Town Board Meeting January 4th 2021
The reorganization meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at Town Hall on January 4, 2021 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman & Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Highway Supt. Hassenmayer, Police Chief Rickard, Deputy Police Chief Maresca & Attorney D. Bavoso.
The meeting was called to order by Supervisor Volpe following the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30pm. He asked for audience to silence their cell phones.
MOTION TO APPROVE PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to approve the minutes from Dec. 21, 2020 as printed. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Assoc of Towns annual meeting packet
- 2021 Appointment List
- 2021 Investment Policy
- “2017” Procurement Policy to be re-affirmed for 2021
- Letter from judges re: receipt book audit
- Highway dept. budget modification
- STOP DWI resolution
- 2021 salary schedule
- Village of Otisville fire protection contract
- 2020 year end budget modifications
- 2021 Committee list
- Palmer’s Ark 2020 year end Impound report
- Palmer’s Ark December 2020 Impound report
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilman Howell will get dates together to do the annual audit.
Councilman Jennings has a new tablet for the Facebook live but he’s having connection trouble with Facebook. Hope to have it figured out by next meeting. The village meeting is 1-7-2021 at 7pm. The Planning board meeting will be 1-20-2021 at 7pm. He sent an email re: court prosecutor. The prosecutor would like to change the procedure a bit. He would like the board to approve him prosecuting the cases via mail instead of appearances. The attorney added that he and Glen (Plotsky) are fine with that.
Councilman Furman wished everyone happy new year. He thanked Dean and highway department for being out early last night – for doing a great job with everything. There’s no zoning board meeting scheduled for this month.
Councilman Carey hopes everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Wasn’t quite the same. He received some questions about who plows certain roads. There are town, county and state roads. We have a list of all the roads we maintain; he sent someone the list.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer wished everyone a Happy New Year. Supervisor Volpe asked if the trails at the park can be plowed. Mr. Kraese as if the parking lot and the walk could be plowed. Supt. Hassenmayer stated that they never have in the past because the driveways and parking lot are only oil/chip. There’s a good chance you could damage it by plowing it. As far as the pathway, we could probably do something with the ATV that we have. We could do damage to any of it. The truck plows don’t have shoes. We could put the shoes down on the ATV so the blade doesn’t dig in. Councilman Carey asked if it would be salt & sanded. He asked Trustee Loeven what the village does for their walking path in the winter. He verified it’s closed for the winter. She stated that the parking lot is open except for after a storm then they install gates. They used to try plowing it and there was always a skim of ice over the whole thing.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard reported he has 2 officers have COVID. They are home and isolating. We have had a few exposures. We’ve done a few tests. Shout out to Middletown Medical – they have been amazing for us. He noted the STOP DWI resolution needs to be passed tonight. This is an annual resolution. The reform & reinvention plan is moving forward. He spoke with Chad today. He is needs to have a public hearing on this. It is required by executive order. He’d like it set for the March 1 meeting at 7:15pm. The plan should be up on our website shortly after giving it to the board on Feb 15th.
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The public would have it for 2 weeks. The board would have it for 2 weeks. Then the public hearing and then after the public hearing you either approve or disapprove it. He passed around the mock-up for the postcard for the survey. It should be going out in the next 2 weeks. You can do it online or scan the QR code with your phone. This is the scientific survey that the police foundation is doing for us. We should have the results by Feb. 1st. He reached out for Serve-Pro due to a positive case and other possible exposures. Serve-Pro came out on a Saturday to do a deep clean for us. They did it for free. They included the cars and the building.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven wished everyone a happy new year. She spoke re: village ZBA public hearing on January 6 at 7pm at the Otisville fire house. It is regarding a 3 lot subdivision. One lot does not meet with requirements.
LIBRARY CONTRACT/CARDS:
Attorney Bavoso did additional research that the library had forwarded on to us. As it turns out, the town is not allowed to charge that amount per card. He initially thought we could. That would have to be the change to the contract. We can’t charge anything. Supervisor Volpe got the literature from David. He found it bizarre. It was kind of like for under-served areas. It’s illegal to charge money and he doesn’t think they should be able to charge us. The attorney used to be on the board for the library so will continue to have conversation with them. Councilman Jennings asked if we need to make an amendment on the contract. Attorney Bavoso stated that they can do a motion to authorize with the change in the contract. Councilman Carey asked if the number of cards per households can be restricted. Supervisor: it’s supposed to be one card per household. The attorney will work out the details. The people that paid will have to be refunded. This will be on hold until at least the next meeting.
AUDIT OF JUSTICE & ALL OTHER TOWN DEPARTMENT RECEIPT BOOKS:
Councilman Howell and Councilman Carey will pick a date and let Kathleen know.
TOW FEES:
Chief Rickard stated that they had the 1st impound on Saturday. In the bills, you will see that we have to pay the town company – a revenue line will need to be created. For this.
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE POLICE CHIEF TO SIGN ORANGE COUNTY STOP DWI CONTRACTS FOR 2021:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to authorize Police Chief Rickard to sign the 2021 Orange County STOP DWI contracts. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE 2021 APPOINTMENT LIST:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the 2021 Appointment List as presented. (list attached to these minutes) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE 2021 PROCUREMENT POLICY:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to re-affirm the ‘2017’ Procurement Policy as presented (policy on file in town clerk’s office). All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2021 INVESTMENT POLICY:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to approve the 2021 Investment Policy as presented (policy attached to these minutes) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN THE FIRE CONTRACT WITH THE VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to authorize the Town Supervisor to sign the fire contract with the Village of Otisville for 2021. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERVISOR’S YEAR END BUDGET MODIFICATIONS #1:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the following:
General A
A1110.4 Justice contractual move to A1010.4 Town Board contractual $163.63
A1110.4 Justice contractual move to A1330.4 Tax Collector contractual $2,600.02
A1220.1 Supervisor Personal Svc to A1355.1 Assessor Personal Svc $2,665.66
A1355.4 Assessor Contractual to A1320.4 Independent auditing $2,750.00
A1990.4 Contingency to A1440.4 Engineer contractual $6,347.00
A9060.8 Hospital Medical to A9030.8 Social Security $4,630.31
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A1990.4 Contingency to A1620.4 Buildings contractual $5,768.98
A1081 PILOT to A1620.4 Buildings contractual $26,057.09
General B
B1560 Safety Insp. fees to B3620.4 Safety Insp. contractual $10,120.20
B3620.2 Safety Insp. Equipment to B3620.4 Safety Insp. Contractual $1,000.00
B2115 Planning Board fees to B8020.4 Planning Board contractual $11,648.62
B8020.2 Planning Board equipment to B8020.4 Planning Board contractual $500.00
B9040.8 Workman’s Comp to B9060.8 Hospital Medical $84.61
Highway DB
DB5110.4 General Repairs contractual to DB1910.4 Unallocated Ins. $2,313.81
DB5110.4 General Repairs contractual to DB5112.2 Improvements $24,242.50
DB5130.2 Machinery equipment to DB Capital Res Highway $12,683.41
DB5142.2 Snow Removal equipment to DB Capital Res Highway $10,000.00
DB5140.4 Misc. Brush & Weeds contractual to DB Capital Res Highway $167.92
Highway Townwide DA
DA5120.4 Bridges contractual to DA Capital Bridges $12,500.00
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
2021 COMMITTEE LIST:
Supervisor Volpe went over the committee list with the board members. A copy is attached to these minutes.
TRAFFIC COURT:
Attorney Bavoso explained that they want to do this by mail. New York is gearing up to do only virtual appearances. What they’re proposing is that we do get a lot of tickets for people that are not from the area. Given a situation like this, people don’t show up and it ends up creating an even bigger issue because then they have to be noticed for that. Basically, the traffic attorneys are looking to set up a system with court clerks so that they get information ahead of time; set up calendar days to do that and then they’re gonna mail plea offers and things like that to these people that probably wouldn’t show up anyway. That way you would at least get a resolution and don’t have to incur any extra expense. Supervisor Volpe asked what the judges’ interactions with that are. Bavoso: the judge would ultimately have to approve anything agreed upon between the prosecutor and the defendant. Generally, the prosecutors have a good idea about what the judge is gonna accept. Councilman Carey asked if it is safe to assume, they’re no longer suspending someone’s license for not showing up. Bavoso: I would guess – yes. Similar to expired licenses. Supervisor Volpe asked if we are voting on this with a timeline. Bavoso: at the moment, no. You’ll do a motion to adopt John Bach’s (prosecting attorney) proposal subject to him providing an actual written plan. He will have to coordinate with the court clerks. Councilman Carey: how is this – I understand if someone plea bargains through the mail and they pay their fine, I don’t understand how this is a savings for the court. Bavoso: basically, it’s not necessarily a cost savings – it’s more an increase in the revenue. Councilman Carey: this reduces the amount of people walking through court but does it reduce the court clerks’ time they are there? The judges time they are there? This seems like an expense to me that we’re gonna pay on top of what we pay to run our court and no one is showing up to court according to our email. Supervisor Volpe: I don’t think they’re allowed to show up at this point. Bavoso: no, they’re not. Everything has to be virtual at this point. Chief Rickard: NYS closed it. About 2 weeks ago. Bavoso: I don’t think there’d be any extra work for the clerks or judges. The judges approve plea bargains. The only extra work, if any, would be the information they (prosecutors) would usually get at the court appearance, they’d be getting from the clerks ahead of time so they could deal with it ahead of time. Councilman Carey: what are we doing with the cases that aren’t plead out? Someone doesn’t decide to pay their fine. Bavoso: they would have to follow any procedure that NYS has set forth.
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE TRAFFIC COURT PROPOSAL:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to approve Attorney John Bach’s proposal subject to receiving an actual written plan. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING FOR POLICE REFORM:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to schedule the public hearing for the Police Reform & Reinvention on March 1, 2021 at 7:15pm at the Town Hall, 1706 Route 211 West, Otisville NY. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Furman, Jennings; carried.
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RESOLUTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS – 2020 ABSTRACT #52 AND ABSTRACT #53:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the following bills:
ABSTRACT #52:
GENERAL A: #772-780 $51,722.68
GENERAL B: #126-128 $ 6,110.49
HIGHWAY: #221 $24,894.79
SEWER: #106 $ 1,086.27 and
ABSTRACT #53:
GENERAL A: #781-796 $23,423.66
GENERAL B: #129-142 $ 2,515.00
HIGHWAY: #222-225 $ 2,504.06
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Terry Kraese spoke re: town park. If you don’t want no one using the park when it snows, you ought to put a flier up or put a fence up. I went walking today. I use the park every day. There’s other parks on Orange County that does plowing and shoveling. He asked Councilman Carey: I reached out to you 2x. The 1st time I got dropped. 2nd time – I left a message and you never responded. Councilman Carey: I didn’t know it was you. Kraese: last name is Kraese; with my phone number. Councilman Carey: what’d you reach out to me for? Kraese: about the park. I probably would have referred you back to Dean’s office. Kraese: at least I would have had a phone call. Then I called Chad. I can’t walk on my road. It’s too busy. Carey: do you have a pass for the new youth center? Kraese: I can’t walk inside. Carey: not on the treadmill. We designed it so people can walk inside. Discussion on condition of walking path after a rain storm.
Diane Loeven reported that there is no Community Advisory board meeting this month. Hope to be able to meet in March. She went over the Hometown Helper summary report. Supervisor Volpe thanked the Hometown Helpers for all they do.
MaryBeth Horzepa added that the planning board meeting on January 20 will have 2 public hearings
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Furman to adjourn the meeting at 8:12pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2021 at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers
Town Clerk
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2021 APPOINTMENT LIST
TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE
ACCOUNTANT – Cooper Arias LLP
ASSESSMENT REVIEW BOARD CLERK – Linda Franck & Paula Bird (Alternate)
ASSESSOR CLERK – Angela Cangialosi
BOND ATTORNEY – Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP (Doug Goodfriend)
BUDGET OFFICER – Chad J. Volpe
BUILDING INSPECTOR – Julie-Ann Musial, Heidi Volpe
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER – Julie-Ann Musial, Heidi Volpe
FIRE INSPECTOR – Julie-Ann Musial, Heidi Volpe
CLERK – Deborah Taylor
CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY TO THE SUPERVISOR – Angela Cangialosi
COURT CLERKS – Lisa Bacigalupo, Francine Heppes
DEPUTY HIGHWAY SUPT. – Andrew Pingotti
DEPUTY REGISTRAR – Paula Bird
DEPUTY SUPERVISOR – Matthew Howell
DEPUTY TOWN CLERK – Paula Bird
DOG CONTROL OFFICER – Thomas Yonskie
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR – Paul Rickard & Chad J. Volpe
HIDDEN VALLEY PLANT OPERATOR – Michael Brock
ASST. PLANT OPERATOR – David Brock
HISTORIAN – Nancy Craig
HIGHWAY CLERK – Amy Hassenmayer
PLANNING BOARD MEMBER – Wayne Howell (term to expire 2028)
PLANNING BOARD CLERK – Linda Franck
ASST. CLERK – Angela Cangialosi
PLANNING BOARD ENGINEER – Pitingaro & Doetsch Consulting Engineers
PLANNING BOARD ATTORNEY – Glen Plotsky (Bavoso & Plotsky)
POLICE CHIEF – Paul Rickard
POLICE CLERK – Marie Bubilo
P/T ASST. CLERK – Maureen Woods
REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS – Kathleen A. Myers
DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF VITAL STATISTICS – Paula Bird
SEXUAL HARASSMENT OFFICER – Anna Briceno
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR (for conflict cases) – John Bach (Thursday/Goldsmith)
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR (for conflict cases) – Leonard Kessler (Tuesday/Hosking)
TAX COLLECTOR – Kathleen A. Myers
DEPUTY TAX COLLECTOR – Paula Bird
TOWN ATTORNEY – David Bavoso (Bavoso & Plotsky)
TOWN ENGINEER – Clark Patterson Lee Eng. P.C. (Environmental) & Pitingaro & Doetsch Consulting Engineers
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEMBER – Robert Wheeling (term to expire 2026)
ZONING BOARD ATTORNEY – Glen Plotsky (Bavoso & Plotsky)
DESIGNATED BANKS – Connect One Bank, NY Class, Orange Bank & Trust, Wallkill Federal Savings & Loan
MEETING NIGHTS – 1st AND 3rd Monday Nights unless otherwise approved by Town Board & except as follows due to holidays: Meetings: for Jan. will be 19th, Feb. will be 16th, July will be 6th, Sept. will be 7th.
POSTAGE, PAYROLL & ASSOCIATED DEDUCTIONS & UTILITIES PAID PRIOR TO AUDIT
DELEGATE/ASSOC. OF TOWNS MTG. – Delegate –Chad J. Volpe / (alternate – Matthew Howell)
DESIGNATED NEWSPAPER – Times Herald Record
INVESTMENT POLICY – Reviewed with changes
MILEAGE – .56 cents per mile/rate (established by the I.R.S.- to be examined quarterly)
PROCUREMENT POLICY – Reviewed with no changes
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TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE
2021 INVESTMENT POLICY
Motion by Councilmember Chris Furman
The Town Supervisor is designated to make all investment transactions for the
Town. The Town of Mount Hope investment policies are governed by the
statutes of the State of New York, however, the Town must have a stated and
approved investment policy. The Town funds are deposited in F.D.I.C. insured
banks located within the State. The Town uses demand accounts and may use
Certificates of Deposit. Collateral is required for all funds on deposit not covered
by Federal deposit insurance. Obligations that are pledged as collateral shall be
obligations of the U.S., its agencies, New York State, its municipalities and school
districts. The collateral should be placed in a third party bank and the third party
bank is to give the Town notification of possession, the depositories for the Town
investments shall be Connect One, Orange Bank & Trust Company, NY Class &
Wallkill Valley Federal Savings & Loan. The investment policy of the Town shall be in
accordance with the statutes of New York State and be periodically reviewed and
revised as necessary to reflect changes in available investment opportunities and
market conditions. Investment records and controls should be within the guidelines
of policies and procedures set forth by the Office of the State Comptroller.
Seconded by Councilmember Jim Jennings
AYE NAY
Supervisor Chad Volpe X
Councilman Matthew Howell X
Councilman Brian Carey X
Councilman James Jennings X
Councilman Chris Furman X
Approved at Town Board meeting held on January 4, 2021.
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk
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2021 COMMITTEE LISTING
CHRIS BRIAN MATT JIM
Devan’s Gate Website Otisville Fair Planning Board
ZBA Concert series Buildings Court Liaison
HV Sewer Summer Rec Fire Departments Village Liaison
Otisville Fair Community Center Summer Rec Easter Parade
Football League Facebook Veterans Day Facebook live
DCO Annual audits Annual audits Community Center
Community Day Community Day Community Day Community Day
Buildings Little League Community Center Little League
Shelter for dogs Youth Center Youth Center Youth Center
Park Committee Tree Lighting Tree Lighting Park Committee
Effective January 1, 2021 – subject to changes of necessary.
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