GLOVERSVILLE — The Gloversville Transit System will get four new buses, virtually free, after being chosen by the state Department of Transportation to serve as the hub for a number of rural bus systems in the region.

The Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve participation in the program, which will require the city to put up $325,000 that will ultimately be fully reimbursed.

Since the city will borrow the money, Finance Commissioner Bruce Van Genderen said the city’s only costs will be incurred for interest charges on the money and about $1,500 for the bond lawyer who supervises the loan.

“It’s win-win as far as the city goes,” said Van Genderen.

Transit Director Al Schutz said the catch in the program is that other rural systems in the region, including Amsterdam, Schoharie County and Oneonta, will have the right to requisition buses from Gloversville.

But, Van Genderen said, at least one of those buses will presumably be running on Gloversville routes at all times, a benefit that will save the city’s own fleet from additional mileage and maintenance.

Schutz said the Transit System, which is currently planning to buy up to three new buses (with 90 percent state and federal aid), recently had to take two buses out of service and the only spare bus is currently being repaired.

Schutz said the DOT program buses should be delivered by the end of the year and are expected to be in service for an average bus life of about five years.

In other business Tuesday:

The council voted 5 to 1 to grant a new 10-year lease on the city-owned library building to the Gloversville Public Library. Library officials said they need the lengthy lease to qualify for various grant opportunities expected to fund a planned major capital project.

Councilman James Robinson, R-3rd Ward, voted against the measure. He said he is reluctant to commit the city to such a long lease for fear that necessary maintenance at the library could ultimately fall to the landlord — the city.

“The only thing we’re really doing here is helping the library apply for their grants,” said Councilman John Castiglione, R-2nd Ward.

Councilwoman Ellen Anadio, R-4th Ward, introduced legislation that would prohibit property owners from keeping a pet at an unoccupied house. Anadio said there were two recent incidents in her ward, including one on Third Street, in which the Fulton County SPCA seized a dog and ended up in a dispute with the dog owner who had moved to another residence.

A public hearing on Anadio’s proposed law will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 26.