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Town Board – February 2019

                                               CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

                                                            FEBRUARY 4, 2019

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.  Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve.  There were five residents present. 

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag.

A motion was made to move into executive session to discuss personnel issues regarding the cleaning of the Town Hall at 7:00 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried.

A motion was made to come out of executive session at 7:10 P.M. by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond.  All in favor.  So carried.

MINUTES:

The minutes of the Organizational Meeting and regular meeting held on January 7, 2019 were approved on a motion made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor.  So carried.

The minutes of the Review of the books and policies held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 were approved on a motion made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the January Town Clerk’s report and presented the Supervisor with a check for the General fund in the amount of $1,429.00 and a check for Trust & Agency in the amount of $400.00. 

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • There were no questions or comments for the web committee.
  • The Columbia County Rabies Clinic dates are set.  Flyers are available at the town hall or check the town website.
  • Columbia County Office for the Aging nominee forms for Seniors of the Year.
  • Budget and revenue reports for January 31, 2019.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • Councilman Desmond thanked Councilman Gildersleeve for looking for information on a POW flag for the park flagpole.  The cost is $55.00.  Councilman Desmond made a motion to purchase the POW flag for $55.00, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. Diane O’Neal asked if there were any POW’s from Clermont. It is not known if there are.  Councilman Desmond explained that we have a new veteran’s monument in the park and a flagpole which has not been put up.
  • Councilman Desmond also commended the Highway department for the work that they did during the recent storms.
  • Councilman Hempel said that he has been working with Ellen Earle on the website and also met with the clerk on posting announcements, minutes, etc.
  • Councilman Gildersleeve explained that the POW flag is double sided and sun resistant.
  • Councilwoman Brownson applied for a grant for $2,500.00 to the Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation for the funding for landscaping for the entrance to the park. The budget was between $7000 and $8000 and she applied for $2500. It usually takes several months before we would receive anything. 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • The Supervisor met with the insurance adjuster on additional damage that he found from the hail storm of May 15, 2018. The adjuster saw even more damage and estimated an additional $13,495.00 in damages.  We will be receiving a check for this. He said that it was a very pleasant experience working with NYMIR. The work will be scheduled to be done in the spring.
  • Columbia County Bus Route: The bus route does not run into Clermont, as was thought, but they do run into Germantown. They pick up on Tuesday at 8:30 AM and drop off at 12:45 P.M.  There is a schedule for pick up in other towns.  The schedule is online if interested. 
  • WORKPLACE VIOLENCE POLICY: This County has changed their policy and the Supervisor has asked them to look at our policy so that we can update ours.  The county did leave him a sample which he will be looking at.  They will also hold the training for this. Councilman Desmond asked if you can have someone from town trained.  It is more expensive to train someone in house. Councilman Gildersleeve asked if this is available online.  Ray is not sure if it is an option.  Councilwoman Brownson thought NYMIR might be doing the training.
  • HIGHWAY PERSONNEL POLICY: There was a request to review the sick leave policy, which was done at the January review meeting.  Currently the Highway employees are allowed to carry over 30 days sick from year to year.  It is now allowed for 60 days to be carried over.
  • DEVEREAUX: Devereaux has proposed purchasing another house in Clermont.  This would be the sixth house to go in Clermont.  They have agreed to a hearing to hear our concerns about having another home in Clermont, which will come off the tax rolls,  when surrounding towns have fewer or none. The Supervisor and our attorney will be attending on February 20th.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Interviews were held on January 19th for a vacant position on the Zoning Board of Appeals.  There were three interviewed for the position of member on the ZBA and a motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to appoint Phyllis Heiko to fill the position vacated by Peter Cichetti for the remainder of the term to 12/31/2020. All in favor.  So carried. To replace Phyllis Heiko as the alternate on the ZBA the board appointed Ben Peacock on a motion made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Dawn Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried. A motion was made to appoint Cody Rockefeller to the vacant alternate position on the Planning Board by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Evan Hempel.  All in favor.  So carried. A motion was made to appoint Barbara Rivenburgh to the cleaner position by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond.  All in favor.  So carried. Supervisor Staats thanked Patricia VanWagner for all her years of dedicated service as our building cleaner.
  • The Supervisor reported that the sales tax check was not yet received but should be $105,642.00.  This is an increase over last year by $10,000.00.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • Bingham’s Mill Bridge: Last year the County voted to take the bridge down.  It was necessary to coordinate with National Grid before the bridge can be taken down but once that is taken care of it will happen. 
  • Recycling Permits: The County has sold more permits than was anticipated. Recycling seems to be supported by our residents.
  • North Bay Project: A County landfill located by the Hudson River in Hudson, which has been closed for years, has received grant funding to turn it into a park.  The County has offered the land to Hudson for $1.00, but they do not want to take it over either. This will probably come up for a vote by the Supervisors very soon and Supervisor Staats is going to be fighting for solar panels to be placed on it. There is 3 phase power nearby and it would be easy to hook up to.
  • Supervisor Staats also thanked the Highway department for all that they do.

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel to approve Trust & Agency abstract #1, vouchers 1-3 in the amount of $374.18.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve Highway abstract #2A, vouchers 5-12, in the amount of $5,082.85.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to approve General Prepaid abstract #2, vouchers #20-22, in the amount of $298.00.  All in favor. So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Hempel to approve General abstract #2A, vouchers #23-55 in the amount of $7,248.51.  All in favor.  So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

  • Phyllis Heiko thanked the board for appointing her to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
  • Maureen Barca: Found the meeting very interesting.
  • Chris Nolan:  He has heard that a large section of Red Hook Village is for sale, we in Clermont should watch for these kinds of changes, and make planning decisions and anticipate changes. The demographics of Clermont have changed in the thirty years he has been here and will change more.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:10 P.M. by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor.  So carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk