Town Board Meeting March 7th, 2022

The town board meeting of the Town of Mount Hope Town Board was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on March 7, 2022 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Matthew Howell, Councilman Chris Furman, Councilman Brian Carey, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilwoman Amanda Davis and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.

OFFICIALS PRESENT: Deputy Police Chief Maresca, Police Chief Rickard, Attorney D. Bavoso, Highway Supt. Hassenmayer.

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

MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman that the minutes of the February 22, 2022 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Police budget modification
2. Highway budget modification
3. Resignation from police officer Manuel Madeiros
4. Flier for free rabies clinic: for Orange County residents, held in New Windsor NY on May 14, 2022
5. Orange County mortgage receipts for February 2022
6. February 2022 impound report from Palmer’s Ark
7. February 2022 building department report
8. Letter from OCRPTSA re: BAR member training class
9. 2021 Annual Financial Report
10. 2 quotes for siding for the lab building at the HV treatment plant
11. 2 proposals from Knight Watch for town hall building and youth center

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BOARD REPORTS:
COUNCILWOMAN DAVIS: no report.
COUNCILMAN CAREY: Little league is having a pancake breakfast on March 13, 2022, 8-12 @ Otisville fire house. Village election on March 15, 2022, 12-9 at village hall. The proposals from Knight Watch are for town hall and the youth center. The youth center quote is to put mag locks on the doors. The town hall proposal would take mag lock from outside door and move it to the inside door hopefully eliminating false alarms going off. He would like to talk to the board about possibly putting a mailbox in the vestibule and also the flag box.
COUNCILMAN FURMAN: no ZBA this month. The quotes are for siding at the lab building in Hidden Valley. He knows we have new residents in the town. In our town we are required to get dogs licensed. To do that, bring rabies certificate & proof of spay/neuter to town clerk’s office. The prices are $6 if spay/neuter or $16 if not.
COUNCILMAN JENNINGS: 7 fire calls last month. Village updated their mask policy. It’s optional to wear at meetings. Employees must wear mask if unvaccinated. Next village mtg is 3/17/2022 7pm. He received a call from the little league president. There’s a problem with the drainage in the “D” field. He has a company (Wagner Landscaping) that’s willing to do some repairs for the drainage issue. The little league is requesting we supply them with 10yards of stone. Would Wagner be allowed to do this work on town property? We would need insurance cert from them. Atty. Bavoso: and a release. Councilman Carey: they want to donate their time and labor. They’re willing to supply the pipe – they’re (LL) asking for drainage rock. We would just dump it off and they’ll do the rest. Supt. Hassenmayer: they’d have to get an “811” mark-out. Don’t know where they’re going with the water. I’d like to see their plan. Supervisor Howell would like to have a pre-construction meeting with them.
SUPERVISOR HOWELL reported March 10, 2022 at 6:30pm at MVMS: school board meeting will have a presentation for the proposed new library district.

2021 ANNUAL REPORT:
ON FEBRUARY 28, 2022, THE 2021 TOWN ANNUAL REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE NYS COMPTROLLER OFFICE BY K, K, B & N.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported spring bulk trash is coming up. Need the board to authorize going to bid for this. Ad is already scheduled for the paper due to time constraints.
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He would like to send 4 guys (Brandyn, Chris, Corey & Joseph) for training and needs approval. Training is through Cornell Local Roads program. March 23, 2022: Local Roads Done Right in Putnam County $50/person. April 21, 2022: Work Zone Flagger training @ Wallkill town hall $50/person.
The breakroom and breakroom restroom are just about completed. Restrooms at court were completed a couple weeks ago. Paul mentioned he needs the hallway painted. We are close to being able to work outside again.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard explained his budget modification.
He noted Manuel Medeiros resignation effective 2/21/2022 -for approval. Per contract, he has to pay back certain items. Hopefully we’ll get a check from him at some point.
Part of the reform plan last year, one of the items we were working on was youth & outreach to the youth through the community engagement team. We’d like to do a week-long law enforcement youth academy July 11-15, 2022; 9am-3pm. He is looking for authorization to do that. This is for students entering 6th grade through students entering 10th grade. Bob Decker & Jamie Johnson will coordinate this. Councilman Jennings asked if there is a limit to # of kids. Chief: at some point. We’re gonna start out with town residents. There was discussion re: possible conflict with youth academy & summer camp.

VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reminded everyone of the village election next Tuesday. Next village meeting is March 17.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT:
BI Musial read the monthly report for February. She spoke re: condemnation situation. She thinks it’s coming to a conclusion. H’way Supt. added that Julie did the MS-4 training for the guys. Supervisor Howell reminded everyone that next meeting is the public hearing for the MS-4 stormwater plan at 7:30pm.

MOTION TO APPROVE HIGHWAY BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Carey to approve budget modification:
Increase revenue DB2655 Sale other by $13,520.00
Increase DB5130.2 Machinery Eq. $13,520.00.
(for settlement for total loss of 1989 Ford vacuum truck)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings to approve the budget modification:
Increase revenue Insurance Recovery A2690 $2,942.19 &
Increase expense A3120.4 Police Contr $2,942.19.
(for police car #154 car accident on 11/11/2021)
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT RESIGNATION FROM POLICE OFFICER MANUEL MEDEIROS:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to accept the resignation from Manuel Medeiros, police officer, effective 2-21-2022. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO AUTHORIZE POLICE CHIEF TO START THE YOUTH POLICE ACADEMY:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Carey to authorize the Police Chief to start the youth police academy July 7-15, 2022. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE ADVERTISING FOR 2022 BULK TRASH PICK UP:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to authorize the highway superintendent to advertise to go to bid for 2022 bulk trash days. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO APPROVE TRAINING FOR HIGHWAY PERSONNEL:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to authorize training for 4 highwaymen (Brandyn Howell, Chris Santos, Corey William Joseph Krawcyk):
March 23, 2022: Local Roads Done Right in Putnam County $50/person AND
April 21, 2022: Work Zone Flagger training @ Wallkill town hall $50/person
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM KNIGHT WATCH FOR FRONT DOOR ACCESS:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to accept quote for the modification to the front door system – estimated cost $300-$500. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

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YOUTH CENTER QUOTE FROM KNIGHT WATCH:
Supervisor Howell noted the proposal for the youth center is the original quote. There are items not included.

HIDDEN VALLEY SIDING PROPOSALS:
Supervisor Howell asked if there were questions on the siding project. There was question on color blending in. The corners will be white.

MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM JEFF SNIFFEN CONSTRUCTION FOR LABOR FOR HIDDEN VALLEY SIDING JOB:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings to accept quote from Jeff Sniffen Construction for labor only for the side, soffit garage door wrap at Hidden Valley plant – $2100.00. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM BEACON BUILDING PRODUCTS (MIDDLETOWN BRANCH) FOR MATERIALS FOR HIDDEN VALLEY SIDING JOB:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to accept quote from Beacon Building Products (Middletown Branch) for materials for the Hidden Valley siding job – $2829.95. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Carey to approve bills: (Abstract #9 & #8):
ABSTRACT #8:
GENERAL A: #92-94 $ 1,625.42
HIGHWAY: #36-38 $ 2,100.06
HOWELLS FIRE: #1 $208,759.25
AND
ABSTRACT #9:
GENERAL A: #95-114 $ 48,948.56
GENERAL B: #14 $ 5,151.33
HIGHWAY: #39-41 $ 24,551.52
SEWER: #16-18 $ 3,637.07.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

SUMMER CAMP:
Supervisor Howell: we have 2 applications for employees for the summer camp. We are accepting applications through the end of the month. If we are unable to secure the workforce, then we can’t take on the children. We are looking for 2 more director applications. We have an application for the main director and the art director. We’re looking for a sports director and assistant director. After that, we’d be accepting counselor applications. Councilman Carey had questions on age, access to summer rec page, counselor ages. Counselor ages are 16 and up. Junior counselors age 15 & up. Campers ages: Kindergarten in 2022 through under 14 by July 1st.

DANGEROUS PROPERTY SBL 10-1-46:
Supervisor Howell: we’ve had good news with this in terms of the residents finding another location to live. He asked the attorney for an update on that. Atty Bavoso: I assume the town will be contracting out the work to demolish the structure on the property. If that’s the case, the owners of the property would like some time to collect some personal items. I will provide to the town board a bid package for this. If you want to permit them in, perhaps accompanied by law enforcement or building department personnel, so they can collect things over the course of the next couple weeks, that’s fine as long as they are vacating as they say they are. The structure is the danger.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Alison Miller asked for summer camp positions needed and qualifications for them. Supervisor Howell: we need sports director and assistant director. He explained the 2 positions. She asked if the information is written somewhere. Councilman Carey: if someone would apply, we would talk to them. There’s no qualifications. Miller: you don’t have any qualifications. She verified the age for the director positions. Supervisor Howell: 18 or older. We are looking to have 4 adults to oversee the staff. She verified that we need counselors. Supervisor: yes. She asked for the timeframe for the commitment for this position. Supervisor: July 11 through August 19. She asked the hours of the camp. Councilman Carey: we’re at the beginning stages. It hasn’t been done in 2 years. She will spread the word with the teenagers she works with and will share it with other teachers. She asked for the pay/pay range. Supervisor: the directors will be salaried and will hinge on if we get enough people and our projection of attendance. We can’t have 10 kids support $40,000 in payroll. Counselors would be hourly.

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Diane Loeven: Asst. director has to be medically qualified? Councilman Carey: all directors will be medically qualified. We would send them through the course. Supervisor: there are set stipulations through the county. Ms. Loeven: Seniors will start meeting regularly on April 12. No trips at least until July. She asked if there is an estimate for the HVAC completion. Supervisor explained what the engineer wrote for the specs. He would like to re-bid in sections: supplies & labor.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Carey: Pancake breakfast Sunday. Election day Tuesday.
Supervisor Howell: MVCSD informational meeting re: proposed library district on March 10, 2022 at 6:30pm and the middle school.
He spoke re: not-for-profit. Town Clerk: are we going to take a refundable deposit for the not-for-profits? Are we going to ask for proof of the not-for-profit status? Councilman Carey: we should have something on file. Shouldn’t be a big deal to supply to us. Councilman Furman suggested seeing what other towns do. Councilman Carey: Paula sent me a couple from T/O Mamakating & T/O Wallkill.

MOTION TO AMEND RENTAL CONTRACTS FOR TOWN FACILITIES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to amend the rental contracts for town facilities to allow not-for-profits to show a not-for-profit certificate and their insurance certificate & to be waived of the non-refundable security deposit. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to adjourn the meeting at 8:17 pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for March 21, 2022 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Myers
Town Clerk, RMC

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