CLERMONT TOWN BOARD
JUNE 7, 2010
The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Nancy Moore and Councilman Richard Jones. Councilwoman Dianne O’Neal was absent. There were eight residents present.
Supervisor Raymond Staats opened the meeting with a salute to the flag. A motion was made to move into executive session at 7:00 P.M. to discuss possible litigation relating to In Flight, Inc. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. Supervisor
Staats recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
A motion was made to come out of executive session at 7:15 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to instruct the attorney to prepare for judicial review if an unfavorable response is received from the Mental Health Commissioner. All in favor. So carried.
Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes of the May meeting. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to accept the minutes. All in favor. So carried.
The Town Clerk read the May Clerk’s report and a check in the amount of $404.13 was presented to the Supervisor. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to approve the Town Clerk’s report. All in favor. So carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Received and posted a press release from Pine Plains Central School District of the results of the May 18, 2010 budget vote and Board of Education election.
- Received from Town of Red Hook notice of proposed amendments to Zoning, Subdivision of Land and the Comprehensive Plan.
- Grants – Supervisor Staats received an acknowledgement that a purchase order has been sent to NYSERDA for review for the grants for the Highway Garage windows and Town Hall attic insulation. Thanked Councilwoman O’Neal and Dagmar Payne for their work on this.
- Stephen Hammer has asked if the Emergency Preparedness plan final plan is ready so that it can be posted to the website. Councilwoman Moore said that it must be sent to County for review before being posted on the website. Supervisor will let him know about posting.
- Louise Kalin, Town Historian has digitized 377 historical photos from Mary Howell, County Historian and they have been posted on the website.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- ST. LUKES: Councilman Jones reported that tree on north side of church has been removed. The Highway crew has smoothed out the area and seeded. He suggested planting a few trees between the church and the residence to the north. Councilwoman O’Neal would donate several trees to be planted, if highway crew could plant them. We also have spruce trees, which could be moved. Councilman Jones also reported that the trees in front of the Community House are scheduled to be cut by Peter Cichetti sometime in June, but asked if we could get him to do it sooner than later.
- AIR CONDITIONING: The Request for Proposal for central air conditioning system for Town hall has been prepared and estimates will be reviewed by our engineer for recommendations because it looks as though we will have to put in a whole system.
- BUILDINGS: Requests for Proposals were prepared for exterior painting of the Town Hall and Highway Garage.
Three bids for each project were received:
Garage: Includes pressure washing, priming and painting.
Grace Painting, Hurley NY - $3500
Darryl Melius, Tivoli NY - $4100
Staats & Sons Enterprises, Clermont NY - $6,700.
Grace Painting has sent in an insurance certificate.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Jones, seconded by Councilman Desmond to accept the bid of $3500.00 by Grace Painting pending review and approval by town engineer. Councilman Desmond has not reviewed the RFP or the bids to see if they followed the RFP, but if the engineer approves, he will feel comfortable.
All in favor. So carried.
Town Hall: Includes pressure washing, priming and painting.
Darryl Melius, Tivoli NY - $6,100.
Grace Painting, Hurley NY - $8,500
John Staats & Sons Enterprises, Clermont NY - $13,800.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to accept the bid of $6500.00 by Darryl Melius pending review and approval by town engineer. All in favor. So carried.
- ZONING UPDATES: Councilman Desmond has spoken with members of the zoning board and building inspector seeking items that might be included in the next zoning review. Among some items discussed were multi-family homes, home based business and business permits, trails and bikeways, horses and farm animals in residential neighborhoods. He will meet with Planning Board for input and from the public.
- IN FLIGHT, INC.: There is a proposal to put a group home in Clermont, which will be the fifth home in Clermont. Group homes use the same services as residents, and pay no taxes because they are exempt. The Town has not seen sufficient evidence for the need for an additional home and that the State should be looking for the most cost-effective property, when seeking a residence. A public hearing was held by the Commissioner of Mental Health and a recommendation will be forthcoming as to whether or not the home will go in Clermont.
- RECREATION: Councilman Jones asked Bob Zimmerman, surveyor to locate boundaries and set monuments on the five acre parcel designated for the ballfield.
Councilman Desmond attended a NYMIR Seminar on managing recreation liability and claims and litigation. Insurance premium is based on total budget and miles of road. They talked about signage, attendants at parks,etc.
- GRIEVANCE DAY: There were about 50 people who filed. The Board of Assessment Review has completed their review and determinations. Letters will go out to (Delete: those whose assessment was changed) Add: all those who appeared before the BAR.
- EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: Councilwoman Moore has completed the EPP and it will be sent to the County to be reviewed and to make recommendations before it can be adopted.
- RESOLUTION NO. 40-2010
Authorizing the Supervisor to make the following budgetary transfer:
Decrease Appropriation – Central Garage A1640.4 $5,000.00
Increase Appropriation – Attorney A-1420.4 $5,000.00
Supervisor Staats explained that due to some unforeseen issues, such as the In Flight and Cascino matters, it is necessary to increase the Attorney account.
MOTION: A motion was made to approve Resolution #40-2010 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones. All in favor. So carried.
- The Supervisor thanked the Highway crew because they are going to do a lot of the preparation work for painting the garage.
- AUDIT: Supervisor Staats has spoken with the auditor, and they are still in the edit stage of audit process, but the exit conference should be within the next month.
- BALL FIELD: Supervisor Staats said that the surveyor has marked out the eastern boundaries of the five acre parcel on Route 6 for the ballfield, but it cuts into the field where the driveway would go. Supervisor Staats spoke to Bruce Bohnsack and he will donate about thirty feet to the east for the driveway. Councilman Desmond asked if this would go before the planning board for a lot line adjustment. Charles Larsen noted that this will result in the telephone company property becoming a non-conforming parcel, therefore, it should go to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance. Charlie Larsen said that the telephone company had to come before the ZBA to get a variance for an undersize lot and they would have to come to the ZBA again. Supervisor Staats will speak to Andy Howard about getting this done.
- PLEASANTVALE ROAD BRIDGE: The bridge is under emergency repair but it will take until September or October before it is done. Weight limit will be posted when they are done.
- DEC UPDATE: Someone from the Attorney General’s office is coming down to take our records of the LaMunyan landfill for court on October 4th.
- COUNTY ROUTE 6: Before the paving can be completed on Route 6, the County wanted to fix the drainage problem at the end on Route 9. Because the state budget has not been approved, there is no budget for this job so work will probably not be done until next year.
- HIGHWAY TRUCK: Superintendent Potts has a 2002 Ford F-350 one ton pick-up with 116,000 miles, which needs work done. He thinks this is the best time to look at a new truck. The price for a 2011 F-350 is $22,333.90, with a plow for $4,100.00, total $26,433.90. The old truck will go out to bid.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to purchase the 2011 F-350 pick-up truck with plow for $26,433.90. All in favor. So carried.
SUPERVISORS REPORT:
- PINE HAVEN: The committee will be interviewing architectural firms for renovation of Pine Haven Home.
- REAL PROPERTY: The County is looking into partial payments of taxes to school districts. Judy Neary suggested this to the County and Town. The County is looking at what the additional cost would be but it does not look like a cheap conversion to go to this system, but it is being looked into.
- AMBULANCE SERVICE: The County has entered into a new service with the ambulance squads to decrease response time. They are monitoring the ambulance calls and dispatch an available unit.
- GRIEVANCE DAY: Supervisor Staats thanked the BAR, Councilman Desmond and the Assessor for their work on Grievance Day.
- TREES: The tree at the church was removed, the trees in front of the Community House will be taken down in the next few weeks.
- FARMERS MARKET: The Farmers Market is open on Fridays, 3:30 to 7:30 P.M. at the former Hettling Market on Route 9.
- SOLID WASTE: Free appliances are accepted through June at the Greenport Transfer Station.
- Yellow ribbons will be on the light posts out front for returning soldiers Jeffrey Vucich and Teddi Blank who will be returning on June 17th from a tour in Afghanistan.
- On June 2nd the Fire Association of the State of New York was in Germantown honoring Sue Brown, Elementary Principal for teacher of the year for Fire Safety.
- BBQ: At Station #2 Firehouse Route 9G on Saturday June 12th at 6:30 P.M.
- Supervisor Staats thanked Germantown Telephone for cooperation on the field and Little League Association to help get the ballfield in on the property on Route 6.
ABSTRACTS:
A motion was made by Councilwoman Moore, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve General Abstract #6, vouchers #154 - #194 in the amount of $10,355.50. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Moore, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve Trust & Agency abstract #1, vouchers # 1- #2 in the amount of $324.75. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Moore, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve Highway abstract #6, vouchers #43 - #56 in the amount of $8,459.64. All in favor. So carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
- Michael Carl on County Route 6 asked if there is a dog ordinance because he has a problem with barking dogs next door to his house.
- Meri Puccio on Route 9G asked for fencing at the route 9G landfill so that there is no other dumping that can occur. Supervisor Staats will talk to Billy Cole, because it would be up to him to comply.
- Charlie Larsen: The DEC is holding public hearings on outdoor wood boilers. If interested contact the Town Clerk or Charles Larsen for information.
- The Village Green BBQ will be held on Saturday, August 7th. The servings will be 3:30 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.
A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore at 8:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk