Town Board Meeting August 21st, 2023

The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on August 21, 2023 at 7:30pm with the following present:  Supervisor Matthew Howell, Councilmember Jim Jennings, Councilmember Chris Furman, Councilmember Amanda Davis and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.    

OFFICIALS PRESENT:  Chief M. Maresca, D. Bavoso Town Attorney

THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE RECORDING CAMERA – THERE IS NO VIDEO FROM THIS MEETING.

Supervisor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:30PM, following the Pledge of Allegiance. 

MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:

MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2^nd Councilman Jennings to accept the minutes as presented from the August 7, 2023. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:

1. Letter from Orrin/Jackie Pierson re: letter of no objection for a temporary beer/wine/cider permit to extend to 12 days
2. Orange County mortgage tax receipts for July 2023

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

BOARD REPORTS: 

COUNCILMEMBER JENNINGS: He is beginning to plan the Trunk or Treat for Halloween. The town park pavilion lights have been left on at night. He asked the police chief if the officers can check this at night. The next village meeting is at 7pm on September 7. He received quotes for basketball hoops at the park.  Megadunk quoted $2599 per hoop plus shipping. Total cost $9196.

COUNCILMEMBER FURMAN: The tread mills were ordered. Cost was $4996 which includes delivery and set-up. He will put in a service call for the existing machines. He noted the historical society tricky tray on September 16 at the youth center. He spoke to the Chief re: speeders on Pine Grove & Robbins Road. Tomorrow night is the last night of the concert series. There will be a comedy show. MVYFL is holding a fundraiser with Dogwood Acres.

COUNCILMEMBER DAVIS: She and Chris cleaned the youth center floor.

SUPERVISOR HOWELL: the town is holding a CPR and a 1^st Aid class on September 18 and 19 at 6pm at the senior center. Residents are free. Non-residents are able to classes if there is space and it will cost $20.

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT:

Chief Maresca noted the youth academy started today. It went well. We have 10 attendees.

VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:

Trustee Clouse noted the DMV bus will be at village hall on 9/8. The defensive driving class is full. The MH Chinese Association is having a fall fundraiser at the village park on October 7 from 11-6pm. The Highland Avenue bridge work has commenced. The village still needs alternates for the ZBA and planning boards.

PIERSON LETTER OF NO OBJECTION REQUEST:

Orrin & Carolyn Pierson spoke re: temporary beer/wine/cider permit extension of 8 days. He explained they have requested the extra insurance. Councilmember Davis asked if this is an area that is sectioned off. Pierson: yes. They are requesting a letter of no objection form the town board and from the police department.

MOTION TO APPROVE GRANTING A LETTER OF NO OBJECTION FOR THE PIERSON FAMILY BEER/WINE/CIDER 12 DAY PERMIT:

MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2^nd Councilmember Furman to authorize the town supervisor to write a letter of no objection for the Pierson’s request for an 8-day extension of the beer/wine/cider permit. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

 

MOTION TO SCHEDULE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS FOR THE 2024 TOWN BUDGET:

MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2^nd Councilmember Furman to schedule the 2024 budget workshop meetings for September 26, 2023 and October 17, 2023 at 6pm at the town hall. Ad to go into Times Herald Record. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

 

 

 

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MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:

MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Jennings to audit the claims for Abstracts #32 & #33:

ABSTRACT #32:

GENERAL A:                  #377-393           $    8,242.87

GENERAL B:                  #96-99               $    1,708.77

HIGHWAY:                     #141-148           $100,453.14

SEWER:                        #76                   $       139.00

AND

ABSTRACT #33:

GENERAL A:                  #394-403           $  56,299.29

GENERAL B:                  #100                 $    4,067.17

HIGHWAY:                     #149-150           $  39,796.15

SEWER:                        #77-79               $    1,421.02.

All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Diane Loeven: Hometown Helpers would like to hold an orientation for any interested volunteers next month.  Date is to be announced.  The next senior trip is August 23 not August 16. The next overnight trip is 9/18 through 9/22. She asked if the CPR and 1^st Aid classes, if not full, if the seniors that live out of town could take the class. She also spoke re: village is still in need of ZBA and planning board alternates and that they don’t have to live in the village.

Mela Wu: Spoke of the MH Chinese Association fall fundraiser at the village park on October 7 from 11-6. This is a cultural event.

Chris Cheng: Spoke re: Wake Up CCP event on 9/16 in Deerpark from 2-4. Councilmember Jennings asked if there will be police assistance with the fall festival event at the village park due to the projected number of attendees. Supervisor asked Mela to speak with the police chief after the meeting.

 

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:

MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to adjourn the meeting at 8:04pm.  All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

The next meeting is scheduled for September 5, 2023 at 7:30pm.

The 2024 town budget meetings at 6:00pm Sept. 26, 2023 and October 17, 2023 at the town hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk                                 

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