CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

DECEMBER 2, 2013

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those present were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond and Councilman Evan Hempel. Councilman Edward Kahle and Councilwoman Nancy Moore were absent. There were four residents and Joe Gentile of the 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 of the November 4, 2013 public hearing on the 2014 budget, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to accept the minutes of the November 4, 2013 regular meeting, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the report for November and presented the Supervisor a check for the General fund in the amount of $207.42. A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond to accept the Clerk’s report. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

• Notification from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office regarding Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) which provides up to $650 for eligible households for energy costs.
• Association of Towns information regarding training sessions for newly elected officials and the annual training school in February was handed out to board members.
• The Supervisor provided the budget and revenue report for period ending November 30, 2013.
• There was no correspondence for the website.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• Councilman Desmond reported on the special meeting held on November 25^th on the park. At the meeting, they compared various fall surfaces and determined that the rubberized tile is the preferred surface. Although it is very expensive, the goal is to raise all funds for payment through grants and donations. At this time we have a grant for $5000 and two other grants outstanding, pledge donations for $5000 and other pledges for unspecified amounts.
• Councilman Desmond also reported on an article and picture, which appeared in the Dutchess News, of three mailboxes on the front page. There were no numbers on the mailboxes, which would help emergency services finding people in an emergency. He encouraged people to make sure they have numbers on their mailboxes, both sides or reflective signs at least three inches high.
• Councilman Hempel spoke about discussions about Common Core. He has not heard of any meetings being held in our area at this time.

OLD BUSINESS:

• MILL ROAD BRIDGE: Supervisor Staats has met with the County DPW Commissioner, highway engineer and the engineering firm who did the study on the Mill Road Bridge. They will be recommending for the full structure replacement at a cost of $750,000.00. It will be a different design and won’t have the same issues, such as with the decking. The life expectancy could be as much as 50 or 60 years. This is a county funded project. Councilman Desmond asked if it would still be a one lane bridge, and the Supervisor said that it would be. They won’t be changing the angle of the bridge. This work would be projected for the 2015 County budget.
• DATA COLLECTION: The data collection on all parcels has been completed. The Supervisor met with NYS Real Property and the Assessor and the process is moving along on schedule. The verification mailers have been sent out to all property owners and should be mailed back to the Assessor if there are any changes.
• AUDIT UPDATE: We have received the report of our audit but the Supervisor just received it and has not had time to review it. He will give a report once he has reviewed it.

NEW BUSINESS:

• INSURANCE: The Supervisor received the renewal of insurance from Fingar Insurance and there is an increase from $13,607 to $14,029.00 due to blanket property increase of 5%. He will invite Greg Fingar to come to the year-end meeting to go over the insurance policy.
• YEAR END MEETING: The date for the year-end meeting will be Monday, December 30th at 7:00 P.M.
• PARK: Resolution No.54 of 2013 to proceed with the plan to install swings and a rubberized tile fall surface as described below:

1.  
   1. Swings will include an eight (8) foot arch type swing structure with two (2) bays providing four (4) belt swings.
   2. A 36’ x 32’ protective fall surface consisting of 2’x2’ rubberized tiles (Carnival Ultra Play Guard Safety Surface PG63) manufactured by ECORE International.
   3. Competitive bids will be solicited for materials with options for a) vendor installation and b) vendor supervision of local installs.
   4. The total cost including swings, fall surface and bumper strips to separate play area from the parking area is estimated to be between $22,000 and $23,000.
   5. Grants and donations will be solicited to cover the cost and will be confirmed prior to awarding contract.
   6. This project will provide a demonstration in support of additional fund raising for two (2) additional areas with similar fall surfaces to provide playground areas for children age 2-5 years and 5-12 years of age.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel to approve resolution #54-2013. All in favor. So carried.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

• BASIC STAR PROGRAM: The Supervisor was notified by the Columbia County Real Property office that 20 to 30% in the county have not re-registered for the Basic Star exemption. There will be a reminder card sent out to those who have not done this. The Supervisor encouraged residents to do this before December 31^st.
• COUNTY BUDGET: There is a proposed 2% increase in the budget this year. The Supervisor has been involved in the budget process for several years. He believes we do not need to increase the taxes 2%, but take from the fund balance. Also, by not filling positions through attrition and being more conservative in spending are ways to save money.
• PINE HAVEN HOME: There were meetings and a presentation on both proposed sites. The original site on the other side of a ravine would cost about $6,000,000.00 more to develop. The other site is near the current home and they are proposing a two-story building for $2,400,000.00 for site development. The cap for reimbursement from the state is $30,000,000.00. This new design would bring the project in at approximately $31,000,000.00. The architects believe they can bring the cost down closer to the cap with no additional funding. He has been supporting this project because we need a home for our residents.
• COURTHOUSE: The project is going along nicely. The final projection date should be March 30^th and he believes they will be finished in time. They are putting out bids for new windows so that it can be completed before the deadline.
• COUNTY TAX FORECLOSURES: The County is getting ready to do the 2009 tax foreclosures the early part of next year and possibly 2010. The 2008 foreclosures sales brought in about $900,000.00. This effort has helped the county in revenues this year.

• Thanked the Election inspectors and workers for putting in the long hours on Election Day and the Village Green Committee for the dinner.
• The Christmas caroling and visit from Santa will be held on Wednesday, December 4^th at 6:00 P.M.
• Thanked the Highway department for putting up the Christmas decorations and for all the work that they do.
• Thanked Nancy Moore for her service for the last four years on the Town Board.
• Congratulated our Assessor, Cheryl Kaszluga, on her appointment as the City of Hudson Assessor.

• Congratulated Councilman Robert Desmond, Town Clerk Mary Helen Shannon, Justice Ronald Banks, Tax Collector Joan Buser and Highway Superintendent James C. Potts, Jr. on their re-election and Councilman Elect Kris Gildersleeve, who was present, on his election to the Town Board.

Councilman Desmond pointed out that anyone who would like to make a donation for the park can contact him, the Town Clerk or the Supervisor. He is suggesting three categories with a sign recognizing the donations for the swings, such as Memorial donations, minimum of $500.00; Individual donations of a minimum of $250.00 and business donations with a minimum of $500.00 plus.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Hempel to approve General fund abstract #12, vouchers #298 to #321 in the amount of $16,815.27, seconded by Councilman Desmond.

All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Highway abstract #12, vouchers #130 to #143 in the amount of $26,386.19, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Joe Gentile of the Register Star asked how much has been received from grants for the park. Councilman Desmond said we have a $5000.00 grant in house, pledges of $5000.00, unspecified amounts in pledges and two grants which we have requested, one for $10,000 and one for an undetermined amount. The grants requested are Iroquois pipeline and Taconic Farms.

George Davis asked if the town is planning to put the information about donations for the park on the website. Councilman Desmond explained he would like to put the swings in with the rubberized fall surface, there will be something that people can see and then in the spring or summer do a town wide fundraiser. Our goal is to fund most of the cost, if not all, through donations and grants. We can also look to Germantown and Livingston residents because they would be using the park playground. Dr. Davis thinks that the website would be a good place to let people know about the project.

A motion was made to adjourn at 7:35 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk