Town Board - November

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

NOVEMBER 6, 2017

 

The Clermont Town Board held a public hearing and regular meeting on Monday, November 6, 2017 at 6:45 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 five others present.

 

Supervisor Staats opened the public hearing on the 2018 Budget. There were a few salaries which were increased, the Tax Collector and Deputy Town Clerk. The Highway employees received a 1 ½ % increase, Superintendent is $49,543.00 and the employees are $19.58 per hour. There were other minor increases to other accounts. The tax rate is going down from 49.77 to 49.07 per thousand. The total raised by taxes is $104,580.00, same as last year. The total appropriations decreased approximately $18,000. Several town roads will be blacktopped or partially blacktopped in 2018. The only purchase that is planned is a new pickup truck which is budgeted for in the 2017 budget.

 

Comments from public.

Sara Takacs asked about the ZEO and the Assessor salary which are $7500 and $15270 respectively.

She also asked for an explanation of what personal services are and about workers compensation, which was explained is carried on Highway employees.

She also asked about the purchase of the highway truck. The highway truck will be purchased out of this years budget with funds already allocated.

 

Phyllis Heiko asked how much do we charge for use of the Community House. The Canaan Fellowship leases the hall and pays $4000 per year.

The public hearing was closed.

 

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

 

MINUTES: Councilwoman Brownson noted a correction under the Committee Report section, Iroquois Community Grant that the cutoff date should read November 1st. A motion was made to accept the minutes with the correction by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

 

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the Clerk’s report for October and presented a check to the General Fund in the amount of $1,706.87 and the Trust & Agency for $26.36. A motion was made to accept the report by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Website: The question was asked if there is any chance to updating the website.

Councilman Hempel explained that the website can be updated as far as how it looks. Councilman Gildersleeve explained we need the public to identify what changes the public wants. We should possibly form a committee.

  • Volunteer Drivers are needed for the Office for Aging Meals on Wheels.

  • Letter regarding the public hearing by Red Hook Town Board amending Zoning Law on November 14 at 7:35 P.M.

  • Supervisor presented the board members with budget reports for October 31, 2017.

  • Received an email thanking Jim Potts and his highway staff for excellent work providing drainage and repairing driveway and adjacent town road.

  • Veterans Day Service will be hold on Saturday, November 11 at 10:30 A.M. by the Amercian Legion with a presentation of the flag.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • COMMUNITY HOUSE: Councilman Desmond reported on the new sidewalk at the Community House. The highway department did the bulk of the work with some work donated by Staats Contracting.

  • DEC: It looks as though they are going to finish the paving into the Park. DEC did contract with Colarusso’s to do the blacktop.

  • HIGHWAY: The Highway department is expecting to get the new pickup truck by the end of the month or at the latest in December. He will then advertise for the old truck to be sold.

  • WEBSITE: Councilman Hempel was able to get the October video up faster as was requested. There have been suggestions to make changes to the website but we need input as to what you would like to see changed. Councilman Desmond asked if Councilman Hempel can tell how many are using the website. He does have a way of checking but doesn’t know offhand how many.

  • IROQUOIS COMMUNITY GRANT: Councilwoman Brownson said the next grant opportunity will be May 1st. There was some information received from Scenic Hudson but there was not enough to be able to examine it and cost it out. She will be looking at the New York Trails grant which is due December 8th. Councilwoman Brownson did go to the ZBA meeting and there was some interest in the Solar Program. She will contact Robyn Reynolds and try to coordinate both the Planning Board and ZBA.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • DEC: Supervisor Staats said that the work should be completing this project with the paving to be completed and repair the driveway.

  • SCENIC HUDSON: The Supervisor did receive a preliminary draft and copied it to the Board. We may ask for those that are interested to help because it will take a lot of work.

  • COMMUNITY HOUSE: The highway department did the work on the sidewalk in the front of the Community House. The Supervisor thanked them.

  • REVENUE UPDATE: Supervisor Staaats did receive the sales tax payment for the 3rd quarter of $100,914.11. This is the largest one quarter payment received in 10 years. This helps to offset the town tax. The mortgage tax payment is expected to be $24,482.00.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  • 2018 BUDGET: A motion was made to adopt the 2018 budget as presented by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor. So carried.

  • NEW CHAIRS: We received quotes for new chairs from W.B. Mason and from National Business Furniture magazine. From W. B. Mason for ten chairs $2303.34 including shipping. The other chairs were comparable but included shipping costs. The Supervison would like to use $1,000 from the engineering account and $1303.40 from 1620.41 (Heating oil account). A motion was made to purchase 10 chairs from W.B.Mason for $2,303.34 by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried. Delivery should be in two weeks.

  • BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW: A motion was made to reappoint Ripley Hathaway by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve for term October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2022. All in favor. So carried.

  • PURCHASE OF TRUCK: Superintendent Potts would like the authority to surplus the old truck when he receives the new truck. A motion was made to allow the Highway Superintendent to surplus the F350 pickup upon delivery of the new one by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

  • DECEMBER TOWN BOARD MEETING: The December meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00 P.M. due to a scheduling conflict.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • Supervisor Staats is hopeful that there will not be an increase in the County budget.

  • The Supervisor has called National Grid and asked for someone to come down and fix the lights out in front of the town hall but they have not yet come.

  • Noise ordinance: When the policies are done in January the Board will be looking at it closer.

Any questions please contact the Supervisor.

 

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made to approve General abstract #11A, vouchers #283-319 in the amount of $7,195.52 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to approve General abstract #11, vouchers 280-282 in the amount of $172.75 by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to approve Highway abstract #11, vouchers #113-127 in the amount of $11,848.61 by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to approve Trust & Agency abstract #9, vouchers #30-33 in the amount of $1,607.50 by Councilman Gildersleevel, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Phyllis Heiko: At last months meeting submitted suggestions for a noise regulations and would also add that any place holding an event must have the sound confined or contained. Also suggested looking into lighting.

Sara Takacs: Asked the final cost for the DEC project. The down payment was $5400. and the total cost will be around $90,000.00. Supervisor Staats will be trying to get the breakdown of what work was done.

 

Supervisor Staats thanked everyone who will be inspectors for Election Day and the Village Green for the Election Day dinner.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 P.M. on a motion made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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