About Us

Code Enforcement

The Department enforces city codes relating to:

• Emergency residential tree inspections
• Excessive curbside trash
• Graffiti
• Lot clean-ups
• News rack registration
• Snow and ice removal
• Trash and debris

Engineering

The Division of Engineering is responsible for all public works engineering projects in the City. They:

• Conduct engineering investigations
• Prepare drawings, maps, specifications, and cost estimates
• Supervise public construction throughout the City

Fleet Maintenance

The Department of General Services is charged with managing the repair and maintenance of over 400 DGS, Police, and Recreation vehicles and heavy equipment. Fleet Maintenance manages 3 locations; a heavy vehicle and equipment repair shop, a park's engine repair shop, and a quick utility repair shop.

Duties also include the daily reporting and operation of the city's fuel system and maintenance of the DGS facility including shipping and receiving for the entire department.

In addition fleet maintenance is responsible for maintaining over 40 service and maintenance contracts as well the procurement of new vehicles and equipment. This includes:

• Selection overview
• Creating bid specs
• Review of bid opening
• Award and final purchase and receipt of vehicle or equipment

Forestry

Responsible for maintaining over 40,000 trees in the City. Forestry plants an average of 200 trees each year, and removes and trims over 1,000 trees annually. The department operates a street replanting program, to encourage tree planting the city underwrites half the cost of the tree and the resident pays the other half.

Gardening

The DGS Garden Crew currently plants over 180,000 spring bulbs; this includes over 132,000 tulip bulbs. During the summer the garden crew plants over 200,000 annuals and a large variety of tropical plants. There are approximately 300 flower beds along with 300 floral hanging baskets in the City.

Golf Course

DGS operates the Capital Hills at Albany municipal golf course. The 291 acre facility is a year round recreational facility that includes a first class golf course as well as:

• Cross country skiing
• Dog walk
• Hiking
• Jogging
• Snow sledding

Graffiti Removal

DGS has an anti-graffiti program to deal with the ongoing urban decay caused by graffiti. Our graffiti buster van is fully equipped with graffiti removal materials. DGS responds and cleans over 2,000 locations per year.

Parks

Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of over 55 municipal parks containing over 2,000 acres of land; this does not include recreational play structures.

In addition to parks, DGS is also responsible for the Steven's Farm and over 50 traffic islands, vacant lots and city right-of-way. DGS also operates 4 dog parks in the city where dogs can exercise without a leash.

Recycling Program

Manages one of the regions largest single stream recycling programs with a 50.1% diversion rate. The recycling program includes operations of the compost facility (collection and sale) and collection of:

• Glass
• Hazardous waste
• Metal
• Paper processing
• Plastic
• Scrap metal
• Tires
• White goods
• Yard waste

Snow & Ice Removal

Responsible for the timely and efficient removal of snow and ice from City streets and public places following winter weather events.

Refer to the main page of the City of Albany website or call 518-476-7669 (518-476-SNOW) for updated information regarding a snow storm.

Solid Waste Management

Responsible for all solid waste management programs including curbside waste and recycling collection for residential properties with 1 to 4 units.

Additionally the city is responsible for the operation of the Rapp Road Landfill.

Street Cleaning

More than 670 City streets are maintained by specialized street cleaning equipment, hand crews and sidewalk liter vacuums.