Town Board – August 2019
CLERMONT TOWN BOARD
AUGUST 2, 2019
The Clermont Town Board held the August meeting on Friday, August 2, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. This meeting was rescheduled from the normal Monday night meeting because of conflicts. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve. Councilman Evan Hempel was absent. Others present were representatives from New York Transco, a New York Energy Solution company, Shannon Baxevanis, Courtney Canfield and Nicole Marron of Burn & McDonnell, Lindsey Shute of Hearty Roots was also present.
Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag. He then introduced Shannon Baxevanis to address the electric transmission upgrade to take place from Schodack to Pleasant Valley. The upgrades will replace aging infrastructure, stay within the existing ROW, eliminate some towers from the ROW, create clean energy resources, create jobs and tax revenues. A new switching station would be created in Schodack on utility-owned property. The area in Clermont affected is approximately 0.7 miles with eight structures being removed and replaced with four in existing rights of way or on utility owned property in the Turkey Hill Road area.
A meeting for the public will held at the Clermont Community House on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 from 11:00 A. M. to 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Further details will be made available as they develop.
MINUTES: The minutes of the July meeting were reviewed and a motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to accept them. All in favor. So carried.
TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Clerk read the Town Clerk’s report for July and a check in the amount of $6,545.56 for the General fund was presented to the Supervisor.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- The Reach Center, a program of the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties provides free and confidential services to survivors of crime and abuse in the twin counties. Brochures have been provided on services of referrals and information, education and prevention programming, advocacy, crisis counseling and therapy, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
- Received the budget and revenue reports from July from Supervisor Staats.
- There were no questions or comments for the web committee.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- HIGHWAY TRUCK: Councilman Desmond reported that the old highway truck is on the auction website and is hoping to get around $10,000.00.
- HETTLING PARK: Councilman Gildersleeve wants to thank everyone on the park committee. They have been rotating watering of the plants at the entrance on Route 9 and everything is in bloom and looking good.
- OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANT: Councilwoman Brownson and Mary Howard worked on submitting a grant for $25,000 to fund engineering services to develop the park trails development. This is a matching fund grant.
OLD BUSINESS:
- BUILDINGS: Supervisor Staats reported that the building repairs have been completed from the May 2018 hail storm. Payment will be made on this abstract to B/T General Contractors. The total was about $30,000.00 and is offset by insurance.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Because of additional money received for Storm recovery and additional CHIPS money it is necessary to do Budget amendment #4 in the Highway Fund to Improvements DA5112.2 in the amount of $8,906.25 from State Aid – Chips DA03601 $8,906.25. A motion was made to approve Budget amendment #4 of 2019 by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.
- PARK SIGN: The Park Committee has submitted suggestions for a sign outlining the rules for the park. The Board reviewed these suggestions and below is the final version with corrections: Welcome to the Hettling Park at Clermont Grounds are open sunrise to sunset. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
For the safety of all guests, please:
- Carry in, carry out
- Be aware that ticks in this area may carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
- Keep domestic animals on a leash no more than six feet in length.
- Remove any domestic animal waste.
The following are prohibited:
Glass containers Alcohol and illegal drugs
Smoking or Vaping Open fires, grills or barbecues
Vandalism Fireworks or explosives
Snowmobiles Swimming or bathing
Pets on Sports Fields Hunting
Discharging of firearms or other weapons
Causing or risking a public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm
Driving any motorized vehicle on non-paved areas or off designated roadways.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Please notify Law Enforcement of any concerns or hazardous conditions by calling Columbia County 911 and/or Columbia County Sheriffs Department at 518-828-3344.
For a complete list of park rules, please go to www.clermontny.org/park. …
There was discussion as to how to anchor the sign without penetrating the membrane.
SUPERVISORS REPORT:
- Received the sales tax 2nd quarter check from the County in the amount of $105,301.40. This is about 7 ½% more than received last year. This is good news for our budget.
- Supervisor Staats thanked the volunteers that have been watering the plantings at the park entrance.
- The Mill Road bridge has been taken down. It has not been completely closed off and there is more to be cleaned up.
- County Budget: The preliminary talks have begun and the Supervisor will vote against any increase in the County budget as the revenues have been increasing.
- Sexual Harassment Training: Councilwoman Brownson asked about the training of employees. Supervisor Staats has talked to the insurance company and they feel that as long as the full-time employees have had their training, which is three in Clermont, that it is not necessary for all to go through the training.
ABSTRACTS:
A motion was made to approve Highway abstract #8, vouchers #69-77 in the amount of $40,438.80 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made to approve Trust & Agency abstract #8, vouchers #22-23, in the amount of $427.00 by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made to approve General abstract #8A, vouchers #208 – 234 in the amount of $34,223.95 by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made to approve General prepaid abstract #8, vouchers #205-207 in the amount of $173.48 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.
The Zoning Board has requested the Town Board to review the process for the applicant who is applying for a special permit. Currently, the applicant appears before the ZBA and then is sent to the Planning Board for site plan review. The ZBA would like the applicant to go to the planning board first because legal and engineering counsel is readily available to the Planning Board. After their review it would come back to the ZBA. The town board thinks that they should continue working as they are now and if they have any questions refer to the attorney or engineer. We can look into this further with the chairpersons.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Lindsey Shute, a member of the park committee, has asked about joining the two parks together which has been discussed at the committee meetings. This is something that can be discussed in the future.
Lindsey asked if a decision had been made as to the design for the park entrance sign. There have not been any definite designs submitted but will talk to Mary Howard.
A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson at 8:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk