CLERMONT TOWN BOARD MEETING

November 7, 2005

The Clermont Town Board held its regular Town Board meeting on Monday, November 7, 2005.  Those present were Supervisor William E. Banks, Councilwoman Lent, Councilman Harned and Councilman Tousey. Councilman Staats was absent.  Others present were Albert Trezza, Town Attorney, Judith Neary, Elizabeth Mahar, William Cole, Ann Leonard, Dagmar Payne, Ronald Banks, Dennis Palazzo, Amandus Fuchs, Jr., Amandus Fuchs, Robert Desmond, Diane O’Neal, Laurence Saulpaugh, Walter Brembs, Charles Lent, Charles Larsen, Pat Meehan, Paul Doherty, Bruce Unson, Louis Ackerman, Chris Nolan, Bram Moreinis, Charles Steeneck, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Elliott, Gregory Fingar, Margaret Innerhoffer, Paul Cha, Phyllis and Mel Heiko, George Davis, et al. 

Supervisor Banks opened the public hearing on the 2006 Budget.  The Clerk read the public notice of the budget hearing.  The Supervisor itemized the increases and decreases of every line item in the budget, explaining the reasons for increases or decreases.  The tax rate decreased from $.59 to $.3912 per $1000 of assessed valuation from 2005.  The assessed valuation increased from  $118,259,000 to $160,000,000; an increase of $42 million.  Comments were made regarding those in the Red Hook school funding both the Germantown and Red Hook libraries with tax dollars, developing a park for Clermont rather than sending the money to Germantown, and the definition of CHIPS, Consolidated Highway Improvement Programs.  The Fire District budget increased from $120,000 to $130,000.  The tax rate decreased from $1.08 to $.88 per $1000 of assessed valuation.  A question was asked on the definition of LOSAP, Length of Service Awards Program, given to those firefighters, which qualify with points earned from attending meetings, calls and drills, etc.
A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to close the public hearing.   All in favor.  So carried.

The regular meeting of the Town Board was opened at 7:35 P.M.  A motion was made to accept the minutes as presented, by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey.  All in favor.  So carried.

The public notice was read by the Clerk, advertising the sale of the Highway Departments 1998 Chevrolet 3500 dump truck.   Bids were opened and were as follows:

• $12,225.00 from Robert J. Colvin, Castleton, N.Y.
• $3,001.99 from Robert A. Staffiero, Tivoli, N.Y.
• $5,585.00 from Robert Zitz, Germantown, N.Y.
• $6,501.00 from Red Hook Fence & Deck, Milan, N.Y.
• $11,111.11 from Robert Fleming, Germantown, N.Y.

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PUBLIC COMMENTS:

• Chris Nolan asked about the balance of the Con Ed funds, which are collected on the sale of former Con Ed properties in the Town.  The monies collected from the sale of these properties, 4% of the sale price up to $115,000 is in CD’s.  As of 9/30/05 the balance is $184,329.22 in the Con Ed CD and $25,000 in the general fund. 
• It was also brought up that a resident on Route 9, Doris Pease has complained about C & D dumped in back of the former Davis – Boice grain barn which she felt had not been resolved.  Supervisor Banks asked the Fire Chief to fill the public in on this situation.  DEC has investigated the site, as well as the Fire Warden and no tickets have been issued.  It is allowed to stockpile materials until a dumpster is brought in to remove the material.   Mrs. Pease will be notified of such.
• Mandy Fuchs, Jr. asked how the county budget will impact our taxes. Supervisor Banks stated that they should decrease slightly depending on the budgets of the Highway department and other departments.
• Diane O’Neal asked if there is a scheduled agenda that is followed at the town meetings.  Supervisor Banks pointed out that we do follow an agenda, public comments, communications, old business, new business, etc.

COMMUNICATIONS:

• Letter from Suzanne McClelland and Andrew Vogelman on Commons Road regarding their property assessment being too high and incorrect.  Mr. Ostrander, our assessor, has also received a certified letter from the McClelland/Vogelmans.
• Letter from Valstar notifying the town that Americas Store will be removed from the cable lineup effective 12/31/05.
• Letter from NYS Real Property Tax Service regarding distribution of 2005 Star administrative aid, of which the payment will be $504.63.
•  Forms for the 2006 summer youth program were received and will be completed by the Supervisor in order for the Town to be reimbursed by the state.
• Letter notifying that Woods Road in the Towns of Germantown, Clermont, Red Hook and the Village of Tivoli are designated former Scenic Roads in the Hudson River Valley.
• Letter from Kenneth Wilber, County Treasurer on 2006 Workers Compensation apportionment which will be included in the amount to be raised by taxes, $11,958.48.
• Letter from Iroquois Gas regarding possible grants.  In the past eight years have received monies for Community House and the property on Route 6. 
• Health Department – information on Lyme Disease and new ticks which pose threats.
• Supervisor Banks presented certificates to Charles Larsen, Amandus Fuchs, Jr. and Robert Desmond, members of the Zoning Board of Appeals for attending the New York Planning Federation conference held in Saratoga Springs this fall.  He thanked

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them for participating and Charles Larsen thanked the Board for giving them the opportunity to attend by funding in the budget.

•  The Town Clerks report for October was read.  A check to the town for $7,794.89 was received.  A motion was made to accept the report by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent.  All in favor. So carried.
• Supervisor Banks received the document to be signed, from the Columbia County Treasurer, for the chargeback to the town for the 2006 ambulance service in the amount of $24,500.   A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey to sign this document.  All in favor.  So carried.
• Resolution #14-2005 was presented to transfer from the Highway general repairs account DA5110.1 and the snow removal account DA5142.1 $7,500 to the Snow removal account DA5142.4 $7,500.  A motion made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve this resolution.  All in favor.  So carried.
• Resolution #15-2005 was presented to transfer from the Highway general repairs account DA5110.1 $2,500 to the General repairs DA5110.4 $2,500.  A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve this resolution.  All in favor.  So carried.
• Resolution #16-2005 was presented to transfer from the General Social Security account A9030.8 - $545.00 to Independent Auditing A1320.4 $545.00.  A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve this resolution.  All in favor.  So carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Judith Neary reported on the meeting for the Committee on Space for Special Needs in the Red Hook School District attended on October 21, 2005.  A grant has been received by the school district to look into town and school planning in order to meet educational and health and safety needs.
• Supervisor Banks has also met with the Pine Plains School Superintendent and their next scheduled meeting will be November 21st.
• Judith Neary and Vera Brembs attended a meeting held in Hudson with NYS Assemblyman Patrick Manning, Joel Miller and Willis Stephens on public school funding through the existing method of tax by property assessments as opposed to an income tax or other means.  They are proposing legislation to change to the latter method.
• Bram Moreinis asked if anyone had come forward for the Committee he requested to monitor the use and care of the Community House.  Supervisor Banks would like to make appointments at the beginning of the year.
• Rebecca Sethi, Chairwoman of the Steering Committee for development of the Route 9 Hamlets, reported on the search for a planner to work with the committee.  Request for Proposals were put out, with Beehan Planning Associates out of Saratoga responding. The committee would like to proceed with Beehan Associates in the process of community planning sessions, landowners and community wide sessions.  The survey was sent out and the response deadline is November 15th.  The grant

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deadline is July 2006.  A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey for the Clermont Steering Committee to proceed with Beehan Planning Associates.  All in favor.  So carried.

• Councilwoman Lent has secured an extension of the grant for work on the Community House until June 20, 2006 so that work on the roof can be done.  Notice for sealed bids with a December 5, 2005 deadline will be advertised.  Marilyn Kaplan of Preservation Architecture will attend our December 5th meeting. 
• A motion was made to accept the high bid for the 1998 Chevrolet 3500 series snow plow/dump truck of $12,225 from Robert Colvin of Castleton by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent.  All in favor.  So carried.
• Councilman Harned made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to accept the 2006 Budget as presented at the public hearing.  All in favor.  So carried.
• The Highway department is seeking another full time employee.  The hourly rate is $13.50 hour in the 2005 budget, to increase to $14.00 hour in 2006.  The additional expense is in hospitalization costs, $12,000 year being budgeted for a family policy with an 80%/20% split for family coverage.  The employee paying 20% of the cost monthly. 
• Town Attorney Trezza presented the corrected deed to be signed by the Board, which will transfer a fifty-foot strip of property, previously owned by the Fire District to the Fire Company.  This transfer was to have taken place with a deed transfer in the sixties, however, because of the way the deeds were filed at the time; the transfer did not take place. Mel Heiko asked for further information regarding the lease and it was explained by Mr. Trezza.  In order for the Fire Company to secure financing to build a new building to house the Fire Districts fire trucks, the property must be in their name.  The Fire District will then lease back the building for the trucks.  The Board signed the deed.

A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve Trust & Agency abstract #11, page 1, vouchers 9 – 11 in the amount of $l, 516.84.  All in favor.  So carried.
A motion was made by Councilman Harned, seconded by Councilwoman Lent to approve General abstract #11, pages 1 & 2, vouchers 276-298 in the amount of $17,099.41.  All in favor.  So carried.
A motion was made by Councilwoman Lent, seconded by Councilman Tousey to approve Highway abstract #11, page 1, vouchers #108-117 in the amount of $50,641.03.  All in favor.  So carried.

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Tousey, seconded by Councilwoman Lent at 9:15 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon
Town Clerk