CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

DECEMBER 5, 2016

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, December 5, 2016 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 seven residents present.

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

MINUTES: The minutes of the November meeting and public hearing were reviewed and a motion was made by Councilman Desmond to accept them, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the Town Clerk’s report for November and presented checks in the amounts of $691.50 for the General Fund and $400.00 for Trust and Agency. A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

• The Supervisor gave the Board the budget and revenue reports for November.
• Website – There were no comments.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• Councilman Desmond commented on the Christmas lights on Town Hall and St. Luke’s Church.
• DEC Remediation is done for this year because it is too wet to complete the planting. The black top has been completed. Councilman Gildersleeve asked about curbing. The Supervisor will address this later in his report.
• Councilman Hempel is researching an upgraded version of the software that we are on at this time. There were other options, but this version is very much like the one we have. He can do this later in the month if the board approves. Dawn asked about the additional functionality. There is functionality to add a calendar or other add-ons. He has looked at this and will look into it further about the calendar because there could be several steps if meetings change or are cancelled. There was further discussion about the calendar.
• Councilwoman Brownson that there are two grants that she would like to apply from the Columbia County Historical Society for historians to construct a box to house the replica of the Clermont that is in the Community House. This grant is due December 16^th. The Bank of Greene County grant opened Dec. 1^st up to $2500.00. This grant could be applied for the softball and Lacrosse fields to purchase the back stop hardware. It is due January 15^th. Councilman Gildersleeve thinks that the quotes were about $2,000.00 for the backstop. The Little League and Softball league will volunteer to help. He will get the quotes for Councilwoman Brownson.
• The Village Green Holiday event is Sunday, December 18^th at 6:00 with caroling, visit with Santa and ornament decorating.

DEC Remediation Update:

The weather has prevented the contractor from completing the project this year. The dirt has been spread and paving has been done. They will not get the seeding done this year. There was a meeting in November about the entrance with our engineers, State DOT, Arcadis, contractor and a telephone conference with our local DOT. We negotiated for no curbing and they have agreed for us to put in berms on each side and low growth vegetation. They have done a good job grading in the back. He will have an update at the year-end meeting. Councilwoman Brownson asked if there is any chance if the weather cooperates that they could complete it? Supervisor Staats said it would be weather permitting.

Resident Ralph Arylck on the Environmental Management Committee asked Robin Reynolds of the Capital Regional Planning Commission, NYSERDA, to come to explain the Clean Energy Communities Program grant. There are ten high impact actions for governments that implement clean energy actions. There is no cost to the town on up to $100,000.00 for a project. Councilwoman Brownson looked at the website and did not think that there was something that Clermont could do. Could we work with other neighboring towns and form a task force to look at these things. There was discussion on some of the actions that Clermont may be able to do, such as reporting monthly usage of the buildings, Energy Code Enforcement, Unified Solar Permits and Solarize to help residents understand the options available. Supervisor Staats thanked her for attending the meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

• INSURANCE QUOTE FOR 2017: Our insurance will increase by $245.00 for 2017 to $13,913.00. We will ask Fingar Insurance to come in at the year-end meeting to go over our insurance. We have to put out the bids on Attorney, Engineer and Insurance for next year.
• YEAR-END: The year-end meeting to pay the final bills for the year will be held on Tuesday, December 27^th at 7:00 P.M.
• REAPPOINTMENT: The County Planning Board has asked for an appointment or reappointment to the Columbia County Region 6 Planning Board. One member represents the Towns of Livingston, Germantown and Clermont on the board. Livingston would support re-appointing Laurence Saulpaugh for the position. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to reappoint Laurence Saulpaugh. All in favor. So carried.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

• HOLIDAY EVENT: The Village Green will hold the Holiday Event on Sunday, December 18^th, 6:00 P.M. with caroling at St. Luke’s Church and refreshments and Santa at the Community House afterwards. She also thanked the Village Green for the Election Day dinner.
• Supervisor Staats thanked the Highway Department for putting up the lights and all that they do.
• COUNTY BUDGET: Supervisor Staats reported that the County Budget will be voted on and will increase by $285,000. They have been increasing the fund balance and the Supervisor does not agree with this and to keep adding more money is not necessary. This budget is under the tax cap. If anyone has any questions on County issues, please get in touch with the Supervisor.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Trust & Agency abstract #10, voucher #29 in the amount of $240.04, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Brownson to approve Highway abstract #12, vouchers #145 to #153 in the amount of $24,699.68, seconded by Councilman Hempel.

A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve General abstract #12, vouchers #312 to #340 in the amount of $13,100.43, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

• Councilwoman Brownson wanted to thank the Election inspectors who did a great job. There were 857 votes cast of 1279 registered voters. There was a good turnout.
• Travis Sterrett asked the Board what are the issues with the DEC remediation that were brought up. Supervisor Staats said that there is ponding on the roadway and the road is lower than ground. Mr. Sterrett also wants to know what the plans are for screening. He is also asking if there are going to be adult beer leagues and is asking that this not be the case. The entrance is now open and there have been cars driving in and out when they have no business being in there. He would like it blocked. Supervisor Staats said that DEC would be providing a list of acceptable materials for screening and the town will be following through with this. Supervisor Staats said that he has not heard about any beer leagues, but there will be no alcohol allowed. If anyone feels there is alcohol being used should contact the police.
• Jennifer Phillips said that there has been a lot of activity with vehicles going in or out. She would like a barricade for this winter. The new road ends at the culvert in the back and there should be a barrier there so they can not drive through to Route 6. She asked about DEC criteria for screenings. Supervisor Staats explained that DEC does not want anything planted that will penetrate the barrier. She thinks that they have done a good job and got done sooner than she thought. Sarah Takacs agrees that screening is very important for security reasons.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

Supervisor Staats asked for a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation. A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to go into executive session, seconded by Councilman Desmond at 8:10 P.M.

A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to come out of Executive Session at 8:30 P.M.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:30 P.M. by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk