The town board meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on May 15, 2017 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilwoman Janet Sutherland, Councilman Dominick Cambareri & Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT:
Deputy Town Clerk Paula Bird
Highway Supt. Dean Hassenmayer
Police Chief P. Rickard
Attorney David Bavoso
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. He asked for everyone to silence their cell phones. He called for a moment of silence for fallen police officers/law enforcement.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Carey that the minutes of the 05-04-17 meeting are accepted. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- 2017 Proclamation for National Police Week
- 3 quotes for dog park fence
- Letter from Times Herald Record re: slight rate increase effective 5/29/2017
- ZBA resolution re: Borrego Solar/Pierson
- ZBA resolution re: Li Chen
- Public hearing notice Mount Hope Planning board re: corner of County Rte 24/Hill Road for 3 lot sub-division
- Assessment Review training complete re: Laura Sedita
- 3 complaints re: 160 Tally Ho Road
- Interested party correspondence re: T/O Mamakating& Stoneleigh Woods Major subdivision
- Police Dept. budget modification
- Supervisor’s report April 2017
- Monthly report police dept. April 2017
- Otisville fire report March 2017
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilman Cambareri: upgrade to sewer plant is in final phase of hook-ups; will be done shortly.
Councilwoman Sutherland: everyone received dog park quotes; Apologized for missing last meeting – she had an accident at work; 98 library cards; ZBA meets June 7; Planning Board meets June 21.
Councilman Carey stated he received the 3 bids and asked why our local (fencing) company wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to bid when they’re the original ones who wrote the proposal. Councilwoman Sutherland had reached out to Ketcham, spoke to Rob, who put her in touch with Jerry. She called/left message for Jerry and she hasn’t heard anything back. Ten days ago when this was requested, she turned them in. Councilman Carey went to Ketcham fence and he would like to hear from the 2 people from Ketcham fence in the audience who will speak in public participation. He doesn’t know why we wouldn’t give them the opportunity. Sutherland: We would absolutely give them the opportunity. Councilman Carey went to a seminar with Dean/Amy on Friday in Goshen on ‘smart meters’. Someone from O&R will come to a meeting approx. 90 days before these start to get installed. Everyone’s meters will be switched out in 2018. New process will work over a cellular network; with 24/7 reporting capability; remote hook up possible for new homeowners. He reported on summer rec. 100 kids are signed up right now. Today was last day for early bird sign up. Football is having event on June 2: Friday night light skills challenge on the John Bell field in Greenville. Grant money has been received for the summer concert series.
Councilman Howell: Master plan committee will meet on May 18 at 5pm at town hall. May 29 the veterans of post #5479 will have a ceremony at Veterans Memorial park in Otisville at 11:30, conclude at noon. Everyone invited to attend.
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COMMITTEE REPORTS:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported the roof materials have been ordered. Once materials are here we’ll schedule with the contractor that’s will oversee the job. He’ll keep the board posted. This Wednesday/Thursday we’ll be fiber-matting Hidden Valley. He spoke re: mowing different town properties. The summer help has used the trailer that he owns but he is selling it. He would like to buy a 20’ landscape trailer. It is $3816. Procurement policy says he needs 2 bids. The second bid is off the internet and $75 less but in Connecticut. He would like to buy from Congelosi Trailer. He’s done business with them before. He is looking to get approval to purchase this trailer. Hassenmayer: we have a tag-a-long trailer with a tilt bed; has no ramps. To load 2 or 3 mowers on it is tricky and he doesn’t trust the summer help could do it. The highway guys can do it. It’s not what it’s made for. Supervisor asked if it’s in stock. Hassenmayer: they’re on order. If I give a PO #, he would tag one of the ones on order for us. I don’t have a delivery date. Summer helps starts 4-5 weeks. Councilman Carey asked if an open trailer makes more sense than a closed trailer. Hassenmayer: closed trailer would give advantage to leave weed whackers, blowers & gas cans in it. They are approx. $1700 more.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF OPEN TRAILER:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Carey to purchase a 7’X20’ open trailer for $3816 from Congelosi Trailer. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
OTISVILLE FIRE:
Councilman Cambareri received from Chief Coppola copies of the calls for the month. He handed them out. Chief extended apologies for not being in attendance.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard reported that with the minutes’ approval we are all set for the fire trailer for community day. The budget modification is to reflect the payment from 4H for their run in April. The resolution is recognizing police week. He is requesting executive session and would like for Jim Corcoran to be in executive session as well.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reported that the village board passed everything that was asked of them for the community day. Fire Chief will get with the Supervisor to figure out personnel for the day. You have the DPW support as well. She reminded everyone of the Memorial day event the VFW is having at Veterans Park. Councilman Carey asked the outcome of the blood drive at the fire house. Loeven: it was more than they had projected.
AUDIT OF COURT BOOKS:
Supervisor Volpe asked if Matt & Brian could arrange a date to audit the court books. Pick a date & let Kathleen know the date and she will have the books for you.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland at 7:45pm to discuss a particular police personnel matter. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland to reconvene regular meeting from executive session at 8:10pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
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PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL POLICE WEEK 2017:
This proclamation was read into record by Town Clerk Kathleen Myers:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Howell
To recognize National Police Week 2017 and to honor the service and sacrifice of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty while protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy.
WHEREAS, there are approximately 900,000 law enforcement officers serving in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Town of Mount Hope Police Department;
WHEREAS, some 60,000 assaults against law enforcement officers are reported each year, resulting in approximately 16,000 injuries;
WHEREAS, since the first recorded death in 1791, over 19,000 law enforcement officers in the United States have made the ultimate sacrifice and been killed in the line of duty;
WHEREAS, the names of these dedicated public servants are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.;
WHEREAS, the service and sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty were honored during the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 29th Annual Candlelight Vigil, on the evening of Saturday May 13, 2017
WHEREAS, the Candlelight Vigil is part of National Police Week, which takes place this year on May 14-20, 2017
WHEREAS, May 15 is designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day, in honor of all fallen officers and their families;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope formally designates May 14-20, 2017, as Police Week in the Town of Mount Hope, and publicly salutes the service of law enforcement officers in our community and in communities across the nation.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilman Carey to approve the Supervisor’s report for April 2017 as written. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
MAMAKATING INTERESTED PARTY:
Supervisor Volpe reported he had a resident come that lives on Sullivan County border; apparently in 2007 when they started doing construction on the ridge by her, everybody started getting flooded out. Now there’s a proposed 15.4 acre solar farm going in. They’re scared the same thing will happen & run in to Mount Hope & some of our residents will be affected. He contacted David to be sure we’re an interested party. Hopefully all correspondence will be kept up to date. Councilman Howell asked about some roads listed in the correspondence. Ie: part of Spruce Road & Whispering Hills (Maureen & Jean Ridge). Would the water run off damage our roads? Hassenmayer: yes, especially Spruce& Mark Dr.; he doesn’t think it will hit Jean Ridge because that’s up hill. Howell: can we voice concern with run off from T/O Mamakating. Atty. Bavoso: sent a letter already – this was addressed. He named the roads of concern in the letter. He requested a copy of the application. He will keep on top of it. Howell asked if this project would require a SEQR action. Bavoso: it would have to. Howell: if it gets to that point, would we have more involvement? Bavoso: yes. Planning board meetings are all open to the public.
FENCE QUOTES:
Councilman Cambareri asked if there was any information on signage that we would need to go along with the quotes. What is required & cost? Sutherland: not for signage, no. Cambareri: asked about insurance. Sutherland: all that was asked for was the quotes. The diagrams were there. What they need to do it was there. She will get in touch with the insurance company & she will get in touch with signage. Cambareri: thinks it’s appropriate to have all details. Howell: asked if there was a written spec they went off. 2 of the quotes have different linear foot differences. Sutherland: there had been with the 1- I had used the quote from years ago & realized we should have 2 larger gates to get in for mowing; 2 larger gates to get in in the event that there’s a situation that EMT/EMS needs to get in there. Howell: there’s 3 different quotes with 3 different foot lengths. He gave a couple specifics.
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Sutherland: asked for everyone to email her thoughts/questions, she will reach back out to get what you’d like. Carey: wanted to touch back on the original contract we had. Supervisor has concerns with the maintenance for it. We have a skeleton crew now. We would hope everyone would clean up after their dog. If they don’t, he could see everyone saying that’s not my job. Sutherland: when speaking to other dog park people – that was not the case. Dominick brought up about a case up north of here where that was the issue and they ended up closing the park. The places she reached out to was not the case. The people that bring their dogs there try to police what others are doing. That’s not to say that would be the case in Mount Hope. Towns she has spoken to has said this has been an asset. Carey: who would police the dogs/people that own the dogs to find out if they have their shots? He asked Paul if he had the manpower that could police that. He doesn’t think our dog catcher is going to step up to the plate. Chief: we couldn’t stay there all the time but if there was a complaint, we could respond. Carey: 3 of us on the town board either own or involved with a small business and he finds it horrible that we have something from a local fence company from 11/2013 that we actually went off of to get specs from 3 other companies. Sutherland: actually it was added – the specs were changed moving into it. You expressed your anger/discontent earlier. I explained how I came up with these 3. I reached out to Ketcham & spoke with Rob Ketcham who gave me Jerry Ketcham’s number. I left a message for Jerry Ketcham & did not hear back. This was not done intentionally. She will reach out to them & get a 4th quote. Cindy Rodriguez added that Rob did speak to Janet and he told Gerald that she would be calling. He did get your message. He noted that the message was about someone wanting to donate the gates for the dog park. Sutherland: That’s not the message she left. Rodriguez stated that he returned Janet’s call/left 2 messages and didn’t hear back. It was never said that you were looking to get a re-quote on this. We could have done that easily. You never said you were looking for us to quote the dog park again. Sutherland apologized and stated she did not receive any messages. Rodriguez: we would like to re-quote it. Sutherland: absolutely. I can give you the new draw-up. Rodriguez: we were surprised that someone didn’t drop off the actual specs especially since it’s changed. Usually they are emailed/faxed/ drop off. We would have had a quote within an hour. Sutherland: no doubt in my mind you would have. There was never any conversation about someone donating fencing or anything like that. Rodriguez stated that someone maybe came in and asked about donating the gates for that project. They would like to re-bid that. Sutherland added that she would get with her after the meeting.
2016 ANNUAL REPORT:
Supervisor Volpe stated that the 2016 Annual Report was filed on 3-31-2017 with the NYS Comptroller’s Office.
MOTION TO PROMOTE OFFICER ANNA BRICENO TO ACTING SERGEANT:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to promote Anna Briceno to acting sergeant. Ayes: Sutherland, Volpe, Cambareri. Nay: Howell. Abstain: Carey. Motion carried.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilman Howell to approve the following bills for Abstract #10:
GENERAL A: #257-284 $ 75,431.12
GENERAL B: #36-38 $ 18,718.19
HIGHWAY: #73-78 $ 18,415.65
SEWER: #37 $ 985.16.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE BUDGET MODIFICATION FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to approve the following:
Increase revenue A1520 by $191.72 AND Increase Police P/S A3120.1 by $191.72.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Mary Maurizzio congratulated the police department. Her father worked for the Middletown police department. She addressed the board. Her ‘comments regarding Janet Sutherland are based on facts as she knows them and do concern the taxpayers of the town and may concern the voters/tax payers of Orange County. In response to some inquiries, the only thing personal about my comments is my own disappointment in Mrs. Sutherland’s job performance. She appears to be choosing which assigned duties she will perform while blatantly ignoring others. Councilwoman Sutherland asked the attorney to be sure that Mrs. Maurizzio addresses town board business. Atty. Bavoso stated that it is. Maurizzio added that Councilwoman Sutherland displayed a lack of individualism since 1st elected to serve with the previous town board. She seemed to be a yes man to that board and now seems to offer minimal input even when directly asked. She hasn’t proven herself displayed in the following: changing her political party from democratic to republican to run for councilwoman when the town board was a republican majority; village of Otisville liaison – last attendance recorded was April 2016. Councilman Cambareri stated her 3 minutes are up.
Bob Clouse thanked everyone for the school vote. Thanked Chad for fair treatment during this process. He thanked David for his help. He spoke re: the grass being too high at the school. They are willing to go mow it. The closing is going to happen and every day it gets worse. Dean will have a crew go up there tomorrow.
Diane Loeven referred to the Peace Pole at the town park and the garden club will be doing some planting there. There will be a senior trip on May 17. She spoke about the cable issue on Kohler Road & small pockets in the town that aren’t covered. The resident is her sister. The sister calls the cable company routinely. She is only 300’ from the line. They would run it but it would cost her $3000. She was told by cable company that things would be looked at in the near future. Atty. Bavoso stated when he started negotiating it was with TWC. At some point they changed their numbers overnight. It’s now Spectrum. They are looking at it. The franchise agreement is in the bureaucracy trying to get approval. The coverage issue – apparently Spectrum as part of the merger is required to provide 144,000 homes across the state with access that didn’t have it before. We have been in contact with them. The new person is more responsive. He hopes to hear in the next few weeks. Loeven: This is a small strip of Kohler Road. The attorney asked Ms. Loeven to send him a list of the addresses not covered. She will send it. Councilman Carey spoke with a resident over the weekend about a small issue and he forwarded it to Brian. He took the village website and put it on the town facebook page. Ms. Loeven: asked for him to forward it to her.
Ken Pinkela thanked the attorney for allowing him to go pole by pole. Pinkela asked for specific addresses so that it would supplement the snap shot. The governor has a program that sadly we live in a region that is seen as depressed when it comes to IT accessibility. In the light of the new community center, we would love to work with that. He will volunteer to bring that together. That’s for the entire town. As we update the franchise agreement that would be fantastic. We would love to do that. We could be the IT hub. He added a suggestion about the dog park. He wanted to ask Dr. Roeder or Dr. Johnson. He just lost his dog. He was asked by the vet if he had taken his dog to a dog park. Some diseases are concerning because we live in a rural area.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell thinks $14-17,000 for 4 people that want to walk their dogs is outrageous. There’s a larger community concern. He spoke re: dog park in Rhinebeck. They closed their dog park due to lack of maintenance by the citizens with regard to fecal matter. It got on to adjacent athletic fields is why the town shut the park because of the nuisance.
Councilman Carey stated 2 months from today is community day. No more food vendors/completely booked. Looking for more arts/crafts vendors. More information is online & facebook page. The website now has a counter on it.
Councilwoman Sutherland read the following from a book “The 5 People You Meet in Heaven”: ‘Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that by hating someone we hurt them but hatred is a curved blade and the harm we do to others we also do to ourselves.’
Councilman Cambareri wanted to move along with the awards. Sutherland thanked police chief for their presence at the Otisville school 2 weeks ago when there were some issues on the campus.
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Supervisor Volpe mentioned Community Day. He invited any board members to be involved or anyone from the public. As it gets closer, it’s a lot to handle. Email or call him, if you would like to help.
POLICE AWARDS were presented at this time. Congratulations to all officers receiving their commendations. Chief Rickard thanked everyone.
Chief Rickard gave the following awards/commendations:
Officer Anna Briceno – Certificate of Merit for Recognition & Valued Contribution to Public Safety
Officer Angelo Vellake – Certificate of Merit in Recognition of his Valuable Contributions to Traffic Enforcement & Public Safety
Officer Jose Santiago (not present) – Certificate in Recognition of his Valuable Contributions to Traffic Enforcement & Public Safety
Officer Nick Ianuzzi (not present) – Certificate in Recognition of his Valuable Contributions to Traffic Enforcement & Public Safety
Officer Jim Rich & Officer Angelo Vellake – Dedicated Service Award in Grateful Appreciation of your Dedicated Service to the Residents of the Town of Mount Hope
Officer Bob Decker – 2016 Police officer of the Year
MOTION TO ADJOURN:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Carey to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 5, 2017 at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers RMC
Town Clerk
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