CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

APRIL 2, 2014

The Clermont Town Board held their April meeting on the rescheduled date of Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve. Councilman Edward Kahle was absent. There was one resident in attendance.

PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing on Local Law No. 1 of 2014 to modify the hearing date of the Board of Assessment Review (BAR) was opened by the Supervisor.

The Town Clerk read the notice of publication for the public hearing. Supervisor Staats explained the purpose of this local law which will change the date of Grievance Day from the fourth Tuesday of May to the first Tuesday immediately following the fourth Tuesday of May and for so many days thereafter as the BAR deems necessary. He asked for any comments from the floor. There were no comments from anyone present.

Councilman Desmond made a motion to close the public hearing.

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

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

TOWN CLERKS REPORT: The Town Clerk read the Clerk’s report for March and presented the Supervisor with a check for the General Fund in the amount of $384.54 and a check for Trust and Agency in the amount of $125.00. A motion was made to accept the Clerk’s report by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Desmond. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

• Supervisor Staats gave the board members the budget and revenue reports through March 31, 2014.
• WEBSITE: Town Historian Dawn Brownson reported that there is some information on the website, which needs to be updated. Councilman Hempel will make the necessary changes.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• TOWN PARK: Councilman Desmond reported that the bid package for the swings and fall surface has been sent to three potential bidders. This was also advertised. The opening of any bids received will be Thursday, April 17^th at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.

• LOCAL LAW NO. 2 OF 2014: Supervisor Staats reported that the Fire Commissioners have asked for a Fire Alarm Law. Councilman Desmond stated that the Fire Commissioners will review this at their next meeting. A public hearing will be set for next month.
• UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: Councilman Desmond has been in contact with Senator Kathy Marchionne's office to try to get some changes in how unemployment insurance benefits are calculated in relation to a person working for several different employers.

• SCHOOL BUDGETS: Councilman Hemple reminded everyone to check with their schools who are going through the budget process at this time.

OLD BUSINESS:

• BRIDGE UPDATE: The county committee is not prepared enough to experiment with the design build process and it will take several months to investigate it. Supervisor Staats will be attending the next meeting and he has asked for a resolution to replace the bridge. The Supervisors of Livingston and Germantown are also asking for the bridge to be opened because they are hearing from their residents also. The clerk reported that there were several incidents within the past week in which there was traffic coming in the road. Because of a fire on Route 9, traffic was rerouted from Route 9 and people were trying to go through Mill Road back out to Route 9. Also a tour bus from out of the area, was directed by GPS, and found the bridge closed. It caused significant damage to the homeowner’s lawn trying to turn around, as did the tow truck trying to pull it out.

• PARK: As Councilman Desmond reported the bid package has been sent out for the swings and fall surface. We hope to have them back and open them on Thursday, April 17^th at 7:00 P.M.

NEW BUSINESS:

• DONATIONS FOR PARK: Linda Sutherland has given a donation of $500.00 in memory of her husband Frederick Sutherland for the swings and fall surface. Thank you notes have been sent out to those who have donated.

• INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT: We have updated the Intermunicipal Agreement, which we have with Germantown and Livingston to purchase and share equipment. In the past, we have purchased a paver in this manner. This agreement needs to be reviewed and updated every year. Suggested that we do this at our organizational meeting and that we attach documentation as to what equipment we do own with the other towns. Councilman Desmond said that this will demonstrate that we are doing what the Governor is seeking in consolidation and intermunicipal sharing. A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve this agreement, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

• LOCAL LAW NO. 2 0F 2014 – FIRE ALARMS

A public hearing will be held prior to the Town Board meeting on May 5, 2014 at 7:00 P.M. Our attorney has worked with Fire Commissioners and Councilman Desmond on this proposal, which is aimed at eliminating false, nuisance, unintentional, system malfunction or malicious/mischievous alarms. There is a fine schedule based on a one year time period for unintentional or system malfunctions and a fine schedule for malicious/mischievous activation. This law will also help to monitor the systems that are put in and help to eliminate nuisance alarms.

• HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: The Highway Superintendent has purchased a Crack Sealer with the Town of Livingston, purchased from the Town of Ghent for $2,150.00, of which we are paying $1,075.00. This also comes with a large amount of material that they will melt down to use in the cracks.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

• COURTHOUSE – The County did approve all the windows at the courthouse at a cost of $400,000.00. The occupancy should start in June, with court starting in July or August. There is enough in the budget to cover the cost of these windows. The specs were already approved and have been sent out. There is also outside work to be done when the weather improves.
• PINE HAVEN HOME: The comptroller had a private organization come in to discuss them taking over Pine Haven. They explained that costs are high for a municipality to run a nursing home because of employee benefits, reimbursements, etc.
• AIRPORT: A resolution was passed to extend the airport safety zone. The County will not use eminent domain or purchase the property in order to lengthen the runway; instead they will extend the safety zone. It has been suggested to buy the entire property, with reimbursement by Federal government of 95%, but this is not thought to be the way to go.

• The Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Wednesday April 16^th from 5:30 to 6:30 P.M.

ABSTRACTS:

• A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Highway abstract #4, vouchers 30 – 41 in the amount of $11,213.81, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.
• A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve General abstract #4, vouchers 81 – 112 in the amount of 9,101.06, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

The Town Clerk noted that Fishing licenses are now for sale and there are changes to the combination hunting and fishing licenses this year. Also, she thanked the highway department for cleaning the salt and sand off our roads.

Stagecoach Inn Fire: The fire on March 15^th is a great loss of a building that has great historical significance and can never be replaced.

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve at 7:40 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk