Thank You Bill Bruce! 

Step 1: Review Bill Bruce's Accomplishments

Intro

Bill Bruce, Commissioner of the Department of General Services (DGS) will be retiring in March 2008.  At its January 2008 meeting, one way that CANA decided to thank Bill Bruce for his years of able management and service to our city was to circulate this online thank-you note for Albany residents to add their own words of thanks to Bill Bruce.  For instructions on how to add your thanks, see Step 2:

Bill has "helped Albany make continued progress in the areas of economic development, neighborhood revitalization, public safety and in the overall quality of life of our City – all aimed at ensuring that Albany is a desirable place to live, work, raise a family and do business."

As the Mayor stated in his 2007 State of the City Address, the Department of General Services under Bill Bruce has been "responsible for everything from trash pickup, street cleaning and road paving to landfill management, engineering services, parks maintenance and special events, continued in all of these areas to provide our community with the very best services possible.

The Department’s work for 2006 included completing nearly $3 million dollars in sidewalk and street paving improvements throughout the City; removing graffiti at over 2,000 locations; and collecting over 48,000 tons of waste and debris from City residents."

 As the Mayor stated in his 2008 State of the City Address, "the City’s investment in 'Albany Blooms' has resulted in significant dividends including increased beautification, increased tourism, and increased pride and community involvement by City residents. Perhaps most importantly, we have shown our residents and visitors that building a Green City provides us with local and global benefits and that must start at the local level. "Think globally, act locally" has never been a more pertinent slogan."

Specific Accomplishments:

Please Help List in each category!

• Solid Waste Management
• Curbside Residential Collection
• Recycling
• Household Hazardous Waste
• White Goods
• Bio- Bags & Yard waste
• Fleet Maintenance
• Snow and Ice Removal
• Street Cleaning
• Infrastructure Management
• Street Reconstruction & Resurfacing
• Sidewalk and Curb Replacement
• Handicap Accessible Intersection Drop Curbs
• Sewer Repair and Maintenance
• Storm water Management
• Engineering Services
• Facility & Building Maintenance
• Parks and Outdoor Recreation 
• Forestry
• Natural Resource and Open Space Protection: Pine Bush
• Golf Course Facilities
• Special Events
• Gardening, Flowers and Beautification Projects 

Step 2: How to Add Your Note of Thanks to Bill Bruce

• Go to top of screen and click Edit page;
• The next screen will say: "thankyoubillbruce| Editing FrontPage
• Scroll down the page to the "Specific Accomplishments" section. Add to the list anything we've left off.
• Next, scroll down the page to Step 3:
• Type your note of thanks. Please include your first and last name and the name of your neighborhood association.
• Scroll to bottom of screen and click Save;
• That's it! You've done it! 
• Click Log out at upper right.

• For more information:

• see PBwiki FAQ

• Get PBwiki tips & tricks at our blog

Step 3: Add Your Note of Thanks to Bill Bruce

Hi Bill,

Thank you for restoring The Mall, putting in new lighting and pedestrian-friendly traffic lights, fortifying the lake shore and adding smaller gravel around the Moses fountain suitable for wheelchairs and baby carriages in Washington Park; for encouraging the flower-planting partnership between the City Gardener and Albany residents; and for always being approachable and responsive;

Joyce Rambo

Center Square Association

Congratulations on your retirement Bill!  I truly appreciate your responsiveness to the needs of residents of the Mansion Neighborhood over the years.  You are the only City official that has been in my email address book.  Your appreciation for the historic character of our hometown has been extremely helpful, and I am grateful for the help you have provided in our efforts to preserve and enhance Bleecker Park. 

Best Wishes!

Colin McKnight

Mansion Neighborhood Association

Have a happy retirement Bill. You will be missed. Thank you for everything you've done to beautify Albany and enhance our quality of life. You have been the most responsive member of city or state government I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Some of the memorable things you've done are: being an excellent steward of Historic Washington Park; bringing millions of tulips to us, all over the city; placing flower baskets on our main streets each summer, and watering them so they look great all season; distributing bulbs and flowers to residents for planting in public areas; an endless amount of support for Hudson-Jay Park -- getting us trees, shrubs and perennials, mowing the lawn, arranging for historic-style lighting, the sprinkler system that freed the neighbors from the huge pain of HAND watering a whole park all summer, benches; enabling our block parties and picnics and BBQs and the many wonderful things that make life in Albany so pleasant. Additionally, you have been vigilant in battling the ills of grafitti, striking early and often to keep it from spreading and blighting our city. Thank you for being a great partner to the neighborhoods.

Jenny Quinn

Jay Street

Center Square Association