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Town Board – February 2018

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

 

The Clermont Town Board held their regular meeting on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. at the Town Hall.  Those in attendance were Supervisor Raymond Staats, Councilman Robert Desmond, Councilwoman Dawn Brownson, Councilman Evan Hempel and Councilman Kris Gildersleeve.  Others present were George Schmitt, Engineer for the Town, Don VanWagner, Anthony Miserendino, Sara Takacs, Mary Howard and Samuel Williams, Ray Tousey and Phyllis Heiko.

 

Supervisor Staats opened the meeting with the salute to the flag. 

 

NOISE ORDINANCE: Supervisor Staats introduced George Schmitt to go over the proposed noise ordinance.  George brought in a meter that is used to measure the level of sound and explained to the board about the levels of sound.  It would take approximately 15 to 30 minutes to measurer the ambient sound at a site.  The ordinance also has definitions for prohibited noise exceptions, enforcement and penalties.  Some towns use the ambient sound and whatever that is, allows 2x as loud as the ambient.  Applicants could apply for a variance if their sound is too loud.  The variance would regulate the level of sound and hours on a particular project.  The fees for penalties were also discussed and suggested increasing them and loss of permit for habitual violations.

Supervisor Staats asked George to get corrections done and submit to our attorney, Andy Howard.  We will review the final draft and set a public hearing for April. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Mr. Misirendino is not clear which the board is supporting to establish the violation.  Supervisor Staats is looking at setting a set level.  If it is going to be a set level you should set levels for day and night.  Suggested 65 for day, then 55 at night or lower.

The board should make a distinction as to which method is being used. The additional level does increase significantly.  Also, the instrument being used should be certified as Type 1 or Type 2.

Ms. Heiko suggested that the person should be someone who is trained to take the measurement. 

 

MINUTES:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve the minutes of the January 2nd Organizational Meeting, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve the minutes of the January 2nd regular meeting seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve the January 13th Review of the Books minutes, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the report for January and presented the Supervisor with a check for the General Fund in the amount of $1,042.00 and a check for Trust & Agency in the amount of $27.52.   A motion was made to accept the Town Clerk’s report by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Columbia County Department of Health Free Rabies Clinics – Check on the town website or call the Town Clerk for information.
  • Public Hearing – Town of Red Hook on February 13 at 7:35 P.M. at the Town Hall on a Local Law to amend the Zoning Law regarding subsurface Utility Systems.
  • An email received from a resident thanking the Highway Department for the exceptional job this year keeping our roads cleared.
  • Received Budget and Revenue reports for January 31, 2018 from Supervisor Staats.

 

A motion was made by Councilwoman Brownson to move into executive session to discuss a Highway personnel issue, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve at 8:10 P.M.

 

A motion was made to come out of executive session by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve at 8:20 P.M

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

  • Councilman Desmond reported that the 2011 Ford pickup truck was sold for $15,200.00 on the auction site.
  • Website: This will be discussed under Old Business.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • CODE ENFORCEMENT: Our new Code Enforcement officer, Sam Harkins, has requested code books. They have been received.
  • WEBSITE: We have been seeking volunteers to work on the website design. The Supervisor would like to appoint a committee consisting of Councilman Hempel as Chair,  Sara Takacs,  Maura DeKaser, Ellen Earle and Kris Gildersleeve. 
  • HIGHWAY TRUCK: The Highway truck was sold and received the confirmation for $15,200.00.
  • PARK DEVELOPMENT: DEC has completed their work.  He would like a committee to get some starting points, such as trail, veterans monument. There is a balance in fund of $20,000.  He would like to appoint Councilman Desmond to chair, Mary Howard and if anyone else is interested call the Town Clerk, Supervisor or any member of the Board.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  • RESOLUTION NO. 35-18 FEE SCHEDULE: At the meeting on January 13th, the board reviewed Resolution #35-18 Fee Schedule with suggestions made by the Code Enforcement Officer. In addition to the fees there was a change suggested on page 2 to remove the paragraph relative to fees for inspections as these fees are incorporated into the new fees.  Councilman Hempel asked if the inspection fails, would there be additional charges.  Supervisor Staats will ask Sam Harkins about this.

A motion was made by Councilman Desmond to approve Resolution #35-18 fee schedule as amended, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried.

  • RESOLUTION NO. 41-18 Budget Transfer – Transfer from the Highway Fund Balance into the Highway Equipment Fund in the amount of $30,000.00.A motion was made to approve Resolution # 41-18 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Hempel.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • HIGHWAY PERSONNEL POLICY:  At the review of policies, the Board concerned about the rising cost of health care asked the Supervisor to look into what can be done to reduce the Towns costs.  The following is the suggestion to change the policy:Existing employees as of January 1, 2018

    Individual plan – Single plan coverage paid in full by the town with a cap on maximum amount Town will pay at $9,000.00.  The employee will be responsible for any additional premiums above the cap.

    Family Plan – Employee pays 20%, Town pays 80% of monthly premium with the Town’s portion capped at a maximum of $20,000 per family plan.  The employee will be responsible for any additional premiums above the cap.

            New Hires after 1/1/2108

Individual Plan – Single plan coverage paid in full by the Town with a cap on maximum amount the Town will pay at $9,000.00.  The employee will be responsible for any additional premiums above the cap.

Family Plan – Employee pays 30%, Town pays 70% of monthly premium with the Town’s portion capped at a maximum of $18,000.00 per family plan.  The employee will be responsible for any additional premiums above the cap.

A motion was made to amend and approve the Highway Personnel Policy by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

SUPERVISORS REPORT:

  • The County sales tax was about 7.7 % higher than last year.
  • JAIL:  Still discussing whether to accept inmates from Greene County for housing.  He has not seen the numbers but is told that it could be good for Columbia County.  They pay currently for us to house some of their inmates.
  • The Sewer District project will be taken over by Commerce Park in Greenport to run a wastewater line.
  • There is a proposal to put a trail system on the Hudson Landfill. The County did a study on this.  The Supervisor is not in favor of this and has voted against it several times because he doesn’t feel the county should put money into this.
  • Thanked the Town Highway Department for keeping the roads cleared and safe and checking the heat in our buildings during the weekend. We had run out of fuel during the cold temperatures earlier in the year. There were several different reasons given for the delivery problems by several local distributors.

 

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve General abstract #2A, vouchers #17 – 51 in the amount of $9,783.31.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve Trust & Agency abstract #1, vouchers #1-2 in the amount of $700.00.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel to approve Highway abstract #2, vouchers #2 – 12 in the amount of $11,306.57.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve Prepaid General abstract #2, vouchers #14, 15, 16 in the amount of $336.59.  All in favor.  So carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Sara Takacs – Asked if there was anything from the County to provide more comprehensive insurance.  This is a problem for everyone but this is actually better than it could be.  This is why we are trying something to help our cost.

 

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Desmond at 8:50 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk