Town Board Meeting June 5, 2023
NOT PRESENT: Councilmember Chris Furman
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief M. Maresca & Attorney D. Bavoso.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:32pm. Supervisor noted the change of location notice for tonight’s meeting is on the desk for anyone to view.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis Carey 2nd Councilmember Jennings that the minutes of the May 15, 2023 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. MOU between Federal Bureau of Prisons & the Town of Mount Hope
2. Budget modifications from supervisor’s office
3. Letter from Town of Huntington re: voter identification resolution
4. May 2023 newsletter from Floyd Carter Post #1079 American Legion
5. Email from Moniysha Maldonado re: request to fill Brian Carey’s vacant seat on town board
6. CFA reminder from Department of State office of planning development and community infrastructure
7. Thank you letter for the town’s support for Falun Dafa Day
8. Letter from OC BOE re: primary day on June 27, 2023
9. Public hearing notice from Orange County re: Annual Modifications to the OC Ag District No. 1 in Accordance with the NYS Ag & Mkts Sections 303-a & 303-b on June 1 at 3:15pm
10. Letter from NYS BOE re: NYS voter registration database
11. HV Water Annual Water Quality Report for 2022
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Jennings reported the village yard sale is August 5, 2023. Village board passed the resolution for Audit NY. Village adopted a local law for property tax exemption for qualified volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. Next village meeting they will have a public hearing for the CDBG. Community Advisory Board meeting will hopefully be on June 13 at 10AM. DMV mobile unit at village hall was a success. Next one will be at town hall on June 16. He wanted to speak with Dean about getting the automatic lights for the restrooms at town hall. He asked about switching the polling site for elections to the youth center. Supervisor: BOE need to come out to make sure it could be done. We can’t just change it. Then it will have to be advertised to the public.
Supervisor Howell: Chris could not be here but he wanted to remind everyone that we have summer recreation sign ups on Wednesday 6-8pm at town hall.
Councilmember Davis reaffirmed the summer camp sign ups for Wednesday evening. The next planning board meeting is Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm.
Supervisor Howell notes that our next town board meeting is June 20 at town hall at 7:30pm due to Juneteenth Day.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Police Chief Maresca noted that tonight are the awards. He is still looking for a secretary. He is in the process of doing background checks for the part time officers.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Diane Loeven noted that the village passed the resolution with regard to audit NY but it was not the resolution provided by AUDIT NY it was a much shorter resolution. It was entitled: Integrity of Voter Rolls and Information.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS:
Supervisor Howell noted that we have approved this in years past. It needs to be updated periodically.
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MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to approve the MOU with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and to authorize the town supervisor to sign it. (Copy on file in town clerk’s office) All in favor: Davis, Howell, Jennings; motion carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS FROM THE SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to approve the following modifications:
Increase revenue a/c A4089 Other Gov’t Rev by $795.60 (FEMA reimbursement)
Increase expense a/c A1620.4 Buildings Contr by $795.60
Increase revenue a/c A4089 Other Gov’t Rev by $27,203.50 DASNY town hall expansion grant
Increase expense a/c A1620.4 Buildings Contr by $27,203.50.
All in favor: Davis, Howell, Jennings; motion carried.
FIREWORKS TEST LAUNCH:
Councilmember Jennings explained the fireworks test launch. Mike Romano does the fireworks show for the fair. The fair location has changed to the 4H property. Mike Romano is requesting to launch one shell as a test. He added that the town had previously requested letter be sent to residents near the area. He asked if a firework application would have to be filled out for 1 launch. Supervisor added: we approved the fireworks show pending the completed application. We have 2 of the 5 items. He verified with the attorney that we would need all the pending documents even before the test launch. Attorney: yes. Letters should be sent to surrounding property owner. Might be quicker to hand deliver. Supervisor confirmed the fair dates at the end of July. Councilmember Jennings will coordinate with the football league for their schedule for the test launch. The board discussed a date range for the test launch for between 6/19 through 6/24 approx. 8:30pm.
MOTION TO APPROVE FIREWORKS TEST LAUNCH:
NO VOTE COULD BE MADE AS THERE WAS NO QUORUM DUE TO COUNCILMEMBER JENNINGS HAVING TO ABSTAIN. This will be re-visited at the next meeting.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to pay the bills (Abstract 20, 21, 22):
ABSTRACT 20:
GENERAL A: #235-240 $ 3,727.35
GENERAL B: #56-59 $10,257.19
HIGHWAY: #98-100 $ 5,597.77
SEWER: #49-52 $34,145.03
ABSTRACT 21:
GENERAL A: #241-249 $45,368.23
GENERAL B: #60-62 $ 5,971.34
HIGHWAY: #101-102 $26,079.45
SEWER: #53 $ 1,178.35
ABSTRACT 22:
GENERAL A: #250-261 $ 6,147.85
GENERAL B: #63-66 $ 1,922.93
HIGHWAY: #103 $ 220.47
SEWER: #54 $ 1,748.11.
All in favor: Davis, Jennings; ABSTAINED – Howell from Abstract 21 voucher #242; motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mary Maurizzio: inaudible
Diane Loeven: senior day trip is 6/21/2023. July 18-19 overnight trip to Lancaster PA. There are openings. If anyone is interested, contact Diane. Councilmember Davis asked where the show is in Lancaster. Diane: at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 7:51pm. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Jennings; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC, Town Clerk
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The 2022 Police Awards:
Certificate of Commendation –
Officer’s Jamie Johnson and Robert Decker and former Administrative Assistant Marie Bubilo for their work with the Summer Youth Police Academy
Meritorious Service Award-
Brian Benjamin for his superior handling of a difficult situation during a response to a shooting call on 12/3/2022
Medal of Distinction and Life-Saving Award-
Nicholas Contino for actions taken during a priority dog attack of a citizen on 08/15/2022
Dedicated Service Award-
Robert Decker
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