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Town Board – September 2018

CLERMONT TOWN BOARD

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

The Clermont Town Board held their monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 4, 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. There were seven residents present.

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

MINUTES: A motion was made to accept the minutes by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  All in favor.  So carried.

TOWN CLERK’S REPORT: The Town Clerk read the report for August and presented a check for the General Fund in the amount of $538.58 to the Supervisor.

CORRESPONDENCE:

  • Received a new recycling protocol from Columbia County Solid Waste Department.  Posted at Town Hall and information available by calling 518-828-2737.
  • Keeping Identities of Seniors Safe Program (K.I.S.S.) for shredding any personal paperwork will be held September 10 through September 21st at the Town Hall during Town Clerk’s hours.
  • Supervisor provided the budget and revenue report for August to the board.

WEBSITE: Mary Louise Kalin tried to access the historic photos but a password was needed to access. It was pointed out that the date change for this meeting was not posted on the website.

Councilman Hempel will address these issues.  He also stated that the web committee did not meet because of vacations but will be resuming and the committee had a good view of what the website should look like.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

PARK: Councilman Desmond passed out the suggested wording for the Veteran’s monument proposed for the park. He would also like two silhouettes, probably in the upper corners of the Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima and of a soldier kneeling with the bayonet and helmet.

The verbal quotes that have been received are $2,260 for the monument with engraving from Kol-Rocklea and $3,641.00 for monument, lettering, silhouettes and foundation from Hudson Monumental Works.

A member of the audience suggested not having the silhouettes, and having a simpler, solid version of the verbiage.  There was discussion about using the term ‘Thank you for your service’ and the silhouettes might not be inclusive, such as gender, branch of service.  Supervisor Staats suggested getting a mockup of the monument so that it can be viewed. Additional plans

are for walking trails, picnic tables and more info will come from the surveys.

HUDSON RIVER HERITAGE: Councilwoman Brownson reported that the Hudson River Heritage – Tours of Columbia County homes will be held on Saturday, October 13th and they would like to use the ‘Academy’ to start the tour. They will provide insurance.

OLD BUSINESS:

  • PARK: Soccer Goals have been ordered and should arrive shortly.  Supervisor Staats will meet with the Soccer League to see where it is best to set up.  He also reported that we have received donations towards the goals of $1000.00 from the Southern Columbia Soccer League, $1,000 from Morris Associates, $1,000 from Fingar Insurance, and from Freeman-Howard.  There was a question from a resident about why they are going with the soccer field before the survey came out.  This was decided many years ago on another survey. A committee member feels that the board could have let the committee know that it was decided on the soccer field.  Supervisor Staats thought that this was known as it has been talked about for several years. He apologized that the residents were not aware.
  • BUILDING REPAIRS: Supervisor Staats has requested bids from several local contractors for the repair/replacement of the roof on the Community House.  He asked for bids from Hudson Valley Residential Renovations, Jennings Contracting and B&T Contracting and has not yet received a bid. We may have to advertise this but he would like to give local contractors the opportunity to respond.  Councilman Gildersleeve asked if there is a deadline with the insurance.  The Supervisor does not think it is immediate that we do anything, he does not see anything that would make him worry about leaking.
  • BINGHAMS MILL BRIDGE: It has been finalized by the County that the bridge will be taken down.  It has gone to bid for removal and will probably be scheduled this year to remove it.
  • DEC: We received an invoice for $20,000 from DEC after having closed out the work on the Brownfields. This invoice is for additional work that came in after the closeout date. The Supervisor would like to call for a meeting with DEC to challenge this, if the board is in agreement.  

NEW BUSINESS:

  • SOCCER FIELD: Supervisor Staats thanked all that donated to the soccer goals, Morris Associates, Southern Columbia Soccer League, Fingar Insurance and Freeman-Howard.
  • RESOLUTION NO. 42 OF 2018:

Columbia County has asked the Towns to pass a resolution adopting the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which enables the town to be eligible for grants. A motion was made to adopt Resolution No. 42 of 2018 by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson.  Councilman Hempel voted nay because he did not have an opportunity to view the plan. Motion passed.

  • FUEL OIL CONTRACT: Because of the issues that we had last winter with running out of fuel with the company on the County bid, which again won the bid for this year, we put out a bid for fuel oil. The bids we received were from Valley Oil for .25 over rack price, 2.499 lock in price; Petro Home Services, .40 over rack, 2.75 lock in price and K&H Fuel Oil, .35 over rack. Councilwoman Brownson made a motion to accept the Valley Oil bid of $2.499 gallon, seconded by Councilman Desmond.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • BUDGET WORKSHOP: The budget workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 19 at 6:30 P.M. and Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30 P.M. if needed and to discuss any other business which may come before the board.
  • HIGHWAY: The Highway Department requested to purchase a new pressure washer. This is needed to clean the trucks and equipment. Superintendent Potts received two quotes as follows: Construction Tool Warehouse, for a Shark Hot Water Pressure Washer, $2999.00, ISC Online for a Shark Hot Water Pressure Washer, $5,380.00.  The money is in this year’s budget in the account D5130.2. A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilwoman Brownson to approve the purchase for $2,999.00 from Construction Tool Warehouse.  All in favor. So carried. 

SUPERVISOR REPORT:

Budget for County departments: It seems that every department is requesting increases.  The budget does not get passed until the end of November.   

Supervisor Staats has been asked to be on the Public Safety Committee.  He is currently on the County Government Committee which he would be switching with another Supervisor.

ABSTRACTS:

  • A motion was made by Councilman Gildersleeve, seconded by Councilman Hempel to approve Highway abstract #9, vouchers # 86 to 92, in the amount of $4355.78.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilman Hempel, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve to approve General abstract #9, vouchers #235-254, in the amount of $7619.61.  All in favor.  So carried.
  • A motion was made by Councilwoman Brownson, seconded by Councilman Desmond to approve General Pre-Paid abstract #9, vouchers 232-234 in the amount of $199.27.  All in favor.  So carried.

LITTLE LIBRARY: Supervisor Staats mentioned that the Highway Department completed the library box which can be used by residents to borrow library books.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Kimberly Peacock reported that Tousey Winery is going to hold a Corn Hole Tournament on September 23rd from 12 PM and no later than 8 PM and the Village Green Committee has volunteered to host the food concession.  They are planning to have hot dogs and hamburgers.  The proceeds will support the Community House.

A motion was made to adjourn by Councilman Desmond, seconded by Councilman Gildersleeve at 8:20 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Helen Shannon, RMC

Town Clerk