Clermont Town Board

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 due to the Monday Labor Day holiday at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those present were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilwoman O’Neal, Councilwoman Lent and Councilman Nolan. Councilman Jones was absent.

Others present were Andy Howard, Town Attorney, Bruce Bohnsack of G-tel and Kjirsten Gustauson of Clermont State Historic Site, Joan and Albert Wassenhove and eleven residents.

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

Bruce Bohnsack of G-tel spoke on the digital video project of which 90% of the testing is done. There were some problems encountered but they worked to solve them and installations have started. He will advise the Supervisor on a weekly basis as to the progress and letters will be sent out to customers on installation. Mr. Bohnsack is very satisfied that they have a good product. Supervisor Staats thanked Mr. Bohnsack for coming in and for making sure that the problems are worked out.

Kjirsten Gustauson thanked Councilman Nolan for inviting her to speak to the residents and Supervisor Staats and the board for having her. The Clermont State Historic Site will be hosting Clermont to Clermont, a free event as a Community Day on October 10th from 12:00 to 4:00 P.M. There will be 18th century music, a synopsis on the diverse people who made up the town and refreshments will be served. Louise Kalin is coordinating with County Historian Mary Howell on an exhibit at the Community House. Volunteers are needed for greeting people at the historic site and at the Community House. A link will be created from our website to the Friends of Clermont and Clermont Historic Site.

Albert Wassenhove spoke about keeping Pine Haven Home in Philmont and has asked for support from the board and residents in signing the petition, which will be circulated.

Also if the board would like to pass a resolution in support or a letter of support to Chairman Art Baer, it would be appreciated. Councilman Nolan has toured Pine Haven and it was well maintained however does need to be updated.

MINUTES:

  1. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan to approve the minutes of the August 3rd public hearing.
  2. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve the August 3rd minutes of the regular meeting with the following correction made by Supervisor Staats. Page 3 – Audit – Add ‘Supervisor Staats asked again for Mrs. Lent to provide the numbers or discrepancies she had’. All in favor. So carried.
  3. A motion was made by Councilwoman O’Neal; seconded by Councilman Nolan to approve the minutes of the Special meeting of August 18th with the following corrections noted by Supervisor Staats. On page 3 – second paragraph – Delete: ‘regarding this situation’ and add: ‘referencing the first special meeting that was called that Councilwoman Lent did not attend’. Add after month for ‘her’, add after information – ‘and’- add after requesting ‘this’ - add after information ‘in writing’ Also in the third paragraph delete ‘regarding receiving’ add ‘stating the NY Comptroller’s office received the’. Also the resolution number should be 42-09. Councilwoman Lent asked for copies of the letters requesting the special meeting from Councilman Jones and Councilwoman O’Neal. They were emails and Supervisor Staats will forward them. Councilwoman Lent asked Andy Howard when he had known about the special meeting. He was aware the day before the meeting. Councilwoman Lent abstained, as she was not at the meeting. So carried.

The Town Clerk’s report was read and a check for the General fund in the amount of $1,465.43 and a check for the Trust and Agency fund in the amount of $500.00 were given to the Supervisor. A motion was made to approve the Clerk’s report by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Dianne O’Neal. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  1. Columbia County OFA newsletter and Farmers Market coupon flyer.
  2. NYS Dept of Public Service on National Lifeline Telephone Discount Awareness week. Lifeline and Link-up services are available to low-income consumers.
  3. Columbia and Greene County Planning Boards – Seminars to be held on Tuesday, September 22nd at CGCC on Working with Applicants, Planning and Zoning Case Law updates and Land Use Players from 5:30 to 10:00 P.M.
  4. Columbia County Community Services Board – Thursday, September 17th from 4-7 P.M. Public Forum on mental illness.
  5. Web committee: Post Election Day dinner on November 3, 2009 on the website.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  1. LOCAL LAW #6 -Councilwoman Lent -Local law #6 will be discussed later in the meeting.
  2. PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT AND USE COMMITTEE: Councilman Nolan reported that the objective is to open the process to the public for a workshop to develop uses for the town land. This would be on record in the case of applying for grants or funds for the development of the land. There is also a procedural step as the SEQRA process is still going on and this committee would decide what happens next with the property. Anyone interested in being on the committee should contact the Clerk.
  3. NYSERDA: Councilwoman O’Neal spoke of the grant for stimulus funds through NYSERDA. The grant was completed and submitted before the August 25th deadline for the insulation of Town Hall and Community House and storm windows. The requested amount was $20,000 with a 10% cost share. If grant is received she will have to come to the board for approval. Councilwoman O’Neal thanked Dagmar Payne for helping with writing the grant and Councilman Nolan for basic work done on energy audit, without which we could not have applied for the grant.
  4. GENERATORS: Ray Jurkowski reported that the electrician has completed work in respect to town hall, academy and fire company. The Fire Company is working on LP gas installation. There is no startup on town hall and community house with generators.
  5. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: Councilwoman O’Neal distributed copies of the draft plan to town board and various departments. Town Hall is operations center, generator will be hooked up to transfer switch, and telephone system has back up battery. There is a Memorandum of Understanding with Station #2 for use as a shelter with a generator that will run on LP gas. There is a generator at Community House, which will be used as an information and aid station. We have many medical professionals living in Clermont who have signed on to help. Councilman Nolan asked if the electrician’s invoice should be held back until the startup at the firehouse is complete; Ray Jurkowski did not think so.

OLD BUSINESS:

  1. LOCAL LAWS: The Columbia County Planning Board has made its recommendations and left the decision to the board, these changes have been emailed out to the Board members. The Town Board issued a negative declaration and these local laws can be reviewed and voted on tonight.
  • Local Law No.3-2009 relative to Wind Conversion Systems: A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve Local Law No.3-2009 relative to Wind Energy Conversion with a correction to Section 6.1 Small Wind Energy Conversion System - D – Development Standards No. 4 - add ‘199 feet for agricultural uses’. All in favor. So carried.
  • Local Law No.4-2009 relative to Accessory Apartments: A motion by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Local Law No.4-2009 relative to Accessory Apartments with a correction Article II Definitions – B – Definitions of Words and Terms add replace ‘current definition’. All in favor. So carried.
  • Local Law No.5-2009 relative to Solar Energy Equipment: A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to adopt Local Law No.5-2009 relative to Solar Energy Equipment. All in favor. So carried.
  1. DATA COLLECTION: The data collection is approximately 65% completed. The goal is to be completed by October 1. On Tuesday, October 6th at 7:00 P.M. there will be a public information session with NYS Office of Real Property Service and County Real Property. Director Suzette Booy will be present.
  2. HIGHWAY GARAGE: We have received the survey map from Robert Zimmerman, which was done to be sure we do not encroach onto other properties. A map of the proposed changes and additions to the existing structure was shown. A bid contract has been sent to our attorney for review. A meeting with the Highway Superintendent and one of the board members will be held to go over bid contract amounts. Councilwoman Lent asked if you need the contract documents for a referendum? Ray Jurkowski explained that once the board passed a resolution, there is a 30-day time period for a petition to be filed. The time has passed. This project will go out to bid with results before the next town board meeting. Ray Jurkowski asked if the board wants the project bonded. Councilman Nolan asked if the bond could be an alternate in the bid contract. Another alternate will be insulation of the roof with blown insulation in the existing roof structure. The Supervisor stated that this is exactly what we need for the highway garage and this does not affect taxes, as this money is in the reserve accounts, partly dedicated for a highway garage. Councilman Nolan reported that the accountant’s report submitted today against last months shows that the authorized transfers were made which created the Garage Capital Project Fund.
  3. GENERATORS: Discussed earlier.
  4. BALL FIELD: An agreement has been drawn up between the town and George W. Saulpaugh & Son to provide a thirty year lease for $1.00 for use of the ballfield on Route 9 across from the Town Hall. Andy Howard added that the Saulpaugh’s concerns were insurance and that their employees could continue to use it. Councilman Nolan added that we should have our insurance agent look into this. Andy Howard feels that you should be able to add them as an additional insured without cost. He will check on this.
  5. C. T. MALE REPORT: The Supervisor received a report that says the soil on the parcel designated for a new highway garage is acceptable to be used to cover the 7.5 acre contaminated area. This is a $14,000 report. There is $12,000.00 left in budget line. A resolution will be prepared to transfer from 1990.4 Contingent to 7110.42 Brownfields in the amount of $1500.00. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan to transfer the funds, with the knowledge that we will get refunded at 90%. Motion seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal. All in favor. So carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. ROTARY MOWER: Superintendent Potts brought a proposal for a rotary mower to use on the fields. The contract quote for a medium duty brush hog is for $3,742. 50. There is money in the Machinery DA5130.4 account to cover this. For an additional cost of $345.00 it upgrades to a heavy-duty tail wheel. Total price: $4,053.75. Motion made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Nolan to approve the purchase from the Machinery DA5130.4 account. All in favor. So carried.
  2. LOCAL LAW #6-2009: Councilman Nolan stated that no public hearing has been held on this. It first must be sent to County Planning. A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to schedule a public hearing on Local Law #6 for October 5th at 7:00 P.M. prior to the board meeting.
  3. BROWNFIELDS: Ray Jurkowski spoke about the long form EAF – Part l is all of the background information with respect to action, Part 2 – identifies any impacts, Part 3 – is how to deal with potential impacts. From these answers you can make a negative impact or a positive impact. Councilman Nolan asked about the three aspects of the project included in the SEQRA, remediation of soil, highway garage and recreation fields. If action isn’t taken within a certain time frame on all the aspects, does SEQRA have to be revisited. Can we take action on one aspect and not the others? Ray Jurkowski stated that we can move forward with any one or all. Board can revisit the SEQRA at any time. Andy Howard spoke about in adding all the projects the board is taking a hard look at this project.
  4. PARK CHARGES: Susan Rifenburgh was requested by the Supervisor to find out how many Clermont residents use the Germantown Park during the summer. She has received a reply from Austin Sullivan and they have approximately 35 children participating in the park program this summer from Clermont. He believes this is a low number to be participating for the $6000.00 we pay to support the park. The fee for non-residents is $50.00 per child. The Supervisor will speak with Supervisor Brown about lowering our budgeted amount. He thanked Susan for checking into this. Councilwoman O’Neal asked if the money only goes to the summer park program or to maintenance. The Supervisor stated that even by paying the $6000.00, Clermont residents still pay $25.00 per child for the program. Charlie Larsen pointed out that the swimming facility could be used by anyone. There was other discussion.
  5. BUDGET WORKSHOP: Monday, September 28th at 6:30 P.M. at Town Hall.
  6. PLANNING BOARD: Interviews will be held for Planning Board candidates on Monday, September 28th at 6:00 P.M.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  1. OCKAWAMICK: Currently the County is negotiating the purchase of One Center Center and until finalized will not have any answer on Ockawamick.
  2. DSS: The fate of Department of Social Services will depend on the purchase/lease of One City Center.
  3. PINE HAVEN HOME: There will be a meeting this month with the majority wanting to keep Pine Haven in Philmont.
  4. BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES: County Route 6 has been worked on by reclamation of existing top and then will be black topped from Nevis Road to Wright Road. Also, Route 9G and Route 6 intersection will no longer be a Y shaped intersection, they will working on it to make it a T shaped intersection.
  5. REAL PROPERTY: The update on Pictometry for use by the Assessor’s to verify parcels and data, is quoted as costing $190,000.00. This includes a flyover of the entire county. The cost of this is paid by Columbia County 911, which uses the program.
  6. COUNTY BUDGET: Due to the hiring freeze imposed and cutbacks the County is in good financial shape.
  7. CLERMONT FIRE COMPANY: The Steak Barbecue will be held on Saturday, September 12th at 6:00 P.M. at the Station on Route 9G.
  8. VILLAGE GREEN BARBECUE: The Supervisor thanked everyone for their help on the Village Green BBQ. He also thanked Keil’s Equipment for donating a tractor for tractor pull.

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Agency & Trust abstract #9 voucher #7 in the amount of $461.55. All in favor. So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Capital Projects abstract #2 voucher #2 in the amount of $4,212.00. All in favor. So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve Highway abstract #9, vouchers 95-113 in the amount of $33,732.04. All in favor. So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Nolan, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve General abstract #9 vouchers # 228 – 260 in the amount of $27,642.32. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  • Tammy Connolly thanked everyone who helped with BBQ. Attendance was down probably because of the economy. A donation of $100.00 along with non perishable food items was donated to the Food Bank. From the flea market sales a donation of $400.00 was made to the Historical Committee for the Community House. Also planned is a scholarship for agricultural or environmental studies for a resident of Clermont in the three school districts.
  • Charlie Larsen thanked all that helped with the barbecue and it was the best tractor pull. He is dismayed at the amount of town appointees, who did not show up at barbecue.
  • Judy Neary was asked by Greg Fingar to mention that there was damage done to someone’s property in the parking lot on the night of the Republican caucus held at the Town Hall. If anyone has any information they should call the Sheriffs Department. Judy also asked if we had gotten the paperwork on the prevailing wage for windows from Amidon Builders, because she has been told that there is a possibility of not getting grants. A letter was sent by our attorney and the Supervisor will ask if there has been a reply.
  • Dagmar Payne asked about the paperwork for the Brownfields, if it is public record or would it have to be foiled to know how much has been spent on the project. We should know what has been expended.
  • Bob Desmond noted that the ZBA approved a special permit for Lisa Platti’s Cue to Go on County Route 6 in March of 2008, where the county wanted her to install curbing at a cost of $25,000.00. In May, Bob asked the Supervisor to talk to the County about relaxing the restrictions and they were just informed that they would be instituting new regulations. He thanked the Supervisor and Laurence Saulpaugh for their work on this. He thinks that there are still issues on curbing with the State. He is asking the Supervisor to ask the State DOT to look at this issue. We need to encourage small business throughout the county and in the Town of Clermont. The Supervisor will look into it.

A motion was made to adjourn at 9:25 P.M. by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Nolan.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

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