Town of Mount Hope Town Board Meeting October 5th, 2020
REGULAR MEETING, TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE, OCTOBER 5, 2020
www.townofmounthope.org
The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Mount Hope Youth & Recreation Center on Baker Street, Otisville NY, on October 5, 2020 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matthew Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman & Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief P. Rickard, D. Hassenmayer H’way Supt., D. Bavoso Town Attorney.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm. He asked everyone to silence or turn off their cell phones.
MOTION TO APPROVE PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the minutes from September 21, 2020 as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Letter of interest from Sheena Mathew for ZBA alternate vacancy
- Letter of interest from Jeff Boyd for Planning Board alternate vacancy
- Letter of interest from Jan Muller for Board of Assessment review vacancy
- 2020 Halloween curfew
- Police request to surplus items
- Supervisor’s budget modification
- JCAP resolution
- Letter from OC clerk’s office re: LiveOnNY re: organ transplant
- July/August/September mortgage tax receipts
- T/O Wallkill planning board public hearing notice for 10/7/2020 at 7:30pm re: subdivision on Derby Road
- Email from EcolSciences re: 187 Finchville solar project re: long eared bats
- Otisville fire dept. fire calls for Sept. 2020
- Quote from Ketcham Fencing re: rail fence at park
- Police Body Worn Cameras policy
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilman Howell is working on getting the final details ready for Veteran’s ceremony. Due to COVID-19 there’s a change in procedure. They will have a small ceremony at the youth center.
Councilman Carey gave a facebook update. 1642 followers. He thanked Paul Barth for helping put up the flags in the youth center. The little league is doing their coin drop on October 17. He noted the quote from Ketcham fence for updating fencing at the town park.
Councilman Furman noted the ZBA meeting will be on October 7, 2020 @ 7pm. Interviews for the zoning board will be tomorrow night.
Councilman Jennings noted the next village meeting is October 15th at 7pm. The village is starting to paint the outside of the firehouse. Our planning board meets on the 21st at 7pm. He will be meeting with applicants for the planning board vacancy. The little league had a great turn out for their tournament this past weekend. He spoke with Brian Lattimer about an issue they had with the home run balls going into the residents’ yards. They were looking to have us add some poles back there with netting to stop the home run balls.
Supervisor Volpe noted that starting hopefully next meeting – we will do facebook live through the town page. We needed a bracket and should be in Thursday.
MOTION TO APPROVE KETCHAM FENCE QUOTE FOR FENCING UPGRADE AT TOWN PARK:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to accept the quote for fencing upgrade at the town park for $3,025.00 to replace 3 sections 2 rail cedar post & rail fence, black top patch as needed, replace 7 sections 2 rail cedar post & rail fence includes additional post to create 3 openings. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
HIGHWAY:
Supt. Hassenmayer reminded everyone that fall trash days start Wednesday October 7th through the 17th. Seniors need to call the highway department to schedule a pick up. He updated on the Hidden Valley sewer plant. He has estimates to refurb the building for approx. $10,000.00 plus the siding. Chad will go over the numbers and get back with Dean.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard noted that he would like approval to hire as a part time non-competitive police officer – Meghan Ede. This will be a sponsorship to Phase 2 in Ulster. She knows she is responsible for costs. He would like to hire her conditionally on the passing of the psychological & drug testing effective 10/14/2020. He noted the camera policy. He gave board members an amended policy – slight change to section 426.4. Surplus items are from car 152. He suggested approving the Halloween curfew. The county at the directive from the chief administrative judge for permanent virtual arraignments. There will be no more court arraignments. Judge Goldsmith will be doing on call arraignments. He spoke re: reforms. Awards will be at the end of this meeting.
RESOLUTION TO HIRE MEGHAN EDE AS PART TIME NON-COMPETITVE POLICE OFFICER:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to hire Meghan Ede, conditionally, effective 10/14/2020 as a part time non-competitive police officer pending passing the psychological & drug testing. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven asked that once the minutes are done, Kathleen send the curfew information to the village clerk. Councilman Carey noted to her that the Baker Street sign is missing. (inaudible) He confirmed with Ms. Loeven that the village board meetings are also done facebook live and further noted that the last village board meeting is not online yet. She will look in to it.
RESOLUTION FOR JUSTICE COURT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to authorize the Town of Mount Hope Court to apply for a Justice Court Assistance Program Grant in the amount of $859.97. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
VARIOUS BOARD VACANCIES:
Supervisor Volpe noted that Chris & Jim will do the interviews for the planning & zoning vacancies. Matt will interview for the board of assessment review. He would like to have recommendations at the next board meeting.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 HALLOWEEN CURFEW:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings that anyone under the age of 18 must be off town roads after 9:00pm from October 29, 2020 through November 1, 2020 unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older or if they are coming to or from a work assignment or school activity. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION FOR APPROVAL TO SURPLUS POLICE EQUIPMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to authorize the police Chief to surplus the following:
Havis radio box,
Code 3 bar light,
Dodge Durango plastic back seat,
Dodge Durango plastic partition &
Havis laptop/computer mobile docking station.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the bills (Abstract 39 & Abstract 40):
Abstract 39: GENERAL A: #549-559 $ 40,351.88
GENERAL B: #87-88 $ 508.96
HIGHWAY: #148-149 $ 14,729.68
SEWER: #80-81 $ 2,668.47
AND
Abstract 40: GENERAL A: #560-580 $ 53,288.63
GENERAL B: #89-92 $ 4,354.04
HIGHWAY: #150-156 $ 21,588.82
SEWER: #82-85 $ 5,676.11
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
SUPERVISOR VOLPE reminded everyone that the next board meeting will be a public hearing for the 2021 preliminary budget. Copies will be available online and/or you can come to town hall to view one.
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MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR’S BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the following:
Increase Revenue A4089 Other Gov’t. Grant Aid by $20,667.78
Increase Expense A1620.4 Building Contr by $20,667.78
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MOUNT HOPE POLICE DEPARTMENT BODY WORN CAMERAS POLICY:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the Mount Hope Police Department Body Worn Cameras policy as presented. A copy is on file in the Town Clerk’s office. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Mary Maurizzio (inaudible) spoke re: village board meeting not being online.
Brian Lattimer (inaudible) spoke re: town and village helping with the tournament. He spoke re: getting home run netting. He spoke re: enlarging the little league equipment room. He noted the coin toss on Oct 17th.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Jennings – no comments.
Councilman Furman appreciates all that Brian Lattimer does for the little league. He is very proud of all of our town police officers.
Councilman Carey – no comments.
Councilman Howell – no comments.
Supervisor Volpe went with Brian to listen to the county presentation for the budget. There’s a lot of doom and gloom out there with everyone’s budgets. They’re talking about laying off people and talking about budget cuts and double-digit increases. He’s very happy that our town is in the position we are in. We won’t have any lay-offs and we don’t have to raise taxes. He thanked our board for their support.
MOTION TO ADJOURN:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to adjourn the meeting at 7:54pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2020 at 7:30pm. Public hearing for the 2021 Preliminary Budget is at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Myers RMC
Town Clerk
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MOUNT HOPE POLICE AWARDS
AS PRESENTED by Police Chief Rickard:
Officer Angelo Vellake – Meritorious Service Award
Officer Ian Holmes – Meritorious Service Award
Officer Nigel Balgobin – Meritorious Service Award
Officer Brian Benjamin – Meritorious Service Award
Officer Robert Decker – Meritorious Service Award
Carol Dolan – Appreciation for her Commitment, Loyalty & Dedication
Officer Sean Burke – Dedicated Service Award
Officer Cody Hunt – Police Officer of the Year 2019
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