Town of Mount Hope Town Board Meeting April 6, 2020
The town board meeting of the Town of Mount Hope Town Board was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on April 6, 2020 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: Police Chief P. Rickard, Attorney D. Bavoso, Highway Supt. D. Hassenmayer.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey that the minutes of the March 16, 2020 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Notice from Board of Elections re: presidential primary postponed to June 23, 2020
- Budget modification from Police department
- Surplus equipment request from Police department
- Agreement for police shared services between T/Mount Hope, C/O Port Jervis & T/O Deerpark
- February Supervisor’s report February 2020
- Otisville FD call history report March 2020
- Notice from HV Water Co re: 2020 repair surcharge going out to HV residents
- Palmer’s Ark impound report for February & March 2020
- Police dept monthly report for February 2020
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings thanked all the 1st responders for their service during this time. He thanked the hospital staff for all they are doing. There is no planning board meeting this month. He made these announcements for the village: Village Hall is closed to public. Staff is available by phone. See village website for specific #’s; Veteran’s park is open for solitary exercise however the playground equipment has been closed; their trash pick up days were cancelled and will be rescheduled at some time in the future; last weeks board meeting was cancelled; their public hearing for their 20-21 budget will be on April 16, 2020 followed by the regular board meeting; copy of their budget is on village website – since the public hearing will be closed to the public, comments can be sent to the village clerk by email, fax or regular mail and will be read at correspondence during the meeting.
Councilman Furman thanked all the 1st responders and people in the medical field.
Councilman Carey added to Chris & Jim’s comments: Mount Hope police department. He knows Otisville has been going to medical calls; Howells has been out too and Mobile Life. He thanked the County Exec.
Councilman Howell spoke re: letter from NYS DOT about the culvert replacement. It’s scheduled for around April 30. The road will be shut for a duration in order to complete that. In terms of progress they are hoping to have it open for one lane of traffic. There will be a detour to take you from 211 to Shoddy Hollow then New Vernon road back to 211.
Supervisor Volpe noted the senior center and youth center will remain closed through April. He is very hopeful that all those buildings will be able to open in May. He would like to do the grand opening for the youth center on May 8. Locally, between now & Friday we will be at our peak. Our #’s after Friday will start to be coming down. He would like to get a date for mid-May for the AED-CPR classes. We’ve put them off 2x. he will keep everyone updated. He has started working on all the paperwork for summer rec. There’s stuff to go to county and state. He doesn’t know if we’ll be able to have it. Normally at this time of the year I would have started to set up the interviews. He can’t do interviews because he doesn’t know if we’ll be allowed to have summer rec. Nothing has been mentioned in the daily conference calls about summer rec programs. People locally really depend on that program. He would like to pencil in the opening date for the youth center for May 8 @5:00pm. He spoke re: 2nd quarter sales tax/real properties. Everything has been shut down. Locally, we are looking at 10-15%of what we normally get for our 2nd Q sales tax. We normally get around $250,000/quarter off shared services. We’re probably looking at $25-30,000 vs. $250,000.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported trash days will continue as normal. The only difference is we will have people stay in their cars. The guys will unload trash. He will have an extra man there to handle money transactions. He has plenty of gloves and face shields for the guys. He’s having new signs made for the trash days to tell people to remain in their vehicles. Councilman Carey will post on facebook. Supt. Hassenmayer stated the rest of the furniture came in today for the youth center. He suggested getting gutters for parts of the building.
He hasn’t had anyone come for the floor crack.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Supervisor Volpe noted that Chief Rickard is on these afternoon conference calls. Two concerns that came to him and he spoke to Paul about it over the weekend were: Coming from someone in the village that we did not have proper PPE for our police. Chief Rickard stated that is completely false. We were at the forefront in early March. We did an evaluation of what our needs were & what we had. We went on a bit of a buying spree so we have more than adequate supply of surgical masks, N95 masks, temporary face shields, permanent face shields. We bought stuff before the crush to get Tyvek suits and disposable gowns. We were at forefront of this. We have plenty of supplies. Every morning he and Marie go through what was used. The big concern is the Clorox wipes. We can’t seem to get enough. The guys wipe the cars down in between. He could use more of these wipes. We ordered additional supplies as a part of the evaluation. Last week we ordered another 75 of the N95 masks, additional Tyvek suits & they should get to us within the next 2 weeks. We have started developing policies which have been requested by police departments all over the area. He, Chad, Kelley Decker, Bill Worden got together to vote on a resolution for the mutual aid agreement. This is being copied throughout Orange County. Glenn wrote it up. Supervisor asked what the advantage to this agreement is. Chief: the advantage is/ the big fear is if one of us in the police department gets tests positive, we’re gonna lose a vast amount of people. We might not be able to respond to an emergency call. This resolution would allow me to call Bill Worden and say we have an emergency, can you answer/handle our emergency calls. This resolution pre-authorizes that. Currently, what we have to do is – I’d have to call Chad, Chad would have to try to track down another supervisor in another town & that takes a lot of time. Port Jervis will pass this as a local law once this is over. Supervisor: in speaking with Glenn, Deer park & Port Jervis have had this for years. Attorney Bavoso: one of the benefits of this agreement as well is it sets out liability issues. One of the questions for shared services among towns has always been: if you were to ask an officer from PJ to come in and help then be injured in the T/O Mount Hope – what would/who would be liable for that? Would it be the town or the city? It’s making that much more clear. It’s kind of delineating whose got the liability for any kind of injury. Supervisor: I believe the way it reads is we are all assuming our own liability for our own people. Chief: this puts us at the forefront. This is a big concern in Sullivan county. They have 4 police departments. The sheriff actually deputized everybody to resolve this issue up there. That’s not feasible in Orange County. This agreement has been requested and copied by a bunch of municipalities in Orange County. I think we were as prepared as any police agency in the US. I feel comfortable saying that. Supervisor: we have gotten stuff given to us from the county. Chief received a call about donations. We don’t need them. But, there’s a gentleman from Hidden Valley (Rogo Fasteners) donated rubber gloves to us, Wallkill & sheriff’s office. He lives in Mount Hope & he donated 500 gloves. They have plenty of supplies for all the officers. They will send a thank you letter to him. He spoke re: the list of items to surplus and destroy. He also has a budget modification for the sale of the car. The car from 2019 is here and out on the road. He reported that today they had their 1st virtual arraignment. The state set up a SKYPE for business account; the judge, legal aid, ADA, court stenographer all together in separate spots. We are no longer permitted to use the local judges for arraignments. The bail reform had some improvements – didn’t go as far as we wanted but they did expand the list. Time for discovery purpose was doubled. He appreciates the work of our local representatives who worked to make these changes.
APRIL 20, 2020 BOARD MEETING:
Supervisor Volpe asked the board’s thoughts on cancelling the next board meeting for this month. We don’t have any local laws or anything pressing. The bills will still get paid. Kathleen can put an ad in the paper for this. There are no matters other than paying the bills.
MOTION TO CANCEL APRIL 20, 2020 TOWN BOARD MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to cancel the April 20, 2020 town board meeting due to the virus and in the interest of the public & reconvene town board meetings as scheduled in May. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried. (The town hall is open for business via the black mailbox out front.)
MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOCAL LAW #4-2020 ENTITLED: AMENDING LOCAL LAW #4-2020 AMENDING SECTION 160-5 OF THE TOWN CODE OF MOUNT HOPE TO ALLOW ALCOHOL IN TOWN FACILITIES:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Furman to close the public hearing at 8:00pm for the LOCAL LAW #4-2020 ENTITLED: AMENDING LOCAL LAW #4-2020 AMENDING SECTION 160-5 OF THE TOWN CODE OF MOUNT HOPE TO ALLOW ALCOHOL IN TOWN FACILITIES. There were no written comments for this law. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
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MOTION TO APPROVE LOCAL LAW #4-2020 ENTITLED: AMENDING LOCAL LAW #4-2020 AMENDING SECTION 160-5 OF THE TOWN CODE OF MOUNT HOPE TO ALLOW ALCOHOL IN TOWN FACILITIES:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to APPROVE LOCAL LAW #4-2020 ENTITLED: AMENDING LOCAL LAW #4-2020 AMENDING SECTION 160-5 OF THE TOWN CODE OF MOUNT HOPE TO ALLOW ALCOHOL IN TOWN FACILITIES. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE MS-4 STORMWATER LAW:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the MS-4Stormwater law as presented. (on file in Town Clerk’s office) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to accept the Supervisor’s report for February 2020 as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT:
Supervisor asked the board members if anyone had any questions. Councilman Howell noted the scope of work is quite specific in terms of 24 hours/day. Out police department has 6 hour down time between midnight & 6am. Would we be required to answer during that period of time? Atty. Bavoso: no, the intent of that agreement is the opposite. Port Jervis is the only one that’s fulltime. If there’s an emergency during those down hours in either one of the other 2 towns, Port Jervis would be able to respond to it. Howell: this would have zero effect on the SRO’s? they wouldn’t be required to leave the school? Chief: no. We still have to be able to handle our own stuff as well.
AT THIS TIME, Supt. Hassenmayer explained that he is on the executive board for the Orange County Highway Supts. – he may be using a town truck on Wednesday to deliver lunches to 3 hospitals in Orange County. Orange Regional will be this Wednesday; dates haven’t been picked for Port Jervis or Newburgh yet.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR POLICE SHARED SERVICES WITH THE TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE, TOWN OF DEERPARK & CITY OF PORT JERVIS:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the police shared services agreement with T/O Deerpark & C/O Port Jervis and to authorize the Supervisor to execute the agreement. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE DEPT. BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to approve modification as follows:
Increase revenue a/c A2650 $6,200.00 and increase Police Equip. A3120.2 $6,200.00 (sale of a police vehicle). All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Volpe, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE SURPLUS EQUIPMENT REQUEST FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to surplus then destroy the following items as they are no longer usable:
Dell monitor, serial # ONO1VP.64180-11S-024S
Dell monitor, serial # FSS-110190010000-ACY-0292-A
Dell monitor, serial # CN-0x318J-74261-9AE-43FS
Dell desktop, serial # CN-0J4385-41362-08P-05E4
Prime, PRO1610 DVR, serial # 25SUSB0931
Data 911 Car Computer, serial # 25SUSB0931
Latham time clock, serial # SP608012P.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
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MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to approve the following bills (Abstract #12, #13, #14):
ABSTRACT 12:
GENERAL A: #193-202 $118,907.26
GENERAL B: #22-24 $ 9,566.58
HIGHWAY: #51-54 $ 47,613.12
SEWER: #23-26 $ 2,446.80
ABSTRACT 13:
GENERAL A: #203-212 $ 16,361.78
GENERAL B: #25 $ 8,239.50
HIGHWAY: #55-57 $ 20,113.26
SEWER: #27 $ 126.37
ABSTRACT 14:
GENERAL A: #213-224 $ 47,374.01
GENERAL B: #26-31 $ 8,310.66
HIGHWAY: #58-59 $ 22,490.71
SEWER: #28-29 $ 3,061.73.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
AT THIS TIME Supervisor Volpe asked Chief Rickard what the protocol is for hiring part time non-competitive police officers. Chief Rickard explained that part time is non-competitive. We do a background investigation, psychological test on them, they have to do a physical agility test based on our contractual agreement with the PBA. Generally speaking, people send their applications in; Mike/Anna will interview them, take a look at them & screen people as we go through the process. At the end, and when we know we like them, we call Chad to do an interview and then we send them up to the board. Supervisor asked what if they can’t pass the physical. Chief: they can’t be considered. Supervisor: what if they can’t pass the psychological? Chief: can’t be….Supervisor: what if they were a police officer somewhere else? Chief: if you have a retired police officer, they would have to follow the same standards. Anyone hired after, 2016, they have to take it every year and pass it. We have a group of them and every year they have to pass the agility test: run, push ups, sit ups. In past years, we have bought back some time from some as part of the contract negotiations. There’s still a group now that was not addressed in the last contract that just took effect. There’ll be a group this year, that are working, & if they don’t pass it then they can’t work anymore. Supervisor: even if you just recently retired from a police department and you wanna come here just part time, you still have to pass all this stuff? Chief: yes, because you’re non-competitive. There’s a difference. If we were looking at a competitive officer full or part time, then they would transfer with everything from where they came from. Their probation isn’t in effect. We are basically buying their time. We generally don’t have that very often. He explained the full-time process. He asked about Seth Mortenson’s resignation. Town Clerk has not received it. He explained that Seth has resigned and he is now at Port Jervis. He thinks the effective date was March 30.
MOTION TO ACCEPT RESIGNATION FORM POLICE OFFICER SETH MORTENSON:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to accept the resignation from Police Officer Seth Mortenson effective March 30, 2020. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
TRASH DAYS:
Highway Supt. Hassenmayer spoke re: bid opening for trash days. Tonnage went up from last year.
MOTION TO APPROVE MIDDLETOWN CARTING FOR C&D AND SCRAP METAL:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to approve Middletown Carting for C&D and scrap metal for the 2020 spring and fall clean-up as follows: C&D: $145/dumpster & $95/ton & scrap metal: no charge /container pull; and they pay the town $100/ton. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell thanked the supervisor for the updates from the county & state re: corona-virus.
Councilman Carey asked if we received any correspondence from the village that they cancelled their trash pick-up. He wants to be sure we are prepared for this. What if people from the village come to drop off stuff. Supervisor: we will accept it. He spoke re: conference calls with the county. He knows questions are coming up re: containment of a certain area. Is that a conversation that’s come up on the conference calls about getting supervisors together to write one big letter to the Governor’s office. The county exec did write a letter. Supervisor Volpe would have no problem writing one. He can get the language to David.
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MOTION TO AUTHORIZE SUPERVISOR VOLPE TO SEND LETTER TO GOVERNOR CUOMO
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to authorize the Supervisor to write a letter encouraging the Governor to contain all of the hot spots in Orange County, not to include anybody – not to exclude anybody, to follow through with the containment that should be put in to place pertinent to corona-virus. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
BOARD COMMENTS continued:
Councilman Furman appreciates being kept up to date by the supervisor. Keep doing what you’re doing. If you see someone that’s a nurse or doctor or EMT, thank them for what they’re doing. Don’t forget our local businesses – they survive because of us. Support our local businesses.
Councilman Jennings thanked the Supervisor for all the updates.
Supervisor Volpe: communication is key. He thinks all of our businesses are still open. He will put links on website for employers to keep employees with different funding. Last few weeks, Governor has come out with a lot of executive orders then the staff are trying to rush to write it up because there’s no direction on it. There’s a couple issues in the town that I contacted Paul on where there’s people saying people are hanging out together. Until recently, there wasn’t anything to really enforce it. Certain people you can go up and say something to them and they’re gonna laugh in your face. He wants everyone to do social distancing and follow all the rules. He will continue to keep everyone in the loop.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to adjourn the meeting at 8:20pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2020 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk