Town Board Meeting August 2nd, 2021
The regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on August 2, 2021 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Christopher Furman and Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Chief P. Rickard, Deputy Chief M. Maresca, Town Attorney D. Bavoso, Bldg. Insp. J. Musial.
Supervisor Volpe called the public hearing for proposed local law #2-2021 “To Opt Out of Allowing Cannabis Retail Dispensaries & On-Site Consumption as Authorized under Cannabis Law, Article 4” at 7:30PM, following the Pledge of Allegiance.
7:30PM: PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #2-2021 “To Opt Out of Allowing Cannabis Retail Dispensaries & On-Site Consumption as Authorized under Cannabis Law, Article 4”:
Supervisor Volpe called the public hearing to order following the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30pm. Copies of the law are on the table. The legal ad is on the table.
Atty. Bavoso explained under the new cannabis laws for the state of NY, the town is allowed to opt out of allowing dispensaries and on-site usage facilities in the town as long as the law is adopted before the end of this year. This opt out is subject to permissive referendum which is 45 days so even if the board elects to keep the public hearing open, he recommends finally adopting the law at one of the meetings in October because the state hasn’t been terribly clear as to whether or not adopting it means the 45 days has to run. As the state law is written, this is the only opt-out you get and if the board in the future opts back in – they cannot opt out again. This is the only time the town has to opt out of the law.
Chief Rickard explained that based on speaking with other people from local municipalities, it makes sense to opt out at this point because you can never opt back in. You can opt in but you can’t opt out. There are too many unknowns at this point for how much money is going to be generated. The wait and see approach are the more prudent approach. If the system is working everywhere then you can say ‘ok, we want to join in’. But you can’t undo that at this point. He thinks we should move forward. Another concern is where commercial zones are very close and mingled in with residential, he thinks there’s potential for some issues in the neighborhoods. He is not in favor of the law at all. He thinks there may be some issues with where these will be cited & this gives us more time that if we decide we want to move forward with it, you can always do that in the future. Supervisor asked the board if they had questions. He opened comments to the public.
Diane Loeven informed the board that the village has drafted a very similar law. It’s in the hands of the trustees now for their review. They anticipate at their meeting on Thursday night they will be setting a public hearing for this.
Ken Pinkela asked the attorney to explain the opt-out 45-day referendum. The attorney stated that there are certain types of local laws that when you adopt – is subject to permissive referendum. A permissive referendum is basically a certain amount of time that the residents of the municipality are given – it’s got to be a certain % of the assessed value of the property in the municipality or the property owners and if they can petition that many, they can force a referendum on that item. But, it’s not mandatory if that petition never comes forward then after 45 days the law takes effect. Mr. Pinkela: when does the clock start if they vote to opt-out tonight? Bavoso: the reason why I said that in my opinion they should adopt it no later than October is because the state is unclear as to when the adoption actually takes place. If they adopt it at their 1st December meeting, that 45 days doesn’t run out until January so is that technically considered being adopted because the permissive referendum time isn’t up or is it still considered not adopted at that time because is can’t take effect. Mr. Pinkela: Did you draft the law we’re gonna talk about tonight? Bavoso: yes. Mr. Pinkela: did you leave an open door like Middletown did or is it a opt-out and no reason. Bavoso: there’s technically always an open door so because this is a local law if a different board/this board wants to opt-in in the future they can do so by local law as well. The state cannabis law allows them to do that. Mr. Pinkela: there’s 2 pieces to this: there’s a local piece that’s the revenue. You guys understand the revenue piece. The most conservative republican tax group has said NYS’s looking at 412 million. Keep that in mind. This is not a safety issue. We’ve has the benefit of time. Colorado has proven that all of the issues around child safety, consumption, DUI and cross-border felonies, misdemeanors have been debunked since 2018. I hope we all look at this – a lot of us have personal biases from old folks in our home (inaudible). On a personal level – I have been very public about what happened to me, what’s going on with me. I’ve been living with HIV since 2006. I’ve been shot. I’ve been hospitalized for a year of my life. I can’t get cannabis right now in NYS. All of my doctors have been trying to prescribe it for me. The VA is trying to do it because we have the federal piece. As the feds now are bringing that up, it would be just an incredible piece for the veterans who live here locally. Within Pike County & Sussex County in NJ – New York: Sullivan County, Orange County – the population we have here in veterans to have access to local consumption, should outweigh everything. If you don’t want it – don’t use it. But, please consider before we opt-out and close the door, think about the impacts and think about your own personal biases. NY is gonna pass it. It’s already here.
58
We could find some great places to put these things. They’re not gonna be downtown in the middle of our small one block village. We can find some really nice places to bring that in and take advantage of the ratables. Sadly, folks from Wessels are here. Wessels is gone. This is a great shot. Just don’t close the door. I think maybe there’s been some decisions made mentally that’s why I asked David to clarify the referendum piece. If we as a public want to take it on or can you guys later on as the state redefines where we are going then we could open that back up and again time would be on our side. I urge you guys to reconsider if you’ve not voted yet mentally. If you’re going down that road, please leave the door open for both the revenue side, a personal side and for the benefit of the entire town. The ratables alone to expand the services that we get. Supervisor: you said you’re looking for someone to prescribe it so are you talking about medical marijuana? Pinkela: both. Supervisor: but there is a difference. Pinkela: there is a difference and how nice it would be instead of me traveling to Colorado, Washington or California where even though as an out of state resident I can purchase locally – both my I can’t get my medical here or my recreational. You can’t do it so I’m just saying as you’re looking down the roads to possibly use this as a way for revenue or for jumping in to take care of citizens, don’t close the door. Supervisor: there’s a big difference between medical marijuana and people that are under prescription for medical marijuana. I know people that are on it. Pinkela: right. Remember my background. I can’t go get it on that side. I have to get mine through the VA so I can’t get it right now. I can’t go outside – my VA doctors could literally drop me from the VA if they find out I have a civilian prescription for medical marijuana. It is such a convoluted piece that people that people don’t understand that side of it. I’m authorized as a private citizen but because my medical care is strictly federal, I’m an 80% soon to be 100% rated combat veteran. I could get kicked of the VA medical if they found out I was getting a civilian medical prescription. Chief Rickard: Just to clarify, Ken’s got it kind of backwards, I think. If this law passes, you can still use it legally in your residence or on your property or wherever you want you just can’t buy it. I think it’s reverse. It is don’t force people that live here to be stuck with a problem in their neighborhood. If you want o use it, you can buy it wherever you want to buy it. You also won’t be able to buy it and bring it across state lines. Pinkela: what neighborhoods? Are you talking about opening a cannabis store in Hidden Valley? That’s not gonna happen. Rickard: You said you’re not gonna have one in the middle of Main Street – that would be where it will be. Or else along Route 211 here. Pinkela: unless the good politicians expand their commercial bases. I’m not saying it’s anything to do with the old Otisville School but we’re not even a commercial property – I’m R1. They’re looking at those expansions that politicians should then take a look at. Rickard: There are no financial pieces. Everywhere this has been and it’s been debunked that there’s ratables and money to be made. Look at California, Colorado – the estimates are way below anything that’s ever come in and we know that there will be an increase in crime. Completely clear that deaths by car accidents by people under the influence of marijuana has gone up. Pinkela: I went to the police. I went to the company. Rickard: I’m not gonna argue about it. Pinkela: You think I’ve got it backwards. I have an opinion – you have an opinion. You’re not a voting member nor am I. I’m asking the politicians to hear my side. Rickard: My point is, we are not limiting just so everyone is clear – you can smoke marijuana on your property. You can absolutely do that regardless of this law. You can call up and order it and have it delivered to your house. It does not change that. All this does it says that the town is opting out of opening up on-site consumption marijuana facility and if you’re gonna do that, you have to put in the financing of additional police and all that other stuff and retail establishments – that is what this opt-out is just retail establishments just on site. People can use it in their house, property anywhere they want. That’s what the issue is. Everyone that I’ve spoken to have concerns about people driving to a marijuana dispensary/lounge and driving through their neighborhoods or they don’t want it in their neighborhood. Those are the 2 big issues. They’re big law enforcement issues. If you go to California, Colorado or the other places that it’s legalized, that’s what you’ll find. Pinkela: just to debunk because I think he has it backwards. The state of Colorado posted their data, signed by the governor, signed by the chief law enforcement agency, signed by the attorney general that literally debunks all of that. They have had 8 years to see cross-border crime rates decrease, no rise in DUI, no rises in teen consumption. None. The data speaks for itself. Personal biases or another piece, I would ask you to please do your own internal, they’re out there. The data is out there. We can talk about personal disagreement all we want. Rickard: just for the record, the federal government, just looking at Colorado – the high intensity drug trafficking area which is a federal organization – it says since marijuana was legalized marijuana related traffic deaths have increased 151% in Colorado, while their overall deaths from traffic accidents have decreased 35%. Since it’s been legalized traffic deaths involving drivers who tested positive for marijuana have more than doubled between 13 & 18. That has not been debunked. There are problems with it from a law enforcement side. We’re not looking to limit you using it at your house this would be to sell it in any other business. Pinkela: just one last piece since it’s still my time. Councilman Carey: it’s not but we’ll still listen. Pinkela: I appreciate it. From the state of Colorado, the % of drivers and fatal crashes who tested positive for Delta 9 THC below the 5 nanogram ML have decreased from 11.6 % in 2016 to 7.5 in 2017. You can post that, too. Councilman Carey: Ken, the purpose of us having these meetings is obviously for people to come in. Look at how many people are at this public hearing. You brought up some things that probably, I’m sure, and I’m not speaking for everyone on this board like..didn’t realize, but I get it. I do thank you even though you got a little more than 4 ½ minutes of the time that you should have by the way, for the record. Thank you for coming and sharing something that some of us didn’t know. And Paul, thank you.
59
Alison Miller: I’m a little reluctant to speak. I’m not really sure how long I have. My understanding is in a public hearing that it is my time to speak and while I have great respect for the chief of police, I didn’t really realize it was his time to give a pronouncement on this law. I understand everything that you’ve said. I’ve done a fair amount of reading on this. The only thing that O would just ask you to consider beyond the revenue piece is – we’re talking about crime increasing potentially. People are not going to stop using marijuana if we ban it in this town. People in this town use marijuana recreationally. They will continue to use it recreationally. What they will probably do if they can’t buy it here is go somewhere else and buy it. In that case, they will be giving their money to some other municipality and they will also still be driving whether they get it here or somewhere else. I don’t think by banning it or opting out, that you’re going to decrease it being used here. I did a really quick search on dry counties because I thought it might be interesting to see counties that ban alcohol sales actually in Texas, Arkansas & Kentucky see 3 ½ times more alcohol related fatalities than counties where alcohol is actually sold because people are driving somewhere to get it. So, they’re still going to get it. I understand the opt-out and I understand the deadline. I would just put there that if this board decides to opt-out, there is an election in November, so whatever this board decides a future board will probably not look the same. Whoever’s making the decision tonight will probably not be making decisions to be opting in or opting out in the future. The last thing I had to say, only kind of half- jokingly, is if you pass this law, you might want to consider revising the town slogan because you all have on the wall behind you “Town of Mount Hope high& healthful”.
Ed Fairweather: As Alison & Ken, I did a little research and we’ve been very active in hemp. Not marijuana hemp but recreational. It still allows, the law does allow for people to have a dozen plants: 6 growing for full production use and 6 or so, the object and the problem is probably still going to present itself. I don’t smoke. O don’t smoke anything. I think you still have to be open-minded to the fact that 60% of people surveyed in the US especially in NY feel the legalization was the way to go. Whether we develop it into a commercial venue or not – I’m not quite sure. I think another misconception, is that marijuana is always included in drug related fatalities but it is not separated out. It’s always drug-related. It’s always with the opioids and all the other things. We know about the process and the problem with opioids that we’ve had. I’m not saying in favor – I’m not saying against – I’m just saying that when you look at alcohol and you start to look at marijuana and the recreational use, there’s probably not a lot of difference.
Diane Loeven: just to follow up on one thing that Ken said when he mentioned look at the town overall, try to identify places that this might be an appropriate place to have such an establishment. It didn’t sound as if you really understood that if the town opts out at this point in time, that does not preclude the board, correct David, from examining those things.? And if, down the road, the law is a little clearer and the guidelines are there, this board or a future board came along and said that we’ve identified that this area would be the ideal place to have such a thing then at that point in time the board could always opt back in, am I correct? Bavoso: yes. Loeven: so, in essence, it would be buying time.
Mike Wessels: I’m like Ed. I don’t smoke either. We’re looking at this. Doing a lot of research medically within the plant and everything – it opened my eyes a lot. By growing it – it does help a lot of people. Probably 50% of the people that use it get a lot of medical value. We have a liquor store, a bar. When my father – after talking to him this weekend, there’s used to be 5 bars in Otisville. Somehow, we all survived. A dispensary is not going to be any different than a convenience store or anything else. I can’t go to the convenience store and buy a case of beer and consume it in my car – I’ll be in jail. People are trying to flag this and the only reason it was outlawed in the 1930’s was economics. It had nothing to do with anything else. So, we outlawed it for just like the prohibition, we brought it back and if you’ve done your research on the plant, you’ll see that there’s a lot of good to it – more than bad. They’re actually using hemp to get people off opioids. They’re actually using CBD to wean people off opioids so people should know what they’re talking about before they have an opinion. Rickard: There’s a major difference with the alcohol in that with marijuana the law is currently that you can dispense, you can smoke it as soon as you buy it on the street. Which is different. There’s a prohibition against drinking alcohol because the municipality has a law against it – there is none for marijuana. Somebody can buy it and take it out and smoke it in front of anyone’s house or any parking lot or any property that they want. There is a difference between marijuana and alcohol in that regard.
Rachel Bruce: I live in the village of Woodbury. I do represent the young democrats in Orange County. I am in favor of fully implementing the law specifically the licensing of dispensaries throughout the Town of Mount Hope. The economic benefits and so forth are innumerable. You have 9% sales tax. Most of that is going to go to state funding for education. 20% of the drug treatment and public education fund and 40% to the community grant reinvestment fund which is used to further support and stimulate economic development throughout the state. 4% of that remaining, so 5% to the state, 4% to the county and to the town which can be used for really whatever you want. It could be used to better fund the schools. It could be used to fund any number of things. The primary thing is whether or not the board decides to opt-in or opt-out tonight or at a later date. Marijuana is still going to be legal in the state of NY. It’s still going to be legal in the town of Mount Hope. And, you might as well reap some of the economic benefit that’s going to come from it. Where I live in Woodbury, we legalized it and while I can sit here and say we’ll take it, we’ll take all the revenue, I think this should be a fully local industry. I want to share the wealth. I understand this is a fantastic economic opportunity for this community. Understandably, there are a lot of reservations about this.
60
As the officer pointed out before, there are certain lack of restrictions in terms of where people can smoke cannabis or not smoke cannabis or consume it. These are all things that understandably are concerning however, the office of cannabis management which is being structured to mirror the same agents that handle alcohol will be in full force to ensure that if there are any kinks in the law – for example, if you find that 6 months from now that you have a significant rise in drug-related pull-overs, these are all things that can be reevaluated. I should note that in the states where it is legalized there was not a significant increase in roadside intoxications. In fact, a lot of the funding that’s generated from this bill from economic incentives is going to go towards funding special officers who will be able to better detect for cannabis intoxication. The more towns that opt-in to this, the more money goes in to that. In the communities where this was legalized across the US, it created over 700,000 jobs. You can’t ignore the benefits. I personally don’t smoke. I support other people’s rights to. I know the medical benefits of this however, I don’t know if anyone up here has ever been to Great Barrington, if you walk into the dispensary there it’s like walking in to a high-end boutique in Woodbury. It’s beautiful, clean, efficient. Massachusetts hasn’t really seen any real disadvantage. I highly encourage you all to consider at least encouraging the dispensaries to be licensed here. Even though you might be buying time, the process to opt back in is incredibly cumbersome.
Councilman Howell: a piece on the revenue, earlier in the summer I attended an online training from the AOT & 1 of the topics they covered was the new cannabis law as it came through with the legislature. Specifically, to the revenue, that of the 4% that you just mentioned, 3% of that would go to the municipality where the sales are generated so even if the town were to opt-in, if there are no sales in the town, the town does not get 3% of that money. That 3% was an estimate given from the legislator because that cannabis board at the time had not been established – none of this was set in stone so to speak. 3% as I see it coming from the state – it’s a hypothetical # for that unless something is sold here, we aren’t going to see the funds. It may happen in Woodbury, Monroe or somewhere else in the state but if the sales do not happen in Mount Hope, Mount Hope does not see the money. There’s also some unclarity in that as well with regards to the village. The state had no given an answer to do sales in the village consider sales in a town and vice versa. There’s still a lot of up in the air. I don’t think that the 100’s of millions of dollars we are going to see flow in the day after if it is passed.
Councilman Carey: I want to thank everyone for coming. Thank you for coming from Woodbury. Obviously, we are all elected up and make the decisions as far as stuff goes and as far as the board goes, we are going to be here until the end of the year at least. I do appreciate everyone that does come out. The feedback is great. I wish the room was a little more packed than what it is. For the record, no one has written any questions whatsoever on our public notice on facebook. I don’t believe we’ve gotten anything email-wise.
Councilman Furman: I thank everybody for their comments. My reservation is the same as everybody else’s. All these #’s come through that you’re gonna get this, you’re going to get that and there isn’t anything in stone yet. To each his own. That’s my concern, what % we would get. I value everybody’s opinion. We are here to do what we feel is right for the community. When things are passed in Albany like bail reform, it was done in the middle of the night with no thought process and now they’re trying to backtrack.
Councilman Jennings: Thank you for the comments. We do have a lot to think about now on this law. I understand every point and as I said before we’re here to look for the best interest of the town. We will have the option to opt-in if we decide opt-out. David, how would it work if we did opt-in then we decide down the road to opt-out? Bavoso: you can’t. You can opt back in you can never…as the law is written right now.
Mike Wessels: as far as the micro businesses, obviously I’m not involved in that but if you’re opting out of this because that’s the only vertical part of all of this with the social equity and everything so if you opt-out that means you’re opting out of any micro-business? Bavoso: it would be anything considered a dispensary or an on-site consumption site. It could potentially be yes. Wessels: if anybody wanted to have a micro-business through the social equity program you would stop that by opting-out? Because, I believe there’s a very slim chance you’re gonna get a dispensary in the village of Otisville or Mount Hope. There’s just not enough traffic. They’re not gonna locate it here. That’s reality. But you will stop a micro-business from potentially opening up which is the only way a small business can do this and get a license. When you opt-out you’re opting-out of really nothing but a dispensary but you are killing the person that wants to grow it and sell it at their own facility.
Supervisor Volpe: As far as sales tax, Orange County happens to be a shared sales tax county. Legoland clearly isn’t here so the PILOT they have with Goshen is separate for them hosting Legoland. But all of the sales tax revenue is funneled into Mount Hope. So, all sales tax, whether dispensaries in Woodbury, Monroe, Goshen, Middletown – we share all of the sales tax so that should not be a consideration. Unless we are getting an actual PILOT for the business being here. However, now that we’ve actually heard a couple of comments on it, it would at least be my recommendation to hold the public hearing open & accept any written comments. They can be written to, emailed to the town clerk’s office & leave the public hearing until our next meeting. I’m grateful that people came out to speak tonight but I wish we had a 100 people.
MOTION TO ADJOURN PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOCAL LAW #2 TO BOARD MEETING AUG 16, 2021:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to adjourn this public hearing @ 8:07PM until the next board meeting on August 16, 2021. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
61
8:07PM: PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #3-2021 “Prohibiting Smoking in Town Parks and Recreation Areas”:
Supervisor Volpe: COPIES OF LAW AND LEGAL AD ON TABLE.
Atty Bavoso: It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s prohibiting smoking in town parks, all green spaces & it is also banning smoking within 25’ of any public entrances to any town facilities. It does cover a broad range of things including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, pipes, marijuana other plant in any manner or any form as well as the potential for vaping substances as well.
Ed Fairweather: is there a fee structure that’s gonna be along with this if someone is caught? Is there going to be a dollar amount with the ticket? Bavoso: yes, the penalties for offenses says any person or organization violating the provisions of this article shall upon conviction thereof be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to the payment of a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days or both. And each violation is considered a separate violation. Fairweather: so, if the little league or the lions club or any organization is using the town park and is operating under their name, they would be the ones written the ticket? Bavoso: potentially. Generally speaking, it’s aimed at individuals. Fairweather: not potentially, the way it’s written? Bavoso: yes.
Councilman Carey: Diane, has the village done anything with this? As far as smoking in the park or recreation areas in the village? Loeven: we did adopt a whole new set of regulations for parks and recreation areas strictly forbidding smoking in any form in any of those areas as well as the parking lots. We are taking it 1 step further and in addition to the cannabis law that we will be looking at at the next meeting, we have a law on the use of parks & recreation areas that will further clarify some of the things such as what David’s talking about what the penalties would be.
Councilman Carey: I didn’t get any feedback on this from anybody from email, facebook. No one has really had a comment to it. Maybe we can leave this open until next meeting.
Councilman Furman: I’m fine with it leaving it open.
Councilman Jennings: I’m fine with leaving it open.
MOTION TO ADJOURN PUBLIC HEARING FOR LOCAL LAW #3 TO BOARD MEETING AUG. 16, 2021:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to adjourn this public hearing @ 8:10PM until the next board meeting on August 16, 2021. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to accept the minutes from the July 19, 2021 as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- (2) Budget modifications from supervisor’s office
- Budget modification from highway
- Letter from FOTOS re: American Rescue Plan Relief funds
- (2) quotes from Checke’s Metal Products for work to be done at the PD
- T/O Wawayanda notice of hearing re: zoning amendments August 10 7PM
- Palmer’s Ark impound report for July 2021
- Letter from Rose Phillips re: possible internship (read into record by the Town Clerk)
(Supervisor Volpe explained that we could have Rose attend the budget workshops. Board agreed.)
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
COUNCILMAN JENNINGS: Village meeting is 8/5 at 7PM. Planning board meeting is 8/18 at 7pm. Little league wrestling event went well about 150 people.
COUNCILMAN FURMAN: MVYFL mentioned there are a few broken rails at the field. Their conditioning and training have started. He wanted to let Dean know that the guys are doing a nice job with the fields up there. He’s received one quote so far for pressure washing the town buildings. He congratulated Stefanie Dolson on her Olympic gold medal.
COUNCILMAN CAREY: Wash on Wheels will meet me here tomorrow to go over things. He’s had requests to possibly open the fitness center earlier than 6am. Fall ball little league sign ups are now. Concert series is nearing the end. Night out against crime is tomorrow night at 6:30pm. There will also be fireworks.
COUNCILMAN HOWELL: DCO was successful in retrieving a lost dog from out of town. Dog was returned to owner. Night out will be a great family event tomorrow night. He congratulated Stefanie Dolson on her Olympic gold medal win. (VIDEO RECORDING STOPPED AT THIS POINT)
SUPERVISOR VOLPE: The numbers are rising again for COVID. We may have to go back to taking temperatures again and back to not allowing anyone down the hall.
62
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard reported that the Governor has no state mandate for masks as of yet. There was a lightning strike about 2 weeks ago and there have been issues at the police building due to this. There may be an insurance case for this. He explained the budget modification. He asked the board if there will be a cost for the village for the centennial policing. If so, it would be around the $2000 vicinity. Bob Clouse, village trustee asked if the board would possibly waive this fee. Diane Loeven, village trustee feels this is a municipal function and there shouldn’t be a fee.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reminded everyone the village yard sale is this weekend from 9-3 rain or shine.
MOTION TO APPROVE HIGHWAY BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the modification:
Increase Unclassified Revenue D2655 by $690.53 AND
Increase Machinery Repairs D5130.4 by $690.53. (misc. income from Sims scrap metal container)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR’S BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the modification:
Increase revenue Line A2705 Gifts/Donations by $1200.00 AND
Increase expense line A7550.4 Celebrations by $1200.00 (night out against crime)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISOR’S BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the modification:
Increase revenue line A4089 Other Govt. Grants by $29,332.22 AND
Increase expense line A1620.4 Buildings Contr. By $29,332.22.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the modification:
Increase A1520 Police Fees by $1324.93 AND
Increase A3120.4 Police Contr. By $1,324.93 (ballistic vest/uniform reimbursement for Officer Ede)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
2022 TOWN BUDGET:
Supervisor Volpe would like to schedule the 2022 town budget workshop meeting for 9/7 and 9/20 at 6pm before both the regular town board meetings.
MOTION TO SCHEDULE TOWN BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to schedule the 2022 Town Budget workshop meeting on Sept. 7 and Sept. 20 at 6:00pm at town hall, 1706 Route 211 West, Otisville NY. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN RELIEF FUNDS:
Supervisor Volpe would like to set up a workshop meeting to determine various uses for this funding.
Board discussed dates. Board agreed on August 9, 2021 at 6pm.
MOTION TO SCHEDULE WORKSHOP MEETING FOR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN RELIEF FUNDS:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to schedule a workshop meeting to discus various uses for the AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN RELIEF FUNDS on August 9, 2021 at 6pm at 1706 Route 211 West, Otisville NY. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
TOWN HALL PARKING LOT:
At this time, the town clerk explained that a resident from 2 houses past town hall will be having a wedding reception at their house on Sept. 18 and would like permission to use our parking lot for some of their vehicles. As noted, the parade will be lignin up here for the Centennial parade so the other vehicle should stay to the other side of the parking lot.
63
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Howell to approve Abstract #29 & #30:
ABSTRACT #29:
GENERAL A: #376-381 $ 46,095.88
GENERAL B: #65-67 $ 5,927.39
HIGHWAY: #124 $ 17,922.43
SEWER: #67-68 $ 1,273.90
AND
ABSTRACT #30:
GENERAL A: #382-398 $ 8,768.07
GENERAL B: #68 $ 38.35
HIGHWAY: #125-127 $ 757.93
SEWER: #69 $ 78.12
MH FIRE: #2 $ 140,900.50.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; Carey abstained from Abstract #30 voucher #’s 383 & 384) carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Alison Miller: FOTOS tricky tray will be August 13 & 14th. Calling will be on the final day.
Keri Carey: The centennial parade will be on the 18th of Sept. She asked if the cars for the wedding could be parked out of the way of the parade floats. She asked if the committee could borrow the flat grill from the highway department. Supervisor Volpe will check with Dean when he gets back from vacation. The committee is actively seeking volunteers for the centennial weekend. Any help would be appreciated. She added that they do have t-shirts available.
Justine Dooley: She reported that she is having issues with the new neighbor behind her house not following the rules. The code enforcement officer has had to come several times for various issues.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT:
Building Inspector Musial gave the monthly report for her department. The reports will be on file in the clerk’s office.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Carey to enter into executive session at 8:51pm to discuss an issue re: youth center with the town clerk, attorney & town board. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Jennings to reconvene the regular meeting from executive session at 9:25pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Jennings reminded everyone about NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME tomorrow night.
Councilman Furman reminded everyone about NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME tomorrow night.
Councilman Carey reminded everyone about NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME tomorrow night.
Councilman Howell: He thanked everyone for coming to the meeting tonight. He reminded everyone about NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME tomorrow night.
Supervisor Volpe added that due to a visit from Comp Alliance a section needs to be added to the employee handbook re: wearing seatbelts in town vehicles.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to adjourn the meeting at 9:27pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2021 at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Myers, Town Clerk
64