CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

JANUARY 5, 2015

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Town Hall following the organizational meeting. Those in attendance were

Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve.

There were also three residents present, as well as Katie Kocijanski of the Register Star.

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting by welcoming Dawn Brownson to the Town Board. Councilwoman Brownson was appointed by the Board to fill the unexpired term of Edward Kahle who moved from the area. Councilwoman Brownson thanked the Supervisor and Town Board for the opportunity and hopes to continue working with the board and for the residents.

MINUTES:

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the December 1, 2014 meeting by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the December 29, 2014 Year-End meeting by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERKS REPORT:

The Town Clerk presented the Supervisor with a check for the General Fund in the amount of $210.00 and a check in the amount of $255.20 for Trust and Agency for December. A motion was made to approve the Town Clerk’s report by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

• A letter was read from Chris Nolan who is resigning from his position on the Zoning Board of Appeals due to a change in his schedule. The Supervisor thanked Chris for his service to the town on the Zoning Board of Appeals and on the Town Board.
• Village Green Committee will be holding there first meeting on Tuesday, January 13^th at 7:00 P.M. to plan for the upcoming events. They are seeking volunteers to help out at the events.
• The Supervisor provided budget and revenue reports for December 31, 2014 to the Board.

• Web Committee: No report

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• OCCUPANCY SIGNS: Councilman Desmond has had occupancy signs made and they will be put up in the buildings.
• The Highway Department was out over the weekend sanding and plowing for the snow and ice received on Saturday and did a good job.

• CABLE RATES INCREASE: Councilman Gildersleeve mentioned the rate increase for G-tel cable, which does not seem an unreasonable increase and everyone should have been notified of the increase.

• GRANTS: Councilwoman Brownson reported that there is a grant available from the Bank of Greene County for a maximum of $2500. It is due on January 15^th. She asked if there is anything needed for the park. Councilmen Desmond said that, at this point in time, there are no plans on doing anything more for the park this year. Councilman Desmond said that she might look for a possible grant for the building for the Highway Department. Councilwoman Brownson will contact Tami Connolly to see if there is anything needed for the Community House, as it is used as a comfort station in the event of an emergency and there may be something that is needed.

OLD BUSINESS:

• INSURANCE: The Board reviewed the insurance policy with Greg Fingar and it was suggested to increase the coverage for crime/fraud with a blanket policy. The current base is $481.00 for specific limits on the Supervisor, Town Clerk and Tax Collector. Increasing the blanket limit to $250,000 would be $531.30 and for $500,000 would be $689.70. Supervisor Staats suggests going for $500,000 coverage, which would be an increase of approximately $207.00. Councilman Hempel and Councilman Gildersleeve like the blanket coverage and agree with the higher amount. A motion was made to increase the blanket coverage to $500,000 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor. So carried.

• Councilman Desmond recognized Mary Howard for working on grants in the past and hopes that she will continue to help.

• FINANCES: The Supervisor is waiting for 4^th quarter sales tax to come in. He is hoping to have an increase of 6 to 7% in sales tax for the year. We should break even for 2014 and if the numbers keep the same we may not have to use any reserve funds this year. Our Highway Superintendent should be recognized for staying within the 2014 budget. The expenditures on salt and sand last year were higher than normal but he stayed within the budget.

NEW BUSINESS:

• The Board set January 17^th at 10:00 A.M. for review of policies and auditing books on the Supervisor, Tax Collector, Town Clerk and Town Justices. The Board will also hold interviews on this date at 12:00 P.M. for the zoning board of appeals.

• TOWN HALL FURNACE: The furnace needs to be replaced at the town hall and repairs to the Community House furnace need to be done. Supervisor Staats hopes to have two bids by January 17^th to be reviewed.

• BUDGET AMENDMENT: Resolution #46 of 2014, approved at the December 29, 2014 meeting has to be amended to take from Repairs DA-5110.4 into the various accounts for $1918.00. A motion was made to amend resolution #46-2014 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

• Supervisor Staats was contacted by Kathy Hettling regarding putting a sign on the twenty-acre property, which was donated by the Hettlings. It was part of the agreement in the deed that there would be a sign designating it as donated by the Hettlings. Supervisor Staats will look into this and get back to the board.

• PINE HAVE HOME: Three bidders were interviewed about the possible sale of Pine Haven Nursing Home with bids ranging from $5 million to $6.5 million. The committee will be interviewing two of the bidders again. Supervisor Staats has been opposed to selling the home because he feels that this is one thing for the residents of the county who have paid their taxes all these years. He feels though that the only way the home will get updated is if it is sold. He will keep updating as it moves forward.

• COUNTY BUDGET: The budget passed unanimously, even though there were some things he did not like in it, but overall it was a good budget.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve Highway Abstract #1, vouchers #1 – 4 in the amount of $8,701.37, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Hempel to approve General Abstract #1, vouchers #1 – 17 in the amount of $17,052.78, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None

A motion was made to adjourn at 7:45 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.

A special thanks to Stephen Roberts for standing in for Fred Cartier videotaping the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk