CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

SPECIAL MEETING

JANUARY 17, 2015

The Clermont Town Board met on Saturday, January 17, 2015 to review the books of the Town Clerk, Town Justices, Tax Collector and Town Supervisor at 10:00 A.M. at the Town Hall. The Board also reviewed Town Policies.

Those present were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson, Councilman Kris Gildersleeve and Councilman Evan Hempel. Also attending were Lee Gallant, Justice Clerk; Joan Buser, Tax Collector; Ronald Banks, Town Justice and Mary Helen Shannon, Town Clerk.

The books of the Town Clerk, Tax Collector and Justice Christensen and Justice Banks were reviewed and balances checked for sample months of 2014. All was reported to be in order.

At the Organizational Meeting several resolutions were passed but which the board wanted to review further at this meeting.

Resolution #35-15 – Town of Clermont Fee Schedule for Building Department Fees and Zoning and Planning Fees.

Councilman Desmond asked to change the section on Escrows for Engineering, Attorney Review to the following:

Planning Board – Standard Escrow at time of application $500.00

Zoning Board of Appeals – Standard Escrow at time of application $150.00

(May be subject to increase upon review by Town Attorney,

Engineer and at the Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Appeals

discretion, to cover legal and engineering review costs, relating to the application process.

Resolution #37-15 –Agreement between the Town of Clermont and Canaan Fellowship

No changes

Resolution #38-15 – Agreement between Town of Clermont and Pine Plains Veterinary

No changes

Resolution #39-15 – Agreement between Town of Clermont and Round Top Animal Hospital – No Changes

There was discussion about limiting the amount of days, to be paid, for the harboring of dogs at the kennels. Supervisor Staats will look into this.

The following policies were reviewed:

• Cash Management – No changes – Councilwoman Brownson asked if it should state that monies be in interest bearing accounts. The Supervisor is authorized in the Organizational Meeting to do this.

• Code of Ethics – No changes, but Councilwoman Brownson asked if this included family members or should include them. When there have been conflicts of interest, it is usual to recuse oneself from the discussion or vote on a matter.

• Highway Personnel Policy – Councilwoman Brownson asked if it the rate for overtime should be added to the policy. Currently the Federal and State requirements are for overtime to be paid at one and one half times the hourly rate and we are paying that rate after 40 hours per week. No change.

• Investment Policy – No changes
• Procurement Policy – No Changes – Usually our RFP’s are prepared by our engineer, but Councilwoman Brownson suggested using a template for the written RFP’s. It was also suggested by Councilman Desmond to change the amounts in the procurement policy.

Councilman Hempel is okay with the amounts for the number of times we use it. Councilwoman Brownson would like to find out how other towns are doing their RFP’s.

• Emergency Preparedness Plan – Will be updated for changes in names and reviewed by Councilwoman Brownson.
• Sexual Harassment Polity – No changes
• Workplace Violence Policy – No changes. Councilwoman Brownson asked if anyone has undertaken the building assessments of hazards. It has not been done by any on the Board, but the insurance company does make a visit to the buildings periodically.

Supervisor Staats did receive two written bids on the replacement of the furnace at the Town Hall as follows:

Valley Oil Co. – Claverack $4,350.00

K & H Fuel Oil – Clermont $3,200 & $100.00 for new oil line

This will be reviewed further at the February Meeting.

The Board held interviews for candidates for positions on the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals. Those interviewed were Phyllis Heiko, Nathan Hempel and Don VanWagner.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk