Town Board Meeting October 17th, 2022
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Highway Supt. Hassenmayer, Dep. Chief Maresca & Attorney David Bavoso.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Howell called the public hearing to order at 7:30pm.
7:30pm – 2023 PRELIMINARY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING:
Notice on table.
Supervisor Howell: the preliminary budget that’s prepared here & on file in the clerk’s office, after it was submitted to the town clerk, I reviewed it again and found a math error. The budgets that you all have show $299 more than the actual levy would be for General A. First column on page 2 under the cover page, actually page 1 as it is numbered, “amount to be raised by taxes” $1,690,923 would be reduced by $299. Should now be $1,690,624. It’s not been changed in the budget because once the preliminary budget is set, changes cannot be made until after the preliminary budget public hearing is closed. Any public comments?
Alison Miller: there’s a difference between the #’s that are posted on the town website and the #’s I see in the budget. She read from the public hearing notice re: councilpersons salaries @ $50,548 which looks the same as under preliminary. Then it says Highway supt. $90,470 and that doesn’t seem to be the same as the preliminary budget. Supt. Hassenmayer: that includes the deputy and the secretary personnel. Supervisor Howell: the same would be reflective of the supervisor line. Councilman Carey: she’s reading the public hearing notice on the website. Mrs. Miller asked what the difference of $13,500 is for the supervisor’s salary. Supervisor: That covers the deputy supervisor and the bookkeeper. Mrs. Miller: the justices, website says $45,968. Supervisor: budget includes 2 justices, 2 court clerks and court officers. Supervisor: so far, the questions you are asking are referring to the elected officials. The supervisor, highway supt and the justices – we have to by state law publish their salaries and the town clerk’s as well but not the entire department. Those elected officials salaries are posted but they are only a piece of their department total. Mrs. Miller: thank you for clarification. There’s definitely a discrepancy. And then the town clerk is listed as $57,344 – does that also include a deputy? Town Clerk: not in the legal ad. Supervisor: in the preliminary budget it includes the deputy not in the legal ad.
Mrs. Miller: on page 6 at the bottom, there’s a column and a row for summer rec & I know summer rec has not been able to run, it says actual last year 2021 $40,000. Preliminary budget has $45,000. Is the $40,000 from 2021 somewhere? Supervisor: summer rec is funded through the applicants fees. In 2021, there was no $40,000 collected. Mrs. Miller: so, you’re really just projecting how many children might apply for the program. Supervisor: correct. Mrs. Miller: it’s not funded through any other means through the town? Supervisor: correct. Page 8 is revenues for General A and youth services and that reflects $55,500. Mrs. Miller: what else is included in that revenue? Supervisor: contractual expense for supplies to be purchased. Youth services is just summer rec.
Mrs. Miller: page 9 – youth programs, my question kind of stems from the discussion of a new little league field. Who is going to pay for it? The end of the last meeting, Mr. Jennings asked if the little league constructs the field, do they expect the town to install a fence. Is there anything built into this budget for little league? Supervisor: yes. She asked where it is in the budget. Supervisor: in youth programs. It’s $4,000. Mrs. Miller: just $4,000 which would definitely not cover a fence. Supervisor: normally that’s what’s used to replenish the clay on the fields.
Mrs. Miller: on page 16, Hidden Valley, I know it’s been an issue and a lot of COVID relief money went toward dealing with that issue. She noted the contingency line item. What is it for? Is it to save for future issues? Supervisor: it’s 2 parts. The contingency line allows us to budget a certain amount of money we can use anywhere within that fund. Each fund throughout the budget has a contingency line. In HV, if we have an unexpected expense, we have funding. In the past we’ve not used that money. She asked if he thinks that’s enough. She remembers from her notes that approx. $150,000 was put toward HV for this latest repair. Is the town planning some kind of savings fund so that in 10 or 15 years we have the funds in case something like this happens again? Supervisor: this is a start. About 3 years ago we started to put a little bit of money in the contingency line for that reason. Every year it’ll be a couple hundred dollars more. Mrs. Miller: seems like a low number.
Diane Loeven: referring to page 6, summer rec, under actual last year, that’s the actual appropriation not the actual expenditure is what you’re saying? For 2021. The actual doesn’t mean what was actually spent it means what you actually budgeted. Supervisor: correct. Ms. Loeven: the revenue being listed? Supervisor: page 8 – General A revenues. Mrs. Miller: but that wasn’t an actual revenue, right? Or are you saying youth services is not summer rec? Supervisor: the revenues are projected numbers. They’re not the actual expenditures. The budget doesn’t show the actual number that has been either expended or received in revenue.
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Councilman Carey: if anyone wants a lesson on budgeting, we opened both our budget meetings to the public. Feel free to come in and ask questions next year. Mrs. Miller: There’s no need to be insulting, that’s why you’re having a public hearing. That’s why you’re open to questions and I appreciate Supervisor Howell transparently answering the questions. That’s all that needs to be said. Councilman Carey: that’s fine. I said what I said.
Supervisor Howell: Any other public comments? There were none. For the board, I had given out 2 printouts for the police department pertaining to their budget specifically. With the preliminary budget being presented and posted, that couldn’t be altered. If there are any proposals that we would want to alter, like my math error, I would hope to adopt that to get the correct printed number for General A. Are there any questions or comments on the proposal from the police department? Councilman Carey asked for executive session for this.
MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to close public hearing for 2023 Preliminary Budget at 7:47pm. All in favor: Carey, Howell, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell that the minutes of the 9-28-2022 and 10-3-2022 meetings are approved as presented. All in favor: Carey, Howell, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Notice to property owner re: 10-1-46 with the proposed public hearing notice
2. Supervisor’s report for September 2022
3. Letter from Assessor re: 5 lot subdivision money in lieu of parklands re: Mountainview 3 LLC
4. Letter from library re: 130 cards issued to date
5. Resolution to be adopted after the public hearing next meeting for SBL 10-1-46
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings: 130 library cards issued so far. Village public hearing was for extending terms for the trustees from 2 to 4 years. That was approved. Elections March 2023 the election will be for 2 trustees (4-year term) and the mayor for a 2-year term. Elections March 2025 another election for 2 trustees for a single 5-year term. There were 11 fire calls for September. Their next village meeting is October 21 at 7pm.
Councilman Furman thanked Dean for the doors at the youth center. They look awesome. He attended the MVYFL meeting & referred to the incident at the Newburgh football game. This incident had nothing to do with the youth or football even though the media made it look that way. They’re gonna continue playing. We support our youth as long as it is in a safe environment.
Councilman Carey: vote tomorrow is for the MV public library. 12-9 at the Otisville campus. The following week is OU BOCES vote. They are looking to do a capital project: $67,000,000 to renovate Gibson Road campus & $35,000,000 to do capital improvements on the Arden Hill campus. The vote is 12-8 at Otisville campus on 10-25. Trunk or Treat is jointly with the OMHPC this year in their church parking lot. We have 14 people signed up so far. He’s working with Kelly from the church on this function. If anyone wants to donate candy for this you can drop it off to the church or we’ll take it here and get it to them. He put up 2 bulletin boards in the youth and senior centers for the public to use as a community event board. Boy scouts would like to come to our next board meeting to talk to the board about doing an eagle scout project. They’d like to do flag poles at the youth center and senior centers. The senior center WIFI – did we get an answer? Supervisor Howell spoke with Spectrum today doing dome troubleshooting but they want to do more of it with somebody in the actual building. Councilman Carey noted that election day is coming, that is our polling site and the workers will need WIFI.
Councilwoman Davis: Planning board meeting will be 10-19-2022 at 7pm. Fire calls breakdown: 3 were EMS and 8 were fire. She is planning the Veterans Day parade and ceremony. Further details to come.
HIGHWAY DEPT.:
Supt. Hassenmayer reported they’ve been doing trash for the last 2 weeks. Trash report to come. Renovations for town hall: we took down the fence today. He wants to ask about when the bid opening was because he doesn’t want to tear up the black top too soon. Supervisor got them today.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Deputy Chief Maresca reported on the active shooter training at Otisville school last week. It went well. Councilman Jennings had a question for Paul but since he’s not here, he asked about the pickle ball lines. Councilman Carey met with the contractor and he’s waiting for some pricing. Councilman Carey asked Dep. Chief Maresca about a news reporting he heard on Mid-Hudson news about a shooting in Mount Hope. Dep. Chief: it wasn’t an active shooter thing. He added a thank you to the school for allowing the training to happen there.
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VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven noted that a few meetings ago Paul reminded everyone to lock their cars since there are people going around looking for unlocked cars to gain access. She spoke of a particular incident that happened to a village resident. The FD visited the Otisville school for fire prevention week. She followed up with the trustee term extension public hearing. The reason for the oddball elections that Jim ran down is to get everything on cycle. Holy Name is having a trunk or treat as well on Halloween. Councilman Carey (to Deputy Chief Maresca): I had a visitor at my house that happened to be a village resident at 3:43 in the morning. Two weeks ago, at 12:30am someone rang my door bell. This person is a known problem to the police department. This person also has been seen in Middletown. I didn’t know there was an issue with car doors. He will put something on FB about locking car doors and keep property well lit.
Supervisor Howell thanked both fire departments Otisville & Howells for participating in fire prevention month.
DEMOLITION OF SBL 10-1-46:
Supervisor Howell: When this whole thing started and carried through to the actual execution of the construction work itself for demolition work. The owner of the property is responsible for the fees of that. That has not been repaid to the town so this will be the 1st step in the town recouping its funds. It will be a chargeback of the bills and levied against the tax bill coming forward in January for that property. We need to set a public hearing for the demolition expense assessment for SBL 10-1-46.
MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR DEMOLITION EXPENSE ASSESSMENT FOR SBL 10-1-46:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to schedule a public hearing for the demolition expense assessment for SBL 10-1-46 for November 7, 2022 at 7:30pm in the town hall meeting room. All in favor: Carey, Howell, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
DEMOLITION OF SBL 10-1-46 (CONT.):
Supervisor Howell added that the resolution for this will need to be adopted post public hearing.
Attorney Bavoso: we have to have the notification served on the property owner. Now that we have the public hearing date set, my office will arrange for that.
Supervisor: the resolution to charge back will be tabled until the public hearing.
MOTION TO ACCEPT SUPERVISOR’S REPORT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to accept the September 2022 supervisor’s report as presented. All in favor: Carey, Howell, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
POLICE UNION CONTRACT & HIGHWAY UNION CONTRACT:
Supervisor Howell: our highway department union contract and police department union contract – I’ve had negotiating meetings with both respective union bodies and their representing members. At this point, both departments have come to an agreement on the terms for the renewal so we can discuss that. We did have an email from last week – about a month ago we did discuss the police contract; we had another meeting since then with that body so hopefully we’ll go over those amendments in executive session and hopefully adopt them & get those contracts signed and in place to take effect in January.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to approve Abstract #40 & Abstract #41:
Abstract #40:
GENERAL A: #505-516 $ 16,950.69
GENERAL B: #88-90 $ 3,156.32
HIGHWAY: #164-169 $ 9,470.42
SEWER: #87 $ 2,020.36
AND
Abstract #41:
GENERAL A: #517-531 $ 50,720.55
GENERAL B: #91-93 $ 47,491.16
HIGHWAY: #170-172 $ 4,147.15
SEWER: #88-90 $ 1,385.78.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Furman, Davis; carried.
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CONCRETE BIDS FOR THE TOWN HALL EXTENSION:
Supervisor Howell distributed to the town board the bids for the concrete work to be done on the town hall expansion. He solicited through 5 contractors. Two declined to submit a bid. We have 2 written bids here and the 5th was a non-response. Of the 2 bids we have: Henry DeVries Inc. bid $19,000 and JM DeVries Concrete bid $24,000 plus additional materials as needed. His recommendation is to approve Henry DeVries of Middletown. This bid is only on the labor portion itself. Materials will be purchased through our county or state contract based on drawings/blue prints designed by the engineer.
MOTION TO ACCEPT BID FROM HENRY DEVRIES FOR TOWN HALL EXTENSION CONCRETE:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to approve Henry DeVries Inc. for the concrete work at the town hall expansion for $19.000.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Furman, Davis; carried.
RESTORENY GRANT:
Supervisor Howell: we held the RESTORENY grant public hearing in conjunction with CCE at our prior meeting in October. The application, Lucy was working on getting that submitted. There are a couple items that were requirements she didn’t know of until the submission date. We’re going to be working on a secondary submission which is the end of December. That’s another application and funding period which she’s working on those last-minute items that weren’t known throughout the application process to do a reapplication on that.
MOTION TO AMEND PRIOR RESOLUTION FROM SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 MINUTES/PAGE 90 RE: SHORT TERM RENTALS/AIRBNB:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Furman to amend the permit title to Short Term Rentals from AIRBNB in the resolution from page 90 of the September 19, 2022 minutes. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Furman, Davis; carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Diane Loeven spoke re: heat at the senior center this past Friday. She had told her she wasn’t sure but would get back to her. Supervisor Howell spoke to the contractor and they will work on it sometime this week. She reminded the board about the rear door bottom toggle at the senior center. Dean will check it out. She asked what the fees are for the short-term rentals. Supervisor: $250 rental fee 1st year plus additional $100 per bedroom. Half price each year thereafter to renew.
Marybeth Horzepa spoke re: front door toggle at the senior center not properly working.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilwoman Davis: Remember to vote tomorrow.
Councilman Jennings: Remember to vote tomorrow.
Councilman Furman: Remember to vote tomorrow.
Councilman Carey: Remember to vote tomorrow.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilwoman Davis to enter into executive session at 8:17pm for contractual items. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilwoman Davis 2nd Councilman Carey to reconvene the regular meeting from executive session at 9:42pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
MOTION APPROVE THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH CHANGES:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to adopt the police union contract with changes and to provide the changes to the union.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
HIGHWAY UNION CONTRACT – TABLED.
MOTION TO ADOPT THE 2023 PRELIMINARY BUDGET WITH NOTED AMENDMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilwoman Davis to adopt the 2023 town budget as proposed with the reduction of $299 to General A due to calculation error.
All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
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MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to adjourn the meeting at 9:42pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Davis, Furman; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 7, 2022 at 7:30pm in the town hall meeting room.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk
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