New group forms to advocate for Gloversville Transit System

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim McGuire

A new group advocating for the Gloversville Transit System is circulating petitions to persuade Mayor Dayton King to appoint a part-time transit manager “without further delay.”

Former Transit Commission member Wally Truesdell, who was not reappointed by King at the close of last year, was elected chairman of Citizens for Gloversville Transit at its organizational meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

In a news release, Truesdell announced the formation of the group and said the motivation to organize followed statements from King that transit supporters consider “non-supportive of transit.”

The GTS has been without a manager since Al Schutz resigned last summer to take a job in Maine. Since Jan. 1, King has been supervising transit, but leaving daily operations to the department’s office staff.

“Meanwhile,” Truesdell said in the news release, “much important work has been left undone.”

King met with the commission last month and informed members that he would prefer to have the city curtail or end its involvement with the bus system that serves much of two counties but is subsidized partially by Gloversville taxpayers. That subsidy, once over $400,000 annually, was reduced last year to under $200,000.

King said Wednesday he agrees with the new group about the need to fill a part-time manager’s post.

“But to find someone willing to work for $15,000 a year and also capable of operating the system is going to be tough,” King said, adding that for some time the part-time position has been available, and yet no one has expressed interest.

King said he will make an effort to find some candidates, but also raised the possibility that the new director of public works might be given the responsibility.

He said he has identified two leading candidates for the vacant DPW post and may be able to offer the job to one of them by the end of the week. He said both finalists are from Gloversville.

King said the salary will be between $55,000 and $60,000 and he is hopeful that the Common Council, meeting Tuesday in a work session, will confirm the appointment that night.

When Schutz resigned, Truesdell said, he was discussing the possibility of establishing a route to the GlobalFoundries factory being built in Malta, giving county residents transportation to work there. However, King said Wednesday he wants the Transit Commission to focus on core services.

Truesdell is urging anyone interested in transit issues to begin attending the group’s weekly meetings.

Dates will be announced.