CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

July 5, 2005

The Clermont Town Board held its regular Town Board meeting on Monday, July 5, 2005 at 7:00 P.M.   Those present were Supervisor William E. Banks, Councilwoman Lent, Councilman Staats and Councilman Tousey.   Councilman Harned was absent. Others present were Paul Doherty, George Davis, Charles Larsen, Chris Wolfe, Mandy Fuchs, Jr., Rebecca Sethi, Robert Desmond, Chris Nolan, Jane Churchill, Sherry Barringer, Bruce Bohnsack and Richard Roth of the Independent newspaper.

A public hearing was scheduled for hearing information on the renewal of the cable franchise with Hilltop Communications of Germantown for a ten-year period.   Supervisor Banks opened the public hearing and asked the Clerk to read the public notice.   Bruce Bohnsack and Sherry Barringer were present to answer any questions.   Supervisor Banks asked if there were any questions from the public.   Amandus Fuchs, Jr. asked if there were any changes/improvements to this contract as opposed to the current.   Coverage was added on Nevis Road, Eternal Word TV will be expanded to full time at the end of the year; Americas Store will come off at the end of the year.   There will be additional sports channels and they are negotiating for TV Land (old movies).   Robert Desmond was interested to hear that Eternal Word would be back on full time.   There is a discount of 10% for senior’s age 62 and older.   With no other questions the public hearing was closed at 7:15 P.M.

Supervisor Banks opened the Town Board meeting.    A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent and seconded by Councilman Tousey to waive the reading of the minutes and accept them with a correction on page 3, Mr. to Ms. Rea.   All in favor.   So carried.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS:

• Jane Churchill, representative to the Office for the Aging reported on recent meetings.   A resident deputy is at the Nutrition Center each month for the Sr. Outreach Program to address any concerns that seniors have.   Jackie Gado of the Health Care consortium reported that food stamps are available for seniors who can apply through Dept. of Social Services.   Project 2015 is a study of the demographic shift as baby boomers retire.   It looks at housing assistance, nursing homes, etc. The group heard from Donna Sweet from Social Security on new Medicare Part D plan (drug coverage) Estimated cost of $37.00 per month with a May 2006 deadline for applying.   There is a penalty of 1% per month for late applicants.   There will be an informational session on Plan D on September 17 th from 9-12 PM at Columbia Greene Community College.
• Supervisor Bank’s introduced Christopher Wolfe, who serves on the Board of Ethics.
• The Village Green Barbecue will be held on Saturday, August 13 th at 2:00 P.M.   The Village Green committee received a check from the town in the amount of $3168.70, the profits from last years barbecue.   Councilman Tousey will check with Alan Saulpaugh about using their parking lot for the event.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:

• A check was received in the amount of $1000 for the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant from DEC for a pump.   The cost of the pump is $2,895.  
• Town of Germantown on Defensive Driving Course Insurance and Point Reduction on July 18 and July 19 from 5 – 8 PM. The cost is $40.00
• Friends of Clermont – Steamboat Bicentennial meeting on June 16 th, received after our last town board meeting.
• Received a check in the amount of $45,832.59 for mortgage tax for the first quarter of 2005.
• A letter of support for the Grant for a new fire truck to the Secretary of Homeland Security from Senator Charles Schumer.
• Freedom of Information Requests have been filed on the town’s behalf by our attorney Kimberlea Shaw Rea with DEC regarding the LaMunyan C&D site on Route 9G and the Hettling Property on Route 9. A letter was read from Diane O’Neal’s attorney George Rodenhauser to Wendy Kisch, Attorney with the US Department of Justice regarding any contamination, remediation and other environmental issues dated July 17, 2003.   There was discussion on why we were foiling the entire Hettling property but it is reasonable to look for information on the entire parcel, since the twenty acres which is the towns, was a part of the entire parcel.   
• The Town Clerks report was read for June.   A check in the amount of $7,161.33 was received and accepted on a motion made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey.   All in favor.
• Received the Environmental Health fee schedules from the Columbia County Department of Health.

NEW BUSINESS:

• A public hearing was held earlier this evening to renew the cable franchise with Hilltop Communications for a ten-year lease period.   A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent to renew the ten-year lease pending a review of the contract by our attorney, Al Trezza.   Councilman Tousey seconded the motion.   All in favor.   So carried.
• The Town has requested Kimberlea Shaw Rea to counsel the town on matters relating to the former LaMunyan C&D site.   An agreement for legal services has been received from Ms. Shaw Rea.   A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent to sign the agreement for Ms. Shaw Rea to represent us with matters relating to the LaMunyan site and to go ahead with DEC foil requests.   Councilman Staats seconded the motion.   A roll call vote was as follows:

Staats – aye                   Lent – aye        Tousey – aye                 Banks – aye

All in favor.   Unanimous

A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey to approve General Abstract #7, vouchers #160-191 in the amount of $3,622.46.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Staats to approve Highway abstract #7, vouchers #66-76 in the amount of $4,200.69.   All in favor.   So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Tousey to adjourn at 8:10 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon

Town Clerk