Town Board Meeting - March

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

MARCH 3, 2014

 

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Edward Kahle, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve. There were three residents present.

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

MINUTES: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to accept the minutes of the February meeting. All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk presented the Supervisor with a check for the General fund in the amount of $145.50. A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond.

COMMUNICATIONS:

  • The Supervisor gave the board the balance sheet ending 12/31/13 and the February budget and revenue reports.
  • The Columbia County Health department is holding their free rabies clinics at various locations in the county. The locations are posted on the website.
  • Town of Saugerties resolution on a public hearing to be held on March 5th at 6:00 P.M. and March 20 at 6:00 P.M. on the repeal of a section of their zoning law.
  • Columbia County Soil and Water Bare Root tree sale orders are being taken. Deadline is March 21, 2014 for an April 25 and 26 pick up.
  • Clermont Village Green Easter Egg Event will be held on Wednesday, April 16th at 5:30 P.M.
  • No correspondence for the web committee.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

PARK: Councilman Desmond reported that Morris Associates has completed the request for proposal (RFP) for swings and fall surface. This will now go out for bids. The bid opening date will be April 17th at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday at the Town Hall. The Supervisor thanked Councilman Desmond for his work on this project.

SCHOOL BUDGETS: Councilman Hempel reported that the school budgets are being prepared and to check with your local schools.

OLD BUSINESS:

  • INSURANCE: At last months meeting, the Board decided to increase the deductible to $5000.00 saving $748.50. The total premium is $13,279.20.
  • BRIDGE UPDATE: The resolution did not come to the full board to proceed with repairs to the Mill Road bridge. They are looking at a design build, which opens the market to new bidders. Next month they will have design build prices or move with the original plan. It will be budgeted for 2015. Councilman Desmond asked if design build could be used for the park design. Supervisor Staats will check.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • PARK DONATIONS: A donation was received from Tom Jantzen in memory of Alfred Jantzen in the amount of $1000.00 for the park.

Also received was a check from Mary and Daniel Howard in the amount of $2000.00. We appreciate any donations for the park no matter what the size.

  • SAND/SALT UPDATE: This has been a difficult winter with sand and salt. This will affect our budget this year and will be addressed near the end of the year. We have spent $7000.00 just this month.
  • FINANCIAL UPDATE: The Supervisor reported that we ended 2013 with a surplus in the fund balance of $42,000.00. There was $29,000.00 received from DEC, which was not anticipated and mortgage tax and sales tax that was higher than what was budgeted. This offset anticipated funds in General and Highway funds and increased our fund balance significantly.
  • LOCAL LAW NO. 1 OF 2014: Public hearing on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. to change Grievance Day to Tuesday, June 3rd.
  • APRIL TOWN BOARD MEETING: Will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7:00 P.M.
  • SPECIAL MEETING FOR BID OPENINGS FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT on Thursday, April 17th at 7:00 P.M.
  • REASSESSMENT RE-EVALUATION: County Real Property, NYS Real Property, the Assessor and Supervisor Staats have reviewed the reevaluated assessments and it does appear that most properties are either the same or going down a bit.
  • PLANNING BOARD APPOINTMENT: A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Kahle to appoint Mary Howard to fill the vacancy created by Brenda Case’s resignation through 12/31/15. All in favor. So carried.
  • ZBA ALTERNATE POSITION: We have to set up an interview process to appoint an alternate to the ZBA because there are several people interested.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • COURTHOUSE: The Courthouse project is scheduled to be completed by end of March. They are targeting a move in date by June 16th. There is no concrete number for window replacement so it does not look as though that will get done before they move back in. If the money is available the windows will get done.
  • PINE HAVEN HOME: Supervisor Staats was asked to chair the subcommittee on Pine Haven but declined. The funding has been cut and with other cuts the Supervisors are thinking that they will have to get out of the nursing home business. The Supervisor does not want to, because it is the one thing that we do for our seniors in the County. If they can come up with the costs and it falls within the budget, then they can move forward.
  • AIRPORT: The Board of Supervisors has decided not to go through eminent domain to take the airport. They have come up with a solution so that we do not have to buy more property or take by eminent domain.
  • COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: The County is looking to purchase two trucks on a replacement schedule. The Supervisor thanked our Highway Employees and the County Employees for the work they have done during this rough winter season.
  • SUMMER PROGRAM: Any High School Senior in the town, enrolled in college for the fall, can be recommended by the Supervisor for a summer position with the County. If anyone is interested please let him know or the Town Clerk.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel to pay Highway abstract #3, vouchers #12-29 for $14,915.93. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel to pay General abstract #3, vouchers #40 – 80 in the amount of $24,897.70. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

None

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve at 7:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

 

 

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Town Board