Town Board Meeting April 18th, 2022

The town board meeting of the Town of Mount Hope Town Board was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on April 18, 2022 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Matthew Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman, Councilwoman Amanda Davis and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief P. Rickard, Sgt. Anna Briceno, Attorney B. Bavoso.

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

MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis that the minutes of the April 4, 2022 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Standard work day resolution
2. Letter of interest from Jason Beebe for planning board vacancy
3. Letter from Moniysha Maldonado re: Juneteenth festival June 18 or 19
4. Resignation from Paula Bird, Deputy town clerk, deputy tax collector, deputy registrar; eff. 5/5/2022
5. Supervisor’s report March 2022
6. Police department budget modification
7. T/O Wawayanda notice of public hearing re: Abandonment of site plan & residential subdivision applications on May 5, 2022
8. T/O Wawayanda notice of public hearing re: Penalties for zoning & building construction codes offenses
9. Bid minutes from Demolition & removal of SBL 10-1-46
10. Proposal from Engineered Solutions Corp re: installation of replacement fine screens & materials & hardware
11. Surplus & destroy list from Mike Brock for items from the HV sewer treatment plant

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings spoke re: Easter parade. It was this past Friday. He thanked the police dept., Howells FD, Otisville fire & all the town staff that participated. Village meeting will be 4-21-2022 at 7pm. Little league opening day parade is this weekend; step-off is 10am at old school.
Councilman Furman reported that he, Matt and the engineer met at the sewer plant with NY rural water rep. Steve. He does the smoke testing. They went over some things there and they will need to replace some equipment at the plant. He thanked everyone that came our to the Easter parade. F.O.T.O.S is having a virtual tricky tray on April 23 at 11am. You can go online or facebook for this. Cars & Coffee is back. May 21 from 9-12 at the old school. He asked Councilman Carey to explain why we use the county application form for the summer camp employees. There are a lot of people who don’t understand why we use the county applications.
Councilman Carey: last meeting the decision was made to not have summer camp. He explained that the reason we use the county applications is because orange County does our background checks on every person that applies. They govern summer camp. The school was secured. He hopes to have a summer concert series schedule by the 1st/2nd week in May. It will run 8 weeks this year. He will post about Easter and Passover on facebook. There will be a Coffee House Concert at the old Methodist Church on Highland Avenue, on April 22 at 6:30-8:30pm. This is a free event but donations are being accepted. CPR class is coming up and will be discussed later in the meeting. Town trash days runs through the 23rd. M-F 8-5 and Saturday is 8-1. He was notified that there’s another hole in the wall at the youth center made by a ball of some sort. He would also like to talk about removing the lines off the floor form the pickle ball court. The cleaning lady said the magic eraser will take off the magic marker marks. He spoke with the IT guy. At the bottom of our website are all the links from facebook. After our meetings you can watch them from facebook that same night. Little league had some blacktopping done around their concession stand. Safety barriers were put up around field 3. Opening day is April 23. He thanked everyone who reached out to him about his dad’s passing.
Councilwoman Davis: planning board meets this Wednesday at 7pm. There are 2 public hearings rescheduled from last month. Howells FD is having an open house on the 23rd from 11-2. Otisville fire had 11 calls for March.
Supervisor Howell noted there will be refreshments served at the Howells FD open house. He spoke re: summer camp and the Dept. of health. He remined everyone that our May 16th meeting will be moved to the senior center. Everything is going good for the clean-up days. Veterans would like to use the town park for their flag burning ceremonies.

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MOTION TO ALLOW FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONIES AT THE TOWN PARK:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to allow the Veterans to host their flag retirement ceremony at the town park with their burial location approved by the highway superintendent. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard explained the budget modification is for reimbursement from Officer Medeiros. He spoke re: WESTAR coming to look at the HVAC for that building. He will be putting in a bid. There are 7 kids enrolled in the youth summer police academy. He received a 2nd price for a new copier which is approx. $37 difference. He’d like to stay with the company they presently use. $5402 was quoted for a Sharp copier off state bid. He requested paying for this out of capital reserve. He’d like to declare the old one as surplus when the new one comes. He needs executive session for 2 personnel issues.

VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE REPORT:
Trustee Loeven reported on the little league’s barriers that were put up. LL had spoken to Dean about where to put the barriers. She noted that at the last meeting, she spoke re: parking on Main Street. She was misinformed. The initial complaint was not about the one-hour parking – it was about overnight parking. There are sign there already. She asked for the police to check in the early mornings and late nights. For this. Village re-org meeting is Thursday. She will no longer be the village liaison. It will be Brian Lattimer.

PLANNING BOARD VACANCIES:
Supervisor Howell noted the letter of interest from Jason Beebe for the vacancy on the planning board. We’ve received 6 letters from interested parties. The planning board chair & deputy chair are setting dates for interviews. After the interviews, they’ll let us know their choices and we can make those appointments.

JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL:
Supervisor Howell received a letter from Moniysha Maldonado about a Juneteenth festival at the park. We received more info today. He asked the board of they had questions. Councilman Jennings asked if police would be required. Supervisor Howell asked Mrs. Maldonado if she has an estimate of # of people. She does not as she was waiting to see if it would be approved or not. Supervisor: have you been to festivals in other municipalities? She said she has. She’s seen police there but didn’t know if they were asked to be there. Supervisor asked if it would be thousands like for the country fair. She doesn’t think it will draw that much of a big crowd here. She compared the crowd size to our summer concert series crowd size. Supervisor asked her if she knew if the dates were available – she would have to do that with the highway department. She has not checked with them yet. Supervisor Howell thinks it’s a good festival to have. She has talked with a lot of vendors ad food truck people and they are all interested.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to allow the Juneteenth festival pending availability of the park rental and application to be completed for requested dates of June 18th or 19th. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to accept the March 2022 supervisor’s report as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

PET’S ALIVE CONTRACT:
Supervisor Howell explained the Pet’s Alive contract would be a secondary contract for a dog shelter.

MOTION TO APPROVE PET’S ALIVE AS A SECONDARY CONTRACT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to authorize the town supervisor to sign the contract with Pet’s Alive. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE OF COPIER FROM CPI COPIERS FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to authorize the purchase of a new copier from CPI Copiers for $5402.00. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT RESIGNATION FROM PAULA BIRD, DEPUTY TOWN CLERK, DEPUTY TAX COLLECTOR, DEPUTY REGISTRAR:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Carey to accept the resignation from Paula Bird, Deputy town clerk, deputy tax collector, deputy registrar effective May 5, 2022. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

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MOTION TO APPOINT ELIZABETH KULYNYCH AS DEPUTY TOWN CLERK/DEPUTY TAX COLLECTOR/DEPUTY REGISTRAR:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to appoint Elizabeth Kulynych as deputy town clerk/deputy tax collector/deputy registrar effective April 20, 2022. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

CPR/AED CLASSES:
Supervisor Howell noted the CPR/AED classes coming up. They are on May 23 and May 24th at the senior center on Baker Street at 6pm both nights. Free for Mount Hope residents age 10 and older. $20 for non-residents. Councilman Carey added that he had an inquiry for infant CPR. If there’s enough interest, they could have a class for it.

MOTION TO SURPLUS & DESTROY DEFUNCT/OUTDATED EQUIPMENT FROM HIDDEN VALLEY SEWER PLANT:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to surplus and destroy the following defunct/outdated equipment from the Hidden Valley sewer plant:
(3) submersible pumps, (1) flow meter and chart recorder & (1) rotary lobe blower.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

PROPOSAL FROM ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS CORP.:
Supervisor Howell spoke re: the proposal from ESC. There are upgrades inside the plant that will need to be addressed. He explained the installation of replacement fine screens in the wastewater treatment plant and the materials and hardware needed. He only has one quote because the original piece of equipment is from them as well – a made to order piece. Total quote is $56,045.15 not including freight. Smoke testing will be done the end of August. He’d like to have a workshop meeting in July to invite HV residents to attend.

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FROM ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS CORP.:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to accept the quote from Engineered Solutions Corp. for: install the replacement equipment, integration of fine screen into controls, equipment start-up, develop drawings for new fine screen enclosure& 2 days on-site for $56,045.15 – not including freight . All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried.

RESOLUTION FOR THE STANDARD WORK DAY AND REPORTING FOR ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to authorize the following:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Mount Hope/30364 hereby established the following standard work days for these titles and will report the officials to the New York State & Local Retirement based on their record of activities for: Matthew Howell, Kathleen Myers, Dean Hassenmayer, Dennis Ketcham, Angela Cangialosi, Joseph Hosking, John Goldsmith, Brian Carey, Christopher Furman & Amanda Davis; pending any additions as needed.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman jennings to approve modification as follows:
Increase Police fees A1520 by $1,889.31 and
increase Police Contr. A3120.4 $1,889.31.
(reimbursement for Officer Medeiros’ ballistic vest, uniform & training).
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Furman, Davis, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the following bills (Abstract #14, #15):
ABSTRACT 14:
GENERAL A: #173-192 $ 21,922.14
GENERAL B: #24-26 $ 1,205.91
HIGHWAY: #63-69 $ 27,964.65
SEWER: #31-34 $ 5,459.11
CAP RES ‘A’ BLDG: #1 $ 12,887.00
ABSTRACT 15:
GENERAL A: #193-207 $ 41,946.22
GENERAL B: #27-28 $ 26,813.93
HIGHWAY: #70-71 $ 1,735.46
SEWER: #35-39 $ 1,729.25.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

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DISCUSSION ON BID RESULTS FOR DEMOLITION & REMOVAL OF SBL 10-1-46:
Supervisor Howell noted the bid minutes for the demolition of SBL 10-1-46. TAM Enterprises bid $187,024 & Ground Control Excavating bid $62,000.00. Councilman Carey asked is this bid for taking house down, or taking everything out up to the house or for cleaning the yard completely? Supervisor: bid from TAM is for dwelling only: It is expressly understood & agreed upon to the T/O Mount Hope that debris/materials located adjacent to and throughout the surrounding property is not part of the project and the project is limited to the demolition and removal of one house. Councilman Carey asked how long it will take the town to get their money back for paying the $62,000.00? Supervisor: if the owner of the property does not pay the invoice that would be sent to them after the project is completed by the contractor, that bill would be levied against their tax bill – about a year. If they pay their tax bill in January, we get our money. If they don’t, the county would make the town whole.

MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FROM GROUND CONTROL EXCAVATING for DEMO OF SBL 10-1-46:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to accept the bid from Ground Control Excavating in the amount of $62,000.00 to demolition SBL 10-1-46. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

YOUTH RECREATION CENTER DISCUSSION:
Supervisor Howell noted the pickleball court will be taken down at the youth center as requested by some renters going forward. The highway guys will take care of the hole in the wall at the youth center created by a resident due to a ball. We need to have some policy with NO OUTDOOR BALL. Councilman Carey knows who it is. Councilman Furman would to post basic rules of no ball throwing inside the facility. Supervisor will have something ready for the next meeting to adopt.

PLANNING BOARD MEMBER BARRY MOORE:
Supervisor Howell noted that Barry Moore has stepped down from the planning board. He’s been on that board over 30 years. He would like to recognize him. He will send him a letter and a certificate.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Moniysha Maldonado asked if she gets the date secured for Juneteenth festival, can she have a decision within the week. Supervisor stated that they need the completed application for rental. We approved your festival pending date & application. She asked if the town is okay with hosting the festival. Supervisor stated yes.
Diane Loeven asked if the Juneteenth festival is going to be town hosted? That’s what she just stated. It’s not that she’s renting the pavilion to do this but I was assuming she was asking you to sponsor it. Maldonado: right. Loeven: and she would do the leg work. Maldonado: I would do the leg work and it would be a town event hosted just like we do the spring concerts or the Easter parade and it’ll be hosted by the town. Loeven: you’re asking them to waive the fee. Maldonado: yes. Supervisor: you would be doing all of the organization and we’re just providing you the area? Maldonado: yes – and if I have ?’s I can ask you guys right? Supervisor: yes. She asked who the contact person would be. Supervisor stated Brian or Dean. Councilman Jennings asked if she was using the area by the pavilion or are you looking to expand. She thinks because it’s the 1st time just the pavilion area similar to the concert series. And maybe some food trucks to park them outside the basketball parking area. Councilman Carey added that the electric was upgraded at the pavilion but if she is getting food trucks, have them bring a generator with them. Maldonado: time for festival would be from 1-4. Loeven: is little league still in session at that point? Councilman Carey: yes. Ms. Loeven asked about fees for non-residents seniors taking the CPR/AED classes. She added that she is very disappointed to hear that Paula is leaving. She has been a delight to work with from the village end and the Hometown Helpers. She’s very sensitive and can tune in when she needs to pick up the phone and call us instead of sending an email. Whatever she’s moving on to – I wish her the best!

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Carey stated he spoke with Kathleen before the meeting. She’s having internet issues with the DEC computer. It’s on a separate line from the 2 main computers. He will do a quick/temporary fix with a “Y”. The internet needs upgrading for 2 reasons: the new phone system because it is internet based and the board room is horrible for WIFI. He then asked about the copier in the senior center storage closet. Supervisor Howell will talk with Dean about it. Councilman Carey noted there is other stuff in the senior center basement that could get thrown out with trash week and also a broken treadmill in the youth center.

MOTION TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL FOR THE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL TO WAIVE FEE:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to amend the previous motion to read: allow the Juneteenth festival pending availability of the park rental and application to be completed and park rental fee to be waived for requested dates of June 18th or 19th . All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

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Councilman Furman is going to miss Paula. He’s glad that she’s doing whatever it is she wants to do but Paula has been a great asset for the past 6 years.
Councilman Jennings ran into Paula and I wish her the best of luck. He agrees with Brian about the network. He suggested maybe a centralized area for internet.
Supervisor Howell added that he wishes Paula the best. As he had previously mentioned in the Coffee with the Chief, we’re fortunate that Kathleen has a new perspective clerk but he thinks the most difficult aspect is the personnel management; retirements, people that leave and to have another quality person to do the job like we have. We wish Paula the best!

MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to enter into executive session for 2 personnel issues in the police department at 8:32pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilwoman Davis to reconvene regular meeting from executive session at 9:09pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 9:09pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

The next meeting is scheduled for May 2, 2022 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk

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