CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

August 1, 2005

The Clermont Town Board held its regular Town Board meeting on Monday, August 1, 2005 at 7:00 P.M.  Those present were Supervisor William E. Banks, Councilwoman Lent, Councilman Staats, Councilman Harned and Councilman Tousey. Others present were Paul Doherty, George Davis, Charles Larsen, Mandy Fuchs, Jr., Amandus Fuchs, Rebecca Sethi, Robert Desmond, Walter and Vera Brembs, Margaret Innerhoffer, Mel and Phyllis Heiko, Bruce Unson, Richard and Carol Livellara, Anne Poleschner, Bram Moreinis, Donald Van Wagner, Elizabeth Mahar, Judith Neary, Laurence Saulpaugh, Kimberlea Shaw Rea and Richard Roth of the Independent newspaper.

Supervisor Banks opened the Town Board meeting.   A motion was made by Councilman Staats and seconded by Councilwoman Lent to waive the reading of the minutes and accept them. All in favor.  So carried.

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS:

• Supervisor Banks read the Town Clerk’s report for July 2005 – Received a check for $1669.90.  A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to accept.  All in favor.  So carried.
• Received a check for $25,000.from the National Heritage Trust for the Athens Generating Grant for restoration of the Community House.
• Pine Plains School has requested eight Town Supervisors attend a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, August 3rd.  Supervisor Banks will attend.
• Red Hook School District is seeking a representative from Clermont for a Special Needs Committee. If anyone is interested, please contact Supervisor Banks.
• Received the summer park contract from Germantown Park Commission for 1/1/05 to 12/31/05, for $7000. Payable by 8/15/05.  This is an increase of $1000 and $6000 was budgeted for 2005.  There was discussion on Iroquois grant money which was earmarked for recreational needs and had been given to Germantown for purchase of additional property for the park, with consideration that the park fee would not be raised. 
• The Columbia County Solid Waste department held its Household Hazardous Waste day on June 4th with 291 households participating by bringing in hazardous waste items.  Four residents of Clermont participated.
• Received a letter from NYS Board of Real Property Services that the final state equalization rate is 100% for Clermont.
• Received from the Columbia County Treasurer a check for 2nd Quarter Sales Tax in the amount of $63096.49.
• Received from the Columbia County Treasurer a check for Mortgage Tax in the amount of $45832.00.
• Supervisor Banks submitted budget and revenue reports through June.
• A representative for the Columbia County Planing Board is needed.

• Read letter from Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Gerald Simons to Mayor Richard Scalera regarding Sales Tax Distribution.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Supervisor Banks asked for a motion to make an inter-fund transfer from the Revenue Account A-9901.9 of $25,000 grant money received from NYS for renovation to the Community House to the Building account A-1620.4.  A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent.  All in favor. So carried.
• Supervisor Banks asked for a motion to make an inter-fund transfer from the Consolidated Edison CD of $15,000 to the Attorney account A-1420.4 for the purpose of paying the attorney fees on the Brownfields Restoration Project until grant money is received which has been applied for.   A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilman Staats to transfer $15,000 from Con Ed funds to A1420.4.  All in favor. So carried. 
• There was discussion on using any of this money from the Brownfields grant for attorney fees on the LaMunyan C&D issue. Councilman Tousey is opposed to getting in too deep financially on investigating this matter.  At the present, a FOIL request has been filed with DEC for all information on the site on Route 9G by Kimberlea Shaw Rea, Esq. The new owner of the property has applied for building permits.  The Town does not want to issue permits until a review is made of the records. Councilman Staats suggested that we use from the $10,000 received in the tax settlement from the sale of the LaMunyan property to fund this investigation.  Councilman Tousey motioned that in reference to the LaMunyan property, do not exceed $10,000 without specific Town Board approval for more money.  Councilman Staats seconded this motion.  A roll call vote was as follows:

Staats – aye    Lent – Nay            Harned – aye            Tousey – aye
            Motion was carried.

• Highway Superintendent Potts has submitted a Vehicle Purchase Proposal for a 2006 Ford F550 4x4.  The government price is $45480.00.  The present truck could be sold for $12,000 to $15,000. A motion was made to accept this purchase proposal for the truck by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Harned.  All in favor.  So carried. 
• A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilman Harned to put the old truck up for bid with the money going back into the Capital Reserve Account.  All in favor.  So carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Councilwoman Lent reported that the work on the Community House is proceeding.  Marilyn Kaplan of Preservation Architecture has told her that more siding has to be removed because of more damage than had originally been thought.  The work has to be finished by December and the final paperwork submitted.  A proposal can be sent in for the roof work.  Mr. Moreinis asked if electrical could be upgraded at this time since the walls are open.  Councilwoman Lent can email the state and ask if electrical could be added in if relatively reasonable.

• Carol Livellara asked if the property in Germantown, which was obtained with Iroquois funds, had any deed restrictions to restrict any development on the land.  It is believed that the agreement was that it could be used for recreational purposes.  Can obtain a copy of the deed from the County Clerk’s office to see if there are any restrictions
• Kimberlea Shaw Rea answered some concerns of those present on the LaMunyan site. The town has the absolute permanent authority over this property.  At the present we do not know what the extent of compliance is with DEC.  A FOIL request has been sent and she expects that by the early part of August she will have over l000 documents from several bureaus.  Technical manuals will be included in this paperwork.  For the time being, the Town has recommended that no permits be issued until she has had time to review all documentation.
• Charles Larsen reported on the Village Green Barbecue, being held on Saturday, August 13 at 2:00 PM.  Your support is appreciated.
• Councilman Staats received a letter from a resident on Nevis Road, John Szatko, regarding drainage on the town right of way, which he believes was pre-existing and may need a catch basin.  Supervisor Banks will speak with James Potts, Highway Superintendent.
• Attorney Kimberlea Shaw Rea has filed the application for the Brownfields Restoration Project Grant for up to $110,000. for the property given to the Town by Catherine Hettling.  A certification of ownership was also filed.  Pending state approval, a contractor for investigation into the site and any remediation will be consulted.  Any proposal for work to be done, would be contingent on getting the grant.
• Resident Phyllis Heiko suggested a change in the zoning to include screening for garbage containers.
• Rebecca Sethi, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the development of the Hamlet District has completed a draft survey.  The Committee wanted to set up a booth at the BBQ, however Supervisor Banks and other board members felt this was not an appropriate time or place as a lot of those attending are not residents of the town.  Suggested input from the consultant before giving out the survey.  A consultant has not yet been determined.  The committee has set a date of September 14th for the next date of response for consultants.  Charles Larsen, vice-chairman of the Village Green Committee has not seen the request by the Steering committee to have a booth for this purpose.  It was suggested that the Town might come up with money for postage to mail out a survey.  A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to fund the postage for mailing of the survey from the Supervisors account A-1220.4.   All in favor.  So Carried. 
• Councilman Tousey would like to see the Community House cleaned prior to the barbecue.  He would like the Clerk to call a member of the Church who lease the Community House and ask them to clean.

A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Highway Abstract #8, vouchers #77-86 in the amount of $4,337.47.  All in favor.  So carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Trust and Agency abstract #2, vouchers #2-5 in the amount of $479.60.  All in favor.  So Carried.

A motion was made by Councilman Staats, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve General Abstract #8, vouchers #192-214 in the amount of $22,957.00.  All in favor.  So carried.

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent at 9:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon
Town Clerk