The workshop meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on July 20, 2015 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Gary Ketcham, Councilwoman Janet Sutherland, Councilman Dominick Cambareri and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: H’way Supt. Dean Hassenmayer, Dep. H’way Supt. J. Musial, Dep. Police Chief J. Corcoran & Attorney Bill Bavoso.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. He asked for audience to silence or turn off their cell phones.
RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland that the minutes of the 07-06-2015 meeting as submitted are approved. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Resignations from fire district commissioners: Vreeland, Clair, Kowalczik
- Highway budget modification
- Supervisor’s report June 2015
- Ward Pavement paving quotes
- Building dept. report June 2015
- Insurance & permit for fire works
- Planning Board meeting minutes 6-17-15
- Bid minutes for Pole Barn bid
- Letter from fair co-chairs re: having fireworks both nights
- Letter from fair co-chairs re: requesting help from highway department
- Summer recreation contract – for approval
- Letter from Minisink Youth Soccer requesting use of soccer field for fall 2015 season
- Copy of final bids from auction site
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
POLICE:
Dep. Chief Corcoran reported that the 4H emergency plan has been received. He also reported that there were no issues with the fireworks display on July 11.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Dep. H’way Supt. Musial reported that the insurance check for damage done to the parking lot from last year’s fair has been received. She added that the budget modification has been submitted. The Minisink Youth soccer field use request was received and needs board approval. She spoke re: Ward Pavement quote received but there may be something missing. The auction is closed and she gave board members a copy of the items and their bids from the site. It is recommended to approve those bids. Hawk Hills Circle and Shoddy Hollow Road will be paved tomorrow doing nova chip. Towns of Minisink, Wallkill, Greenville & Crawford will send trucks to help us. Supt. Hassenmayer added that oil/chip will be done to Schoolhouse Road and Whitlock Road. Supervisor Volpe asked Dean for explanation for paving & the county. Supt. Hassenmayer explained the county puts out bids in January. This is non-highway paving. They also do highway paving. The county is broken up in 4 zones. Bids are awarded by April and they send us a copy. We are zone 3; Ward has the bid for highway paving and non-highway paving (ie: parking lots). The price is $14/ton different- parking lot paving vs. highway paving. There’s a portion of the parking lot that was left off. Dean will contact them tomorrow and ask them to determine if it was left off or included in the bid. He will also contact private companies to get prices to use for comparison. He requests the board hold off on accepting bid.
PLANNING BOARD:
Councilman Ketcham reported that things are quiet. T-Mobile wants to upgrade the antennae on Guymard Mountain.
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HIDDEN VALLEY:
Councilman Ketcham – no report. Supervisor Volpe asked Dep. Chief Corcoran about the local DEC officer. There is a beaver dam issue on Homestead Lane in Hidden Valley. It’s on private property. It is becoming an issue with the water rising at the plant.
LITTLE LEAGUE:
Councilwoman Sutherland reported that the Little League will not be having a booth at the 4H Family Fun Day. Supervisor Volpe spoke re: their luncheon this past Saturday. About 200 were in attendance.
MOUNT HOPE FIRE:
Pres. Lou Dodd asked about the request to lease land from the town at the Bilinski Homestead. Atty. Bavoso stated that it is designated as parkland and the town cannot lease unless it is replaced by other property and designated as parkland. Application would have to be made to the state legislature to be able to do that.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven spoke re: public hearing on proposed local law. Someone at the public hearing spoke re: retaining wall around the old school deteriorating. She asked Dep. Chief Corcoran about the NIXEL alerts. He will check on this. She spoke re: Yard sale on 8-1-15. Everything is set. The Otisville Yard Sale Organization will provide lunch to police officers that day.
SUMMER RECREATION:
Trustee Loeven reported: 2 weeks down – 4 weeks to go. She thanked the fire department for starting ‘Wet Wednesdays’. The kids love it. Supervisor Volpe added that he received a call about the AC not working. The new school supt. (Brian Monahan) had it fixed the next day.
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD:
Trustee Loeven added there will be a quarterly meeting for the CAB tomorrow night.
SENIOR CENTER FEE INCREASE:
Supervisor Volpe stated that we are still in limbo between the 2 attorneys with the municipal agreement.
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Howell to approve the Supervisor’s report for June 2015 as presented. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE 2015 SUMMER RECREATION CONTRACT:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to authorize the Supervisor to sign the 2015 Summer Recreation Contract with the Village of Otisville as presented. (on file in town clerk’s office) All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
Supervisor Volpe asked Supt. Hassenmayer how much time goes into helping with fair set up. Supt. Hassenmayer stated approx. 60 hours with ¾ of the guys.
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST WITH THE OTISVILLE COUNTRY FAIR:
MOTION offered by Councilman Ketcham 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland to authorize the town highway employees to assist with the Otisville Country Fair. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO ALLOW MINISINK YOUTH SOCCER TO USE SOCCER FIELD AT TOWN PARK:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilwoman Sutherland to allow the Minisink Youth Soccer League to use the soccer field at the town park for the fall 2015 season (August 1st through Nov. 30th). All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
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RESOLUTION TO APPROVE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to approve the following budget modification:
Increase Ins. Recoveries A/C D2680 by $1,231.70 AND
Increase General Repairs C/E D5110.4 by $1,231.70.
All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
4H / CORNELL:
Supervisor Volpe asked Janet/Gary if they knew anything about selling memorial bricks (from the initial phases of the talks with Cornell). He received a call from Jean Roosa about this. Janet will contact Lucy about this. She nor Gary recalls anything said about this.
- Musial stated she received a call from Cornell asking to borrow the large refrigerator from the old school and the warmer. They would like to use it until they get a kitchen up/running. Supt. Hassenmayer doesn’t think the refrigerator or freezer works. He recalls them not working. Councilman Cambareri suggested to surplus those items. Question on liability if the warmer doesn’t work properly as it has been sitting for several years. Board agreed to surplus refrigerator and freezer. And not loan the warmer due to liability.
RESOLUTION TO SURPLUS NON-WORKING APPLIANCES FROM OLD SCHOOL:
MOTION offered by Councilman Ketcham 2nd Councilman Howell to surplus and dispose of the following:
Refrigerator and freezer from the old school and any other non-functioning appliances.
All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
AUDIT OF CLAIMS:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Ketcham to approve the following bills:
GENERAL A:#359-382$ 52,306.17
GENERAL B:#54-56$ 8,452.54
HIGHWAY:#105-114$ 23,323.20
SEWER:#58-65$ 5,792.44
All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT BIDS FROM AUCTION SITE:
MOTION by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to accept the following bids from the Auctions International site:
2002 Rough Rider Trailer $460.00; 2002 Polaris 697 ATV $2950.00; 1985 Trojan Loader $8100.00; Harder Electric Salt Spreader $360.00; 1992 Ford 4630 Tractor $3500.00; 1973 Gradall 880 $2650.00. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Alison Miller: concerned with having conversation about doing things with the old school and I don’t think there’s been any decision made as far as a vote. She spoke about outside organizations that want things that are in it. Supervisor Volpe asked how long ago the appliances were pulled out of the old school? Supt. Hassenmayer thinks within a year of taking it over.
Supervisor Volpe (to Paul Barth): thank you for all that you do for the fireworks.
Paul Barth: He thanked everyone for their help. He added that there were no issues. See you next year.
Bob Bennett: He spoke about the drone that was flying overhead at the fireworks. Discussion ensued. No one checked in with any of the police officers about it. Lou Dodd added that it was not a toy. It was 3 or 31/2’ in diameter.
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION CONTINUED:
Lou Dodd: spoke re: lawsuit. Their attorney tried to contact the other attorney. There was a vote to not continue with the lawsuit. The guys are back in the company but there can still be disciplinary actions against us.
Chris Furman: spoke re: article in paper about solar and Dragon Springs wanting to put solar panels in. How many have already been put in? Supervisor Volpe stated none as of 3 weeks ago when building inspector went up there. Mr. Furman has concerns with stuff being built without permits.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilwoman Sutherland asked if there’s been any information from Mamakating re: 7Peaks. Atty. Bavoso will check into it.
RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd Councilman Ketcham to adjourn the meeting at 8:17pm. All in favor: Howell, Ketcham, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
Next meeting is scheduled for August 3, 2015 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall in the meeting room.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers
Town Clerk
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