Town Board Meeting

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

JUNE 6, 2011

 

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday, June 6, 2011 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilwoman Dianne O’Neal, Councilman Robert Desmond and Councilwoman Nancy Moore. Councilman Richard Jones was absent. There were five residents present.

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

MINUTES: A motion was made to approve the May minutes by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  1. Town Clerks Report: The Town Clerk presented a check to the Supervisor for the General fund in the amount of $2,213.70. A motion was made to accept the Clerks report by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.
  2. Results from Pine Plains Board of Education Election to be posted on board
  3. Ancram Summer Camp at Blass Memorial Field from 7/5/11 to 8/12/11.
  4. Association of Town and NY Conference of Mayors and NY Planning Federation planning and Zoning school on July 22nd in Albany.
  5. Town of Milan Public hearing on 6/20/11 on Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
  6. ICLEI MEMBERSHIP: The Supervisor explained that a letter was not sent regarding our membership to ICLEI due to the fact that a letter and email were received telling us that our enrollment has expired as of 5/31/11.
  7. WEBSITE: The information about the Village Green Barbecue will be posted on the website.

Jane Churchill our representative to the Office for the Aging gave the following report. Grace Goldberg has given her resignation as alternate to the OFA. Funding was minimally cut so there were no programs hurt. County is proposing purchase of Wal-Mart on Fairview Avenue Greenport, which will house several county offices including OFA. It will include a kitchen and dining area and the Philmont kitchen will be closed. The representatives were asked what should be available for seniors and they suggested a doorway that is level with parking lot, dining area near the entrance, handicap bathrooms, etc. Submissions for volunteer of the year were received and reviewed by OFA and the Health Care Consortium. It was narrowed down to three, Jim Donovan of Kinderhook, Nancy Bryant of Ancram and Arlene Sweeney of Livingston. There will be a Senior’s seminar on June 9th 10-12PM at Columbia Greene Community College focusing on Medicare issues, EPIC program, Columbia County senior program and services. Supervisor Staats thanked Jane for her report and remarked that the OFA Administrator Kary Jablonka is doing a fantastic job.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  1. GARAGE WINDOW PROJECT: Councilwoman O’Neal reported that the paperwork for windows is being sent in. She will be looking into grants for playground equipment for the new town park, which Councilman Desmond will speak about. The Village Green BBQ will be held on August 13th, and the Town Historian and history committee members are hoping to do an exhibition on St. Luke’s Church. She will be researching St. James Chapel in Hyde Park, which is very much like St. Luke’s. Fred Cartier our videographer will see if he can get some information about the Church for them.
  2. ZONING: Councilman Desmond reported that he and Charles Larsen are trying to integrate four local laws into the zoning. The software copy sent to Morris Associates was not exactly as the adopted local law, and there is some renumbering and adding to the table of contents to be done, but there will be no changes to substance. He will complete the review and Morris Associates will finalize.
  3. PARK AND BALLFIELD: Councilman Desmond would like to see some playground equipment for the ballpark. He has been going to various parks in the area to see what equipment they have. There are also different materials used for the ground area. There is work on the parking area at the ball field and a half court basketball court, which is being discussed. He is looking at safety, low maintenance, price and variety for the equipment. He has suggested a workshop to discuss this.
  4. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN: Councilwoman Moore has information to send to our dog control officer regarding pets during an emergency for her suggestions.

OLD BUSINESS:

  • Pleasantvale Road Bridge is open. Councilman Desmond commented on the bridges in our towns within the County, which are in need of repair or replacement. He asked if the Supervisor could bring this up at the County to plan ahead for maintaining and replacing these bridges. The Supervisor can bring this up at the Department of Public Works committee meeting.
  • Linlithgo Bridge: Both lanes should be open by the end of June.
  • Buckwheat Bridge: Signs have been posted that swimming is not allowed.
  • Ballfield: At last months meeting, it was agreed to purchase bleachers for the ball field, and shortly after the meeting, Dave Jones of George W. Saulpaugh called and said that they would like to donate the bleachers for the ballfield. Morris Associates has donated an electronic scoreboard. G-tel will trench for the electric hookup for the board. The Bank of Greene County will be donating $1000.00, and also purchased a sign for the field. Fingar Insurance and Freeman-Howard will also be donating. Southern Columbia Little League has offered to buy another load of clay for the infield. They have been instrumental in helping to get the field ready. The Highway department has done excellent work. There is a revenue account set up for the ball field and anyone who would like to make a donation towards the field is welcomed to do it. Councilwoman Moore suggested having some pictures of the ball field at the BBQ.
  • Dog Control: It was discussed at previous meetings, at the request of the Dog Control Officer, Desiree Webber, to have a preset fee for an injured animal which must be taken to the veterinarian. A motion was made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve a $250.00 cap per treatment. All in favor. So carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • MORTGAGE TAX: A check was received from the County for $19,272.00. The Supervisor said that this is more than half of what was budgeted for this year.
  • BUDGET TRANSFER: Resolution No.42-2011 to transfer funds from the Attorney account to the Control of Dogs for $270.00 was approved on a motion made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
  • AGREEMENT FOR DOG CONTROL: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve an Agreement with Round Top Animal Hospital in Germantown under the same terms as Pine Plains Veterinary Hospital. All in favor. So carried.
  • RESOLUTION No. 41 OF 2011 regarding the Standard Work Day and Reporting to the NYS Employees Retirement System was approved on a motion made by Councilwoman O’Neal, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried. This will be posted for thirty days at the Town Hall.
  • Town Board meeting for July will be held on Tuesday, July 5th at 7:00 P.M.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • Steak BBQ at Clermont Firehouse on Route 9G on Saturday, June 11th.
  • Flag Day Parade in Hudson, Saturday, June 11th
  • Walmart: The County has taken full responsibility for the planning for this project.
  • Consolidation of 911 dispatchers and Sheriffs Department dispatchers has been talked about but it is in the early stages of being considered. There may be considerable savings in merging 911 with the Sheriffs Department.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve General abstract #6, vouchers #134-174 in the amount of $7,951.08. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve Highway abstract #6, vouchers #62-70 in the amount of $4,057.34. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman O’Neal to approve Trust and Agency abstract #3, voucher #4 in the amount of $467.00. All in favor. So carried.

The Supervisor also reported that Flanders Corporation has purchased the KAZ building in Hudson, which manufacture air filters. It should bring 150-180 jobs to Hudson. The State is offering a $500,000 initiative tax rebate to start a business in New York.

An air conditioner has been purchased for $350.00 for the Town hall, but it had to be rewired because the outlet was different from what was there.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  • Judy Blessinger-Neary asked the status on the letter sent to ICLEI. The Supervisor explained that this had been discussed at the start of the meeting and she could have a copy of the letter.
  • Chris Nolan: In evaluating architect’s service contracts, the board should evaluate the experience and qualifications of the firm in the type of assignment.

He congratulated this board and those of former boards that worked on the mission of the new ball field. He has asked what is being built on the former ball field. It is believed to be a cold storage building.

Mr. Nolan asked if there had been any further action from DEC on the letter of February 3, 2011 sent to our attorney regarding the LaMunyan/Cole site on Route 9G. Has anyone received any report that DEC is studying any kind of additional action? Supervisor Staats will follow up, as he has not heard anything from DEC.

  • Charlie Larsen: ZBA meeting will be on the 5th Wednesday in June because there is a seminar on June 22nd at the college, which he and other members will be attending. Volunteers are needed for the BBQ. He noted that it was past Supervisor William Moore who negotiated with G-tel and Iroquois on the purchase of the land for the ball field.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:15 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

 

 

 

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