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Town Board Meeting September 5th, 2023

The town board meeting of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Mount Hope Town Hall on Sept. 5, 2023 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Matthew Howell, Councilmember Chris Furman, Councilmember Jim Jennings, Councilmember Amanda Davis and Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Police Chief Maresca, H’way Supt. Hassenmayer, Attorney Bavoso.

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

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to accept meeting minutes as presented from August 21, 2023. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE:
1 Supervisor’s budget modifications
2 Supervisor’s report July 2023
3 Assoc. of Towns training & certification classes mailed to all ZBA & planning board members
4 Assoc. of Towns training & certification classes for 2024 annual meeting & training school in NYC
5 Building dept. monthly report – August 2023
6 SRO Agreement with MV school district – school year 2023-2024

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BOARD REPORTS:
Councilmember Davis: no report
Councilmember Furman: The Asian advisory committee met. It is going well. ZBA meets tomorrow night 9/6/2023 at 7pm. The mobile DMV will be at village hall on Friday from 10-3. He noticed over the weekend that the barn roof was complete at the historic house.
Councilmember Jennings: The village meeting is 9/7/2023 at 7pm. Central alarm company guys will start the wiring on 9/7/2023. Switches were ordered. The wires haven’t been ordered yet because he is not sure what sizes will be needed. He spoke re: basketball systems. He received a quote from Mega Slam for $2299 each. That’s $600 off original price. That’s for a 72” backboard. Total price for all 4 will be $9196. Tomorrow is 1st day of school. Welcome back to all students. He reminded everyone about the school buses. You cannot pass a bus with lights flashing.
Supervisor Howell: reminded everyone we are still taking names for CPR & 1st Aid classes. Non-resident fee is $20. We still have openings for both classes. Call town hall if interested. He reminded everyone that 9/26 is the 2024 budget meeting at 6pm.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supt. Hassenmayer asked about the siding for the addition. 2 meetings ago it was brought up but there was a problem with a bid. He asked if it was resolved. Supervisor stated yes, he received the updated info. He had Gentech at the youth center for the generator. They were able to figure out what the problem was and they’re going to come and fix it. We don’t have a service agreement. He will forward what Gentech sent to him. Dean is fine with doing the maintenance but we need to call them with trouble calls. Jim mentioned wiring. There was somebody here today starting wiring. Councilmember Jennings stated they just wanted to do another walk through. They will start Thursday. Last year with the ARPA money you asked me to get a quote on seal coating the tennis courts/basketball courts. We got a quote from one vendor. Supervisor verified that the new hoops should be installed before the sealcoating gets done. Councilmember Jennings knows of someone that would do the striping. He added that it takes 1-2 weeks to get the new basketball systems in and it is free delivery.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Maresca recommended Curtis Hahne as the part time competitive deputy police chief.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET MODIFICATIONS FROM THE SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE:
MOTION offered Councilmember Davis 2nd Councilmember Furman to approve the following:
Increase revenue A4089 Other Govt. Aid (grants) by $59,179.81
Increase A1620.4 Buildings Cont. By $59,179.81 (This is grant reimbursement for the town hall addition.)
AND
Increase revenue SS2700 Misc Local Sources by $56,045.15
Increase SS8130.4 Sewer cont. By $56,045.15 (DASNY grant reimbursement).
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; motion carried.

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MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SUPERVISOR’S REPORT AS PRESENTED:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Furman to accept the supervisor’s report for July 2023 as presented. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; motion carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER CONTRACT WITH MINISINK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2023-2024:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Furman to accept the School Resource Officer contract with the Minisink Valley School district as presented. (Copy on file in the town clerk’s office)
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; motion carried.

MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS – ABSTRACTS 34 & 35:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Jennings to pay the following bills:
ABSTRACT 34:
GENERAL A: #404-409 $ 3,391.46
GENERAL B: #101-102 $ 8,357.64
HIGHWAY: #151-152 $ 339.25
AND
ABSTRACT #35:
GENERAL A: #410-420 $ 8,951.75
GENERAL B: #103-105 $ 2,153.33
HIGHWAY: #153-154 $ 438.01
SEWER: #80-82 $ 5,031.20.
All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; carried.

MOTION TO HIRE CURTIS HAHNE AS PART TIME COMPETITIVE DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Davis to hire Curtis Hahne as a competitive part time Deputy Police Chief effective start date is September 13, 2023 and subject to the employer/employee agreement. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Furman, Jennings; motion carried.

SIDING QUOTE:
Supervisor Howell stated that the Neversink Lumber quote came in about $500 cheaper but it is a completely different material. He recommends going with Beacon Building Products for the siding materials for the town hall addition. Materials quoted at $6920.

MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM BEACON BUILDING PRODUCTS FOR THE TOWN HALL ADDITION SIDING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Furman 2nd Councilmember Jennings to accept quote from Beacon Building Products for the materials for the town hall addition for $6920. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

MOTION TO ACCEPT QUOTE FROM MEGA SLAM FOR NEW BASKETBALL SYSYTEMS FOR THE TOWN PARK:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Furman to purchase 4 basketball hoop systems for the town park from Mega Slam for a total cost of $9196.00. (Highway guys to install) All in favor: Howell, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Dean Hassenmayer: noted that he walked the sewer plant with the insurance company and it was unsecured. It was recommended that it be secured.

Diane Loeven: She will send over the seniors budget request to the Supervisor. On 9/12/2023 the National Guard will do a presentation for the seniors. She requested that the chairs be down for the senior meetings. The past few times the chairs have been put away. Discussion on the senior week-long trip and parking at town hall vs senior center. Supervisor requested they park at the senior center.

Brian Carey: He reminded everyone that the defensive driving class is on 9/9/2023 at the senior center. The class is full at 40 people.

BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilmember Davis asked Diane if the seniors meet every Tuesday. Ms. Loeven: no, the 2nd Tuesday and the 4th Tuesday are meeting days.
Supervisor Howell noted that there was an error with the camera recording at the last board meeting. The issue has been fixed.
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MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilmember Jennings 2nd Councilmember Davis to adjourn the meeting at 7:53pm. All in favor: Howell, Davis, Jennings, Furman; carried.

The next town board meeting is scheduled for September 18, 2023 at 7:30pm.

The 2024 town budget meetings on September 26, 2023 & October 17, 2023 at 6:00pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk

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Contact

Supervisor:
Paul Rickard
Phone: 845-386-2211
Fax: (845) 386-1100

Town Clerk:
Kathleen Myers
Phone: (845) 386-1460

Address:
1706 Route 211W,
Otisville,
New York 10963

Town Board Meetings:
First and Third Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m.

Planning Board Meetings:
Third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

Zoning Board of Appeals Meetings: Meets as needed.

Town Court:

Clerk: Myrna Macintosh
Clerk: Francine Heppes
Phone: (845) 386-5303