Town Board Meeting March 18th, 2024
OFFICIALS PRESENT: D. Hassenmayer H’way Supt., Attorney S. Bonacic, Police Chief Maresca.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Rickard called the public hearing to order at 7:30pm.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Carey 2nd Councilmember Davis that the March 4, 2024 meeting minutes are accepted as presented. All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Letter from NYS Unified Court System re: annual court audit
2. 2024 Spring/Fall trash bid minutes of March 13, 2024
3. Building Inspector monthly report for January 2024
4. Mortgage tax receipt from OC re: February 2024
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Jennings: The girl scouts will help with stuffing the Easter eggs tomorrow night. He thanked Dean for getting the supplies out for them. March 24th we are hosting the Easter egg hunt at the park. He reminded Dean about the gutters at the youth center. Supervisor asked Dean to get 3 quotes for the gutters.
Councilmember Furman: Youth football league will be getting things started. He noted the NYS burn ban from March 16 thru May 14.
Councilmember Carey: The town’s bicentennial is next year. She will be getting a committee of volunteers together to assist her with the planning. The concert series flier is out. There are some in the lobby. There was a great turnout for the little league pancake breakfast last Sunday. The village of Otisville held a public hearing at their last meeting for weight limits on village roads. Village election is Tuesday from 6am to 9pm. The village board voted to change their meeting dates beginning in April to the 2nd & 4th Mondy each month at 7pm. Highland Avenue bridge is scheduled to re-open the week of April 22. She gave the fire report for Otisville.
Councilmember Davis: Planning board meeting is the 20th. She has squared off dates for town movie nights at the town park: May 31, June 14, June 28, July 12, August 9 & August 23.
Supervisor Rickard reported that the furnace in the office portion of this building stopped working last week. Steve Dodd is looking for a new computer board for this or we may have to replace the furnace. Lack of service on this unit may be the cause of the breakdown. Bill Reagan (WESTAR) will be coming to do a routine service of the furnaces at the senior center and youth center. He met with Lorelei and Keri. We need a new schedule for our capital reserve; they are working on that. We applied for a tourism grant through Orange County. We can get up to $5,000. This would be for the summer concert series. Next, we have to consider hiring a part time cleaning person for the buildings. We have a company that comes in once per week. We pay them $410/week. For $430 we can hire somebody that would be here 20 hours per week. He would like to advertise for this position. Councilmember Jennings has concerns about supervision for this person. Who would do it? Councilmember Furman agrees with hiring someone. Councilmember Carey agrees. Councilmember Davis agrees.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer spoke re: repairs to the walking path at the park. The guys will probably be working at the park for 2 weeks with all there is to do. There are trees to be taken care of. There’s a big one in Hidden Valley that branches are hanging on the fence; the tree is on our property hanging over the neighbor’s fence. Town of Wallkill will be giving us an operator and bucket truck for a couple days to try to get the remainder of the tree problems down. Clean up is coming up. We had a bid opening. Only had one vendor and they bid the same prices as last year. Next week we will start all the fleet service on all the police cars and town vehicles.
POLICE:
No report.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Mayor Carey reported that contrary to a burn ban you can never burn in a village. Village newsletter just went out this week. The mayor let the village cleaning person know that the town is looking for someone.
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TOWN COURT AUDIT:
Supervisor Rickard received a letter from Judge Zayas of the NYS court system. We are responsible for an audit of our court’s finances according to section 2019-a of the Uniform Justice Court Act. After it’s done, we have to do a resolution that this was conducted. Supervisor Rickard will reach out to the contact person listed on the letter for details.
MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FROM MIDDLETOWN CARTING FOR 2024 SPRING/FALL TRASH DAYS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to accept the bid from Middletown Carting LLC for 2024 spring/fall bulk trash for metal and C&D as presented. (see bid minutes at end of these minutes) All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
TOWN INSURANCE:
Supervisor Rickard noted that the town insurance renewed. The total increase was 2% with Selective. We
are waiting on the tank insurance. As a point of disclosure, Doug Hutchings, the local agent, is related to
the Supervisor. He’s been the agent for a long time with the town.
MOTION TO SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2024 MS-4 STORMWATER PLAN:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Carey to schedule a public hearing for the 2024 MS-4 Stormwater plan on April 15, 2024 at 7:30pm in the town hall meeting room. All in favor: Rickard, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION TO AMEND THE TOWN BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY & AUGUST 2024:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Carey to cancel the July 15, 2024 town board meeting and to cancel the August 19, 2024 town board meeting. All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
RESOLUTION TO CREATE & ESTABLISH THE HIDDEN VALLEY SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Carey to create & establish the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee. (complete resolution at the end of these minutes) All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPOINT COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO THE SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to appoint Brian Monahan, Sean Burke, Mary Carver, Mike Meere & Edward Jahrling to the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee. All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
BOARD OF ETHICS:
Supervisor Rickard noted that more than 5 people have applied so far. He’d like to have a cut-off date for interested people. He would like to do interviews with the candidates. He and Keri could do this. Then they would make the recommendations to the rest of the board members. Board members agreed.
YOUTH CENTER GYM HOURS:
Supervisor Rickard spoke re: gym hours. A couple residents reached out for earlier access. One person wants it to be open at 4am. The current hours coincide with the police hours to check the building. The board, after discussion, does not agree with opening the gym earlier.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Carey approve Abstracts 10 & 11:
ABSTRACT 10:
GENERAL A: #127-144 $ 31,343.89
GENERAL B: #30-32 $ 3,823.93
SEWER: #18-19 $ 4,190.81
And
ABSTRACT 11:
GENERAL A: #145-164 $ 6,120.00
GENERAL B: #33 $ 643.50
HIGHWAY: #14-19 $ 17,357.99
SEWER: #20 $ 92.25.
All in favor: Davis, Carey, Rickard, Furman, Jennings; carried.
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SUMMER RECREATION:
Supervisor Rickard noted that we’ve been advertising best as we can for summer campers. We’ve had night registrations. We have one child registered so far. It was agreed that there will be a cut-off of April 15, 2024 to sign up. If we do not get 50 kids signed up, there will be no summer camp.
RESTORE NY GRANT:
Lucy Joyce thanked the board and Dean for the snowplowing agreement we have for this year. She spoke re: RESTORE NY grant. They applied for round 7 and they were not funded. The roof is leaking in the barn. Cornell Coop. Extension owns it but the town has an easement and irrevocable license that are responsible for the barn. The grant program has the opportunity to take an existing building that needs major and convert it into something else. She and Supervisor Rickard were on a call with RESTORE NY & they went through the application which was informative. They told us exactly where we lost points and what we need to do. One of them was additional funding and match. Should we move forward – we need a letter of intent from the town saying we are interested to apply. She asked if the highway department and the town board is willing to do ‘in kind’ match on things like installing the septic system and/or helping with loading dock. Supervisor noted that we could combine with the bathrooms for the football league as a dual use. Supt. Hassenmayer added that with time permitting we would be available. Our project list has gone down. And, if the town board approves us helping then yes, they could help.
MOTION THAT THE MOUNT HOPE TOWN BOARD INTENDS TO APPLY FOR THE RESTORE NY GRANT WITH CCE:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Carey to authorize the town supervisor to sign a letter of intent to RESTORE NY to say we intend to seek this grant. All in favor: Carey, Davis, Rickard, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
MaryBeth Horzepa: Breakfast with the Easter bunny at the Pocatello firehouse on 3/24.
Brian Monahan thanked Dean and the highway guys for all the years working together. He spoke to Chief about if he needs anything training & building wise to contact him.
Phil Adamson thanked everyone who purchased a banner for the banner program. He also thanked everyone who donated money for the hardware. He thanked the Otisville fire dept. volunteers for their donation. He thanked our highway department for their collective donation.
Brian Carey noted there are 3 spots available for the defensive driving class.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Supervisor Rickard needs executive session. He noted there has been discussion on starting a parks committee.
Councilmember Carey will be attending lobby day in Albany on Wednesday.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Carey 2nd Councilmember Davis to enter into executive session at 8:14pm to discuss possible litigation and a personnel issue. All in favor: Carey, Davis, Rickard, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Carey to reconvene the regular meeting at 8:43pm from executive session. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Carey, Davis, Rickard, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to adjourn the meeting at 8:43pm. All in favor: Carey, Davis, Rickard, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 3, 2023 at 7:30pm in the town hall meeting room.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk
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Town of Mount Hope
Bid Results
Roll-off Dumpster Service/Recycling Service
March 13, 2024
10:00 AM
Present: Elizabeth Kulynych-Deputy Town Clerk, Amy Hassenmayer-Highway Department Clerk
One Bid received.
Middletown Carting LLC 6-30 Yard Container for Construction and Debris
83-85 Industrial Place Ext. With additional containers if needed
Middletown NY 10940 $220.00 Per Pull of each container
Phone 845-343-5477 $117.00 Per Ton of each container
3-30 or 40-Yard Container for Metal
No Charge for Containers
Market Value Metal
Bid opening closed at 10:03 AM
Respectfully submitted by Elizabeth Kulynych, Deputy Town Clerk for Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk RMC
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A RESOLUTION TO CREATE AND ESTABLISH THE HIDDEN VALLEY SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope desires to create the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, the desire to create and establish the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee comes from an effort to: (i) promote and increase communication between the residents of the Hidden Valley Sewer District and the Town Board, (ii) assist the Town Board in planning future capital improvements to the Hidden Valley Sewer District, and (iii) provide a mechanism whereby the residents of the Hidden Valley Sewer District can bring their concerns and complaints to the Town Board’s attention; and
WHEREAS, it is understood, although not specifically delineated by statute, the Town Board is authorized to establish and create citizen committees to advise the Town Board on particular matters; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board believes, moving forward, it would be in the best interests of the Town of Mount Hope to establish the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope hereby establishes and creates the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be solely advisory in nature and the establishment of the committee is in no way a delegation of any of the powers and/or duties of the Town Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be established and created pursuant to the following:
-The Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be created with the following purposes and/or goals: (i) promoting and increasing communication between the residents of Hidden Valey Sewer District and the Town Board, (ii) assisting the Town Board with planning future capital improvements to the Hidden Valley Sewer District, and (iii) providing the residents of the Hidden Valley Sewer District with a mechanism whereby they can address their concerns and complaints with the Town Board
-The Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be permanent. In the event that the Hidden Valley Sewer District is dissolved, the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be dissolved.
-The authority of the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be solely advisory in nature.
-The Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall consist of 5 members to be appointed by the Town Board. The chairperson shall be selected by the Town Board. Each member, including the chairperson, shall serve for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy by removal, resignation or otherwise, the Town Board shall appoint a new member to fill said vacancy.
-No member of the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall receive any type of compensation for their services on the committee.
-The meetings of the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall take place at least 6 times per year. There shall be a record of the minutes and agenda for each meeting.
-The Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall maintain Roberts Rules of Order, or follow the Town of Mount Hope procedures and policies with respect to meetings.
-Members of the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee serve at the pleasure of the Town Board. In the event that the removal of a member is deemed necessary, such removal shall be brought by the chairperson to the Town Board. The Town Board shall either approve or disapprove of said removal in executive session.
-All members of the Hidden Valley Sewer Advisory Committee shall be governed by all applicable state and local laws.
The question of the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a roll call vote which resulted as follows:
Paul Rickard, Supervisor YES
Keri Lee Carey, Deputy Supervisor YES
Christopher Furman, Councilmember YES
Amanda Davis, Councilmember YES
James Jennings, Councilmember YES
YES 5 NO___ ABSTAIN___ ABSENT___
Dated: March 18, 2024
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CERTIFICATION
I, Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk of the Town of Mount Hope, do hereby certify that the herein resolution was adopted at a regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope held on March 18, 2024 and it is on file and of record, and that said resolution had not been altered, amended or revoked and it’s in full force and effect.
SEAL _____________________________
Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk
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