Town Board Meeting October 16th, 2023
OFFICIALS PRESENT: D. Bavoso- Attorney, Police Chief M. Maresca, Deputy Police Chief C. Hahne,
D. Hassenmayer- Highway Superintendent
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Deputy Supervisor Christopher Furman called the Public Hearing to order at 7:30pm.
7:30pm PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOCAL LAW #3- 2023 ENTITLED: AMENDING THE PERMITTED USES IN THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT:
MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to open the public hearing for LOCAL LAW #3- 2023 ENTITLED: AMENDING THE PERMITTED USES IN THE B-1 ZONING DISTRICT at 7:30 pm. All in favor: Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried
Deputy Supervisor Furman asked for public comment; there was none. He asked for board comment; there was none. Deputy Supervisor Furman states they are waiting on information and will vote next meeting.
MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to close the public hearing for the Local Law #3-2023 at 7:32pm. All in favor: Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried
Deputy Supervisor Furman noted that Supervisor Howell was not present.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to accept the minutes as presented from September 26, 2023 and October 2, 2023. All in favor: Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Review and Comments for Law 239-1 from the O.C Dept. of Planning
2. Trash report Fall 2023
3. Sept. 2023 Supervisor’s report
4. Sept. 2023 Mortgage Tax Receipts from Orange County
5. Announcement of public hearing for Orange County fiscal budget will be on 10/19/23 @ 5pm
6. Proposed 2023 Halloween curfew
7. Correspondence from Mike Meere RE: Hidden Valley
8. A letter from James Skoufis Re: free technical assistance to protect drinking water sources
9. Request for Partial Bond release for Winnetaska
10. Old School Baptist Church in Slate Hill open house 10/21/23 11:00am-6:00 pm
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Davis reports: This year there will be no Veteran’s Day parade. A parade may be planned for Memorial Day, further information to come.
Councilmember Jennings reports: Village meeting is Thursday 10/20 at 7pm. Shout out to the Highway Department for their work with the trash days. Jennings asked Dean when he thought the basketball hoops could be done? Dean: it’s not on the schedule yet. They were working on the siding at the Pole Barn then the siding at the Town Hall addition.
Councilmember Furman: Trunk or Treat with the Village of Otisville and the Otisville Presbyterian Church on Tuesday 10/31 from 5:30-7:30 at the Otisville Presbyterian Church in the parking lot. It will be advertised on facebook. FOTOS tricky tray is on 10/21 -see facebook page for info. The Old School Baptist Church in Slate Hill is having an open house on 10/21 from 11:00-6:00.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported the trash report was normal for fall. We had 49 senior pick-ups. The highest amount we have had. The pole barn at the park is next on schedule. A week ago, our addition was measured for siding. It will take 1-2 weeks. Homestead Lane needs T & L before winter.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Maresca: will be at the Trunk or Treat at the Presbyterian Church on the 31st. Charlotte and Deputy Chief are working on something.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Mayor Carey: Main part of bridge went up Thurs. Honor Flight is 10/21. Thank you for the cards. We collected 25. Working with the Otisville Elementary School to get a banner made by all the kids for the Honor Flight. The next defensive driving course will be on Nov. 18 from 9-3:00.
MOTION TO ACCEPT SUPERVISOR’S MONTHLY REPORT:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to accept the Sept. 2023 supervisor’s report as presented. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO RE-APPOINT THOMAS LEICHLITER TO BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to re-appoint Thomas Leichliter to the BAR term effective 10/1/23-9/30/2028. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE HALLOWEEN CURFEW FOR 2023:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings that anyone under the age of 18 must be off town roads after 9:00 pm from October 27, 2023 thru November 1, 2023 at 6:00 am; unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 21 years of age or older or if they are coming to or from a work assignment or school activity. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO SET PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2024 PRELIMINARY BUDGET NOVEMBER 6, 2023:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to set preliminary budget public hearing for Nov. 6, 2023 at 7:30PM. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO PAY THE BILLS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to pay the following abstracts #40 and #41:
ABSTRACT #40:
GENERAL A: #473-479 $16,018.07
GENERAL B: #119-123 $ 7,818.48
HIGHWAY: #173-177 $13,895.60
SEWER: #94 $ 2,171.18
AND
ABSTRACT #41:
GENERAL A: #494-502 $ 44,494.72
GENERAL B: #124-126 $ 25,430.56
HIGHWAY: #178-181 $ 2,797.33
SEWER: #95-96 $ 1,270.56
AMER.RESCUE FUND #10 $ 4,500.00
All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
PARTIAL ROAD BOND RELEASE FOR WINNETASKA:
Deputy Sup. Furman states they are waiting on a report from the engineer. We will vote on that our next meeting Nov. 6th. Highway Sup. Hassenmayer said he did meet with the engineer and ok’ed it. The engineer will be providing a letter to the Town.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mike Meere: I submitted some questions; did you get answers? Deputy Sup. Furman says; they got some answers, but we need to get all the information and the right way to do it is; to get a meeting together with all Hidden Valley. We could get the engineer there and the sewer plant operator, so that anyone with questions could get answers and if not, we could do research on it. We are hoping to have the meeting in the middle of November. We could have everybody on the same page. Meere: So, I can’t get any answers tonight? Furman: I do not have exact numbers; I don’t want to give you “so/so” numbers. Meere: one of the questions is the cost to run the plant. Furman: I don’t have all the breakdowns. Meere: I asked Matt last night and he was supposed to email me the answer. Furman: I just think a meeting is the best way so that everyone knows the exact numbers. Meere: I’m all for that, that’s great. Can you tell me how many homes that are going in this development are in this district? Furman: I am getting that information as well. I would like to start next year have quarterly meetings. I think it will help a lot. Meere: Do you think the residents should have a vote? If these homes aren’t in the district? D. Bavoso: I would have to check with the engineer. M. Meere: Shouldn’t that have happened before they spent all this money on it?
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D. Bavoso: that is why I want to talk to the engineer. M. Meere: is there liability? D. Bavoso: If they are located in the district, they would have the ability to hook in – it would be a matter of following the proper procedure and paying the proper fees for the permit. M. Meere: how will everyone know about the meeting? Furman: I can send mailings in addition to facebook. M. Meere: one of my concerns and my neighbors is if that land is not in the district. D. Bavoso: Then they would have to extend the district. M. Meere: then they would have to vote on that? It would come down to the residents? D. Bavoso: ultimately it would come down to the Board but there would certainly be a public hearing and the residents comments considered. M. Meere: I guess we will address this in November. Brian Carey: a suggestion, when you meet is to have a video for the HV residents can watch on YouTube through facebook. M. Meere: another question is; is the $10,000 hook up fee for a site? Or individual homes? D. Bavoso: Individual homes, each approved lot. M. Meere: so, what happens if this gentleman goes bankrupt? D. Bavoso: then they wouldn’t be building. M. Meere: shouldn’t he be putting the money up front? Let him get bonded. D. Bavoso: That would be up to the Planning Board and is certainly something they could consider. Marybeth Horzepa: HV subdivision for Homestead is on the agenda for this Wednesday & your welcomed to voice your concerns. I believe that the subdivision is in the district, don’t hold me to it, but I believe it is in the district. Doug Tripken: not everyone is aware with what they should be aware with this sewer system. I have lived in HV since 1983, sending info. to residents should not only be through facebook. A letter with “what’s going on”. I think would help and should be sent out too. I have questions about the water system and would they have to be hooked up. C. Furman: The town does not own the water system so, whoever owns that, is who you should ask. D. Tripken: concerned with the sewer using water for the new residents – would they have to pay into that? Discussion ensued re: surcharges on water billing. C. Furman: I could find that out. D. Tripken: would be nice to have a pamphlet with regular concerns and meeting info. This would be appreciated. We lost power on Saturday – do we know if the generators were on. C. Furman. They were on. I was there.
Allison Miller: the tricky tray for the FOTOS will be this Saturday 10/21 at the Otisville School. Doors open at 5:00, no admission fee, 150 prizes – all welcomed, will leave flyers.
Mike Meere: I have questions about the site map. C. Furman I will try to get answers for that.
Diane Loeven: we have our last Senior trip of the year on Nov.8th. We will be parking here. I will submit our travel reimbursement voucher. Has the heat in the Senior Ctr. been turned on? C. Furman: I will find out. A. Davis: when we do find out can we see if we can convert it over ourselves?
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilmember Davis: Planning board meeting will be on Weds 10/18/23 as M. Horzepa mentioned, thank you.
Councilmember Furman: we had the mobile DMV here and it went well. It will be at the Village next month. We have them scheduled for December. We advertise on both the Town and the Village facebook page.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 8:00pm. All in favor: Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 6, 2023 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Kulynych Deputy Town Clerk for the Town Clerk Kathleen A. Myers
RMC/Town Clerk
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