Town Board Meeting May 1, 2023
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief Maresca, H’way Supt. Hassenmayer, Attorney D . Bavoso.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman that the minutes of the April 17, 2023 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Resignation from Police Officer Christopher Mazzella effective May 8, 2023
2. Resignation from Police Officer Nicholas Contino effective May 12, 2023
3. Letter rec’d re: Lake Hills subdivision
4. 2022 Annual Report
5. Supervisor’s reports for Feb & March 2023
6. State of the County address, April 19, 2023 at 6pm at Emergency Svcs Center in Goshen NY
7. Letter from OC Youth Bureau re: RFP’s for 2023 funding
8. Addendum A for the OC Youth Bureau RFP’s
9. OC Conservation roundtable event May 10, 2023 6-7:30pm @ M. Urbanski Memorial Park in Goshen NY
10. Spring 2023 trash report
11. Letter from Assessor re: SBL 19-1-29
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Jennings reported the next village board meeting is May 4 at 7pm. Trustee Bob Clouse will be the new liaison with the town board meetings. He thanked everyone involved for their help with the Easter egg hunt.
Councilmember Furman reported the concert series is on the facebook page. There’s no ZBA meeting this month. There’s still time to apply for the directors and counselor positions for summer recreation – deadline is Friday the 5th. Little league parade was a great day. The crosswalks are done. He thanked the board for the support for everything needing to be done at the sewer plant. He put up the WIFI signs at the senior center. MV youth football league will be starting their flag football league.
Supervisor Howell spoke re: summer rec. We had interviews last and more for this week. Pending having enough staff hired in – we will have the program running. Requirements need to be met for the staff by the county. Howells FD is holding a blood drive on 5/2/2023 honoring past chief John Stevens.
HIGHWAY:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported the old 151 was listed on Auctions International. The highest bid was $8,200.00. The board needs to accept or deny the high bid.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE HIGH BID FOR THE OLD ‘151’ POLICE CAR:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Jennings to accept the bid of $8,200 for the old 151 police car. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Maresca noted the resignations from Officer Mazzella and Officer Contino. He thanked them for their service and wished them luck. He requested executive session regarding a personnel matter. He attended an after-action meeting with regard to the Pine Bush false active shooter event. In the moment it was treated as the real deal. He commended all the police departments involved, fire departments and the county. Everyone came together – all ego’s aside.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Clouse had no report. He was welcomed by the board.
2022 ANNUAL REPORT:
Supervisor Howell stated that the 2022 Annual Report has been filed with the State Comptroller’s office. Anyone can view them. There is one on file in the town clerk’s office.
39
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SUPERVISOR’S REPORTS FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH 2023:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Furman to accept the February 2023 and March 2023 supervisor’s reports as presented. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
ADDITION TO TOWN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK:
Supervisor Howell reported that the board has been discussing this addition to the employee handbook with regard to banking hours. He read the following into the minutes:
{All employees shall work hours consistent with the terms set forth in this handbook. In the event an employee has accumulated excess hours known as “banked hours”, they may use those hours at their discretion for time off any day during the calendar year in which they were accrued. “Banked hours” shall be used in the calendar year they are accrued and shall terminate upon expiration of that calendar year. “Banked hours” shall not be carried over into any subsequent year.}
MOTION TO ADOPT THE ADDITION TO THE HANDBOOK REGARDING “BANKED HOURS”:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to adopt the following addition to the Town of Mount Hope employee handbook:
All employees shall work hours consistent with the terms set forth in this handbook. In the event an employee has accumulated excess hours known as “banked hours”, they may use those hours at their discretion for time off any day during the calendar year in which they were accrued. “Banked hours” shall be used in the calendar year they are accrued and shall terminate upon expiration of that calendar year. “Banked hours” shall not be carried over into any subsequent year.
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING:
Supervisor Howell noted that we will be holding the sexual harassment training for all town employees including the planning, zoning boards & BAR members. There will be a day and evening session. Employees will be notified when the dates are finalized.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the bills (Abstract #16 & #17):
ABSTRACT 16:
GENERAL A: #190-197 $ 82,278.89
GENERAL B: #44-46 $ 9,200.80
HIGHWAY: #84-86 $ 71,337.73
SEWER: #40-42 $ 4,176.70
AMERICAN RESCUE: #3 $ 4,829.00
AND
ABSTRACT 17:
GENERAL A: #198-204 $ 4,097.02
GENERAL B: #47 $ 1,567.50
HIGHWAY: #87-90 $ 1,984.44
SEWER: #43-44 $ 1,090.90
AMERICAN RESCUE: #4 $ 10,939.28.
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings – abstained from Abstract #17 voucher #200; motion carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT RESIGNATIONS FROM POLICE OFFICERS CHRISTOPHER MAZZELLA AND NICHOLAS CONTINO:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Jennings to accept the resignations from Police Officer Nicholas Contino and Police Officer Christopher Mazzella. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
TOWN HALL ADDITION HVAC QUOTES:
Supervisor Howell received from the engineers office this afternoon the quotes for the HVAC system for the town hall addition. Three quotes were submitted. He asked if the board had questions. Larson’s was the lowest quote for $28,490.00 & the engineer recommends them as well.
MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FROM LARSON’S HEATING & COOLING FOR THE TOWN HALL ADDITION HVAC SYSTEM:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember jennings to accept the bid from Larson’s Heating & Cooling for the town hall addition HVAC system in the amount of $28,490.00. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
40
WORLD FALUN DAFA DAY:
Supervisor Howell spoke re: World Falun Dafa Day. This year is the 31st year they will be celebrating this day (May 13, 2023). He was asked by Wendy for the town to write a letter of support.
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUPERVISOR TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR WORLD FALUN DAFA DAY:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to authorize the town supervisor to write a letter in support of World Falun Dafa Day observed on May 13, 2023. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
MIKE CAREY asked about the requirement of a building permit sign when applying for a permit. He’s noticed he hasn’t seen them anymore. He is referring to the development going in on the corner of Schoolhouse Road and Route 211. Did the rules change? Supervisor believes the posting requirement is still required for building permits.
DIANE LOEVEN reported that the CAB meetings will be starting again. 1st one will be in June. When it is confirmed, she will let us know. She noted that the senior trip will be on May 3, 2023. Parking will be here at town hall.
KERI CAREY reported that the last Eagle scout project has been completed at the youth center. Supervisor added that he will be asking the 2 boys to come to the next town board meeting to be recognized.
BOARD COMMENTS:
COUNCILMEMBER JENNINGS – Happy Mother’s Day.
COUNCILMEMBER FURMAN – Happy Mother’s Day.
COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS – asked if the social media usage will be worked on for the employee handbook. Supervisor – yes. The attorney has provided us with a draft.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to enter into executive session at 8:00pm to discuss a police personnel item. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to reconvene the regular meeting from executive session at 9:14pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to adjourn the meeting at 9:14pm. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2023 at 7:30pm the town hall, 1706 Route 211 West, Otisville NY.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk
41