Town Board Meeting March 21st, 2022
OFFICIALS PRESENT: D. Hassenmayer H’way Supt., Attorney D. Bavoso, Deputy Police Maresca.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Supervisor called the public hearing to order at 7:30pm.
7:30pm: PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2022 MS-4 STORMWATER:
Supervisor Howell opened the public hearing at 7:30pm and noted that the ad is available on the front desk as well as copies of the report/plan which be submitted to the state.
Town Engineer John Fuller explained to the public and the board that he prepared the report on behalf of the town. The town is classified as an MS-4 in compliance with NYS DEC requirements for what’s called SPDES control for stormwater run-off & discharge. Each year the town is required to prepare an annual report & compliance certification saying they have a plan in place, that they are following the plan & that there have been no deviations from the plan or any violations of note. Within the report there are 6 distinct minimum control measures that the town is required to follow in order to maintain compliance over each calendar year. Those minimum compliance involve the following: public education & outreach, public involvement & participation, monitoring of any illicit discharge or detection & elimination of such discharge. The bulk of it centers around construction activities; it’s certain that they monitor construction activities including pre & post construction controls & a full storm water management plan for the municipality. This past year, there’s been no significant violations/deviations from the ongoing annual plan that there is. This is before the public and to answer questions. We’re required under DEC regulations to do this annually and present a public hearing. The supervisor will certify the compliance and we’ll send it to the state for recording. The report is posted on the town website.
Diane Loeven: as far as inspections on a construction site, to be sure the report is being followed, does that fall under the building department or do they refer to the engineers?
John Fuller: common protocol, and I believe this is how Julie is handling it, each operator of a construction site is required to comply with a SPDES permit when issues on a given site. Generally, anything that’s one acre only has to follow minimum erosion control measures as stipulated by the state. Once you go over a full acre of disturbance on any site, including subdivisions that have cumulative total over a series of lots, you have to register under a general SPDES permit with the state. The burden of ongoing inspections falls upon the operator – that would be the developer, owner or contractor, who ever is in control of the site. The municipality and Julie has done this, if they note that someone is not in compliance then she is empowered to cite & violate them.
Julie Musial (building inspector): sometimes it’s education too. Because if it’s a new contractor they may not know exactly what they need to do – I tell them to pull out their plan. It’s on there. You have to do what is says. Sometimes it may be because of a bad storm. Maybe their silt fence has come down and I notice it and call them and tell them you have to go fix this.
Diane Loeven: when they do their inspections, are they required to submit a copy of that to the town?
John Fuller: they should yes. You’re supposed to keep an ongoing record of that.
Julie Musial: it stays in a mailbox on site there so if the DEC wants to come, it’s always available for them to take a look at.
MOTION TO CLOSE MS-4 STORMWATER PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to close the public hearing for the MS-4 Stormwater at 7:37pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis that the March 7, 2022 meeting minutes are accepted as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Supervisor’s report for February 2022
2. 2022 Spring trash dumpster bid minutes from 3-21-2022
3. Knight Watch proposal for community center work to be done
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings: spoke re: Easter parade. Due to scheduling conflicts, he is wondering if April 15th would work for everybody. If it works, he will send email to all departments asking if they’d like to participate.
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He will also reach out to the fire departments – 2pm start time. Same route as last year.
Lions club will have their Easter egg hunt on April 2 @ 2:30pm at the park (rain date 4-3-2022).
The village meeting will be on April 7. They will have a public hearing at 6:30pm for their annual 2022-2023 village budget.
Councilman Furman: no ZBA this month. The siding project at Hidden Valley sewer plant is complete. The system went down last Thursday. Mike Brock was bale to get it going again. He and his wife attended the pancake breakfast held by little league. They did a great job!
Councilman Carey explained the Knight Watch proposal from February 3. It’s for the mag locks for the doors at the youth center building. He congratulated Brian Lattimer on his win. He heard the pancake breakfast was a tremendous success. Minisink project graduation is holding a craft sale on April 2. He spoke to our website guy to add a facebook link to our homepage. He spoke re: summer rec. It’s been advertised. We’re looking for directors. He’s had a ton of calls but doesn’t know where we are with applications. He needs to check in with Angie.
Councilwoman Davis: the planning board was unable to make quorum for their meeting on March 16. There were 2 public hearings scheduled which was disappointing to those residents as well as she. She requested executive session in regards to this.
Supervisor Howell gave an update on the Kohler Road Spectrum service. He received a revised quote on the cost estimation ($41,630.00). It’s about $7,000 higher than what was proposed last year. Spectrum will contribute a dollar value – they will let us know. He sends them an email every week.
NYS DEC has imposed a burning ban from March 16 through May 14.
He received a notification from the OC Dept. of Aging re: 50 years of success for the meals on wheels program which operates here in town bringing meals to at home citizens.
SUMMER RECREATION:
Supervisor Howell noted that as of right now we are 2 directors short of having the summer camp. April 1 is the last day of business before our next board meeting. At that time, we need to have a decision made to have the camp or not. If we don’t have staff – we can’t have students. We need time to prep with the county.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer spoke re: buildings. There are squirrels getting in to the youth center over top of the new kitchen. We tried closing off holes. We had to replace 12’ of soffit on the back of the building. We set bait traps to no avail. I don’t know if you want to look in to an exterminator.
The deck on the senior center building will be re-done this year.
We need to set some rules for the youth center. A guy and his son went up there to play catch and he threw a ball through the wall just below the fire alarm panel. It’s not a big expense but it took 2 ½ hours to repair it. Either we set some rules or we set some fines. Councilman Carey suggested a sign with rules be made and then posted up there.
We only got one bid for the trash bids. We advertised for spring and fall. The only bidder only bid on the spring. Dean called the company to confirm on the spring only bid. The prices are a lot higher. We are getting double the money for metal but metal is going up. We don’t have any choice – we can’t re-bid it. He will have to re-bid the fall trash dates. Sonny Zito bid on tires. He wants $10/tire. Our normal guy from Connecticut and his price went up from $3 to $4 per car tire. Large truck tires are $12. Freon & computer monitors will stay the same – $20.
POLICE REPORT:
Deputy Chief Maresca noted the sexual harassment training which be discussed later in the meeting.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven spoke re: dumpster request from town. The mayor received our request about the additional dumpster. Frank will get with Dean to talk about the specs for the dumpster and location of same. One of the municipal agreements that we have with the town covered the dumpster at the senior center. With adding the dumpster, we’ll probably want to look at that agreement and discuss it as the tipping fees are going up. She added that right now online it says director applications will be accepted through April 8. Will that be changed because that’s what I’ve been telling people? Supervisor – yes. He wants to have a decision made for the 1st meeting in April because we need time for the paperwork. She suggested that Angie get in touch with people that she already gave applications to. Councilman Carey: we’ve called every director we’ve ever had on the books – Angie’s been working on this.
MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISORS REPORT:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings to approve the February 2022 Supervisor’s report as presented. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
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SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING:
Supervisor Howell: state mandated sexual harassment training is scheduled for April 20 at 1pm and 6:30pm.
MOTION TO ACCEPT BID OFFER FROM SONNY ZITO FOR 2022 SPRING TRASH DAYS:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to accept the bid from Sonny Zito for 2022 spring bulk trash as presented. (see bid minutes at end of these minutes) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
PLANNING BOARD ALTERNATE VACANCY:
Supervisor Howell noted that we are in need of a planning board alternate member. Anyone interested can call the office or send an email and we will be in touch.
LITTLE LEAGUE:
Supervisor Howell noted that Brian Lattimer was present. He’s had discussions with him re: expanding to add another baseball field at the town park.
Brian Lattimer: The area is booming. We’re getting more and more people all the time. This is the first year that we broke the 220 mark since I’m a part of the board. The kids are coming out and playing. This is our 1st year where we have 6 teams trying to share 1 baseball field. It’s a nightmare trying to schedule that especially with other divisions and leagues. I spoke with Dean & Matt to do a little bit of maintenance up on the top but for the one field that we would like would be across the street from the field in the big parking lot area that we use for the fair. This is almost an urgent thing to do. The “A” field is just too big. It’s meant for the bigger kids. It’s happening quicker than anticipated. I don’t know what other details you need. I went out into that lot the other day and marked out a rough area of where we’d like to have it. I don’t even know if I would have the approval to have it over there. It was just a thought. It would be beneficial to the community to have one or even 2 more (fields). Councilman Carey: what were you thinking for the backstop? Way on the back corner? Mr. Lattimer: when we 1st were looking at it, I was hoping to have the backstop by the road so the kids can hit to the woods. The problem with that its that the fireball in the sky is right in your face. Hitters wouldn’t stand a chance. Foul balls are going to go in the road more than a home run. It would be better to have the backstop towards the woods and hit towards the road and it’s gonna be big enough. Discussion on drainage in that area. Councilman Jennings asked if this would be fenced in. Mr. Lattimer: would be nice. We have a local fence company – give them business too. Supervisor Howell: on our end, we could some homework on our end & get together with you to see where exactly you would want to be then we could come up with some cost estimation on our end.
HIGHWAY UNION:
Mike Pitt, Teamsters Local 445, vice president spoke. He represents the police and highway guys/ladies here in the town. He’s here to talk about the pandemic and the essential workers that worked during the pandemic. There was a stimulus bill signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. It covered/gave municipalities money to use as they wish on various items throughout their municipalities to cover certain costs. As we all know, some municipalities gave workers time off (week on/week off) – however they wanted to work it. In most cases in some of the things we represent – they worked every week. We cover police, highways, nurses, county personnel etc. The people we dealt with everyday are the people that are out there every day dealing with all the pandemic stuff. What we’re asking is as a union is to, other than negotiations during contracts is we want to help the men and women out that worked during the pandemic and the money that was given by the federal government to the town and other municipalities is to assist these workers that worked during the pandemic. I have some documentation. I gave some of it to the Supervisor when we met last; is we’re asking the town to set aside some money for the men & women of the police department & highway department. I’m not asking for a certain amount. We’re not asking for a certain time frame. If you look around at some of the other municipalities, they gave their workers whether it be a dollar extra an hour for the time that you worked or a lump sum – $500 – I believe that’s what the county gave to their workers if you worked during the pandemic. There are people that work part time in the police department – there may be some part-timers in the highway department; we’re not asking for you to give money to people that didn’t work, we’re asking to give money to people that did work. If you didn’t work, you don’t get the bonus. If you work during this timeframe which the board would dictate, you would be given this bonus. It’s a show of appreciation for what the men & women did during this time. The town did get some money in the summer of 2021 and is due an estimated payment in 2022 at the same time. We ask that you consider giving some to the workers that worked during this pandemic. Supt. Hassenmayer: everybody should really remember 2 years ago how dead everything was. You could drive 17 and maybe you’re lucky to see 2-3 other cars. Nobody was doing anything. Everybody was afraid to go anywhere. My crew was here every morning. We never discussed splitting shifts or anything. We had to make a decision whether to have trash days or not. My guys were there to do it. They had masks. People stayed in their cars. It’s easy to forget how it was 2 years ago. I really think you should consider it. Supervisor: in this building alone – there’s 5 other departments so I can’t see that we’re going to say 1 department is more prioritized than the other. If this is gonna be ‘hazard pay’, it’s gonna be for the entire body of the town that worked. Thank you, Mike.
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DANGEROUS PROPERTY SBL 10-1-46:
Supervisor Howell: David and his office have prepared a demolition bid packet for us. That would be the next process in the dangerous property scenario that we have here. The family has moved to a new dwelling so they’re not in the unsafe structure anymore. They are in the process of clearing their personal belongings out. Councilman Carey: is there any other newspaper or route we can use to advertise this? Atty. Bavoso: the statute as it exists states that it would be the town’s official paper. You could put it in a newsletter or on the facebook page or the town website. You can deliver it buy any means you choose to but it does have to include the town’s official paper.
MOTION TO ADVERTISE ACCEPTING BIDS TO DEMOLISH & REMOVE BUILDING AT SBL 10-1-46:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to advertise in Times Herald Record to accept bids to demolish & remove building at SBL 10-1-46; bid opening to be April 18, 2022 at 11:00am. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PROPOSAL FROM KNIGHT WATCH FOR YOUTH CENTER BUILDING WORK TO BE DONE:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Furman to accept proposal from Knight Watch for work to be done at the youth center on Baker Street in the amount of $4,838.00. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried. (There may be additional cost due to fire alarm system)
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings approve the following Abstract 10 & 11:
ABSTRACT 10:
GENERAL A: #115-133 $ 15,992.00
GENERAL B: #15-17 $ 268.59
HIGHWAY: #42-52 $ 39,125.28
SEWER: #19 $ 316.00
And
ABSTRACT 11:
GENERAL A: #134-145 $ 55,878.05
GENERAL B: #18-19 $ 8,343.04
HIGHWAY: #53-56 $ 39,042.81
SEWER: #20-24 $ 1,821.78.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Alison Miller asked for the dates for the sexual harassment training. Supervisor: April 20 at 1 & 6:30pm all in person at the senior center. She added that she noticed at the beginning of the meeting that Councilman Carey did congratulate Brian Lattimer on his election to village trustee but did congratulate or acknowledge the other village trustee who was re-elected> I thought it was important: congratulations.
Diane Loeven: following up on the sexual harassment training, in the past the village employees have been invited to participate in that – is that still an option? Supervisor: yes. An email will be going out to the village and fire departments as well. She added: with the potential of having another ball field across the road, that obviously will take away from the parking. Supervisor: yes, if it is constructed there. Ms. Loeven: so, for all of the major activities that take place, wouldn’t you have to then somehow come up with another place for cars to park? Councilman Furman: with all the events that we’ve ever had, I’ve never seen that parking lot completely utilized. Ms. Loeven asked if the Otisville little league is only open to Mount Hope residents or are other residents from outside Mount Hope allowed? Mr. Lattimer explained that how it works is little league international dictates boundaries. If you attend Otisville elementary, you are automatically in it. He explained the boundary. Ms. Loeven asked if Mr. Lattimer has a breakdown of town residents vs village residents vs out of town residents. He can get Dan to pull up that information.
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilwoman Davis: Chris and I attended the school board meeting. The library did a presentation. It wasn’t very organized. They couldn’t answer the main question of cost and when they did you were referred to their website which is not very detailed. The school board seemed adamant to mention that it is by law for them to collect the tax. They are not associated with the library.
Councilman Carey: One of the chairs in the little library was destroyed. It was broken. The cleaning lady notified him of this. She put it in the cleaning room. Mr. Rebman asked if someone could be seen on the cameras breaking the chair. Councilman Carey has not reviewed them yet. Mr. Rebman: you spent all that money on the cameras you think you’d be able to find out who walked in. Councilman Carey: for a $15 chair and the amount of time it would take me to look on the cameras, it’s not going to be cost effective.
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MOTION TO ACCEPT THE 2022 MS-4 STORMWATER PLAN AS PRESENTED:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to accept the 2022 MS-4 Stormwater plan as presented by the engineer. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE SUPERVISOR TO SIGN THE 2022 MS-4 STORMWATER PLAN:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to authorize the town supervisor to sign the 2022 MS-4 Stormwater Plan so that it may be filed with the state. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
SUPERVISOR HOWELL put a couple of the articles of the Otisville Mastodon up on the table. Today is the 150th anniversary of the day when it was discovered on Shoddy Hollow Road near where our town gravel bank is. There is a nice little display up at the intersection commemorating the anniversary on that.
He further noted that at our last meeting we discussed the little league drainage project for the baseball field near the pavilion up top by the “D” field. We had a construction meeting with Brian, the contractor, Dean and himself and we are moving forward with that. The 8-1-1 was done. It will hopefully be done by their opening day on April 23.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to enter in to executive session at 8:30pm to discuss planning board personnel issue. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Jennings to reconvene regular meeting from executive session at 8:57pm. THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings. Motion carried.
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to adjourn the meeting at 8:57pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman. Motion carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for April 4, 2022 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
ROLL-OFF DUMPSTER SERVICE BID OPENING
March 21, 2022 10:00am
Present: Town Clerk Kathleen Myers
Bid opened: 10:00am
One bid received:
Sonny Zito Sanitation
PO Box 70
Slate Hill NY 10973
30 yd containers – trash/household bulk $194/pull + $110/ton
40 yd containers for metal N/C pull – pay town $200gt
30 yd container for up to 15” tires $300/pull + $10/tire
(larger size tires not accepted)
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, Town Clerk
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