Town Board Meeting

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

MARCH 2, 2009

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, March 2, 2009. Those in attendance were Supervisor Staats, Councilwoman O'Neal, Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Lent and Councilman Nolan. There were eleven residents and Town Engineer, Ray Jurkowski present also. Supervisor Staats introduced Patrick Gabriel, Superintendent of Germantown Central School. Mr. Gabriel did a presentation regarding the Germantown School budget outlook. There will be a budget workshop on March 4th and the School Board meets on March 11th. Mr. Gabriel will be holding a presentation on Thursday, March 12 at Columbia Greene Community College for anyone in the five towns in the district to attend.

MINUTES: Councilman Jones noted a correction to the minutes of the February meeting on page 2 - add "which would be framed" "for" the Quadricenttenial celebration.

Councilman Jones made the motion to accept the February 2nd minutes with corrections, seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal. All in favor. So carried. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan to accept the minutes of the February 19th meeting, seconded by Councilman Jones. All in favor. So carried.

Supervisor Staats read a letter regarding the content of the last issue of the Watchful Eagle (delete: and content of last issue) regarding the Village Green committee. Also,(add: Supervisor Staats will send) a letter(delete: will be sent) to the Village Green Committee thanking them for their support.

All copies of records are available from the accountant for 2007. There will be a special meeting with the auditing committee on March 18th at 7:00 P.M. to review the accountant's reports for 2007 and 2008. He has obtained all for banking records.

Supervisor Staats asked that any public comment will be at the end of the board meeting and should be directed to him.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  1. The Town Clerks report was read for February. Checks in the amount of $175.34 for General Fund and $500.00 for Trust and Agency were presented to the Supervisor. A motion was made to accept the Clerks report by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Nolan. All in favor. So carried.
  2. Letter from Dagmar Payne thanking the town board for its support of the Village Green Committee and its volunteers.
  3. Pine Plains Central School District- Representatives of the Board of Education will be attending the May 4th town board meeting.
  4. Letter from Barbara Gentile thanking Supervisor Staats for the letter clarifying the increase in the town portion of taxes.
  5. Letter from the Town Board to Clermont's volunteer firefighters thanking them for their service during the December ice storm.
  6. Town of Red Hook - Notification of public session on March 16, 2009 at 7:45 P.M. on Draft Scoping Document representing issues and concerns identified by the Red Hook Town Board.
  7. Supervisor Staats will ask Stephen Hammer, webmaster, to create a link to the Germantown Central School site, as well as Red Hook and Pine Plains School websites.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  1. BERKSHIRE TACONIC FOUNDATION: Councilwoman Lent reported on the grant for emergency radios, which must be returned by April 1st.
  2. ZONING REVIEW: Councilwoman Lent will be attending the Planning Board meeting on March 11th for their input on the proposed changes to the zoning ordinance. There is an Alternate Energy section pertaining to wind towers and solar panels, which the ZBA has requested. She would like to have the changes ready for a public hearing in April. Councilman Nolan asked if we have to go through the SEQRA process. Councilman Jones asked if outdoor wood burning furnaces are included in this review. This was not mentioned in the ZBA's letter from September, but the committee would like to continue looking at other issues after this review is done.
  3. HIGHWAY GARAGE: Councilman Jones reported that the designs he has prepared are not a final design for a one hundred foot x sixty five foot wood truss building. The proposal is for the west side to be heated for repairs and offices, and the east side would be partially heated. He would like to meet with our engineer and get cost estimates on concrete, site prep and construction of the building. Highway Superintendent James Potts can do site preparation and driveway with the donation of equipment from Charlie Lent. Councilman Nolan (delete: added) (add: asked if we can also if) (delete: that) we can also get the County's equipment. Councilman Jones will meet with our engineer and prepare estimates.
  4. ROLL OF HONOR: Councilman Jones would like to meet in early April. Resident Mel Heiko is interested in joining the committee. Leave your name with the Town Clerk if interested.
  5. NYSERDA AUDIT: Councilman Nolan reported that the report for the energy audit is being formulated for the three town buildings, Town Hall, (delete: St. Luke's Church)(add: Highway Garage) and Community House. Once we receive the suggestions from the audit, we can go to NYSERDA for funding to make improvements.
  6. PINE PLAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT/RED HOOK SCHOOL DISTRICT: Councilman Nolan stated that representatives from the schools will attend the May 4th town board meeting. Their budgets will have been approved by the school board before they come to our meeting and will go to the voters on May 19th. He would also like to see links to the school districts on the website.
  7. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: Supervisor Staats and Councilwoman O'Neal have been working on a telephone system, generators and electrical components of the emergency plan. Our engineer, Ray Jurkowski spoke about generators to be provided at Town Hall, the Academy and Clermont Fire Station #2. Currently the firehouse has a generator but it is undersized. He has looked at the electrical needs at the town buildings and the firehouse. A manual transfer switch must be installed at Town Hall for the 5500 watt generator from firehouse and a permanent 30kw generator will be installed at the firehouse to run on LP gas with automatic transfer switch. Existing manual transfer switch at firehouse would be installed at Community House for a portable 15KW generator run by gas providing heat electricity and kitchen needs.

    8. NYS has generators on state bid as follows:

    15KW portable unit - $2091.00; 30 KW unit - $8, 517.00 with options for $1000.00 which includes block heater for standby generator at firehouse and start up costs. This also includes delivery.

    Quotes for electric installation:

    Ralph's Electric - $4,825.00

    Macs Electric - $6,400.00

    R. P. Schmidt & Sons - $4,020.00

    Workers compensation and liability insurance must be provided.

    Councilman Nolan suggested having Ray Jurkowski review the bids. A letter will be prepared for the March 18th meeting for signature to send to Better Light and Power for the generators.

  8. TELEPHONES: Supervisor Staats has been talking to G-Tel about installing new digital phones with battery backup and additional voice mailboxes. The only cost will be an installation cost of $200.00. Supervisor Staats would like a board vote. A motion was made by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal to have the new phone system installed. All in favor. So carried.
  9. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: The MOU with the Carmelite Sister's and Clermont Fire Company/ Fire District is ready to be reviewed. Councilwoman Lent suggested adding that a Shelter Director will be present if either the Carmelite's or firehouse is to be used.
  10. RADIOS: Supervisor Staats met with Rob Lopez, Deputy Director of Emergency Management to check the base radio and it works fine with portables. What is needed is a remote access to tie into the base radio. Received quotes from Com-Tech Electronics as follows:
    1. Icom 50 watt mobile with accessories $ 927.13
    2. Kenwood 50 watt mobile with accessories $l,057.69
    3. Motorola 45 watt radio with accessories $l,264.80
    4. Icom VHF portable radios with accessories $ 217.74 each
    5. Options:

Itech 3 bank analyzer/conditioner $515.00 each

Itech single bank analyzer/conditioner charger $215.00 each

Itech battery adapter cups $140.00 each

Supervisor Staats suggested purchasing base radio quoted at $927.13, 3 portable radios at $217.74 each and charger at $515.00. Total of $2,095.35. Remote access would cost approximately $400.00 plus monthly fee. We have a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation for $1,000.00 and will be reimbursed. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman Jones to purchase the above. All in favor. So carried. If possible, additional funds will come from Con Ed monies. This will be reviewed.

  1. RESOLUTION #36-09 - Agreement with Pine Plains Veterinary Associates for January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009 to act as kennels for the Town. Motion to approve made by Councilwoman O'Neal, seconded by Councilman Jones. All in favor. So carried
  2. COPIER MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT: After discussion a motion was made not to pay copier contract by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal. All in favor. So carried.
  3. CENSUS: We had set up three dates for census takers testing to be held here at the Town Hall, however, they called today and have filled their quota.
  4. AFFIDAVIT FOR RED HOOK SCHOOL: The Town has been named in a lawsuit with Red Hook School for a personal injury accident, which occurred on the school property. An affidavit in the matter of claim has been prepared by our attorney, Andy Howard, stating that the Red Hook Central School District and the Town of Clermont are distinct and separate entities. This will be forwarded back to our attorney.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

Supervisor Staats made a statement regarding the County and efforts to curb spending, overtime and implement a hiring freeze.

  1. Real Property: Property taxes can be paid between January and June with interest of 1% per month after January. School taxes, if not paid, are taken over by the County and installment payments are offered. It is probably not going to be changed because it would be costly.
  2. Computer Committee: Discussed recycling of county computers, changing from a three-year cycle to a four-year cycle to save money.
  3. Ockawamick School: The Department of Social Services will probably be moving to the Ockawamick school site and keeping a satellite office at 325 Columbia Street building.
  4. A letter has been submitted to Senator Gillibrand for stimulus funds for highway garage. We are on the County stimulus plan for highway garage, Community House and Brownfields.
  5. PUBLIC SAFETY BOARD: 911 Incidents Report for 2008 - County 911 received 8400 calls in 2008 for an average of 23 per day.
  6. Supervisor Staats has asked that departments receive approval for purchases made over $100.00 in order to control spending.
  7. Complete monthly reports will be received from our accountant each month.

Councilwoman Lent presented a resolution in support of "Keeping Pine Haven in Philmont" to be signed in support of this. This was tabled pending the Supervisor getting further information.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal to approve General abstract #3-09, vouchers-#39-73 in the amount of $13,631.47. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman Jones to approve General abstract #13- 08, vouchers # 418-420, dated 12/29/08 to Amidon Builders for window project at Community House in the amount of $18,000.00. Councilwoman Lent (add: voted no) (delete abstained) because prevailing wage documentation is not attached and on the AIA form G-702 the notary section is whited out and it is not notarized. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal to approve Trust and Agency abstract #3-09, voucher #2 in the amount of $92.50 All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Highway abstract #3-09, vouchers #23-35 in the amount of $13,846.24. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  1. Judy Neary requested when putting school tax information on website include equalization rate so that people are not shocked when it's not just 4%. It was explained that this will only be a link to the school websites.
  2. Bob Desmond commented that schools would not know equalization rates because they haven't come out yet. All they will have is an estimate and it won't affect the percentage that increase will be, because it is not based on the equalization rate.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion made by Councilman Jones and seconded by Councilwoman O'Neal at 9:35 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

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