The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Mount Hope Senior Center on Baker Street, Otisville, NY on September 6, 2016 at 7:00pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilwoman Janet Sutherland, Councilman Dominick Cambareri and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Highway Supt. Hassenmayer, Police Chief Rickard, Attorney D. Bavoso.
The 2nd public hearing with regard to the options for the Old Otisville School was called to order by Supervisor Volpe at 7:00pm following the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisor called for a moment of silence in remembrance of 9-11. He asked for cell phones to be turned off/silenced.
2ND PUBLIC HEARING FOR OPTIONS FOR THE OLD OTISVILLE SCHOOL:
Supervisor Volpe: This is the 2nd public hearing for the old school. Town Clerk Myers: public hearing notice is available. Supervisor: there will be a 3 minutes cut-off; come to podium/state name.
Alison Miller: spoke re: flier that went out this evening and available here. There’s a list on the back of grants that the organization will be exploring as possible funding. There was a prior question as to where else is this happening: Sophie Finn Elementary School in Kingston is now the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster (satellite campus), Rosendale Elementary school in Rondout Valley is now a shared town hall for Rosendale & Marbletown, Liberty Street school in Middletown is now the Center for Youth programs (branch of YMCA) and Hamilton Avenue school in Warwick is now the Warwick Valley Community Center. Megan Tannerman is here and will speak later.
Frank Ketcham: they chose not to do power point this time. The points of the power point were: to demo the building at tax payer cost, to rehab the building at tax payers cost or turn school over to Friends of Otisville School for adaptive re-use. We see it to foster a sense of community, consolidate municipal spaces (town offices and village offices together), support programs for local residents and preserve the historic building; bring town/village courts to the building, emergency center etc. We see this as a good for our community at a time when there are so many negatives. We are looking to do this without taking tax payer money.
Bob Clouse: He is president of Otisville School Inc. Their organization is not for profit 501.c3 public charity formed earlier this year. The old school has tremendous potential & ideally suited for a unique cultural & community resource. They strongly oppose the premature & unnecessary demolition of this structurally sound local landmark. He noted the 3 options: rehab by taxpayers for $4 million dollars – he queried numerous residents re: future of the old school. No one supports spending tax payer money on rehab of the old school. He believes this option will be dead on arrival. Demo – is unnecessary & fraught with its own costs and uncertainties. Recent bids quote approx. $250,000 for demolition the engineer’s report estimates the cost to be $1.6 million. Either way demo will be expensive. Single family houses that could be there would be competing with the many homes already on the market. There’s a possibility the properties built there could be sold or purchased as a block (inaudible) referendum. Our organization proposes to rehabilitate & develop the property through the use of the large & talented volunteer labor force through a network of contributors and active fundraising programs, public/private grants, endowments etc. We currently believe that this is the best option for the school. It will cost the taxpayers of Mount Hope nothing & will relieve the town of a tiresome, unwanted burden. If we are successful at our endeavor, we gain a thriving unique eclectic thriving community arts/educational center that will be a cultural/economic asset for Mount Hope, Otisville and surrounding region. If we are not successful, we have lost nothing but our efforts. Why rush to demolish this building? Cambareri – 3 minutes are up.
Gary Keeton has seen a number of municipal buildings, schools and other buildings around the country that have been picked up by 501.3c’s and turned into various (inaudible) entities. About 1 in 15 fails. The plusses are enumerable. The potential for bringing things to Otisville/Mount Hope that are economically viable are an asset to the community. It’s a no-brainer. Giving up a building is hard. In this case it makes all the sense in the world.
Maryann McDonough went to that school k-12. That’s the history and what we can do here with your vote is be part of the future. Part of the future is not to knock down a decent building that is still in decent shape to be properly used. Give this group with nothing (no profit/no motive) but altruism other than to do the right thing for our community.
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McDonough cont.: It’s imperative that the people that are a part of this vote, that it be presented honestly and that they give this group a chance. You have nothing to lose. If you sell the building, you don’t know what’s going to get in there. Even if you sell it to single family dwellings, it’s well known that single family dwellings, the taxes that are paid on single family dwellings which would be paid to the Village of Otisville as well as the county & town, that it costs more to sustain a private residence than the taxes it would take to generate from there. Give this group a chance and in 6 years you may have a very successful operation that others will try to imitate.
Jim Kowalczik asked if we’d be responsible for any accidents or lawsuits incurred while they have this building. Supervisor has a list of questions that people have asked of him. Kowalczik: in 5-6 years if this doesn’t work out, we go through this again? Bavoso: if it’s a full transfer of sale, the town wouldn’t be responsible for the building once title is taken by whatever entity for the sale or transfer. The only way the town would be liable would be if they leased it instead of giving up title to it. Kowalczik: if this fails in 5-6 years for them, they can turn around and sell it? Bavoso: potentially. Discussion previously had been to put a reverted clause in so that if work hadn’t been done, it would automatically revert back to the town for ownership. Supervisor (to atty.): we would have no liability as the town, if someone was to get hurt rehabbing the building? Bavoso: if it were purchased or the town were to give up title to the property or ownership to property than there would be no liability to the town. Supervisor: there’s not issues with the comptroller actually giving..Bavoso: let me clarify, if someone brings a lawsuit and names the town, they’ll name the town but it’s unlikely that the liability would be on behalf of the town for a private property. Supervisor: it’s legal to give away property? Bavoso: you’ll want some sort of nominal compensation. It’s important that the town articulates that they feel it’s the best return possible for the town and why. Cambareri: started to look through the comptroller guidelines on prices & values of buildings, there’s another call to the Assoc. of Towns, odds are we’re not going to be able to give it up for $1. Those days are gone. It’s gonna have to be a viable compensation. We’ll know more when we hear back from the Comptroller’s office & Assoc. of Towns. Supervisor asked if there are ways around it. Bavoso: the issue is definition of compensation and what that term in the law is and if the value of having a privately owned property that’s completely rehabbed and fully functioning and positive building in the town, it could be worth any purchase price that you put on it. That’s why I said the town board would have to thoroughly articulate the reasons why they feel the returns they’d be getting is in the best interest of the town. Supervisor: that is obviously transferring the title? Bavoso: that’s correct. Cambareri: Another thing for the committee to consider if they take title of the building in any way is your insurance policy. Our insurance company allows no volunteerism to do anything except clean-up work. Volunteers aren’t allowed to use a step ladder or step stool – they’re not allowed to use any tools especially power tools. So if you’re gonna rely on volunteerism, you’ll have to take that into consideration when you take out an insurance policy. You said at the last meeting that you’re a 501.3c non for profit operation that you wouldn’t have to pay prevailing wage, but if you get any grants form any community organizations, you absolutely have to pay prevailing wage; that’s the law.
Megan Tannerman: (from OC Planning) has an interest in adaptive re-use. She will leave cards on the back table. She’s been in conversation with Alison & Frank. She asked if anyone had questions. She provided a list of organizations that are offering grant money. This is not a complete list. There’s more money at this point being offered – more from the park service and others. Cambareri: asked if she was familiar with the 4 schools they noted that were refurbished. Tannerman: to an extent. Cambareri: any idea how much was done by grant vs. tax payer money? Tannerman: some were offered by the state and federal government some came from tax payer money. The remainder was private grants – private and non-profit. Cambareri: are you familiar with liberty street school in Middletown? Tannerman: no. Cambareri: Warwick? Tannerman: no. The one I am most familiar with is in Newburgh the arboretum community center. Cambareri: it would be a wise idea for the committee to do more research to find out how much was done by private money vs. public money.
Mary Maurizzio: asked how much has it cost the town for this building from when the acquired it. Supervisor has no idea. Maurizzio: curious what it has cost the town so far. Initial thought was to demolish the building even though her kids went to it. She changed her mind but it is pending. Someone said you should sell it to them for $1. Doesn’t know if he was serious or not. She spoke about hearing there should be fair compensation to the town. Bavoso: the town board has the fiduciary responsibility to achieve the best return possible. Whether that’s compensation or something else, isn’t defined, it’s up to the town board.
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Bavoso: it would need to be articulated to survive defense. Maurizzio: could just be betterment of the town? Bavoso: could yes. Maurizzio: who insures the building while in possession of someone else? Supervisor: would not be the town. Bavoso: would be a private owner. Or the LLC if they are the entity that takes title. Maurizzio: she spoke of volunteers and insurance. Cambareri: when they did the clean up, the guidelines were strict: no ladders/step stools, no power tools for the volunteers. Maurizzio: if it doesn’t work out on 5-6 years…Bavoso: they would go to the reverted clause. Maurizzio: it would be in the contract? Bavoso: it would be in the contract/deed. Cambareri: 3 minutes are up.
Mike L: we’re talking about a transfer of this property to an LLC, they would own it outright for 5 years to be determined whether or not this work could get done, could turn it into whatever they felt could fit best and if it was and they’d keep it forever or it could be turned back over. Has anybody figured out the scope of the work to be done? If they renovate one room, can they use it for a meeting for a hunting club once a month? DO you want the whole building renovated? Supervisor: water has been shut off for 7 years. There’s a lot of unknowns. Mr. L: maybe the town and the LLC want to get together and bang their heads on and decide whether or not the bottom floors need to get going; maybe the cafeteria floors…the gym… Supervisor: basically you want to see where they wanna be in 6 years. Mr. L.: a large parcel can be subdivided and further explained subdivisions & what could happen. Bavoso: can’t tell you what’s gonna happen tomorrow or if you transfer the property to them; I would require the town board articulate the restrictions on what they want. Cambareri: 3 minutes are up.
Councilman Howell: asked how long the renovations took for the other buildings earlier noted. Miller: the Sophie Finn elementary school was taken over by their organization 2 years ago and didn’t require extensive renovations and was turned into a satellite for SUNY Ulster. AS far as the others, I don’t think they required extensive renovations. None of them sat empty for 5-7 years. Howell: asked about transfer of title and renovation was a success could there be deed restrictions of perpetuity to keep this structure…Bavoso: we could potentially build that in. He recommends you give specific criteria for the reversion and give the town a right of first refusal. Deed restrictions can only be wiped away by litigation or by the entity that creates them voting to wipe them away. You can put restrictions in and make it so that it requires town board approval for those restrictions.
F. Ketcham: in a good faith effort to save the tax payers money, I brought in a 2nd bidder to do an engineer study and saved us $7,000 on that study. In another effort to save the tax payers money I would ask the board to please try to get the vote in on the general election this fall that way it wouldn’t cost any additional money to put this up for a vote. Bavoso: the vote is trickier than most people think. New York is very particular about referendums. They don’t like referendums. The policy in NYS is you elect people to make those decisions for you. And in select circumstances a referendum may be needed. 2 things can happen. The supervisor has mentioned to me the potential of doing a mailing and basically doing a straw-pole without going through an official referendum. 2nd option would be a permissive referendum. In order for this board to initiate a -referendum, the board would have to 1st take the action that would be subject to the permissive referendum. Then they would be able to make a motion to hold a referendum on that particular issue after they took the action. When the property was sold it was subject to a permissive referendum there was a certain amount of time. This would be basically the board initiating the referendum accomplishing the same goal. Supervisor Volpe: hypothetically, if the board voted to transfer the property, we could immediately pass a resolution to initiate a referendum. Then the voters could say would you like the property transferred to Old School LLC or not. Bavoso: that’s correct.
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Howell to close the public hearing at 7:34pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #10-2016 ENTITLED “EXTENDING THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT:
Supervisor Volpe opened the hearing at 7:34. Town Clerk Myers has the public hearing notice. Bavoso: this is a mandatory referendum. Supervisor explained this is the board saying we’d like to explore the option for a 4 year term for the highway superintendent. However, the taxpayers would actually vote for this. If not, it will revert back to 2 years.
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Councilman Cambareri: One of the reasons for exploring this is Dean is not that far away from retirement. It has come to our attention that there’s so many schools involved to be a superintendent that in 2 years you won’t have enough time to pass the schools and get the certifications to do the job. Most towns expanded it to a 4 year term. There’s a tons of school with wastewater management, a ton with highway management.
Supt. Hassenmayer: on Friday he took a 2 ½ hour test to be an operator for underground storage tanks. DEC is (inaudible) class A operator available. Same with NYS PESH if you don’t have the proper records. The knowledge of what records do we keep for employees, the town is liable for big time fines. The list goes on. It’s the state organizations that create all these. By the time a new person gets elected, they’re working off the previous superintendents’ budget and by the time they get all the qualifications in line, it’s time to run for election again. Cambareri: so ultimately it’s left up to the voters for the referendum. Councilwoman Sutherland: asked how many other towns have 4 year terms. Hassenmayer: last year the statistics were at 46% that were at 4 year terms. There are quite a few that are trying to switch over this year. Local towns in Orange County are Minisink pursuing it; he doesn’t know of any others in Orange County. A lot are already at 4 years. New Paltz is going to vote for 4 year term this year. Sutherland asked if he knew of any in our area at 4 years right now. Hassenmayer: yes, Chester is. I don’t want to mis-quote myself. I can furnish a list to you. Sutherland asked Mr. Cole (councilman for Wawayanda) if he knew. Mr. Cole: the only one in Orange County is Minisink in this western area. Supervisor: doesn’t see any reason the voters couldn’t vote on it. Bavoso: in order for this to happen/ go on this year’s general election, you would have to vote on the law this evening. Sutherland: is the highway sup’r the only one who can hold the certifications you are talking about? Can anyone else hold them? Hassenmayer: the tank can be the highway supt. or town supervisor or you can hire a contractor to do it. Sutherland: so no one else? Hassenmayer: there’s 3 classes of licenses. Your assistant can be your class B the operators would be class C.
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Carey to close public hearing at 7:41pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
Supervisor stated that he read only the first page of the minutes.
RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland that the minutes of the 8-16-2016 meeting as submitted by the Town Clerk are approved. All in favor: Howell, Sutherland, Cambareri; Opposed: Volpe, Carey. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Decision/Order re: Dragon Springs Article 78 proceeding
Impound report for August 2016
2016/2017 OC Snow & Ice Agreement $4750/mile
NYS Unified Court system requesting annual audit of court books
2016 summer rec program contract
Building dept. August 2016 report
Corres. From HV Water Co. re: annual water quality report
Letter from Nik Seger music director at summer rec
OCDPW sent road closing notice for Guymard Tpk.
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilman Cambareri: Matt & Wayne will be looking at the generator @ the sewer plant. They will be giving us a price. He asked Dean if he stopped to look at it. Dean: yes he didn’t see anything wrong with it. He didn’t look at the older one but he will. Cambareri: the black iron pipe that goes through it is rotted off. He will meet with Mike and check on it. Cambareri: asked if it self- tests. Dean: yes. Cambareri: we’ve had quite a few rentals for the hall.
Councilwoman Sutherland: spoke of Devan’s Gate. She’s been in touch with the county regarding issues with the retaining wall and sewage issues this past week. Rich Mayfield is on vacation. The woman in charge said it’s a constant fight to get retaining wall fixed.
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Sutherland cont.: It’s a terrible hazard. 4H harvest festival is coming up. Supervisor added that they need executive session for this.
Councilman Carey: spoke re: diesel fuel damage to little league field and damage from the fair. No report for football. Devan’s Gate prescription pick up was not too successful. He suggested to them to put this in their monthly notices. He spoke re; DCO and NO DOGS signs being put up at the park. He was asked when the rule was passed that no dogs were allowed in the park. Dean: believes it was part of the rules created when the park was created.
Councilman Howell: fire bids were Friday. Sale of property to Cornell is later on agenda.
Supervisor Volpe: informed the board that they received the tentative budget today. He explained to Councilman Carey that all the columns filled in now are from all the department heads.
COMITTEE REPORTS:
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT by Highway Supt. Hassenmayer:
He noted the county snow/ice agreement. He suggests signing.
Supervisor asked how we stand on salt. Dean: we are at 80% capacity. We need to keep some room for the fall clean up. Councilwoman Sutherland asked what the dates are for clean-up. Dean stated: 1st 2 weekends in October. He spoke re: TV’s. He gave the report to everyone. They are at double for the electronic recycling. He suggests charging $5/TV so we don’t go over budget. He received a letter from the tire collector. There’s a slight increase from the spring. Supervisor asked if size matters on the TV’s.
MOUNT HOPE FIRE:
Report read into record by Stu Carver. Wet downs at summer rec are done. We’ll be there next year. They covered the fair. There was 24 medical calls at the fair. They covered the race at the fair. On 9/18 they are having a water resource drill on Old Mountain Road from 8-12.All surrounding fire departments will be there. One lane will be closed. He did a fire safety talk at Lake Guymard.
POLICE DEPT:
Chief Rickard reported:
11 lbs. of drugs have been collected so far.
Moon Festival – they met with the organizers. They agreed to pay for 1 officer for the night. We need to approve this. Bavoso: need to pay all costs for the town officer that night.
He requested permission to send 1 officer to training class in Syracuse for $510 (plus food costs) Nov. 7-11. It’s a train the trainer class called Blue Courage. Councilman Carey noted that little league fall ball is same day as Moon Festival. Chief added that they need a resolution to close the basketball courts early that day. There will be no free food this year. Councilwoman Sutherland noted it’s the same day as the 4H fall festival also. Rickard: think we’ll be fine. Last year it had no effect on us at all. Councilman Carey asked which pavilion. Dean the big one.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE (Trustee Loeven):
Spoke re: oil spill from the fair rides. The DPW quarantined the area & contacted the DEC for a spill #. The DEC authorized them to do the abatement. It had to be contained in 55 gal drums. Frank contacted the company authorized to do the removal and the cost of that will be forwarded to the lions club who will probably pass it along to the ride company. Carey asked how many drums. Loeven: I think 2.
Supervisor asked Diane if they had their meeting yet. Loeven: it was last week. Supervisor asked if their board approved the summer rec contract. Loeven: no, they didn’t have contract at time of meeting.
OLD OTISVILLE SCHOOL:
Supervisor asked attorney to check with comptroller to see if they can transfer the property without compensation. Bavoso: there is precedence for doing it. He gave an example of a building in Port Jervis. He will contact the Assoc. of Towns and the comptroller. Supervisor told board to email attorney with any questions.
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RESOLUTION FOR MOON FESTIVAL:
MOTION offered by Councilman Carey 2nd by Councilman Howell to approve the charge of a cost of one police officer for the Moon Festival on Sept. 17 for the town to be reimbursed. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO CHARGE FOR TV/COMPUTERS FOR FALL CLEAN-UP:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Carey to approve a $5 flat rate charge for Televisions, computer monitors & CRT’s turned in for clean- up. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO SEND AN OFFICER TO TRAINING SCHOOL IN SYRACUSE:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to approve a police officer going to training school in Syracuse Nov. 7-11 for $510 plus food. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE BASKETBALL COURTS ON 9-17-16 AT 6:00PM:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland to close the basketball courts at 6:00pm on Sept. 17 for the remainder of the night. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
WIFI FOR SENIOR CENTER:
Chief Rickard stated we need an additional IP address to do what we wanted to do. It’s $10/month. They would also need an electrical outlet in the attic.
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE ORANGE COUNTY 2016-2017 SNOW & ICE AGREEMENT:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to approve the 2016/2017 Snow & Ice Agreement for the County for certain roads for $4,750.00/mile for a total of 9.18 miles. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
2016 SUMMER REC CONTRACT:
Supervisor stated the total amount due from the town/village for summer rec is $916.31. The town portion is $760.54, village is $155.77.
RESOLUTION TO APPROVE 2016 SUMMER RECREATION CONTRACT:
MOTION offered by Councilman Carey 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to authorize the Supervisor to sign the summer rec contract and close out this year. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Cambareri; Nay: Sutherland. Motion carried.
Cambareri asked Supervisor to explain the difference between last year and this year. Supervisor stated the biggest was the cost. Last year is was $13-14,000 and this year was less than that. They were able to get a lot of things at a cheaper price.
COURT AUDIT:
Supervisor asked Matt & Brian to do this. They will provide Kathleen with a date to make sure all the records are here.
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #10 ENTITLED: EXTENDING THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd Councilman Howell to adopt Local Law #10-2016 ENTITLED: EXTENDING THE TERM OF OFFICE OF THE HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Cambareri; Nay: Sutherland. Motion carried.
2017 FIRE PROTECTION BIDS:
Attorney Bavoso recommended that no action be taken yet as he has not yet seen them.
CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION:
Supervisor Volpe spoke re: selling the property to Cornell Coop. Sometime next week will be the closing.
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RESOLUTION TO DECLARE LEAD AGENCY:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Carey that the Town of Mount Hope Town Board designates itself “lead agent” for the purpose of SEQR & declares it to be a Type 1 action. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION FOR NEGATIVE DECLARATION:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland RESOLVED that the Town of Mount Hope Town Board is making a negative declaration as defined by Part 617 of the NY Environmental Law and the SEQR review process and authorize the Supervisor to sign the EAF. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN CONTRACTS OF SALE:
MOTION offered by Councilman Carey 2nd by Councilwoman Sutherland to allow the Supervisor to sign all necessary documents for the closing of the property. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
S-B-L 19-1-29 TAX SALE:
Supervisor stated last Wednesday night he received a call from Melissa Bonacic re: property on the ridge. There is a piece of property available for tax sale; it’s 34.8 acres and avail. for $7500. He reached out to Dominick and Matt who agreed. He requested executive session to discuss same.
RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd by Councilman Cambareri to enter into executive session at 8:17pm to discuss 2 contractual items. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING:
MOTION offered by Councilman Carey 2nd by Councilman Howell to reconvene regular meeting from executive session at 8:37pm. THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN AT THIS SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO PURCHASE SBL 19-1-29 OFF TAX SALE:
MOTION offered by Councilwoman Sutherland 2nd Councilman Carey to move forward to try to acquire parcel SBL 19-1-29 from the County for a tax sale in the amount of $7500.00. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered by Councilman Cambareri 2nd by Councilman Howell to approve the following bills for Abstract 18:
GENERAL A:#495-527$ 67,730.01
GENERAL B:#112-119$ 10,492.91
HIGHWAY:#122-132$112,053.13
SEWER:#67-70$ 2,436.46
CAP RES GEN B:#1$ 8,640.00.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Cambareri; abstained: Carey & Sutherland. carried.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Alison Miller asked about the comprehensive plan and the members chosen. Supervisor stated there is 1 planning board member, 1 ZBA member, 2 town board members, village liaison, Jim Kowalczik, Ike Palmer. Miller asked if any consideration was given for diversity on the committee. She gave some % to what there should be to what there actually is. Cambareri stated that Diane was asked but refused. Howell added that they do have public participation in those meetings. Miller: we all know there’s a difference between a committee that’s going to draft recommendations to a board vs. public hearings. It remains that there is very little diversity on the committee now.
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Diane Loeven: Hometown Helpers training on 9-12 from 10-noon at Village Hall.
Mary Maurizzio: clarified that the fire contract was not voted on. Supervisor: attorney did not have time for review. Maurizzio: spoke re: retaining wall at Devan’s Gate. Can’t the town do it and bill the owner? Bavoso: wouldn’t recommend as a 1st option because the town would make itself liable for anything that happens to that wall after. It has to be a last resort. Maurizzio: injury to a child at the fair who ran into a sign. Suggested a height adjustment. Supervisor explained that the park typically closes at dusk; this happened at night. Maurizzio: spoke re: no dogs being allowed at fair but they got in anyway. Cambareri: 3 minutes are up.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell spoke of sink hole on 211 near the frontier building. State DOT has attempted to repair it. It’s gaining size by day. He would like for supervisor to send letter asking for immediate or as soon as possible repair to that section. Councilman Carey asked H’way Supt. if he had contacted the state about this. Hassenmayer has not talked to them but he knows they are aware.
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE ATTY. BAVOSO TO SEND LETTER TO NYS DOT:
MOTION offered by Supervisor Volpe 2nd by Councilman Carey to authorize the supervisor to draft a letter to the state about this sink hole; attorney will draft letter. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
RESOLUTION TO ADJOURN:
MOTION offered by Councilman Howell seconded by Councilman Carey to adjourn the meeting at 8:48pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Sutherland, Cambareri; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2016 at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers RMC
Town Clerk
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