CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING
OCTOBER 1, 2012
The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, October 1, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilwoman Nancy Moore, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Edward Kahle and Councilman Evan Hempel. There were three residents and John Mason, Register Star present.
Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag.
MINUTES: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to accept the minutes as presented, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
TOWN CLERKS REPORT: The Town Clerk presented a check for the General fund in the amount of $1,045.21, Trust & Agency - Parkland Reserve for $400.00 and Trust & Agency - Inspections Fees for $450.00. A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s Report by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- NYS Department of Public Service information about the Lifeline Discount Telephone Service. Information available at the Town Hall or www.AskPSC.com.
- Supervisor Staats gave account information for the month to board members.
- Web Committee: Councilman Hempel said that the videotape of the meetings are being posted to the website, www.clermontny.org. Judy Blessinger-Neary said that those she spoke to are pleased that it is available on the website.
- The Clerk asked if information could be posted on the website about CODE RED, which is a community notification program instituted by the County to notify residents of emergency situations in their areas.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- BINGHAMS/MILL ROAD BRIDGE: Supervisor Staats is still trying to get the numbers on a replacement bridge. Councilman Kahle got a quote for a permanent structure. The two piece 120 foot weathered steel span price if $180,848.00, and the galvanized steel, $221,359.00 freight included to the site. It is a bolt-together application. The steel galvanized deck will accept concrete, which would be extra or wood plank decking. The life span should be 50 to 100 years if inspected according to the inspection schedule. There would also be removal of the old bridge and installation of the bridge at an additional cost, which would be done locally. Supervisor Staats would like to take this to the county, so Councilman Kahle will get the information to him. The public works committee has asked the county engineer for a ten-year plan on the bridges in the county so that work can be bonded.
- ST. LUKES CHURCH: Councilman Desmond reported that the work on St. Luke’s Church is almost done, with a few minor items yet to be done, particularly with the rear entrance.
OLD BUSINESS:
- LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT: The donation of land from George W. Saulpaugh & Sons and the Clermont Cemetery Society to the Town has been completed. Mr. Zimmerman, surveyor, appeared before the Planning Board at the public hearing and the Planning Board approved the lot line adjustment.
- ST. LUKE’S CHURCH: The painting and minor repairs have been completed by Staats & Sons Contractors. The Supervisor will check to make sure that all the work is completed to satisfaction.
- TOWN HALL: Harkins Plumbing Service has installed new sink vanities in the town hall bathrooms.
- NYMIR REPORT UPDATE: Supervisor Staats and a representative from NYMIR held a walkthrough of the town buildings and several items were pointed out which needed to be addressed. A policy has to be written, hard-wired smoke detectors have been installed in town hall, garage and community house. The Highway Department employees completed the work. They will also scrape and paint the fire escape at the Community House. In the 2013 budget, funds will be designated to replace and paint boards on the Community House, which have weathered.
NEW BUSINESS:
- BUDGET: A tentative budget has been filed with the Town Clerk. The Supervisor reported that there would be a slight decrease in the budget. We still face the same problems as past years, because we do not have the revenue to support the town. The fund balance is being used to support the budget. There will be another budget workshop on Monday, October 15, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. The public hearing on the preliminary budget will be held on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 6:30 P.M. prior to the regular town board meeting.
- FORMER LAMUNYAN LANDFILL/WILLIAM COLE PROPERTY: The property on Route 9G, now owned by William Cole was the subject of an investigation by DEC in 2011 on a five acre parcel to the north of the original landfill. In February 2011 a letter was received from DEC stating "that any activity on the landfill involving placement or removal of structures or the placement or removal of any materials on the landfill, etc. requires approval by DEC". The Supervisor and Mr. Cole have received a letter dated September 21, 2012 stating that "the department does not have any further authority to require closure or remediation of this parcel, and has no jurisdiction with regard to its future development and use". The letter also states that " the area to the south referred to as the old Lamunyan landfill, remains under the department’s jurisdiction". This letter clears Mr. Cole to proceed on the five acre parcel if he seeks a building permit, etc.
- TAX ROLL: The Supervisor was notified from the Director of the Real Property Tax Service that there will be a charge of $794.37 for the software to place the tax roll on the County website. The Supervisor has thought that it was not a good idea for this to be on the Internet because it could open up for seniors/lower income to become a target. There are various people that will call the Assessor and Tax Collector for information and this would cut down on those calls. The board agrees in not spending the almost $800.00 for this. The Supervisor will notify the county of such.
- RESOLUTION FOR COURT GRANT: The Court Clerk, Lee Gallant, is preparing a Grant to the Office of Court Administration for funding for a new copier, air conditioner and emergency lighting for the court. This is a fully funded grant. A resolution was prepared as follows:
Resolution No. 43-2012 Dated: October 1, 2012
JUSTICE COURT GRANT
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Town of Clermont Town Board hereby authorizes Lee Gallant to apply for Federal, State and Miscellaneous Grants for the year 2012 related to the Clermont Justice Court.
The motion was made by Councilman Desmond to adopt this resolution, seconded by Councilwoman Moore.
The resolution having been approved by the majority of the Town Board, the same was declared duly adopted by the Supervisor of the Town of Clermont.
- CHARGE FOR LABELS: Councilman Desmond suggested offering to applicants of the Planning Board of Zoning Board of Appeals printed labels, which would be helpful when sending out certified letters to the adjoining landowners. The assessor would be able to do this, once the applicants look up the adjoining landowners. He is suggesting a charge of $.25 per label with a minimum of $5.00 and maximum of $10.00. This charge can be incorporated at the January organizational meeting, if approved.
SUPERVISORS REPORT:
- PINE HAVEN HOME: The Certificate of Need for Pine Haven Home has been approved. Groundbreaking should be next year as long as state funding is available. Once this is accepted and underway, work on the Veterans Center can begin.
- COURTHOUSE PROJECT: This should start soon and should take approximately 18 months. The work will be taking place while courts are in session.
- COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS: The Supervisor does not feel that there is consistency in the county budget process this year because the home committees are doing their own budget reviews. Councilwoman Moore asked if he feels there will be enough information that he will feel comfortable voting on it. He doesn’t think he will have enough information but will wait to see the figures. He has been told they will have the information.
- HOMELESS SHELTER: The numbers of homeless has been dropping off, which is not uncommon for this time of year. As the contract was presented it was voted down because it was based on a flat rate. The County is looking at other alternatives.
- COUNTY UNION POSITION: A position held by the Department of Human Services was no longer being funded by a grant. The employee in that position was offered a position at a lower salary and accepted it, rather than be unemployed. Subsequently, the employee filed a grievance with the union over the decrease in pay. The Human Resources Director, County and the Union did not go to Arbitration but settled the grievance, giving the employee retroactive pay back to January 2012. Supervisor Staats was against the employee receiving the retroactive, as he felt that the County enabled him to keep a job for the last year and one half rather than be unemployed.
ABSTRACTS:
A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve General abstract #9A, voucher 234A in the amount of $4,600.00, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made to approve General abstract #10, vouchers #235 to 262 in the amount of $10,770.24, seconded by Councilwoman Moore. All in favor. So carried.
A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Highway abstract #10, vouchers #93 to 99 in the amount of $4,573.03, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
- Dianne O’Neal asked what the weight limit is on the Pleasantvale Road Bridge because she has seen garbage trucks crossing the bridge. The Supervisor said it has a 5-ton limit so he will call the company and let them know. He will also let the Sheriffs Department know of the situation so that they can monitor it.
- John Mason: Asked if having the tax information on the website might make it easier for people to look up information for grievances. Councilwoman Moore suggested that if the information is already on the county website, the information needed would be there.
A motion was made to adjourn at 7:55 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Helen Shannon, RMC
Town Clerk