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Town Board – May 2018

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

MAY 7, 2018

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.  Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve.  Councilwoman Dawn Brownson was absent.  Others present to Dr. Martin Handler, Superintendent of Pine Plains School District, Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook School District and Bruce Martin, Business Manager; Susan Brown, Superintendent of Germantown School and Business Administrator Jonathan Boehme and five residents.

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag. The Supervisor has invited the Superintendents of the three school districts to present budget information for their school.

Dr. Martin Handler, Superintendent of Pine Plains School went over the elements of the budget. The total proposed budget for Pine Plains is $32,500,660, an increase of 2.82% and the total tax levy is $23,035,043, an increase of 2.15%.  There is also a proposition on Bus Purchases and election of four Board of Education members for four seats.  The polls are open on Tuesday, May 15 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Stissing Mountain Jr/Sr. High Cafeteria.

Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook School and Bruce Martin, Business Manager spoke regarding Red Hook School District budget. The proposed budget is $54,125,804, a 2.10% increase and a projected tax levy of $33,559,200, a 2.17% change. There is also a proposition on the purchase of vehicles, of which will be paid in cash partially, not to exceed $550,000.  There are four candidates running for one seat on the Board of Education.  The polls are open on Tuesday, May 15th at the Mill Road elementary school from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

Dawn Jardine, Director of the Library and Maryelisa Blundell, Library Board President spoke on the budget and programs of the library.  The library funding is Proposition #3 and is requesting an increase of $10,000 to a total of $156,000.

Superintendent Susan Brown and Jonathan Boehme of the Germantown School District spoke on the proposed budget of $14,892,359, and the programs provided, including a full time Deputy Sheriff.  The impact on the tax levy is 3.11%.  There is a proposition to establish a capital reserve fund for Renovation, Reconstruction and Improvement of District Buildings and Facilities.  There are two candidates for the Board of Education to fill two seats.  The polls are open Tuesday, May 15 from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.in the Elementary Gym.

There were many questions from the Board and members of the audience.

MINUTES: A motion was made to accept the minutes of the April meeting by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the April report and presented the Supervisor with a check for the General Fund in the amount of $1,270.50 and for Trust and Agency for $500.00.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • PARK DEVELOPMENT: Councilman Desmond will meet with the Park Committee on Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 AM.
  • The Highway department is making use of the welding machine which was purchased last year by helping Germantown DPW repair one of their trucks.
  • WEB COMMITTEE: Councilman Hempel and Councilman Gildersleeve have been meeting with the committee regarding the website. A word press theme has been suggested for the website.   It will probably be another month or so before it is presented to the board.  Ellen Earle purchased a template for the word press and she will be submitting for reimbursement of $70.00.
  • Supervisor Staats gave the Board members the April budget and revenue reports. 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • PARK DEVELOPMENT: Supervisor Staats would like to appoint Lindsey Shute and Christina Gildersleeve to the committee.
  • NOISE ORDINANCE POLICY: There are still some changes to the draft and a public hearing will be held in June and if there are no substantial changes it will be approved in June.  The public hearing on Local Law No. 2 of 2018 will be held on Monday June 4 at 6:30 P.M and Local Law #3 to amend the zoning ordinance at 6:45 P.M. Discussion followed on the decibel levels, acceptable hours, and landlord/tenant responsibility.
  • FEMA REIMBURSEMENT: FEMA has reimbursed the Town $10,259.00 for the storm of July 2017. Highway Superintendent Jim Potts followed through with filing the paperwork in order to receive this. 

NEW BUSINESS:

  • ASSESSMENT VALUES: Supervisor Staats has been talking with the Assessor regarding our assessment rates.  She had raised assessments that she felt were justified. She has been talking with the State because our rate is still 91%. They kept us at this rate even though she raised some assessments. There are eight other towns in which the rates are below 100%.
  • SALES TAX REVENUES: We received the sales tax check for $89,803.00 for the first quarter, which is up 6% from 2017. This puts us above anticipated revenues.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • Highway Department: Supervisor thanked them for work on FEMA reimbursement.
  • The Greene County Administration is approving a bond resolution for a new jail, rather than sharing services with Columbia County.
  • AMTRAK: There was a meeting with AMTRAK regarding fencing of their properties along the river.  They want to run fencing down along the river bed.  The access points would still be open but not along the tracks. 

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve General abstract #5, vouchers #120 to #148 in the amount of $5,214.38, seconded by Councilman Hempel.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Highway abstract #5, vouchers #41-53 in the amount of $9,875.02, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Hempel to approve Trust & Agency abstract #4, vouchers #7 -8 in the amount of $144.30, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

  • Phyllis Heiko –  May 15 at 8:00 Bard College is a free concert.
  • Supervisor Staats thanked the school districts for coming in and he also said that Sheriff Bartlett feels it is very important to have a deputy full time in the schools. This is very important to protect our kids.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to adjourn at 9:10 PM, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk Date: