. Work has already begun with the expectation that most of the work will be completed prior to the busy boating season. Every effort will be taken to minimize the disruptions while the repairs are made.  

It’s hard to believe our new Community Senior Center has been open for over six months. There have already been numerous program events held in addition to the daily scheduled activities. These additional events included a technology class for seniors  sponsored by our youth from Waterford Halfmoon High School (Thank You Students!), an astronomy lecture sponsored by the Waterford Public Library, a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Waterford Museum, and a chair yoga class offered every Wednesday throughout May. Membership at the  Community Senior Center has increased substantially as a result of the new facility and expanded programming.  The insert included with this newsletter details the Community Senior Center’s member recruitment effort, hours of operation, program events and contact information. Please take the time to visit this new facility that is located directly on the shores of the Hudson River adjacent to the Waterford Water Works. 

Memorial Day is a day for all of us to honor the sacrifice of service of those who have served in our nation’s armed forces, and     especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. The Memorial Day Parade will be held on Wednesday May 24 at 7PM. A memorial service will be held at Soldiers and Sailors Park immediately following the parade to pay tribute to those    Waterfordians who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have. While the parade is a wonderful and fun event, please take a few moments to join us for the brief Memorial Day remembrance ceremony immediately following the parade as Waterford remembers our fallen heroes.   

Finally, on behalf of all of the elected officials and Town employees, I wish you and your family a memorable and safe summer!

                                          Our Hearts and prayers are with our Troops all over the world! 

New Smartphone App designed to Keep Waterford Residents Safe Released

The Town of Waterford Deploys Ping4 Inc.’ s Hyperlocal Citizens Alerts App To Keep Citizens Safe.

The Town of Waterford becomes the First Agency in New York to Use “Location-Based” Smartphone App, ping4alerts!, to Deliver Highly-Targeted Public Safety Alerts to Residents and Visitors.  The Town of Waterford Police Department announced today that it has deployed Ping4 Inc’s Hyperlocal Citizens Alerts app, ping4alerts!, to instantly notify citizens of public safety concerns. “Using Ping4’s alerts technology, we are able to notify people within our jurisdiction be they local residents or part of a seasonal influx of transient populations of visitors from outside our region of immediate dangers and emergencies, and enlist their help when needed,

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History of Waterford, NY

The Town of Waterford is situated in the southeastern corner of Saratoga County, 12 miles north of Albany at the junction of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, and the junction of the Erie and Champlain Canals. It is the home of the “Waterford Flight”, the highest set of lift locks in the world.

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2016 Final Assessment Roll

The 2016 Final Town Tax Assessment Roll has been completed and is available for inspection in the Town Clerk’s Office during regular hours. The information is also available on the County's website.

Scroll down to the Town of Waterford link and press the enter key and you will have access to the entire Tentative Roll.

http://www.saratogacountyny.gov/2016-final-assessment-rolls/

To find a particular property, owner, or address, use the “Find” box.

Many residents feel it is important to know the assessments on their properties.

If you need help reading the Roll or understanding its abbreviations, the Assessor is usually available to help (call for an appointment: 235-9907).

Using either of these methods can help you decide if your assessment is fair or needs review. If review is your choice, go to www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/orpts/grievancebooklet.pdf or telephone your Assessor.