Town Board Meeting April 17th, 2023
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief Maresca, Highway Supt. Hassenmayer & Attorney D. Bavoso.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Howell called the meeting to order at 7:34pm.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman that the minutes of the April 3, 2023 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. March 2023 mortgage tax receipts
2. Building Department monthly report for March 2023
3. Resolution for an Audit of the New York State 2022 General Election
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Furman: Little League opening day is Sat. April 22, 2023. The Parade with march to the field. Thank you to the Otisville Fire Dept and The Mount Hope Police Dept. we had an egg hunt the Sat. before Easter. Mayor Brian Carey helped out as well. Town and Village working together. There were 3,000 eggs. Everyone had a good time and there were special prizes for the kids. That morning I was able to attend with Trustee Lance Davoren and a few other people an easter egg hunt for those with autism. That touches me because my nephew is autistic. It was a cool event kids loved it and was inclusive to everyone. We got new signs around town. Thank you, Brian Carey, they are at Hidden Valley, the Senior center, Town Park and one here at Town Hall. Little league is having a fundraiser with Dogwood Acres Farm. If you look at their facebook page all the information is there.
Councilmember Davis: The planning board meeting is Wednesday the 19th @ 7:00pm. I had a couple rentals this past weekend and there are ants that come back every spring. If we could have an exterminator come out. I would like to request an executive session for a contractual matter. Sup. Howell stated it will be held at the end of the meeting.
Supervisor Howell: Opening day for the little league is this Saturday. Hope to see everyone out at the Parade and the festivities to kick off the Spring baseball season. There is an outdoor burning ban that is put out by NYS DEC to help prevent wildfires. The County had some large fires. I want to thank the fire fighters, forest rangers and the DEC personnel for helping to extinguish the fires and keeping the community safe. Remember to refrain from outdoor burning. Our Summer concert series kicks off July 4th at the park’s pavilion till August 22nd. We will put the schedule online for the 8-week session.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported: Spring clean-up has been going on and has been fairly busy. Today surprisingly busy with the rain. We close up on Saturday 22 @ 1:00. On Wednesday I will be attending a reasonable suspicion training that is mandated by the D.O.T at the 9-1-1 Center put on by Partners in Safety. The rough in electrical work my guys did, passed the inspection. Mike Romano, the electrician, will make the final connections. Roof was put on. Adapting the old building to the new, the engineer wants the highway crew to do. He will put down some sketches for the work that he wants done and we will get to it as soon as we can. I need an executive session for a personnel matter. Sup. Howell asked about cost for the training. Supt. Hassenmayer said that the cost is covered through a contract with Partners in Safety.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
I have nothing to report wanted to ask about award night. We usually do the award night in May but it will not work out for us this year. Could we do the police awards on June 5th? Sup. Howell suggested we have it at the Senior center so family could attend.
MOTION TO APPROVE MOVING THE JUNE 5th REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOWN BOARD MEETING TO THE SENIOR CENTER ON BAKER ST. OTISVILLE NY at 7:30:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to move the town board meeting location on June 5, 2023 from the town hall to the Senior Center on Baker Street. All in Favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, carried.
36
VILLAGE REPORT:
Mayor Carey reported that Brian Lattimer can not be here. Mayor states that they will be having their re-organization meeting Thursday and Mr. Lattimer will no longer be the liaison. One of the things on the agenda for the Village is the Summer Concert series and partnering with the Town. We will see what happens when it goes in front of the Board, if it passes, then we will talk about it more. Signs look good, Lewis Signs Co. did a great job. Thank you for letting me be involved in the Easter egg hunt. I did also go with Chris it was awesome to see how many people came out to both. If any Town employees are looking for I.D badges, the Village Hall is opened feel free to come up if you’d like me to do them. Also, any board members who may want them.
WINDOW QUOTES FOR TOWN HALL ADDITION:
Supervisor Howell noted that there are 6 quotes received for 16 windows. The engineer recommended THERMALITE CO. Total cost is $7,520.08.
MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM THERMALITE CO FOR TOWN HALL ADDITION WINDOWS:
MOTION Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to accept the quote from THERMALITE CO for the town hall addition windows in the amount of $7,520.08. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried. (2–4-week delivery)
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to approve the bills (Abstract #14 & #15):
ABSTRACT #14:
GENERAL A: #161-175 $ 10,182.73
GENERAL B: #36-37 $ 299.71
HIGHWAY: #78-80 $ 312.17
SEWER: #34-36 $ 5,055.76
ARPA: #2 $ 76,929.90 AND
ABSTRACT #15:
GENERAL A: #176-189 $ 29,711.29
GENERAL B: #38-43 $ 3,483.97
HIGHWAY: #81-83 $ 1,590.80
SEWER: #37-39 $ 749.03.
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried.
AUDIT NY RESOLUTION DISCUSSION:
Supervisor Howell reported a group of volunteers came to our last board meeting to make a presentation about this. The board and the attorney reviewed the resolution. Supervisor Howell would like to add 2 items: this is not anything political party associated and there is no financial responsibility from the town.
RESOLUTION FOR AN AUDIT OF THE NYS 2022 GENERAL ELECTION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to authorize the approval of the resolution as presented by the Audit NY volunteer group. (Complete resolution on file in the Town Clerk’s office) All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
COUNCILMEMBER FURMAN REMINDED EVERYONE THAT THERE IS A 3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENT.
JESSICA YOZZO: thank you for reviewing and saying yes to the resolution.
ALISON MILLER: In January I came to this board and asked you to consider using some of the ARPA money to help support work we are doing at the old school specifically for relocating the Little Munchkin Preschool to our building. I came back in February and asked for the decision & you asked me to come back in 30 days. I came in March for a decision – you told me to come in 30 days. I’m asking if there’s been any further decisions. Supervisor Howell’s opinion on it is that his daughter attends the preschool so he thinks it would be an issue either way so at this point I have no opinion on it. Councilmember Furman: I have to abstain because I was a member of the board. Councilmember Davis: I honestly feel it would be beneficial. My child attends a preschool which is utilized in an old school. I see the benefits of having the gym. I don’t know how the old school is set up to do this or not. If you would be willing to give me a tour, I’d like to see it. Ms. Miller: you are welcome to have a tour. We continually are seeking other funding. Senator Skoufis is seeking funding. Janet Sutherland reached out to me personally to ask for more information from the county level. It’s sad that my local municipality is taking this long to provide some kind of financial support for us. RE: ARPA funds – back in September this town was granted the 2nd half of them which was $287,000.00. Has all of that been spent and if so if the public could receive a breakdown where it has been spent. Supervisor: It has not all been spent. He didn’t have the breakdown available with him today. One of the reasons is we had 2 projects in Hidden Valley that we approved an amount for.
37
One of the bills came in and the additional amount was the delivery/freight costs for all the materials. Freight allowance was over $3,000.00. We have another project that’s not been invoiced yet. He will calculate the remaining balance and give her the amount. She added that she is disappointed that this board decided to sign the resolution from Audit NY. She looked at their website and did not see a lot of information. She has no idea who is behind this, who funds it and their claims to my research are unsubstantiated.
DIANE LOEVEN: The village planning board meeting was postponed to Thursday the 27th at 7pm at the firehouse because it’s a continuation of the public hearing on the special use permit on the old church. May 3rd is our next senior trip. She will remind people not to park directly in front of the building.
PATTI SEEKAMP: She asked what the WIFI is for the senior center. Councilmember Furman will make a sign and hang it up there. She asked Dean if one of the guys could go the center and change the clock. There was further discussion on finding the door unlocked. She also mentioned about getting the AC working. She asked how her chairs were doing. Supervisor: we have them on order from Sam’s Club.
DIANE LOEVEN: added that she was hoping that some of the ARPA money could be used towards upgrading the HVAC at the senior center.
BRIAN CAREY: He met with a couple members of the AUDIT NY and Trustee Davoren on April 20th and they will be at the village board meeting on May 4th. He hopes at that meeting they will pass the resolution.
ALVIN KAUFMAN: He asked for consideration in giving all veterans a property tax credit. He knows there’s one for war veterans but not there are those that served between wars. The attorney asked when he served as there is a cold war veteran exemption. He suggested that he visit with the assessor. Supervisor said they will do some research on this.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to enter into executive session at 8:05pm to discuss a contractual matter and a highway personnel matter. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to reconvene the regular meeting from executive session at 8:45pm. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
The next town board meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2023 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Kulynych, Deputy Town Clerk
for Kathleen A. Myers, RMC/Town Clerk
38