CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

 

July 5, 2006

 

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Wednesday, July 5, 2006.  Those present were Supervisor Banks, Councilman Staats and Councilman Nolan.  Councilwoman Lent and Councilman Harned were absent. There were twelve residents present.

 

Supervisor Banks opened the meeting with the salute to the flag.  A motion was made to accept the minutes as presented by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Nolan.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

Supervisor Banks introduced Jane Churchill who is the Town representative to the Office for the Aging.  Mrs. Churchill reported on meetings that she has attended, including the Northeast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association whose speaker was Karen Brent.  Others spoke about various related issues of the elderly, Emergency preparedness and energy assistance to the elderly.  Supervisor Banks and Councilman Nolan thanked Mrs. Churchill for her report.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

·        Charles Larsen reported on the Village Green Barbecue to be held on Saturday, August 12th.  The committee has voted to donate proceeds of the raffle towards inside restoration of the Community house kitchen.

·        Billy Cole asked if there has been any response from DEC regarding the former LaMunyan property.  There has been no communication from them to the Town.

 

COMMUNICATIONS:

·        Supervisor Banks read the Town Clerk’s report for June.  Checks were received in the amount of $1,636.31 for the General fund and $400 for the T & A account.  A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Nolan.  All in favor.  So carried.

·        Received notice from the Town of Red Hook on Local Law regarding public assembly.  The hearing will be held on July 11, 2006 at 7:15 P.M.

·        Received notice from the Chief Clerk of the Office of the Supreme and County Court regarding a conference with Hon. Christian F. Hummel on November 6, 2006 regarding the assessment for Howard and Wendy Gropper. Copy forwarded to our attorney.

·        Discussion on a report on the baseline population projection for Columbia County received from the Cornell Institute for Research.

·        Received from Valstar, cable provider, changes in lineup of cable channels effective August 1, 2006.

·        Received communication from Attorney for Hudson Valley Television, Inc. to the Federal Communications Commission – Must Carry Complaint – v. Hilltop Communications, Inc. which requests to be carried on Hilltops cable television system.

 

Page 2                                                  Town Board Meeting                            July 5, 2006

 

·        Councilman Nolan would like the board to consider requesting Valstar to videotape and broadcast our town board meetings on the community channel if at zero cost, much like the Germantown Town Board meetings.

·        Supervisor Banks will be meeting with Pine Plains School and supervisors from surrounding communities in the district on Thursday, July 6, 2006.

·        Read June 3rd letter from Columbia County Office of the Fire Coordinator thanking the Clermont Fire Company for doing an excellent job of extinguishing a structure fire on May 31, 2006 on County Route 6.

·        Read letter from Melvin Heiko, resident on Moore Road to Supervisors of Clermont and Red Hook regarding the painting of the bridge on Moore Road north of County Route 80.  Supervisor Banks has talked to Highway Superintendent Potts and the bridge is in Dutchess County.

·        Information brochure from NYMIR, our insurance, regarding recreation liability.  It is believed that the Germantown Park Commission would carry its own insurance for the park program.

·        A motion was made at last months meeting to approve transferring funds from the Con Ed CD to increase the General Fund building account A-1620.4 for the Community House roof restoration project.  Resolution #9-06 was presented to the Board for signature memorializing this motion.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

·        The work on the west side of the Community House should be completed by next week.

·        The resolution passed last month in support of the implementation of the air monitoring was forwarded to Greg Fingar.  A copy will be sent to the Town of Stuyvesant.

·        Councilman Nolan received a copy of the Town of Stuyvesant resolution opposing the application to DEC by Lafarge Building Materials, Inc. to burn tires and use tire derived fuels in its cement kilns.  He would like the board to consider supporting the Town of Stuyvesant in this regard.

·        Discussed the Red Hook school budget and enrollment projections and thanked Judith Neary for her work on the project.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

·        There is a proposal in front of the Planning Board for the Huckleberry Crossing development on Turkey Hill Rd. planned for 50+ lots.  Councilman Nolan proposed a joint review by all towns affected by this proposal and the future use of lands.  Councilman Staats agreed and proposed putting together a plan.  Others in support of this plan were Phyllis Heiko and Robert Desmond, possibly by involving the Planning Board Chairman of the different towns.

·        Councilman Nolan pointed out an article in the May/June issue of Town Topics which discusses the designation of low volume town roads in relation to reducing

 

Page 3                                Town Board Meeting                            July 5, 2006

 

 

cost and liability.  He has also been approached by a resident regarding street light illumination at the north end of the intersection of County Route 6 and 9G.  We would have to notify the Columbia County Traffic Safety Committee.  Our representative is Larry Saulpaugh.

·        Discussed the Public Officers law resolution #7-06, which was tabled last month, until there is more information specifically the deductible and officers personal insurance.

·        Signed a contract with Pine Plains Veterinary Associates, which is required by the NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets.  The Animal Control Officer was recently audited and had a good report.  A motion was made by Councilman Staats to approve the contract with Pine Plains Veterinary Associates, seconded by Councilman Nolan.

All in favor.  So carried.

 

A motion was made by Councilman Staats to approve Trust and Agency abstract #6, vouchers #10-12 in the amount of $1,316.35, seconded by Councilman Nolan.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Nolan to approve Highway abstract #7, vouchers 57-65 in the amount of $3,007.59.  All in favor. So carried.

 

A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman Staats to approve General abstract #7, vouchers #170-192 in the amount of $3,552.93.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

The proposal for the Hamlet was received from Behan Associates and copies will be available for review at the Town Hall during the Clerk’s hours.  Copies will be given to the committee members, Town Board and Planning and ZBA chairs.  There was discussion on maintaining the current committee for further study.

 

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Nolan at 9:05 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary Helen Shannon

Town Clerk