TOWN BOARD MEETING, TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE, JULY 16, 2018

The town board meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on July 16, 2018 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Dominick Cambareri and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
NOT PRESENT: Councilman Brian Carey & Councilman Jim Jennings
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Sgt. A. Briceno, D. Bavoso: Attorney, D. Hassenmayer: Highway Supt.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm & asked audience to silence cell phones.

MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell that the minutes of the July 2, 2018 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Request from Town Clerk to surplus/destroy office shredder
2. Supervisor’s report for June 2018
3. Insurance Certificate from Mike Romano for fireworks
4. Police dept. monthly report for June 2018
5. Complaint re: Bull Road/Diagonal from Wessels Farm
6. New Windsor Volunteer Ambulance public hearing, 7-26-2018 from 1-3

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Howell reported the next Master Plan meeting is 7/24 at 5pm at town hall; we do have a section dedicated for public comment.
Councilman Cambareri thanked everyone involved in Community Day for all their help. It was a fun day.
Supervisor Volpe added that the highway dept., police dept., & fire dept. were on board and made it an absolutely great day.
Councilman Cambareri referenced summer camp. He thanked 2nd Asst. Chief Coppola for running the smoke trailer during camp. The kids had a blast – especially the young kids. It was very informative; he taught them a lot. He and Diane were there the whole day to take the kids through the trailer. They had homework to take home. Supervisor is very glad they added that. He thanked Dean for jockeying it around.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer asked for permission to attend the fall superintendent’s conference (combined with the town & county superintendents). It will be at the Turning Stone Sept. 17-20. Total cost for classes, meals & hotel will be $1,924.00.
He reported they started oil & chipping last Thursday. He hopes there’s only 1 day left. They quit early today with the threat of thunderstorms. He doesn’t know if they’ll get the whole day in tomorrow – there’s some pretty severe storms coming our way possibly tomorrow. If they have to, they’ll finish Wednesday.
He reported the Police ATV caught on fire Saturday. The front drive shaft broke and was bouncing around in its little tunnel but there’s a lot of wiring right next to it & it caught a couple wires. The only thing that burned was a rubber boot off the drive shaft * 2 wires. Parts were ordered and hopefully will be back together by the weekend. All the light towers that we borrowed got back today & the smoke trailer. He thanked the T/O Wallkill for their golf carts & light towers. He thanked the C/O Port Jervis for their light tower. The ones we bought last year are very nice. Supervisor Volpe asked him if he had updates on the tennis/basketball courts. Supt. Hassenmayer stated that he called/emailed one company. He called another company. They didn’t tell me when they were coming. Jet Black was here a couple times last week – we haven’t crossed paths. He also reported they haven’t been able to get any more framing done at the new recreation center because of the road work but they have a scissor lift in there now. The federal prison loaned it to us.

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE HIGHWAY SUPT. TO ATTEND HIGHWAY SCHOOL:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to approve highway superintendent Hassenmayer attending highway school at the Turning Stone in Verona NY from Sept. 17-20 for a cost of $1,924.00. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Sgt. Briceno reported that the deputy chief has started. He worked community day as well as other officers. Everything went well.
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VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reminded everyone of the community yard sale on August 4th.

SUMMER RECREATION:
Supervisor Volpe reported that they had a great day with the fire trailer at summer recreation. We had 3 additional people sign up for camp.

BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW:
Supervisor Volpe stated that a letter was sent certified, return receipt.

COMMUNITY DAY 2018:
Supervisor Volpe reported he will have all the numbers for next meeting. He estimated a profit of $1800.00 from the event through sponsors and the booths. He would like to do additional classes for our residents with any profits that we have: AED, CPR, First Aid. This would be open to our residents at no cost.

MOTION TO SURPLUS/DESTROY STAPLES BRAND SHREDDER – TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to surplus & destroy a Staples brand shredder from the Town Clerk’s office – 15 sheet capacity as it no longer functions properly. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT FOR JUNE 2018:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to approve the Supervisor’s report for June 2018 as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

MAGIC BOOK BOX LITTLE LIBRARY:
Supervisor Volpe reported that Rose Phillips came Friday to pick up her books for the little library. He had made up a certificate and presented it to her. He would like her to come to a meeting so that the board can recognize her for all her hard work with the little libraries. He is interested in having her do a little library at town hall. She has the materials to do this. The cost to us is nothing.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION OF A MAGIC BOOK BOX LITTLE LIBRARY AT TOWN HALL:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to approve Rose Phillips to build a Magic Book Box Little Library at Town Hall. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to enter into executive session at 7:44pm to discuss PILOT Proposal with Cypress Creek Renewables AND a police department contractual issue. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to reconvene the regular meeting from executive session at 8:02pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

CALL FOR:
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX AGREEMENT FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS BETWEEN THE TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE AND CYPRESS CREEK RENEWABLES:
Supervisor called for a motion for this.
Councilman Howell stated that he is not related to anyone with regard to this project. He thinks the town should also get the maximum allowable payout even though that’s not what we reached at the negotiation table. It is the same percentage value as the prior project. Supervisor added that the agreement is actually with Cypress Creek Renewables.

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX AGREEMENT FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS BETWEEN THE TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE AND CYPRESS CREEK RENEWABLES:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to authorize the Supervisor to sign the (PILOT) payment in lieu of tax agreement for Solar Energy Systems between the Town of Mount Hope & Cypress Creek Renewables. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

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MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to approve the following bills (Abstract 14 & Abstract #15):
ABSTRACT #14:
GENERAL A: #404-411 $ 2,500.71
AND
ABSTRACT #15:
GENERAL A: #412-441 $68,309.75
GENERAL B: #81-84 $ 3,133.75
HIGHWAY: #102-110 $38,487.57
SEWER: #55-60 $ 2,988.39
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

MOTION TO SIGN BILLS ON JULY 23, 2018:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to authorize payment of bills as long as the abstracts are audited by the requisite number of town board members prior to the next meeting.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

At this time, Supervisor Volpe read in to the record a letter from the Village of Goshen thanking Dean and the guys for their help with their milling project.

At this time, Supervisor Volpe read in to the record a thank you letter from Jason Pitingaro, thanking Frank Jashembowski and Troy Geiss for helping him (Jason) of his flat tire and assisting him with the repair.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Diane Loeven noted the seniors have a trip Thursday, July 19 to Fishkill. She reported that the Community Advisory Board meets tomorrow, if anyone has anything to let her know. (Dominick advised he will not be able to attend.) She asked where the Cypress Creek Renewables (Howells Solar LLC) solar was located. Supervisor Volpe stated Mount Hope Road by the county DPW. She clarified about the reference to the “new” senior center. Is the long range plan to turn the front building back into a community center and have the seniors operating out of the rear building? Supervisor: That’s gonna be the community center; the senior center will stay in the front. He asked for her to thank the village board for their help with the garbage truck and with the light tower for community day.

AT THIS TIME, Highway Supt. Hassenmayer informed the board/audience of the (Corwin Bridge) bridge closing/detour on Mount Hope Road between due to occur July 26, 2018 for approx. 77 days until approx. middle of October. They will be the 1st project to use Tappanzee Bridge panels.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell thanked the volunteers and sponsors and all the vendors for community day.

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Cambareri to adjourn the meeting at 8:14pm. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; carried.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 6, 2018 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk

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