CLERMONT TOWN BOARD
JULY 6, 2010
The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. at the Clermont Town Hall. This meeting was changed due to the observance of the July 4th Holiday on Monday. Those present were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Nancy Moore and Councilman Richard Jones. Councilwoman O’Neal was absent. Also present were Matthew Griesemer of Freeman-Howard and nine residents.
Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with a salute to the flag.
MINUTES: A correction was noted by Councilman Desmond on page 44, Grievance Day should read ‘letters will go out to all those who appeared before the Board of Assessment Review’.
DEC UPDATE: Councilman Desmond noted in the minutes that the Attorney Generals office has requested our records of the LaMunyan site in order to copy for upcoming court date against Mr. Cascino. He is concerned about letting them out of the office, as some records might not be replaceable, if anything were to happen to them. This was also a concern of the Supervisor and Town Clerk; however, our attorney sees no problem. The Supervisor will talk to the Town Attorney regarding Councilman Desmond’s concerns. There will be a signed receipt by an employee of DEC, who will be picking them up and delivering them to the Attorney General.
MOTION: A motion was made to approve the minutes with correction by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore.
ABANDONMENT OF ROAD: The Planning Board has been reviewing a request from the Alfred Jantzen Estate to formally abandon portions of the old roadbed on Commons Road. A Certificate of Abandonment was prepared by our town attorney, which was certified to by James Potts, Highway Superintendent that there has been no traveling, use or work done on these portions of the old road for at least six years. Our attorney, Matthew Griesemer stated that a certificate of abandonment memorializes the fact that this road is being abandoned. The present property owners adjacent will take ownership as shown on the survey map and described in the Certificate of Abandonment. The Jantzens have turned this property over to the adjacent owners. The Clerk read the Certificate of Abandonment. Councilman Jones asked if this would be added to the tax rolls and it will be.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to accept the Certificate of Abandonment as read. All in favor. So carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Town Clerks Report - The Town Clerk presented a check for the General Fund in the amount of $1487.48 to the Supervisor. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to accept the Clerk’s report. All in favor. So carried.
- Public Notice from Town of Red Hook on public hearing to be held on July 7th at 7:30 P.M. on proposed amendments to the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
- There will be a free performance of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream on Saturday, July 24th and Sunday, July 25th at Village of Tivoli Memorial Park.
- Thank you note for Supervisor Staats and James Potts and highway crew from Lilly Kowalski for cleaning out a culvert in front of her home.
- There was no website correspondence.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- RECREATION: Councilman Jones showed a map of the entire twenty-acre parcel including the parcel for a proposed ballfield on Route 6. He would like to formalize the plans for development for recreation, driveways and parking. The baseball field has been staked out and the Supervisor is talking to Germantown Telephone about adjusting the property lines. Councilman Jones thanked Charlie Lent and others for previous work done on the field, which looks to be very level. The infield must be top-dressed. He would like to designate unreserved funds for recreation for the driveway from Route 9 connecting to County Route 6, pavilion, children’s park, a memorial park and parking area. Some are saying that the entire 7.6 acres should be remediated and he is trying to clarify the remediation process for a road, which does not require topsoil underneath. He would like DEC to tell us the difference in remediation between a driveway and a gazebo with a concrete base, etc. Supervisor Staats said that Andy Howard, Kirk Moline and Ray Jurkowski have been talking to DEC and he believes that we will have a final plan soon. Councilman Jones has not had any conversation with anyone in six months about his questions. Councilman Desmond stated that we cannot do anything until we have the remediation plan approved by DEC. Councilman Desmond said that the last meeting with Kirk Moline we asked him to approve for active recreation but we do not have approval yet. The only piece that we can do anything with, without DEC approval, is the five-acre parcel.
- TOWN HALL PAINTING: Councilman Desmond and Councilwoman O’Neal have been discussing colors for painting the exterior of the Town Hall. Councilwoman O’Neal indicated that she would like to have authentic colors for the town hall. She is suggesting keeping the traditional colors of green and white, and choosing another color for the scalloped décor on the front of the building, to make it distinctive and stand out. A Building and Grounds workshop was scheduled for Tuesday, July 27th at 6:00 P.M.
- VETERANS CARD for Discounts: Councilman Desmond has received a Veterans Discount Card which are available to veterans at the County Clerk’s office in Hudson to be used for area retailers.
- EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: The Emergency Preparedness Plan, finalized by Councilwoman Moore, has been submitted to Bill Black, Emergency Coordinator for review. Once that is finalized the medical team would like to meet and set up medical protocols for emergencies.
- TOWN HALL – AIR CONDITIONING: The Request for Proposal for central air was sent out and due by Thursday, July 1, 2010. Separate bids were requested for meeting room and courtroom and entire town hall. Three bids were received
- Vincent Egan, III
Entire Town Hall - $19,850.00
No bid on meeting room and court room.
- Steve and Weber Plumbing
Court Room and Meeting Room - $13,648.00
Entire Town Hall - $20,768.00
The third bid cannot be accepted because it was not received by the due date and one bid did not include what was requested. Supervisor Staats will submit these bids to the engineer for review. There was discussion as to whether or not to install central air or just put in air conditioners.
- HIGHWAY GARAGE: The highway garage is being prepped for exterior painting.
- AUDIT: The draft report was received and an exit conference was held. Comments were taken and some changes made and the town must respond by July 14th. Once our comments are incorporated we will get a final report.
- BALLFIELD: Additional footage is required for the road from County Route 6 and will be acquired from G-tel. Supervisor Staats and Superintendent Potts have taken transient shots of the proposed field and checked those elevations with the ballfield on Route 9 and they are almost identical. The Little League is willing to move the fencing and backstop to our field.
- TREE REMOVAL: The trees have been removed at St.Luke’s and the Community House and the top removed from another tree in front of the Community House. The Supervisor thanked the Highway crew for the clean up.
- PROPANE TANK: The Village Green wants to refurbish a propane stove for use at the Community House. Supervisor Staats would like a consensus on the placement of a propane tank at the Community House. Councilman Jones was concerned about placement of the propane tank. He would like to see it 25 feet away from the building or buried. Our engineer has researched the requirements and for a 100-lb. tank, it can be placed against the building and he recommended on the south side of the building. Supervisor Staats would like to proceed as per our town engineers recommendation, but Councilman Jones takes exception to our engineer’s report and does not advise that it be placed next to the building.
MOTION: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond that we follow our town engineer’s recommendations, he has researched it and looked at the specific regulations, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. The vote was as follows:
Councilman Desmond, aye; Councilwoman Moore, aye; Supervisor Staats, aye; Councilman Jones, nay. Councilman Jones stated that he takes exception on a technical basis, as he has more experience than our town engineer. Motion passed. Councilman Desmond would like to have a gauge on the tank or, if more than one tank, it should switch to the other tank if one runs out.
NEW BUSINESS:
- RETIREMENT REPORTING: NYS Retirement has requested that municipalities establish a standard workday for elected and appointed officials. A resolution has been prepared and once passed, must be posted for thirty days and then sent to the Comptrollers office within fifteen days.
- The workshop for deciding on the paint for Town Hall will be held on July 27th at 6:00 P.M.
- The Supervisor has learned that it is possible to get inmates from the Hudson Correctional Facility to do work for the town. He has spoken with Sergeant Rowley and we have to submit a letter with a description of what is to be done and provide any materials needed, such as scaffolding, paint, ladders, etc. and it will be considered. The Supervisor is considering the Community House ceiling on the second floor, now that the ceiling has been repaired.
MOTION: A motion was made to approve the Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
SUPERVISORS REPORT:
- DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES SUBCOMMITTEE: A decision is close for a possible location for a new Social Services building on 4th Street between Columbia and State Street.
- REAL PROPERTY: Waiting on the figures for a conversion to a partial bill for taxes. The Treasurer and Real Property Office are working on the cost estimates. Judy Neary asked if this is an initial cost. The Supervisor cannot answer this because it could create extra staffing for the billing and paperwork. Councilman Desmond asked if the extra cost would be covered by interest paid by those who do not pay all their taxes in January because they now have the option to pay in several payments. Supervisor Staats did not think it would make a difference but won’t know until the figures are in.
- PUBLIC SAFETY: The Ambulance program is working better. The response time is improving.
- PINE HAVEN COMMITTEE: An architectural firm has been decided on and references are being verified and once verified a bid will be awarded.
- VOTING MACHINES: The state has said we have to use the new voting machines. It will be a cost to the Counties.
- DEC UPDATE: Property on Route 9G of William Cole: Supervisor Staats was asked at a previous meeting to request that Mr. Cole put up a fence around his property on Route 9G. The northern side, which is in question, has been blocked off. Mr. Cole said that he has not seen anyone going in and out and that he has surveillance on his property. If anyone has seen anything please let us know. Meri Puccio has seen people driving in and out and on the northern side of the property which is being investigated. She stated that Mr. Cole is never there and she does not trust him to police his own place.
- BARBECUE: The Village Green Barbecue will be held on Saturday August 7th. Seatings are at 3:30 P.M. and 5:30 P.M. The garden tractor pull will be held at 10:00 AM and other activities, including a dunking booth. The Village Green committee will be meeting on Thursday, July 8th at 7:00 P.M. at the Community House.
- BUDGET TRANSFER: A resolution will be prepared to transfer $40.00 from A1010.4 Town Board account to A3610.4 Examining Board to cover additional expenses from Grievance Day. A motion was made to approve by Councilwoman Moore, seconded by Councilman Jones. All in favor. So carried.
ABSTRACTS:
- Motion by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve Highway abstract #7, vouchers #57-67 in the amount of $9,318.14. All in favor. So carried.
- Motion by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to approve General abstract #7, vouchers #195-220 in the amount of $5,339.26. All in favor. So carried.
- Motion by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Jones to approve Trust and Agency abstract #2, voucher #3 in the amount of $300.00. All in favor. So carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
- Eileen and Ed Cassidy: Filed a grievance on Grievance Day. Received a letter from the BAR but there was no reason given for declining their request. They have filed a small claims petition. They have also requested the minutes of the deliberations. If there is no reason given in the minutes, where do they get this information? They have spoken to Mr. Greenhouse but they did not find him helpful. Councilman Desmond will contact John Gall and ask him. The Cassidys were asking about the school tax rate and they cannot find out what the rate is going to be. They have gone to the school district but they cannot tell them. They were told that the rate would go up 5.9% and they should come to the Town Board. Councilman Desmond explained that 5.9% is the increase in the school budget. Mrs. Cassidy is trying to budget for school taxes without taking a loan out in September to pay school taxes. The Assessments are finalized but the state does have the option to say that 100% assessment was not maintained. We believe that we will maintain at 100%.
- Judy Neary knows what the percentage increase is because the school budget is complete but it’s an increase based on the assessment. This is why she has asked for a payment plan for school taxes.
- Charles Larsen: Reminded everyone about the Village Green Barbecue and thanked the Board for putting the propane tank issue to rest. On the issue of ambulance service, when Southern Columbia Ambulance went out of business five years ago, we were lucky that Northern Dutchess Paramedics came in. Now Philmont Rescue is in serious trouble. New Lebanon may also loose their ambulance service, because they are a municipally owned company, they cannot bill for services.
A motion was made to adjourn at 8:40 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk