Town Board Minutes - May

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

MAY 1, 2017

 

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday, May 1, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.  Those present were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve.

 

Others present were Paul Finch, Superintendent and Bruce Martin, Business Manager of Red Hook School District, Susan Brown, Superintendent Germantown School, Jonathan Boehme, Business Official, Germantown School, Dawn Jardine, Director Red Hook Public Library and Maryelisa Blundell, President of the School Board.  There were two residents present.

 

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with a salute to the flag and introduced Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook School and Bruce Martin, Business Manager of Red Hook School.

 

Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook School District stated that the budget increase is $1.82 million, with a tax cap of $2.35%. The total budget is $52 million dollars.  Mr. Finch explained the many programs that Red Hook is holding. They have a part-time technology teacher, a new principle for the high school and just held a NISMA music festival this past weekend.

The biggest increase in the budget is on health insurance.  It has increased by 16% to 1.4 million dollars. With additional state aid they stayed under the cap and enrollment has started to go up this year. Red Hook has approximately 1945 students.

Bruce Martin, Business Manager said that the public hearing will be held on Wednesday,  May 3rd at 7:00 in the elementary cafeteria.  Registration will be held at the Mill Road school on May 10, from 12 to 9 PM.The budget vote is May 16 from 12 to 9 PM at Mill Road School. There are two seats with four candidates running.

Among the purchases are two new propane buses, a small wheelchair van and a Ford Expedition for transportation for smaller trips.

Supervisor Staats asked if there will be additional funding. Once the state settled their budget, we were able  to use this information.

Supervisor Staats asked about the fund balance. They have maintained the fund balance for this budget, but he feels that there will be a smaller fund balance for 2017-2018.

 

Red Hook Library: Director Dawn Jardine and School Board President Maryelisa Blundell presented the library budget.  Last year the upstairs was renovated and paid for by a grant. It allowed the library to expand their programming. They have a program teaching science to two year olds and seniors. They also have homebound book delivery.  Supervisor Staats and Councilman Hempel were asking what the percentage increase is.

Ms. Blundell said the percentage of increase in the budget is approximately 5.8 percent which equates to approximately $3.55 on a $250,000.00 assessment. Two-thirds of their tax comes from town tax.   Total tax will be approximately $135,000 from school tax with the increase.

 

Superintendent Sue Brown of Germantown Central School District said that the budget vote is on Tuesday, May 16th from 12 to 9 PM at the school. You must register to vote at the school or the Board of Elections and be resident of the district for 30 days or more preceding the day of the vote. Councilman Gildersleeve asked if they can vote the day of the vote. They cannot, but they can register for next year.  Superintendent Brown explained some of the programs, five students and two teachers just returned from a trip to China under the exchange program and Odyssey of the mind students through an after school volunteer group to name a few.  The Capital Project construction has not yet started.  It is estimated to begin the summer of 2018.

Jonathan Boehme, Business Official said the total budget proposal is $14,790,612.00, an increase of $5,802.00 which is a 0.04% increase. This includes use of fund balance of $462,363.00, which is a decrease from the previous year. Supervisor Staats asked if this is the maximum amount you are able to use from the fund balance. It is the maximum that can be used. There are two seats open on the board and only one person running. There are 550 students.

 

MINUTES:

After review of the minutes, a motion was made by Councilman Desmond to accept the minutes of the April meeting, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT:

The April Town Clerk’s report was read by the Clerk, and a check in the amount of $926.50 for the General fund given to the Supervisor.  A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor.  So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Received the Office for the Aging newsletter for April to June.
  • Received Notice of Amendment of a Local Law in the Town of Saugerties.
  • Read the Public Notice from the Columbia County Highway Superintendent who will hold a public hearing at the Clermont Town Hall on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. to hear information regarding the abandonment of Teator Lane as a public road.
  • Councilman Hempel has received information regarding Emergency Preparedness links, which could be added to our website.  There were requests to put Elected Officials emails on the website.
  • The Supervisor provided the budget and revenue reports for April, 2017.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • DEC: Councilman Desmond stated that the remediation is continuing. Councilman Gildersleeve asked about the removal of dirt at the remediation site to divert the water on the roadway. Councilman Desmond said that is the extent of what they are planning to do now.  There will be a meeting this week with our engineer, DEC and the contractor.
  • HIGHWAY: The Highway Superintendant is looking for a new tractor. He is also going to receive additional funds similar to CHIPS funding, which he wants to use to put up guard rails on Pleasantvale Road, among other things.
  • GRANTS: Councilwoman Brownson said we received $500.00 from the Bank of Greene County and we did not receive grant funds from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation, which was submitted for the softball backstops.  Councilman Gildersleeve had found backstops for just under $2,000 for the complete assembly and just under $750 for delivery.  Councilman Desmond said we must talk to DEC and Contractor about where they did dig deeper for the field.  Resident Sara Takacs asked Councilwoman Brownson about grants for screening, fencing.  She did find information that may be applicable. Some of these grants, you have to be pre-qualified for.  talk to DEC and Contractor about where they did dig deeper for the field.
  • The Easter Egg Hunt was a great day. There was a family that traveled from Austerlitz and really enjoyed their day.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • DEC: Supervisor Staats said now that we are coming to the end of the DEC project, we would start looking at the screening issues.  Scenic Hudson does have a landscape architect that could help us for the screening. Sara Takacs said she is concerned about the properties to the north of remediation area and one on the south. 
  • LAPTOP: The Town Clerk’s laptop has been purchased and Councilman Gildersleeve will be working with the Town Clerk to set it up.
  • TEATOR LANE: The Public hearing to abandon Teator Lane as a town road will be held by the Columbia County Highway Superintendent on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Clermont Town Hall.
  • ROAD PAVER:  The paver shared between Clermont, Germantown and Livingston has been sold and Clermont’s share is $3,000.00. We will now lease a paver for road work that has to be done.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  • SALES TAX; The Supervisor received the1st Quarter Sales Tax in the amount of $84,180.93 which is an increase from previous years.
  • MORTGAGE TAX: The mortgage tax check has not been received but it is thought that it would be higher this year.
  • The County is anticipating additional funding for the CHIPS project.  We estimated $5,000 to be received by the town. We may also get FEMA funds from the March 14th winter storm.
  • BID OPENINGS: Town Hall Roof Project was advertised for bids.  The following bids were received:

Titan Roofing Inc: $30,400.00

Jennings Contracting:  $12,750.00

B/T General Contracting: $18,900.00

Paragon Roofing: $35,100.00

These bids will be reviewed and a decision will be made next month.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • HAZARDOUS WASTE: The Columbia County Solid Waste department will hold hazardous waste collection on  June 17, 2017 from 8 AM to 12 PM at the County Highway Garage located on Route 23 in Greenport.
  • SHARED SERVICES:  We share services with Livingston and Germantown presently.  The Supervisor does not see any advantage for us to share services or consolidate towns.
  • COUNTY HIGHWAY GARAGE: The County is looking to renovate/redesign the highway garage in Greenport.  They are getting an architect to examine how to best use the space.
  • The Easter Egg Hunt was well attended.

Anyone with questions about County activity should contact the Supervisor.

 

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made to approve the Highway abstract #5, vouchers 37-47 in the amount $7,478.82 by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made to approve Trust & Agency abstract #4, vouchers 7-10 in the amount of $840.54 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made to approve General Fund abstract #5, vouchers 118-144 in the amount of $4,686.01 by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

There were no public comments.

 

A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to adjourn at 8:15 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Clermont Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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