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New Lebanon council approves reimbursement program to fund CDL training for service workers
Summary
The Village of New Lebanon on Feb. 17 approved Resolution 2026-4 to pay for commercial driver’s license training for service-department employees, capping assistance at $3,500 per person (negotiated to about $2,800) and requiring prorated repayment if employees leave. Council voted to approve the program after staff described operational benefits for snow and heavy-equipment response.
The Village of New Lebanon voted Feb. 17 to authorize a program to fund commercial driver’s license (CDL) training for village service employees, aiming to increase the number of staff qualified to operate heavy equipment.
Council approved Resolution 2026-4 after staff described a plan to cover up-front training costs and recover some or all of the expense if an employee leaves. The resolution sets a maximum reimbursement amount of $3,500 per person (staff said they negotiated typical quotes down to about $2,800) and requires a signed agreement that reduces repayment by 25% for each year the employee remains in village service.
Village staff and the service department argued the program will improve operations. "It will help the village when we get experienced people with CDLs that can drive the heavy equipment," Dennis, the service department representative, said, citing snow-response and the need for drivers with tanker endorsements. Dennis told council that training programs vary in length and intensity — from an intensive 40-hour option that could be completed in a week to a multi-week schedule compatible with employees' full-time shifts.
Council and staff said the training cost would be split among utility departments (water and sewer) and that funds are available in the training budget. Officials also said the village will use a signed reimbursement agreement to protect the village's investment; under the proposed terms, an employee who leaves or is fired would owe a prorated portion of the training cost, reduced by 25% for each full year of subsequent service.
The council moved and seconded the resolution; roll-call votes were recorded in support and the measure passed. The council provided no named mover on the record; all present council members voted in favor on the record.
The program is intended to address staffing shortages for CDL positions and to reduce operational disruptions during heavy weather by ensuring the village has more qualified drivers to operate plows, tankers and dump trucks.
Council asked staff to return with more precise course schedules and firm cost quotes from training providers before finalizing individual enrollments. The village also discussed, but did not require, hazmat endorsements; staff said they would review whether a tanker endorsement or hazmat endorsement is necessary on a case-by-case basis.
Next steps: staff will provide definitive training schedules and cost estimates to council and execute written agreements with employees who enroll in the program.
