Town Board

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

JANUARY 2, 2012

 

The Clermont Town Board held its organizational and regular meeting on Monday, January 2, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Nancy Moore, Councilman Evan Hempel, Councilman Edward Kahle and eleven residents present.

The Supervisor opened the organizational meeting with a salute to the flag. He congratulated new board members, Evan Hempel and Edward Kahle. During the reading of the organizational meeting resolutions, it was learned that there is an opening on the Planning Board to fill the unexpired term of Nancy Sperry who moved from the area. A letter was also read from Judge Christensen appointing Lee Gallant as his Court Clerk to replace Barbara Melinsky who has resigned effective December 31, 2011.

MINUTES: The minutes of the December 5th Town Board meeting were approved at the Year-end meeting held on December 28th.

TOWN CLERKS REPORT:

The Town Clerks report was read and a check presented to the Supervisor for the General fund in the amount of $292.50. A motion was made to accept the report by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Letter from Office of Fire Coordinator regarding fire department response to a recent trailer fire. The fire department extinguished the fire in a safe and professional manner with the aid from Germantown and assisted the Cause and Origin team in their investigation. Supervisor Staats remarked that the town is grateful for the volunteer firefighters and the job that they do. More volunteers are needed.
  • Letter from Columbia County Emergency Medical Services explaining the County’s ambulance service and the need for support in getting a permanent Certificate of Need. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to write a letter in support of the County’s application for a CON, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
  • Building Inspectors Report for 2010:

Total number of Building Permits issued 40

New Home Construction 3

Agricultural buildings 4

Habitable space additions/alterations 6

Pools, decks, accessory structures, etc. 27

FOIL Requests 4

Remedy Orders 5

Written complaints 1

C.O. search, pre-date letters 31

  • NY Planning Federation annual conference to be held April 15-17th in Saratoga Springs.
  • NYS Department of Public Service – Information on managing winter costs and rights and protections of electric and natural gas consumers.
  • Web Committee: There was no report, but the Supervisor has appointed Evan Hempel to be the liaison to Stephen Hammer, webmaster.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • Councilman Desmond reported that Tom Jantzen built and donated the box for the maps with tax parcel identification numbers which can be used by Planning and Zoning Board applicants to determine adjoining landowners, as well as the boards. At the last ZBA meeting they were used very successfully and Charlie Larsen said very effectively. Supervisor Staats thanked Councilman Desmond for doing the work to get maps done and Mr. Jantzen for building and donating the box.
  • COMMUNITY HOUSE: Councilman Desmond reported that the storm windows have been installed at Community House and the garage windows have also been completed.
  • Emergency Preparedness Plan: Councilwoman Moore reported the EPP would be updated in February because the County’s organizational meeting will be this Thursday and then we will have the necessary information.

OLD BUSINESS:

  • Supervisor Staats reported that the Community House storm windows came in $500.00 less than estimate. He thanked Jennings Contracting for the reduction.
  • Highway Garage windows have been completed. The final pictures and vouchers must be submitted in order to get the balance of the grant money.

RECAP OF 2011 PROJECTS:

  1. Highway Garage Grant for new windows was completed and the closing of the Capital Projects account last month.
  2. Community House: New windows were installed two years ago, installed storm windows this year.
  3. St. Lukes Church: Replaced the roof in 2011. Painting will be done this year.
  4. Town Hall: Former Councilwoman Dianne O’Neal and Historian Louise Kalin cleaned upstairs and it is now a historical archive’s room.
  5. The Highway Truck was approved. It is needed for public safety and the money was saved over ten years. Councilman Desmond said a representative from Ben Funks remarked how Clermonts trucks are very well maintained, even the 1983 truck, which is being replaced.
  6. Ballfield: Donations have come in from many people and our highway department did a lot of the work to get this for us this year.

Supervisor Staats thanked everyone who has been involved up to this date.

BUDGET TRANSFER:

Supervisor Staats reported that when the budget for 2012 was adopted there was an error in the Central Communications line item, in which the budgeted amount for the account which is used to pay the telephone, fax and videotaping services did not get carried into the total. It is necessary to approve a resolution to adjust the budget.

 

Resolution No. 35 of 2012:

To decrease in the General Fund A7110.4 Brownfields in the amount of $4000.00 and increase appropriation A-1650.4 Central Communications in the amount of $4000.00. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve this budget adjustment. All in favor. So carried.

The Board will review the books of the Supervisor, Town Clerk, Tax Collector and both Town Justices on Saturday, January 14th at 10:00 A.M. and also review the policies.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • There will be a new Chairman of the Board of Supervisors appointed at the Organizational meeting, which will be held on Thursday, January 4th at 3:00 P.M.

MOTIONS TO PAY ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve Trust and Agency Abstract #1, voucher #1 in the amount of $1200.00. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve General Fund Abstract #1, vouchers #1-8 in the amount of $15,537.99. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Moore to approve Highway Abstract #1, vouchers #1-4 in the amount of $2,968.46. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

  • Chris Nolan: While in the Boston area, he watched a program recorded by Animal Control Officer on Coyotes. He will be giving copies of the program to the Town Clerk, as it was very informative, if anyone wants to view it.
  • Charlie Larsen: Thanked those for coming out and voting on the fire truck referendum. There were a total of 82 voters and the referendum passed 65 ayes to 17 nays. He reminded those present that there is a serious situation in the counties and towns with the lack of volunteer firefighters. In Clermont, the average age is about 60 for members. We had a speaker to our last meeting and he said if we have to hire paid firemen, one fireman will cost over $55,000(what we pay in one year for the LOSAP program). To cover the town 24/7 would take at least 12 people. We are hoping to have an open house at the firehouse and need anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to contact any member.
  • Charlie also asked for more volunteers to help with the Village Green events. Tami Connolly will not be able to chair the Easter Egg event because of family commitments, so someone is needed to chair the event.
  • Catherine Kahle asked how much the accountant/bookkeeper gets paid. Supervisor Staats said that our bookkeeper is paid $775.00 per month to do the payroll, accounts payable and the year-end audit. Ms. Kahle asked if it is usual that the same person does both. Supervisor Staats said that usually every two or three years you should have an outside auditor check what the accountant does. We just had the State Comptrollers office last year and we used that as audit function, but it should be done by an outside firm. If a person hired as a bookkeeper would get the same as an accountant. We had some quotes three years ago for the bookkeeper position and Brian Fitzgerald was in line with those quotes. It does cost thousands of dollars for an accounting firm.
  • Eileen Cassidy: If something were wrong you wouldn’t catch it for three years. That is correct, if the comptroller’s office didn’t pick it up.

Councilman Desmond pointed out that we get monthly reports and the Supervisor actually signs all checks; all town board members review the abstracts. Ms. Cassidy asked if the board ever reads all the vouchers. Councilman Desmond explained that each board member reviews and signs each voucher and abstracts. They can be reviewed by the public because they are public information. The bills are reviewed for legitimacy before being paid. The town clerk did say that utility bills can be paid in advance of a regular board meeting by law and then approved at the regular board meeting.

  • Desiree Webber, Dog Control Officer reported on the importance of licensing your dogs. The licenses are $3.50 for spayed or neutered dogs, $10.50 for unspayed or unneutered dogs. This is the beginning of her fifth year as dog control office and in that time only five dogs have been taken to Pine Plains Veterinary shelter. One dog was claimed, two adopted and two had to be put down. Having a dog license may keep your dog from going through this and the cost of getting your dog back.
  • Judy Blessinger-Neary: Complimented dog warden and the job she does to reunite dogs with their owners.
  • Councilman Desmond thanked Councilwoman O’Neal for her service to the town. Ms. O’Neal wished the new members of the board well and she will help in any way that she can in the transition.
  • The Town Clerk reported seeing two bald eagles on New Year’s Day in the Mill Road area of the Roe Jan Creek.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:10 P.M. by Councilwoman Moore, seconded by Councilman Hempel.

Respectfully submitted,

　

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

　

　

 

 

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Town Board