Amsterdam Common Council approves insurance contract, Trail Town recognition, property sales and multiple budget transfers

The City of Amsterdam Common Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a package of resolutions covering an insurance broker contract, a Trail Town action agenda, multiple property sales and several budget transfers.

Among the items approved, the council authorized a one‑year contract with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services LLC to provide brokerage services for property and liability coverage; adopted the 2025 Amsterdam Empire State Trail Town action agenda and authorized creation of a Trail Town committee; approved the sale of subdivided lots from 38 Lyon Street and two Grove Street parcels; and authorized multiple budget transfers to cover liability claim deductibles, golf-clubhouse startup costs and other departmental needs.

The Gallagher contract was presented by Alderman Carpenter, who told the council Gallagher “had a lot to offer. They were a bigger company. They had bigger resources.” The resolution notes Gallagher’s commission structure for certain carriers at the time of presentation: Nimer 9 percent, Arch 10 percent and Berkeley 8.5 percent.

The Trail Town resolution adopted the action agenda developed with Parks & Trails New York and the New York State Canal Corporation and established a committee to coordinate promotion, maintenance and development tied to the Erie Canal/Empire State Trail.

Other approvals included a $11,028.12 appropriation from a special revenue fund to purchase computers and a drug incinerator for the Amsterdam Police Department; a budget transfer to cover $127,000 in insurance deductibles related to settled liability claims; and a transfer of state aid placed in the golf fund to a capital project account to support the clubhouse construction.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2425194 — Authorize contract with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services LLC (one year). Moved by Alderman Carpenter and Alderman Holliday. Vote: 6–0 (Carpenter, Marticello, Quistamars, Holliday, Collins, Christie Morris — all Aye).

- Resolution 2425195 — Adopt 2025 Amsterdam Empire State Trail Town action agenda; establish Trail Town committee. Moved by Alderman Carpenter. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425196 — Authorize mayor to execute contract with Montgomery County for grass and brush control on county highways. Moved by Alderman Marticello. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425197 — Authorize purchase of technology and drug incinerator for Amsterdam Police Department; appropriation of $11,028.12 from special revenue fund. Moved by Alderwoman Collins. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425198 — Budget transfer to pay judgments and claims (insurance deductibles: $127,000). Moved by Alderwoman Collins. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425199 — Transfer state aid placed in golf fund to capital project account for clubhouse construction. Moved by Alderman Martisello. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425200 — Final payment on golf course deficit financing (pay off remaining outstanding amount). Moved by Aldermen Carpenter and Marticello. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425201 — Budget transfer for golf course maintenance equipment and electricity (amended to change a line for a used Toro utility cart to read “$2,500 toward additional equipment as needed”). Motion to amend carried; final resolution carried 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425202 — Authorize advertisement for bids: 2025 Street Resurfacing Program. Moved by Alderman Marticello. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425203 — Budget transfer: Department of Public Works (cover unanticipated repairs). Moved by Alderman Marticello. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425204 — Authorize sale of two lots subdivided from 38 Lyon Street (Lot 1 to Lyon Street Inc. for $3,250; Lot 3 to Svatoslav Bolanda for $1,000). Moved by Alderman Carpenter. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425205 — Approve municipal audit. Moved by Alderwoman Collins. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

- Resolution 2425206 (consent) — Authorize sale of 99 Grove Street ($2,500) and 113 Grove Street ($500). Moved by Alderwoman Collins. Vote: 6–0 (all Aye).

Why it matters

The package moves forward several operational and capital items the city said it already budgeted or planned to execute: a new insurance brokerage arrangement, formal recognition and promotion work tied to trail tourism, property disposition to support local businesses and homeowners, purchases for the police department, and multiple budget entries to reconcile claims and support construction work already under way.

What’s next

Several of the approvals (notably the Street Resurfacing advertisement and the golf-clubhouse spending) start procurement or project work that city staff said will proceed over the coming weeks. The council did not take public comment on the consent sales at length; all roll-call votes recorded in the transcript were unanimous.