CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve. Councilman Edward Kahle was absent. There were three residents present.

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

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

CORRESPONDENCE:

• TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the report for August and presented the Supervisor with a check for the General fund in the amount of $1,288.64 and a check for Trust and Agency for $725.00. A motion was made to approve the Clerk’s report by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.
• The Supervisor gave the members of the Board a copy of the Budget and Revenue report for August 31, 2014.
• Office of the Aging Food, Friendship and Nutrition program holds a luncheon for Seniors on Tuesdays and Fridays 10:30 to 1:30 at the Linlithgo Reformed Church in Livingston, with activities and guest speakers on topics such as Medicare, legal, nutrition, safety and health concerns. Contact Judy at 518-828-7538 the day before by l:00 P.M. if planning to attend.
• NYS Department of Public Service – Lifeline Discount Telephone Service Program for income eligible consumers. The website for information is www.AskPSC.com for information.

• Web Committee: Councilman Hempel said that the video page of the Town Board meetings has been updated. They had gotten deleted at some point. There is also a link added to access Town and County tax bills on the website. They are listed under Town Government, Departments and Services, Tax Collector. The Supervisor explained that you must have your Tax ID# to access the information from 2007 to the present.

COMMITTEE REPORT:

• PARK: Councilman Desmond reported that the swing structure is in, concrete poured and stone has been put in, with the last thing to do is put in the safety surface, which should be done on Tuesday. He is working on the signs for the donors. There has been almost thirty thousand dollars donated which pays for the swing, surface area and eventually bumper strips between parking area and swings and possibly trees. Someone had left Councilman Desmond a note regarding picnic tables, which are cheaper and smaller, so he will be looking into that.

• FLAGPOLE: Councilman Gildersleeve has been looking into lighting for the flagpole in the park and has found one that sits on top of the flagpole with LED lights shining down on the flag for $55.00 with free shipping on Amazon.com. It has good reviews. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to purchase this light to be paid out of Parks account A-7110.41. All in favor. So carried. Councilman Gildersleeve will order it and be reimbursed.

OLD BUSINESS:

• UV LIGHT SYSTEM: Claverack pump installed the UV light system at the Community House and will install a draw back to the system at no additional cost.
• BRIDGE UPDATE: The Bingham’s Mill Road Bridge design resolution passed through the County committee for design to rehab the bridge to the middle bidder for $65,000, with two options, rehab the existing or build a new bridge. The design project was in the budget this year and the 2015 budget will pay for the bridge. The estimates to rehab the existing bridge was around $650,000 and $790,000 for a new bridge. There are numerous residents on the roads, which do not want the bridge opened, but there are many who use the road who do want it open. The County Traffic Safety Board did say that they thought there were safety issues with the bridge closed.
• PARK DONATION: There was a park donation after the last meeting of $2000.00 which came from Elaine Tate, Lorraine Waterhouse, Audrey Unson and Christine Unson in memory of Earl & Helen Unson and Bruce Unson.
• TAX BILLS ONLINE: The link to the tax bills have been added to the website under town government, Government Services, Tax Collector.

NEW BUSINESS:

• BUDGET WORKSHOP: The Board will hold a budget workshop on Monday, September 22nd at 7:00 P.M. and to discuss any other business, which may come before the board.
• PARK DONATIONS: Donations were received from James and Mary Helen Shannon, $500.00 and Diane and Edward Moore for $500.00 in memory of William E. Banks, Past Supervisor of Clermont.
• BUDGET: The highway budget will be increasing for next year due to an increase in salt prices.
• COMMUNITY HOUSE PIANO: Councilman Hempel reported that Eric Kress has made an offer to purchase and repair a piano, which is upstairs in the Community House, if we are interested in selling it. Supervisor Staats said that if we agree, it could be designated as surplus property. Councilman Hempel said that after is tuned and restored, it would probably be left in the Community House. The church would then remove their piano. Dawn Brownson, Town Historian asked if we knew who donated the piano. Ray Tousey thinks that it came from Catherine Hettling some time ago. A motion was made to declare the piano surplus property by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried. A motion was made to sell the piano for $200.00 to Eric Kress by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

• JUSTICE COURT GRANT RESOLUTION #40 of 2014: To authorize Lee Gallant, Court Clerk to apply for federal, state and miscellaneous grants for the year 2014 related to Clermont Justice Court. Motion to approve by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.
• BUDGET AMENDMENT #41 of 2014 – Increase State Aid Chips DA03501 Estimated Revenues to $52,971.91 and increase CHIPS Reimbursed Expenditures DA-5112.2 Appropriations to $52,971.91. Motion made to approve by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

• COURT HOUSE: The windows will be in over the next few months. He believes the court system will be moving back into the courthouse in December.
• PINE HAVEN HOME: The RFP’s have gone out for private firms interested in purchasing the home. The current Administrator, Art Proper, has taken a position with the Fireman’s Home. The Supervisor said that it is a big loss for the County.
• AIRPORT: The sub-Committee is still meeting but has not made a report to the Public Works Committee.

• There is controversy over Ginsberg's receiving property for $1.00 from the County, but there is word that other counties were offering tax breaks if they would move into their counties.
• Clermont Fire Departments Steak BBQ at Station #2 on Route 9G on September 13^th at 6:30 P.M.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made to pay General fund abstract #9, vouchers #234-255 in the amount of $4,609.16 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to pay Highway abstract #9, vouchers #94-100 by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to pay Trust and Agency abstract #1, vouchers #1 and 2 in the amount of $624.80 by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

There were no public comments.

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

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk