Public Statement Regarding Sports Leagues Employment
Of
Individuals Under 14 Years Of Age

Supervisor Barrett has been made aware of a very concerning situation involving sports leagues and organizations in Saratoga County and undoubtedly throughout New York State. The NYS Department of Labor has conducted at least one recent, multi-month audit of organizations that provide competitive sports opportunities for multiple age levels of youth sports. The audit made it clear sports leagues, or any other type of organization cannot employ individuals under the age of 14. In the context of sports, referees, umpires or field judges under the age of 14 are not allowed to be employed to serve in these capacities. Fines have been levied and the audit also ordered back pay to dozens of youth referees who have served in past years.

We understand rules are in place and must be followed by all organizations. However, many leagues and organizations related to sports utilize youth under 14 to oversee competitive games. This has been true for decades. For many organizations, most of their referees are under the age of 14. The referees are trained, learn responsibility, gain experience and are able to make a few bucks. If sports organizations can no longer have referees under the age of 14, it will severely limit their ability to offer competitive opportunities for our children. We often hear there is generally a severe shortage of referees for all levels of youth sports. The inability to utilize referees under the age of 14, will further minimize the pool of referees and place youth sports in a very compromised position.

NYS law pertaining to the employment of individuals under the age of 14, provides exceptions including for child models, child performers, newspaper delivery and farm work. We urge NYS to also include an exemption for referees, umpires and field judges. We understand all other rules currently in place relating to the employment of people in NYS, should be followed. By adding this exception to NYS law our sports organizations across the state can continue to maximize competitive opportunities for our children, while having the confidence they are following the law. We also ask any financial penalties collected by NYS due to audits conducted on sports organizations, based on their use of referees under the age of 14 be returned to the organizations by NYS.

We thank our NYS legislators, DOL leadership and Governor Hochul in advance for their consideration as they review this vital issue. Town Supervisor Phil Barrett and Deputy Supervisor Anthony Morelli both have children who worked in these capacities. They are keenly aware of the benefit to their children, the sports leagues and competitors in the program resulting from the opportunity to serve as a referee at a young age.

I recently released a public statement involving a very important issue that will severely hamper the ability for youth sports organizations to provide competitive play for our young athletes in Saratoga County and New York State. The issue involves the ability of youth sports organizations to employ referees, umpires and game officials who are under the age of 14, which has been a practice for decades. The New York State Department of Labor recently conducted at least one audit of a local organization that resulted in approximately $7,000 in fines. According to Channel 10 News, the Department of Labor described the review as an investigation. My request to our New York State Legislature and Governor was to include an exemption in New York State law for referees, umpires and game officials under the age of 14, to be employed lawfully. Currently New York State allows employment exemptions for child models, child performers, newspaper delivery and farm work for individuals under 14. An exemption for our youth to continue to officiate games is desperately needed if we are to continue to enjoy the extensive opportunities for competitive play offered by organizations across our communities.

I also requested the New York State Department of Labor return the money collected in fines for any youth sports organization that has been audited or investigated. These organizations are managed by volunteers, who dedicate their time and effort to oversee their operations. Many people and I are very hopeful legislation submitted by elected officials in the New York State Legislature to add this exemption, will become a reality.

I would like to thank the Department of Labor for reaching a common sense decision and returning the money collected in fines back to at least one organization. $7,000 is a significant sum of money for a youth sports organization. I am hopeful there will now be additional momentum to move forward with the legislative remedy that would add an employment exemption and solve this issue once and for all.

As local communities, we need to consistently encourage and offer additional opportunities for our youth to engage in positive activities. I understand some parents do not want their children to be a game official in this age bracket. As parents, we make many decisions about the type of activities, sports and endeavors we want our children to pursue or avoid. These are personal decisions. For individuals who pursue the chance to be a game official, take the time to be trained and assist youth sports by their presence, this option should not be eliminated.

CLIFTON PARK HOSTS SPRING SHREDDING DAY
Sunday April 28th, 2024 at Clifton Park Center Mall

The Town of Clifton Park, in partnership with Clifton Park Center and 3N Document Destruction, will host its Spring Town Paper Shredding Day on Sunday, April 28th from 1pm-3pm in the Clifton Park Center parking lot near the DMV and Boscovs.

Residents of Clifton Park are eligible to participate and bring sensitive documents with personally identifiable information, to the event.  Binders, plastic carriers, folders, or metal spiral notebooks will not be accepted.  There is no cost for the shredding.  In exchange for the free service, we will collect non-perishable food items for people in need.

“Clifton Park has been offering this free service, in partnership with 3N Document Destruction, for sixteen years, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  We appreciate the generosity of our volunteers and people who participate in the program for your donation of time and non-perishable food items in support of our community.”

Registration is not required for the event. Each household is limited to 4 bags or boxes of papers.  There will be Town volunteers on hand to assist with this drive-thru service and organize traffic.  3N Document Destruction will provide the shredding service on site. Similar events have been held semi-annually since 2008.  Each year the shredding events serve hundreds of families and collect approximately 2500 pounds of food for the Jonesville Food Pantry.

Check out all the offerings for kids and adults!

pdf 2024 Spring Summer Recreation Booklet(13.37 MB)

The Clifton Park Highway Department, in coordination with the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad, as well as third party contractors, are preparing the repairs and replacement of the railroad crossing on Ashdown Road. The crossing has been a problematic area for some time. The Highway Department has been advocating for the replacement and improvement of this railroad crossing for many months, and we are finally seeing movement with the project. 

While plans are preliminary, the project is most likely going to be implemented in late July of this year. We ask the community and commuters of this busy corridor to be patient while improvements are being made. These repairs will be a vast improvement to the current crossing which will help to improve traffic flow and potential vehicle damage. Message boards and signage will be going up shortly notifying the public of the coming temporary closures of Ashdown Road.

All work will be weather dependent, but it is expected to take five days. Please follow detours and be aware of necessary adjustments to your schedule to compensate for any changes in your commute. For additional information and changes throughout the extent of the project residents can visit the Town webpage at www.CliftonParkNY.gov or the Town on Facebook.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Temporary Closure of Leonardo Drive
Replacement of a Stormwater Culvert in the Road around 25 Leonardo Drive

Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced that Leonardo Drive, between Sleepy Hollow Drive and Michaelangelo Drive will be temporarily closed on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The work being completed is the replacement of a culvert pipe. Work will occur between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, during the hours of least traffic in the area.

During the closure, the Clifton Park Highway Department will have detours available for commuter traffic. Due to the scope and scale of the project, we will be closing during rush hour in the morning and reopening in the midafternoon hoping to avoid any potential delays. We urge commuters to seek alternative routes on this day and to be aware of 
construction in the area.

The Town Highway Department asks that motorists practice increased caution while driving in the area. For several hours throughout the day, the road will be impassable. First 
Responders and Shenendehowa School District Transportation have been notified.

Replacement of medium sized Culvert in the Road North of Crescent Road, South of Sugar Hill Road,
Patch Paving along Riverview Road

Clifton Park, NY -- Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced that Riverview Road, between Crescent Road (Vischer Ferry Center) and Sugar Hill Road will be temporarily closed on July 12^th, 2024. The work being completed is the replacement of a medium sized culvert pipe as well as paving portions of Riverview Road. Work will occur between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM, during the hours of least traffic in the area. 

During the closure, the Clifton Park Highway Department will have detours available for commuter traffic. Due to the scope and scale of the project, we will be closing during rush hour in the morning and reopening in the midafternoon hoping to avoid any potential delays. We urge commuters to seek alternative routes on this day and to be aware of construction in the area.

The Town Highway Department asks that motorists practice increased caution while driving in the area. For several hours throughout the day, the road will be impassable. First Responders and Shenendehowa School District Transportation have been notified. A Map has been attached to assist commuters.

Culvert Pipe Being Replaced Across the Road, Monday, July 29^th, 2025

 Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced an upcoming Road Closure for a road construction project taking place on Monday, July 29,2025. This project will be the replacement of a culvert on Sugar Hill Road near the intersection of Ray Road and Sugar Hill Road. Sugar Hill Road is in the Hamlet of Rexford, and in the southern part of the Town of Clifton Park. Schools and Local Emergency Response have been informed. Please make sure to avoid the area. Closing at approximately 8:00 AM, the Road will reopen at approximately 3:00 PM. 

Check out all the amazing camps, programs, live shows and other offerings happening this Spring and Summer!

2025 Spring & Summer Rec Booklet

Community members are invited to an Open House on Monday, March 31, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Blvd, Clifton Park. This is a unique opportunity for the public to share their thoughts on key issues, priorities, and opportunities for Clifton Park’s agricultural future. Members of the farming community, Town staff, Agriculture & Farmland Protection Advisory Committee members, and members of the Community Planning and Environmental Associates consultant team will be present to speak with residents and answer questions.

In 2024, the Town was awarded a Municipal Farmland Protection Plan Grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to use towards funding this project. The Community Planning and Environmental Associates consultant team has summarized the results of the surveys of the public and farmers/farmland owners done this winter. The information compiled provides a basis for the future vision of the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan. The perspective and input of residents regarding these initial findings is critical to the formation of a long-range vision for the Plan over the coming years.

To date, the Town has protected four farms (more than 258 acres of farmland)using outside grants from Saratoga County Farmland and Open Space Grant Program and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Farmland Protection Implementation Grant Program. The Town now holds permanent conservation easements on four private farms: King Crest Farm on Grooms Road; Riverview Orchards on Riverview Road; Cloverdale Meadows Farm on Hubbs Road, and Maple Hill Farm on Ashdown Road.

Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said, “Clifton Park has been working hard to balance its growth with strategic efforts to conserve special places and support farming in our community for nearly 25 years. We are interested in hearing how the Town can continue to support private landowners while taking the value of our rural heritage and working farms into consideration.”

"A farm is not just a place to grow food, it's a place to grow community," said Dan Mathias, co-chair of the Agriculture & Farmland Protection Advisory Committee.

The Town of Clifton Park proudly announces the completion of its updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. This plan underscores the Town’s ongoing commitment to enhancing accessibility within the community, particularly for pedestrian infrastructure in the public right-of-way.

The ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is a dynamic document designed to identify and prioritize barriers to accessibility and establish a structured approach to address them. The recent update focuses on evaluating all pedestrian facilities, including curb ramps, sidewalks, multi-use paths, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and transit stops, to align with federal standards finalized in 2023 and adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2024.

This vital project was made possible through funding support from the Capital Region Transportation Council, with additional resources from a Federal Highway Administration grant. The Town collaborated with LaBella Associates to conduct the comprehensive self-evaluation and guide the transition plan’s development.

The Town of Clifton Park invites public review and commentary on the Draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, available electronically on the Town’s website until April 1, 2025. For individuals unable to access the draft online, a paper copy is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Comments can be submitted via email to the Town of Clifton Park Planning Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail to:

Clifton Park Town Hall
Re: ADA Transition Plan Comments
One Town Hall Plaza
Clifton Park, NY 12065

The Town encourages community input to help shape a more accessible future for all residents and visitors.

Town of Clifton Park Continues to Protect Farmland
Farmland Protection Plan Advisory Committee Established and Right to Farm Signs Going Up Throughout Town

The Town of Clifton Park is proud of our farming community and the positive impact farms have had for generations.  We continue to support our farms and build on the successful efforts of permanently preserving four working farms, offering tax incentives for large landowners, the annual Farm Fest, the newly established initiative and committee to develop a Farm Preservation Plan and most recently a request by Councilwoman Agatha Reid to have Right to Farm signs posted throughout Town.

Clifton Park kicked off its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan on July 17, 2024, at Historic Grooms Tavern with an initial meeting of its advisory committee and consultant team led by Nan Stolzenburg of Community Planning and Environmental Associates. The committee is comprised of town board members, residents and landowners, town staff and committee members.

The planning process will include three phases:
1. Learning about what is the current state of agricultural resources, community resources and natural resources including learning about community interest and support for farming.
2. Creating the community vision and goals and setting a direction for the future.
3. Deciding “what to do” through strategies, programs, regulatory challenges, grants, and projects.

This project will take into consideration all that the town has done in the past, understand the past work and community support, and integrate this knowledge into the current work.

“The Town of Clifton Park is building on our efforts of the last 25 years that included exponentially expanding our parks network, permanently protecting 2,000 acres of property and completing long range planning studies to guide the future of our Town, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  The new Farmland Protection study will provide additional resources and ideas to further our efforts to assist our working farms and add to the list of four farms we have already partnered with to permanently remain a vital part of our agricultural community.”

The current effort will be focused on a deeper analysis of the realm of farming, farms and open lands, economics, and what the community’s vision and strategies are for the future. The Town was awarded a $25,000 funding grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets towards conducting the municipal agricultural and farmland protection plan. Nan Stolzenburg said, “the planning process is integral to creating what will be an action plan. The goal is to complete the plan by Fall 2025, allowing time for a robust range of public participation.”

The committee is working on ideas for reaching the public through surveys, meetings, open houses, and Farm Fest. The project will include outreach and engagement with farmers, farmland owners, large landowners, and agricultural support businesses and agencies. Everyone throughout the community is invited to be involved in the creation of the vision, goals and public plan leading to actions.

The Town of Clifton Park has Right to Farm law in the town code.  Right to Farm laws protect farmers through their land use and farming practices and help to promote a strong agricultural community. The addition of Right to Farm signs to our community was a logical next step in promoting the agricultural aspects of our town. This may be a small step, but it builds on what the town has already done over the past two decades and continues to do to support local agriculture. “Agriculture not only creates local jobs, but it also puts food on our tables. We all need to eat, so supporting farms is in essence supporting every other leg of the economy, and I am so proud to be in a community that understands and recognizes this. We will continue to do everything in our power to support farmers,” said Councilwoman Reid.

Right to Farm signs have been installed by the Highway Department at the intersections of Grooms Road and Riverview Road, Hubbs Road and Schauber Road, and at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon town line on Ushers Road. Additional signs will be installed on Hatlee Road at the Clifton Park/Ballston Town line, on Longkill Road where Longkill Road becomes Eastline Road at the Clifton Park/Malta Town line, on Route 146 at the Rexford Bridge, on Glenridge Road at the Clifton Park/Glenville Town line, and on Riverview Road at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon Town line.

Clifton Park’s Farm Fest, an event that focuses on the agricultural aspects of the town, will be held September 14-15 at a variety of locations around town.  For more information on Farm Fest please go to Farm Fest - Town of Clifton Park Official Website.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Town of Clifton Park achieved Bronze certification in the latest round of New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Certification program. The program supports local efforts across the state to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change. Through planning and implementing climate smart actions, Clifton Park should see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience.

Established in 2009, the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program provides guidance and technical support to local governments to take locally driven climate action. The first step to becoming a Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

To be certified, communities must demonstrate an active task force, which includes residents and municipal representatives, to lead the charge and advance local climate action. “Achieving this milestone is a testament to Clifton Park’s continued and expansive efforts towards reducing pollution, improving community resilience and taking substantive and positive actions to address climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases”, said Deputy Supervisor and Clifton Park Climate Smart Coordinator, Anthony Morelli.

The Town of Clifton Park established the CSC Task Force in 2024 and with the rigorous support of volunteers on the Town’s GREEN Committee, was able to accomplish significant steps in this effort, including but not limited to:

1. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations in multiple locations, including Town Hall, Clifton Common and Town Center Park.
2. Installation of LED Streetlights throughout the Town as well as utilization of LED lighting inside Town Hall, the Ice Arena, and other municipal buildings.
3. The Town of Clifton Park GREEN committee has held multiple Repair Cafes since 2023. These Repair Cafes were held at the Clifton Park Senior Center (free of charge) and promote reuse and repurpose of items that might otherwise be The Repair Cafe Teams typically consist of General and Electrical Repair, Mechanical Repair, Woodworking, Fabric mending/sewing, Computer Hardware and Software, Clock, Jewelry, and knife sharpening.
4. For Earth Day, the Town distributed composters and rain barrels to residents.
5. Establishment of a drop-off yard waste program as well as a drop-off food waste program at the Town Transfer Station. The Town also has an established community-wide curbside pick-up yard waste program. The quantity picked up and mulched annually has exceeded 22,000 cubic yards collected from residents, landscapers, and Town pickup. About 16,000 cubic yards of the mulch are given to residents, used in municipal projects, given/sold to landscapers, blended to make topsoil, and sold.
6. The Town expanded and improved bike/walking paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks; bike parking improvement projects; and improvement of signage for pedestrians and bicyclists.
7. The Town Board has permanently protected over 2000 acres since the inception of the open space plan in 2001 exponentially expanding our parks and recreational resources.