CLERMONT TOWN BOARD
SPECIAL MEETING
JUNE 19, 2009
The Clermont Town Board held a special meeting on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 6:30 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those present were Supervisor Staats, Councilman Nolan and Councilman Jones. Councilwoman Lent and Councilwoman O’Neal were absent.
Others present were Robert Desmond and George Schmitt of Morris Associates.
Supervisor Staats called the meeting to order with a salute to the flag.
DATA COLLECTION: Cheryl Kaszluga will be doing the data collection. She is certified to do this. A contract has been prepared by our attorney, which was reviewed by the Board. Councilman Nolan asked how many parcels there are in the town, and there are approximately 720 parcels with buildings out of 900 more or less. Ms. Kaszluga will be paid $20.00 per parcel and will bill on a monthly basis. She will use her own vehicle at her expense. She has met with the assessor and has fifty parcels to start and can start on June 22, 2009. An ID card will be provided and she also has business cards. The Assessor will notice the newspaper and it will be posted on our web site.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Nolan to approve the contract as prepared by our attorney for Ms. Kaszluga to do the data collection. All in favor. So carried. At the July meeting, it will be discussed and decided where to take the money to pay for the data collection.
The Board has to adopt a resolution to return assessments to full market value and commit to 100% evaluation. This resolution will be sent to The Office of Real Property Tax Services and they will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding for us to sign.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman Jones to enter into an agreement to return assessments to full market value at 100%. All in favor. So carried. The resolution will be prepared for sending to ORPS and County Real Property Service.
COPIERS: Supervisor Staats has been in touch with Metroland Business Machines who have provided service for both copiers in the Town Hall. They originally billed $875.70 covering parts and labor for each copier, which the Board voted not to renew. They have reduced by 40% of the original bill to $1,061.23 covering parts and labor. Councilman Jones would like a price for a new copier before approving this service contract.
TAX COLLECTOR: Joan Buser, Tax Collector, has requested a laptop for use for tax collection. Supervisor Staats talked with the County Data Processing and under state contract they recommend Lenova for approximately $700.00, which she has in her equipment budget.
ETHICS POLICY: Andy Howard has reviewed our ethics policy. It is required that we have a town official on the Ethics Board. Currently, Susan Rifenburgh is on the Ethics Board and the Supervisor would like to appoint her as Parks and Recreation Liaison to be in compliance. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman
Jones to appoint Susan Rifenburgh as Parks and Recreation Liaison. All in favor. So carried.
HIGHWAY GARAGE: Supervisor Staats went over the funding for the alteration to the present highway garage. There is $163,217.35 in the General Capital Reserve Fund and the Highway Capital Reserve fund has a balance of $77,305.04, which is designated for a truck purchase. The General fund balance is $337,102.86 and the Highway fund balance is $125,805.41. There is $150,891.84 in the Con Ed Fund. We can draw money from the reserve funds without borrowing money. The estimated cost is $232,084.00. It is still advisable to hold a permissive referendum when using funds from the reserve. Councilman Jones requested that the existing septic and well be located on the map and have a surveyor locate the present garage building corners from the boundary line. Councilman Nolan would like the procedure for the process from the attorney and engineer.
George Schmitt, our engineer from Morris Associates will get price quotes from surveyors, including Alvin Huehnel, who did the original survey and Robert Zimmerman, who has done surveying for the town before. There was discussion about relocating the proposed salt shed further away from the garage, possibly behind the Cemetery. George will also get the distance between the proposed salt shed site and the well used by all the town buildings.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilman Jones as follows: Having considered the report prepared by Morris Associates on June 1st, evaluating the proposed highway garage options, of the three presented, Option #3, to alter the existing garage, is the most reasonable and lowest cost alternative
The Town will proceed with Option #3 and requests from Morris Associates a budget for engineering expenses and quotes from surveyors for additional information, location of existing well, septic and northwest corner of existing garage. All in favor. So carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Bob Desmond suggested that this information should be recapped at the next meeting and give handouts of Option #3 and maps showing placement of additions.
COMMUNITY HOUSE: Councilman Jones asked at a previous meeting about the lightning rod system on the Community House. He would like to know if the system is properly connected. He also asked for a quote on repair of the ceiling on the second floor and about insulation of the ceiling. Councilwoman O’Neal has some of this information, which was discussed at previous meetings. Suggested that he email Councilwoman O’Neal so that she can report at the July meeting.
LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD: Supervisor Staats has been in contact with a representative of the Saulpaughs regarding a long term lease of the little league field.
A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Nolan at 7:55 P.M. All in favor. So carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk