CLERMONT TOWN BOARD
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
The Clermont Town Board held a workshop on Solar Farms/Facilities and the 2017 Budget on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Kris Gildersleeve, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson and Councilman Evan Hempel.
Others present were Town Attorney Andy Howard, Thomas Jantzen, Jennifer Phillips, Nathan Hempel, Clayton Andrus of the Planning Board, Muriel Hempel.
ZONING WORKSHOP:
Andy Howard – Local Law #2 of 2016 Amending Town of Clermont Law relative to Solar Energy Equipment.
Page 2 – Definitions: Based on questions/concerns at the September 6, 2016 Town Board meeting Mr. Howard explained that the section on Building Integrated Solar Energy Equipment was added and will be included in the Use Table as Solar Energy Structural Equipment & Building Integrated Solar Equipment because technology changes. This will clarify it in the law.
Page 2- Definitions: Building Integrated Solar Energy Equipment shall occupy less than ¼ acre – If more acreage is needed for on site usage, the applicant can get relief from the ZBA or Planning Boards. If there were no requirements, then the boards would not be able to look at it. The Town is not trying to stop anyone from putting in a solar farm but they want the Boards to be able to look at it.
Page 2 – Definitions – Solar Energy Structural Equipment: Remove ‘solely for on-site consumption from the definition.
There was discussion on the screening for solar farms centered around the meaning of the word, as to whether the law is stating to obscure, and whether we totally need to hide from view. It was determined that it would be left to the ZBA and Planning Boards discretion.
Page 6 D-2: The minimum setback in which a Solar Farm is proposed should conform to the Use Table for the district or fifty feet side and rear setbacks, whichever is greater. Add to Section C – Development Standards for Solar Energy Ground Equipment that any support structures shall not be higher than 20 feet.
Add to Section D – Development Standards for Solar Farms that any structures shall not be higher than 20 feet.
BUDGET WORKSHOP:
General Fund Appropriations
A-1010 Town Board – no change
A-1110.1 Justices – Increased salaries to $5450.00 for each justice, increased Court Clerk’s salary to $4400.00.
A-1220 Supervisor – No change
A-1330.2 Tax Collection – increased equipment line to $300.00
A-1355.4 Assessor – decreased contractual expenses to $700.00
A-1410.1 Town Clerk – increased salary to $6900.00.
A-1420 Attorney – no change
A-1440.4 Engineer – decreased contractual expenses to $2000.00
A-1450 Elections – no change
A-1470 Board of Ethics – no change
A-1620.41 Buildings-Oil -decreased contractual expense to $8000.00,
A-1620.43 Buildings –Maintenance - decreased contractual expense to $1000.00. Discussed ramps for handicap to make the bathrooms in the Town Hall more accessible.
A-1650.4 Central Communications – no change
A-1670 Central Printing & Mailing – no change
A1910.4 Special Items – no change
Total for General Government Support – reduced to $123,420 from $128,480.00
A-3310 Traffic Control – No change
A-3510 Control of Dogs – no change
A-3610 Examining Boards – no change
Total Public Safety - $6475
A-4020 – Registrar – no change
Total for Health - $300.00
A-5010.1 Superintendent of Highways – increased salary by 1 ½% to $48,811.00 from $48090.00
A-5010.4 Contractual expense - decreased contractual expense to $2000.00.
A-5132 Garage – no change
A-5182 Streetlighting – no change
Total for Transportation – increased to $62,011.00 from $61,790.00
A-6510 Veterans Services - No change
Total for Economic Assistance & Opportunity - $800.00
A-7110.41 Parks – reduced contractual expense to $5000.00,
A-7110.42 Brownfields - reduced Brownfields to $20,000.00.
A-7140.4 Playgrounds – no change
A-7410 Library – no change
A-7510 Historian – no change
A-7550 Celebrations – no change
Total for Culture & Recreation – decreased to $32 950.00 from $95,950.00
A-8010.1 Zoning-
A-8010.12 Building Inspector - separate Building Inspector salary into 8010.12 and increase to $7500.00
A-8020 Planning – no change
Total for Home and Community Services - $$31,165.00 from $28,300.00
A-9010.8 Retirement – no change
A-9030.8 Social Security – increase to $9851.00 from $9538.00
A-9060.8 Hospital & Medical – no change
Total Employee Benefits – increase to $29,851.00 from $29,538.00
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS: Reduced to $286,972.00
Highway Fund Appropriations
General Repairs
DA5110.1– Personal Services - increase to $80,357.00
DA5110.12 OT - increase to $8241.00
Improvements
DA5112.2 Equipment - decrease equipment to $36,903.00
DA5112.2c CHIPS reimbursable -increase to $57,097.00
Bridges
DA5120.4 – Contractual – no change
Machinery
DA5130.2 Equipment - increases to $25,000 for purchase of used mower tractor.
Brush & Weeds
DA5140.4 Contractual – decrease to $16,000.00
Snow Removal
DA5142.4 Contractual expense -decrease to $25,000.
Employee Benefits
DA9010.8 Retirement – no change
DA9030.8 Social Security – increase to $6900.00
DA9060.8 Hospital & Medical Insurance – increase to $36,000.00.
A9950.9 Transfers to Capital Reserve – increase to $35,000.00
Total Appropriations – increased to $373,998.00 from $333,360.00
The Board will meet again on Monday, September 26th at 7:00 P.M. to go over the Revenues and finalize the proposed budget.
Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag to discuss other matters.
Supervisor Staats met with DEC and the Project Contractor this morning. They are reportedly going to start on Thursday, September 15th by setting up monitoring equipment on the Brownfields site.
The Clermont Fire Company is attempting to get certified as a 501 C3 entity and have been told they must have a resolution signed by the Town Board exercising the powers of the Fire Commissioners amending their original Certificate of Incorporation from 1950.
A motion was made to by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to approve the signing. Councilman Desmond abstained because the Town Board are not Fire Commissioners and Councilman Hempel voted nay, Councilman Gildersleeve, Councilwoman Brownson and Supervisor Staats voted aye. Motion passed.
A motion was made to adjourn at 10:20 P.M. by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk