TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE BOARD MEETING, February 4 , 2019

The town board meeting of the Town of Mount Hope Town Board was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on February 4, 2019 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Deputy Police Chief M. Maresca, Attorney D. Bavoso, Highway Supt. D. Hassenmayer.

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 Furman 2nd Councilman Carey that the minutes of the January 22, 2019 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1. (3) budget modifications (2 police & 1 highway)
2. Justice resolution
3. January impound report Palmer’s Ark
4. Orange County tourism grant resolution
5. Max Heinz court officer resignation effective immediately
6. Highway dept. truck bid minutes from January 31, 2019
7. 2018 Hometown Helpers report
8. Letter from O&R re: paving & road improvement scheduling
9. Letter from Cornell Coop. Extension re: Listing of 2018 “In Kind” contributions to their organization
10. HOPE NOT HANDCUFFS flier
11. January 2019 building department report

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings reported the village meeting is 7pm Thursday, the planning board meets 2-20 at 7pm and the DCO vehicle has been repaired.
Councilman Furman reported the ZBA meeting is on Feb 6th at 7pm with a public hearing as well.
Councilman Carey reported our facebook page finally hit 1,000 likes. He noted the concert series grant resolution is on the agenda. He ran into the summer camp director from last year. He wanted to know about running the ad for directors.
Councilman Howell explained that the audit was completed for the justice court and resolution will be adopted tonight. There were no issues found. He reported on sink hole on Rte 211. He sent 3 emails Friday night. One to Aileen Gunther, Jenn Metzger and the Assembly task force all with regard to this pot hole issue. Someone from Aileen Gunther’s office called town hall today and she is looking into the matter. He reported on the senior center floor last time and is still looking into this.
Supervisor Volpe reported Aileen Gunther’s office reached out to him to have a couple Town Hall’s here at our town hall in the next month or so. It would be on the off Mondays that we don’t have a board meeting. It will be advertised to the public. He asked Councilman Carey to post the ad about directors. He would like all applications received by March 1st. He noted the grant received for the concert series. He thanked Councilman Carey who explained the reason it’s less this year because the ‘pot’ is so much bigger this year.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported on the concrete at the new community center. They will be digging the footings tomorrow & they will probably be there tomorrow afternoon to start framing out. The pex piping that was discussed that had to be ordered – it wasn’t an in stock item for those diameters. It was ordered and we have another week before we see that. The insulation people that won the bid – he called him on the 25th & told him it would be at least 2 weeks before he can come do his work. Supervisor Volpe added that he actually put a voucher in (for a down payment) with tonight’s bills for him but we will hold the check. Supt. Hassenmayer added that the windows were installed. The guys were downstairs and built a new room for the little league. All that’s left is the taping & spackling which they’ll do tomorrow. He spoke re: truck bids. 2 bids were received. One from Robert Green in Monticello – price for 2 trucks $105,842.00. The other bid is from Eagle Auto Mall in Riverhead NY – their price 2 trucks $102,256.00; $3,586 less than Robert Green. This is for the cab & chassis. He is still working on the accessory equipment: plows, bodies, sanders. It is about 12 weeks lead time for the trucks. He recommends Eagle Auto. Councilman Carey asked about sending letters to the different organizations that have stuff in the senior center basement, can he get the boy scouts involved in getting the stuff out of there for clean-up week.
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Supervisor: yes. It’s been done before. Councilman Carey noted the pipe ran over for communications wire for the phone – he wants to make sure that when they spray foam he might poke it through the wall.

MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FROM EAGLE AUTO FOR 2 TRUCKS:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to accept bid from Eagle Auto Mall for in the amount of $102,256.00 for the trucks bid. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.

At this time, Supervisor Volpe explained about the room under the police station side of the building that was used for little league that is now getting moved into an open spot and where the little league currently has their stuff we received a $50,000 grant to do men’s/women’s locker rooms for the police department. We don’t currently have but need. Mike Romano put lights in it today. During clean up we’re gonna demolish the room that little league had while we have dumpsters. There is no effect to the little league having card access to that area. That will open the outside door then they’ll have their own key.

Supt. Hassenmayer explained that this Wednesday he and Lou Ingrassia (T/O Wallkill) and a highway supt. from Orange County are going up to Syracuse to meet with the state association of Highway Supts. to discuss the budget this year.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Deputy Chief Maresca explained that Officer Skoufis & Office Burke are going to be receiving an award from the Orange County Legislator on Thursday for their efforts in getting the murder suspects from Louisiana & also the NYC Lt. Benevolent Assoc. will give them an award in March. It’s being recognized throughout which is nice to see.

VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven had no report at this time.

MOTION TO RE-AAPOINT DENNIS KETCHAM AS ASSESSOR:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to re-appoint Dennis Ketcham as Assessor from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2025. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE JUSTICE COURT AUDIT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell that the justice records/receipts & docket have been duly examined and that the fines therein collected have been turned over to the proper officials of the Town of Mount Hope as required by law. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.
(AT THIS TIME, Councilman Howell explained there was a 4 page packet that needed to be completed to go along with this audit resolution which they did with the assistance of the court clerks.)

MOTION TO AMEND THE HIGHWAY BUDGET MODIFICATION FROM DECEMBER 20, 2018 MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the following modification:
Increase Revenue DB3501 State Aid by $35,518.27 &
Increase Expense DB 5112.2 Improvements by $35,518.27. (Extreme Winter Recovery & PAVE NY programs) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to approve these modifications:
Increase Revenue A1520 by $8,960 &
Increase Revenue A3120.4 Police Contractual by $8,960. (reimbursement costs associated with school resource officer program); AND
Increase both Revenue A3389 & A3120.1 Police Personal Svcs. By $790.28 (Orange County STOP DWI)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.

RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ARTS, HERITAGE & TOURISM GRANT:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to authorize the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope to accept the grant from 2019 County Executive Arts, Heritage & Tourism grant program in the amount of $2,500 to support the ‘Summer Concert Series’ project. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.
(Councilman Carey has had 2 people contact him already about playing at the series.)

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION FROM COURT OFFICER MAX HEINZ:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to accept the resignation from Court Officer Max Heinz effective immediately. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.

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POLICE AWARDS:
Supervisor Volpe explained that the police awards will be after the board meeting on May 20, 2019 – unless the board had any issues with that.

HOPE NOT HANDCUFFS:
Deputy Police Chief Maresca explained this program and the heroin epidemic. This organization is here to try to combat this. It’s simply a program that if somebody needs help and they come to the police station looking for help, we are an avenue to help get them that help. If they have warrants, that’s not something we ignore because of this. It’s not that involved on our end. “Angels” are volunteers – they are on call and that’s who we contact and they try to get them placed somewhere for help. In the event that there’s not an angel available, we have a little more of a role to try to get them that help. Catholic charities in Monticello will take people in if they have the availability. He is in favor of this. There will be no increase in our budget. Annette Carr is the executive director of this. She would come in to a meeting. They would provide a big bin to the department with supplies in it for the people that come in ie: candies, socks, sweaters etc. They will have a binder with contacts in it. Supervisor Volpe explained for about a month we have toyed with this. A few residents reached out to him that would like to become an angel. Angel training is free. He doesn’t see a downside to this. There are other departments involved in this program: Town of Wallkill, Middletown, Maybrook, Town of Montgomery. There was discussion on the transport, donations of essentials and how to become an “Angel”.

MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ‘HOPE NOT HANDCUFFS’ PROGRAM:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to move forward with the “Hope Not Handcuffs” program. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.

AT THIS TIME, Supervisor Volpe & board members reviewed dates to have a Hometown Helpers Appreciation celebration. They agreed to do this after the meeting on April 15.

MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the following bills (Abstract #3):
GENERAL A: #53-84 $ 60,894.98
GENERAL B: #11-12 $ 2,948.46
HIGHWAY: #10-18 $ 43,209.70
SEWER: #10-15 $ 2,236.14
HOWELLS FIRE: #1 $200,628.60
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Alison Miller spoke re: transparency with the town board. Our meetings are taped. She attended a planning board meeting on Jan 16 and was disappointed at the way the meeting was run. There were no name plates so she had no idea who anyone was. And, the engineer was smirking & mocking the public as they were asking questions. She thinks that was inappropriate. Residents were there because they received a notice in the mail and had concerns with the proposed subdivision. Councilman Carey added that both the ZBA & planning board were approached about recording their meetings and neither wanted to have the meetings recorded. Councilman Jennings will speak with the planning board about taping their meetings and using their name plates.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell spoke re: Rte 211 pot hole. He encouraged people to reach out to our state/local representatives.
Councilman Carey spoke re: Devan’s Gate water pipe break. While he was there, a couple people spoke to him regarding possibly getting rides to/from hospital visits/doctor appts. He noted Hometown Helpers to them. He spoke re: a couple years ago trying to get a Dial-A-Bus a couple years ago. There has to be a decent amount of input and he’s not looking to step on Hometown Helpers. He spoke re: Lions Club Easter egg hunt. He only brought up about the town doing an Easter egg hunt is because last year it was cancelled contrary to this letter that was written to the board. He has zero issue he just wants to be sure the kids have some sort of Easter egg hunt in the Town of Mount Hope. It doesn’t matter to him who’s title is on there as far as the Lions Club or the town board. The letter that was addressed to us from January 15th said something about having successful Easter egg hunt for the last 3 years. Councilman Jennings: that was a typo. Councilman Carey hopes the Lions Club has a successful egg hunt. He’s seen it advertised. He is withdrawing his comment about the town having their own egg hunt. Councilman Jennings would like to see the town and the Lions Club work together on this. He thinks it would be beneficial.
Councilman Furman: none

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Councilman Jennings announced the Otisville Lions Club basketball league is hosting a boys and girls all- star game on February 22, 2019 to raise money for Minisink Cares. Girls game is at 7:30 and boys game is right after. He would like to see everyone come out to support Minisink Cares.

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.

The next meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2019 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk

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