Town Board Meeting - May

TOWN OF CLERMONT

MAY 5, 2014

The Clermont Town Board held its regular meeting on Monday, May 5, 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. Others present were Director of Real Property, Suzette Booy; Deputy County Treasurer Thomas Dawes; Clermont Town Tax Collector, Joan Buser; Superintendent of Germantown Central School, Susan Brown; Superintendent of the Red School District, Paul Finch; Red Hook School Business Manager, Bruce Martin; Red Hook Public Library Director, Erica Freudenberger and Director of the Tivoli Free Library, Felicia Keesing. There were five residents present.

PUBLIC HEARING – LOCAL LAW NO. 2 OF 2014 – FIRE ALARM LAW

The Clerk read the notice of the public hearing and the Supervisor opened the hearing to public comment. Dawn Brownson asked how people would be notified that there is a law. Councilman Desmond said that our attorney suggested sending a copy to the alarm companies. Also, Fire District Chairman Mark Schiller will have the District run an ad. There were no other comments. The public hearing was closed at 7:05 P.M.

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag and then introduced our guest speakers.

Suzette Booy, Director of Columbia County Real Property thanked Supervisor Staats and the Board for having her here to speak about the town reconsidering putting the town and county tax bills online. There are currently 18 of the 19 towns online. All of this information is public information. This benefit is used by lawyers, title searching companies, banks and taxpayers to get updated information. Information can be searched by tax map number and gives payment information, person’s name and parcel information. Once the information is online, it will be retained for a ten-year period, which meets retention schedules. The State requires the tentative tax roll information to be on the website, which already does give the exemption information, which has been a concern of this board. There are options for paying by credit card or debit card with the convenience fee paid by the taxpayers, if they choose to use this option. The County pays for this program but it is charged back to the municipality in the county tax rate. The cost for Clermont’s 991 parcels is $794.37 for the first year, which is about $.80 per parcel. The continuing cost is $100.00 per year, which is $.10 per parcel for the taxpayer.

Tom Dawes reiterated that the information is available to the public now by coming into the Treasurer’s office and searching the information. This would eliminate paperwork, which the Tax Collector currently must turn in to the Treasurer’s office in June. Joan Buser said that there is a delay in banks, title companies and taxpayers getting the information because it is not online.

Supervisor Staats asked if there is a motion to proceed. Councilman Gildersleeve would like to get more feedback from residents. Councilman Desmond is not as concerned as in the past after this presentation, but we can bring it up next month. Councilman Gildersleeve asked if individuals, who may not want this option, could opt out if the town puts this online. The information would still be there and all agree that if we put this online, it would be best by tax map identification.

Susan Brown, Superintendent of Germantown Central School described a new approach to budgeting, the purpose to share information about budget development process and the budget. The GCSD website has power points of all the school board meetings. This year’s proposed budget includes a Capital Project expenditure for roof replacement for the science wing, renovations of kindergarten bathrooms, replace water pressure tanks and renovate well pump controls. There is no increase in the tax levy, the total proposed expenditures is $13,843,600 and the anticipated revenues are $13,124,483.

Paul Finch, Superintendent of Red Hook Central School District and Bruce Martin, Business Manager explained that they will maintain the same programs and stay under the 2% cap. They have had several retirements, not replaced one elementary teacher and have had an increase in state aid. There are two board seats open with four running for these seats.

Councilman Desmond asked what is the mechanism for state aid. Bruce Martin explained that the State will see the tax bills and because of tax cap will refund. The public hearing is May 7th, voter registration is May 14th at Mill Road lobby, and May 20th from noon to 9 PM is voting.

Erica Freudenberger of the Red Hook Library is asking for an increase in their budget. They are located in the Village of Red Hook but they serve 5000 patrons. Bard students volunteer at the library and are an active part of the community. They are requesting $70,000 additional per year funding to cover costs. This will cost an average of $1.00 per month. On May 17th there will be a presentation at the Red Hook Library at 11:00 AM. George Davis said that it is wonderful library. It is a good investment.

Felicia Keesing of the Tivoli Free Library reported that their usage has increased since 2007, when they promised not to ask for an increase for 5 years. They will not ask for another five years if they receive this increase. They are requesting $55,000.00 additional per year funding.

MINUTES: A motion was made to accept the minutes of the April 2, 2014 meeting by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to accept the minutes of the special meeting on April 17, 2014 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

TOWN CLERKS REPORT: The Clerk presented the Supervisor with a check for $1,237.88 for the General Fund. A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel to accept the Town Clerk’s report. All in favor. So carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Columbia County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day to be held on Saturday, June 7th from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
  • Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program at SUNY Albany Campus Center on Saturday May 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM.
  • Notice of Bridge Closure on Columbia County Route 19 over the Dover Kill in the Town of Livingston. Date to be announced for closure.
  • Councilman Hempel reported that there was a glitch on the town website, which has been corrected.
  • Supervisor gave the board the budget reports for April 30, 2014.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • PARK PROJECT: Councilman Desmond reported that the bid for the swing and fall surface was awarded to Raymond Michael, Ltd. at a special meeting on April 17th for $17,970. We did receive a second bid from Brighton Builders for $19,500 plus $1000 per day for supervision of installation. This bid did not get to us in time to be opened that night but was a higher bid. We will save $16,500 on installation because the highway department is doing the work.
  • ALARM LAW: Councilman Desmond reported that the Fire Commissioners requested this law in the hopes of deterring nuisance alarms. Our attorney has worked with Councilman Desmond and the Fire District Commissioners on preparing it.
  • LOCAL LAW NO. 3 OF 2014 to amend the Use Tables in the Zoning Law because there were items left out of the schedule of uses in error when it was last passed.

OLD BUSINESS:

  • MILL ROAD BRIDGE: There was no resolution presented at the committee meeting, but there is a bid package to go out for a design. The money for design is in this year’s budget, but the money for the replacement is set for 2015.
  • PARK UPDATE: The layout for the actual area for the swings and fall surface has been done. The Supervisor noted that there are not a lot of advertisement signs at the field as in prior years. Anyone who would like to advertise with a sign, please get in touch with the Southern Columbia Little League. The highway department has been mowing the field.
  • ASSESSMENT ROLL: Notices have been sent out to those whose assessment went up for mostly improvements on their property. Please see the Assessor if you have any questions. Grievance Day will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd, 3-5 and 6-8 P.M.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • SALES TAX REVENUE: Received the sales tax revenue for the 1st Quarter in the amount of $74,421.22. The mortgage tax check has not yet been received.
  • CHIPS FUNDING: The Highway Superintendent was notified that there is allocated extra funding for CHIPS this year due to the difficult winter. We should get about $5,000.00 additional funding.
  • LOCAL LAW NO.2 OF 2014 – Fire Alarm Law. A public hearing was held prior to this town board meeting on adopting Local Law No. 2 of 2014. A motion was made to adopt Local Law No. 2 0f 2014 – Fire Alarm Law by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. Councilman Hempel asked about the reference to systems and asked if this is the automated system, which make a phone call and about registering the alarm system with the fire district and the Sheriffs department and if there is a form? It is the automated systems and the Sheriffs department sends a copy of the registration to the fire district.

A roll call vote was held as follows: Councilman Kahle, aye; Councilman Desmond, aye; Councilman Hempel, aye; Councilman Gildersleeve, aye; Supervisor Staats, aye. All in favor. So carried.

  • LOCAL LAW NO. 3 0 F 2014 – Amending the use table in the Town of Clermont Zoning Law. A public hearing will be held prior to the town board meeting on June 2nd at 7:00 P.M.
  • Resolution No. 39-2014 – Standard workday and Reporting Resolution of Elected or Appointed Officials. This resolution must be done for those that are members of the NYS Employees Retirement System when they have been elected or reelected. It must be posted for a period of thirty days and filed with the retirement system.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Kahle to approve Resolution #39 – 2014. All in favor. So carried.

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • COURTHOUSE: It was reported that the window project would take a little longer than expected and may not be done until September. There will be no occupancy of the courthouse until the windows are done. There are funds to keep the court in the Claverack School.
  • PINE HAVEN NURSING HOME: Supervisor Staats reported that the design of the new facility has been stopped. Many of the Supervisors do not want to be in the nursing home business, but Supervisor Staats is in support of keeping the home with the County. There has been talk about privatizing the nursing home. He feels that there is no guarantee of the quality of care that the county residents deserve. The feeling is that the funding will be decreased and the county’s cost will increase. The Administrator has come up with ways to save money, but the Supervisors do feel that we should be out of the nursing home business.
  • June 14th – Clermont Fire Company Steak BBQ
  • Supervisor Staats thanked all that were involved with the Easter Egg Hunt.

ABSTRACTS:

A motion was made to approve Highway Abstract #5; vouchers #42 to 55 in the amount of $6,932.58 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to approve General Abstract #5; vouchers #113 to #143 in the amount of $9,451.35 by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve. All in favor. So carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Mary Howard said the board might want to consider the economic multiplier on money spent at Pine Haven because what we pay to nurses, cooks, etc. comes back to the community.

In regards to the tax Rolls being posted on line, by doing this online you could save money on County employees looking up the tax information.

There was discussion on the economic multiplier between Councilman Hempel who said that the money could be spent by taxpayers on something else rather than on the nursing home. Mary Howard thinks that by privatizing, the money goes outside of Columbia County. Dawn Brownson stated that when a private nursing home comes in there is less chance that the money will be spent in Columbia County

Supervisor Staats said that private companies might want to work with fewer employees which effects the quality of care, and purchasing can be done outside of the county. The Supervisors big concern is quality of care.

A motion was made to adjourn at 8:55 P.M. by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk

 

 

 

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