CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING
MAY 3, 2010
The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting at 7:00 P.M. on Monday, May 3, 2010 at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Staats, Councilwoman O’Neal, Councilman Desmond, Councilman Jones and Councilwoman Moore. Others present were Andy Howard, Town Attorney and eight town residents.
Preceding the regular meeting, the board heard from Cari Watkins-Bates, Farmland Protection Manager and Kathryn Biszick, Riverfront Communities Program Associate of Scenic Hudson, Inc. on their projects in the Hudson Valley. They are willing to help the town in developing projects while using their resources.
Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with a salute to the flag. A public hearing was held prior to the Town Board meeting to hear information on Resolution No. 38 of 2010 and Resolution No. 39 of 2010.
Resolution No.38 of 2010
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to adopt Resolution No. 38 of 2010. All in favor. So carried.
Resolution No. 39-2010
MOTION: There were no comments from any one present and a motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to adopt Resolution No 39 of 2010. All in favor. So carried.
MINUTES: The minutes of the March 30th meeting were reviewed and Councilwoman Moore noted one correction on the third page under Emergency Preparedness plan. That the final draft will be ‘emailed’ not ‘mailed’ to those on the list. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal. All in favor. So carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- The Town Clerk read the April report and gave a check to the Supervisor in the amount of $624.42 for the General Fund. A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.
- The Assessors Hours for the month of May will be 5/4/10, 5/8/10 and 5/11/10 from 10 AM-12PM and 1- 3 PM and 5/13/10 from 3-5 PM and 6-8 PM. Grievance Day is Tuesday, May 25th from 3-5 PM and 6-8 PM
- Pine Plains Central School will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on May 5th at 7:00 PM at the Middle/High School.
- Office for the Aging Newsletter – The Elder Express for Spring 2010
- Columbia County Solid Waste Household Hazardous Waste Collection day will be held on June 5th from 8 AM to 12 PM at the Highway Garage on Route 23B in Greenport.
- There was a public hearing held by the Town of Red Hook on Zoning issues on April 28th at 7:45 P.M.
- The Town Clerk reported that a Port-0-let Toilet has been placed on the ballfield for the summer by Royal Flush of Clermont.
- The water tests for the Community House and Town hall were done and all were clear.
- There were no comments for the web committee.
Supervisor Staats asked if there were any questions for our Town Attorney while he is in attendance.
- Meri Puccio asked about what is going on regarding the Billy Cole property on Route 9G. Supervisor Staats stated that he has been in contact with the Attorney General’s office and the town is not a part of this investigation, but we will be following very closely. Ms. Puccio read a letter to the Board. Supervisor Staats thanked her for her letter. The Supervisor has been told by the Attorney General’s office that it is not hazardous material, but other debris. Town Attorney Andy Howard stated that the Attorney General’s office will be very diligent because of the history of the site and we will be watching very closely. The enforcement will lie with DEC as they have the ability to do the necessary testing. Ms. Puccio asked who she should be in contact with any questions, and Andy suggested DEC and local State representatives.
- Carol Livellara – Asked what area was affected of the former LaMunyan property. It was on the northern area of the five acres parcel. She asked who would be the contact at DEC. Supervisor Staats has not spoken to anyone at DEC. She encouraged the town to be very diligent because the DEC does not have the money to monitor the site.
- Councilman Jones: He is surprised that DEC did not require a fence to keep anyone from going on the property. He wonders if we could approach Billy Cole about fencing the property. Ms. Puccio does think that DEC did require fencing at one time.
- Charlie Larsen: There was something at one time put up across the entrance but it has been removed.
- George Davis: This issue has to be taken care of on this property, because it has been going on for too long.
Supervisor Staats will give the information at the meetings as he receives it.
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND UPDATES:
- Councilman Jones reported that some neighbors are meeting next Monday at 7:00 P.M. at Phyllis Heiko’s to discuss the tractor-trailer, which is going up and down the driveway on Moore Road. This devastates the value of the property in the neighborhood. Supervisor Staats asked that he bring some of the concerns to John Fieser.
- RECREATION: There will be a meeting to consider the trails and recreation. The Supervisor is going to talk to the Little League representatives. Councilman Jones stated that there is no way to connect the properties of the towns, but he suggested talking to the Cemetery Association for a possible solution. The Supervisor will speak to Ron Miller of the Cemetery Association.
- Councilwoman O’Neal asked if the Supervisor is checking on a laptop for the archive committee. She is also working on Requests for Proposals for getting the town hall and garage painted.
- NYSERDA GRANTS: Contracts from NYSERDA for insulation of Town Hall and windows in garage will be sent to Supervisor Staats and then bids will be sent out.
- ZONING: Councilman Desmond commended ZBA Chairman Larsen and ZBA board for taking the time at the meeting to explain the zoning appeals process to six high school members who attended the April meeting. Chairman Larsen thanked Bob.
- ZONING REVIEW: Councilman Desmond stated that the zoning review is usually held yearly. He will be meeting with the ZBA to get a list of things, which should be looked into. Supervisor Staats explained that Councilman Desmond would do as much of the work as he can to keep the attorney and engineer fees down.
- EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: Councilwoman Moore reported that the EPP is very close to being finalized and once it is adopted, the medical people would like to have a meeting together.
OLD BUSINESS:
- HIGHWAY GARAGE: The office area has been completed. The windows will be replaced and the grant will fund most of that. There is painting and some minor work to be done.
- AUDIT: We have the information that will be in the report but there is no draft report yet from the auditor.
- REVALUATION OF PARCELS: The Supervisor reiterated the dates that the Assessor will be available during May.
- GRIEVANCE DAY: To be held on Tuesday, May 25th from 3-5 PM and 6-8 PM at the Town Hall.
NEW BUSINESS:
- TREE REMOVAL: Estimates were requested from Peter Cichetti and Eberhard Tree Care and Myers Tree Service for removal of a tree and topping of another in front of the Community House and a pine tree on the north side of St. Luke’s Church. The estimates were as follows:
Peter Cichetti - $1350
Eberhard Tree Care - $1390
Myers Tree Service - $1360.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Jones to hire Peter Cichetti for $1350, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried. The work is not scheduled be done until June, however, Councilman Desmond asked if we should wait until June with the tree by the church. The Supervisor will ask if that can be done sooner.
- The Town Hall and Garage will be painted this year.
- Bridge Update: Pleasantvale Road bridge has been closed. The State predicted imminent failure. The County must wait for the report before any work can be done.
- Route 9G Bridge: This will be closed until at least October.
- Red Hook School – Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook Schools and Bruce Martin, Budget Officer, will be hear to speak about the budget.
SUPERVISORS REPORT:
- Sales tax check received in the amount of $56,577.15 for the first quarter.
- Mortgage tax check is expected for $23,500.00 which is an increase.
- Easter Egg Hunt was a good turnout and there was beautiful weather. Thanked the Village Green Committee and the volunteers who contributed.
- Pine Haven Subcommittee: This committee was formed to pick a design firm for renovations.
- Real Property: There will be three towns doing a re-evaluation this year, of which Germantown and Claverack are two.
- Buildings/Facilities Committee: Public Safety Building roof repairs are being made.
- A subcommittee has been appointed to review use of County cars in an effort to save money.
- Department of Social Services Subcommittee: There was a recent meeting and it was decided that Social Services will remain in Hudson, next will be to discuss where it will be located.
- Kohls Pilot: It was the IDA’s choice to turn down the pilot, when Kohl’s pulled out some points that would have been good for the County.
- Census: In 2000, the town’s participation was 60 %; this year 75% has participated. Overall the county participation went up 3%. This is important for the funding that we receive.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
- Tammy Connolly: The weather cooperated for the Easter Egg Hunt with about 230 children in attendance. The committee added more games and there was milk and juice rather than soda. The Village Green BBQ will be held on Saturday, August 7th. The next meeting for the Village Green is May 11th.
- Judy Neary: Albert Wassenhove was honored with his own name day for his participation in keeping Pine Haven in Philmont. They are now working on getting a Veterans Home in the facility. She also commended the Red Hook School Superintendent for offering to freeze his salary and for their work on the budget.
Judy also submitted an email from NYSERDA regarding membership in ICLEI for which the Town paid $600.00. They have not heard of this organization, and they stated that being a member of ICLEI does not gain or lose points in selection criteria for a grant.
- George Davis: Suggested to keep in mind soccer, as well as, baseball for recreation.
- Carol Livellara: Asked what Scenic Hudson’s purpose for speaking because she was not here for their presentation.
Dianne: There are several towns in the County that has the maximum by acreage of easements and they are Clermont and Stuyvesant. Scenic Hudson spoke of offering to the town services that they can provide for free. They can provide planning tools to our town committees for projects, such as, developing trails.
- Councilman Jones suggested that in light of the recent threat to NYC and the house which was lost in a neighboring town to an LP gas explosion that people not place the tanks to close to a building because of the explosive potential. Also, there are two types of spray foam for houses, closed cell and open cell. Closed cell foam applied in more than one-inch layer, can cause a situation where it can self ignite.
RED HOOK SCHOOL: Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook Schools and Bruce Martin, Budget Officer spoke to the Board and residents about the school budget proposal. A general feeling is that there is anxiety about economy and governments and the school was having a hard time getting a feeling of what the public would support. Being dependent on state aid, and looking at a reduction, there is 4.2% tax levy increase before moving over the budget. They have come in with a 5.9% tax levy.
Supervisor Staats thanked them for their work on the budget.
- Judy Neary thanked Red Hook School for sending a letter to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors in support of taxes being paid in several payments.
- Bob Desmond: Asked about the report of a reduction in number of students to be 38%, but they gauge it to be in 2019 about 200 student reduction possibility which is about 10%.
- George Davis also mentioned that there are increases in students when other schools close. There was a study on demographics in Red Hook School, which Mr. Finch will forward. George also mentioned that Red Hook has an International Bacaularaute Program, which is a very important program and is recognized, around the world. About 50% of Juniors and Seniors are involved in this course.
- Henry Rudolf asked about the retirement system funds. Retirement has been estimating the employer’s contribution to be 8 to 9%.
ABSTRACTS:
A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve General abstract #5, vouchers #115-150 in the amount of $13,542.32. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve Capital Projects #5, vouchers 11 & 12 in the amount of $685.68. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve Highway abstract #5, vouchers #33-42 in the amount of $3,151.75. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made to adjourn at 8:45 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal. All in favor. So carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk