CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

March l, 2004

The regular meeting of the Clermont Town Board was held on Monday, March 1, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. Supervisor Pelletier opened the meeting. Also present were Councilman Staats, Councilwoman Lent, Councilman Harned and Councilman Tousey. Others present were Richard Livellara, Robert Desmond, Charles Larsen, Bruce Unson, Donald Van Wagner, Ronnie Clum, Laurence Saulpaugh, Albert Trezza and Richard Roth of the Independent.

Councilwoman Lent made a motion, seconded by Councilman Staats; to waive the reading of the minutes as copies were provided to each member and to accept the minutes of the February 2, 2004 meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS:

• Letter from Dr. Michael O’Leary, Director Columbia County Dept. of Human Services regarding human services in Columbia County. He is available to come to a town board meeting.
• Scenic Hudson – Smart Growth Initiative, Greenway grants, overlay of zones for zoning map. Councilman Tousey suggested the possibility of Scenic Hudson writing a grant for the town.
• City of Hudson – Flag Day Celebration will be held on June 12, 2004, with rain date of June 13th.
• Valstar – rate increase for cable subscribers from $29.95 to $3l.85 per month.
• State of New York, Office for Technology – on development of statewide wireless network for public safety and public service entities.
• Greenway – Meeting in Albany on March 10, 2004.
• Town Clerks report for February – Check for $2,584.18
• Budget reports submitted for February
  

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS:

• Councilwoman Lent reported on architectural services related to repairs of the Community House, which is funded by grant received from Athens Generating Plant. Marilyn Caplan, Architect with Preservation Architecture has submitted a draft contract to these services. Councilwoman Lent made a motion to sign the proposal for architectural services related to the Community House, seconded by Councilman Tousey. All in favor. So carried.
• Members of the Town Board met with members of the Zoning Board and Planning Board and Building Inspector on Friday, February 6th to discuss revisions to the zoning ordinance. A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey to approve the minutes of that meeting. All in favor. So carried.
• The microfilming of town documents must be completed by June 30, 2004. Councilwoman Lent has two people who are working on that.
  

Page 2 TOWN BOARD MEETING March 1, 2004

• Richard Livellara asked about the ongoing investigation of the former Supervisor and if there would be a comment. Supervisor Pelletier responded that because there is an ongoing investigation, there is no comment at this time.
• Donald Van Wagner asked if there is anything that can be done about the burned out house on Cemetery Road because it is an eye sore and hazard. The board had notified the owners that they must clean it up, and some was done. The cleanup of the property could be done by the town and the cost assessed to the owner through taxes. If the owner is not paying the taxes, then the County could take it over and sell the property for taxes and the town would recoup their costs through the sale.
• Charles Larsen, chairman of the ZBA reported that Cingular Wireless has verbally withdrawn their application for a Cell Tower on Cedar Hill Road. He is waiting for a written withdrawal. He also has asked if there is a Code of Ethics adopted by the town. Attorney Trezza responded that a local law should be passed creating an Ethics Board and from there a Code of Ethics to be adopted.
  

There was no other public comment. A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to move into executive session to discuss legal and personnel issues at 7:25 P.M.

At 8:10 P.M. a motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to come out of executive session and back into the regular meeting.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Collateral Source Bill – The purpose of this bill is to prevent double dipping by state employees and the sponsors are seeking support from municipalities. A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Harned to write a letter of support for this bill. All in favor. So carried.
• Appointments – Positions on the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals terms expired on December 31, 2003. Interviews were held in January. Supervisor Pelletier has interviewed all those who showed an interest.
  

A motion was made to appoint Bruce Unson to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term, effective January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2008 by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent. A roll call vote was as follows:

Staats – aye

Lent – aye

Tousey – aye

Harned – aye

Pelletier – aye All in Favor – So carried

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A motion was made to appoint Chris Nolan to a seven-year term, effective January l, 2004 through December 31, 2010 on the Planning Board by Councilman Tousey, seconded by Councilman Harned. A roll call vote was as follows:

Staats – aye
Lent – nay
Tousey – aye
Harned – aye
Pelletier – aye So carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Insurance Coverage Report – The insurance company will be going to the fire department to review the equipment on the fire trucks and other fire equipment and see if insurance coverage is adequate. Will also assess the value of the town structures. The Supervisor and insurance committee, Councilwoman Lent and Councilman Tousey will meet with Marilyn Kaplan on the contents of the Community House.
• Grants Report - Councilwoman Lent reported on meeting with the members of the Fire Company to discuss applying for a FEMA grant. The SARA grant work for microfilming of records must be complete by June 30, 2004 and the architect is assessing the work needed for the Community House grant.
• Councilman Harned submitted the member’s list for the Volunteer Firefighters Service Award Program for 2003. The list will be posted at the firehouse for thirty days. A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey to post the member list for the LOSAP program at the firehouse for thirty days. After which, the authorization will be sent to PENFLEX, Inc. who administers the program.

All in favor. So Carried.

• Councilwoman Lent reported that the Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 10, 2004 from 12 PM to 2 PM. Must contract Southern Columbia Ambulance for coverage on that day.
• Three bids have been received by Councilwoman Lent for the Clermont sign for in front of the town complex. They are as follows:

Smiley's Signs - $4,185.00

Visual Concepts - $4,650.00

Dutchess Signs - $4,275.00

• Councilman Tousey reported that the twenty acres given to the Town by Catherine Hettling is in co-ownership with the County at this time. The county has offered the use of a bulldozer for clearing purposes. A lot of metal scrap has already been removed when Ms. O’Neil was removing scrap from the other property.
  

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A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilman Staats to approve General abstract #3, pages l –3, vouchers #40-78 in the amount of $7,234.01 for payment. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Highway Abstract #3, page l & 2, vouchers #15 – 28 in the amount of $5,455.65 for payment. All in favor. So carried.

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Tousey, seconded by Councilman Harned.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon
Town Clerk