Town of Mount Hope Town Board Meeting Nov 18, 2019
TOWN BOARD MEETING, TOWN OF MOUNT HOPE, NOVEMBER 18, 2019
The town board meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Mount Hope was held at the Town Hall, 1706 Route 211 West, Otisville, NY on November 18, 2019 at 7:30pm with the following present: Supervisor Chad Volpe, Councilman Matt Howell, Councilman Jim Jennings, Councilman Chris Furman, Councilman Brian Carey & Town Clerk Kathleen Myers.
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Chief Rickard, Dep Chief Maresca, Attorney D. Bavoso.
Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm following the Pledge of Allegiance. Supervisor Volpe called for a moment of silence in memory of Planning Board member Garry Boyce Jr.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered by Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Howell to accept the minutes from the 11-07-2019 meeting as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Furman, Carey; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- 2020 Library contract with Port Jervis Free Library
- 2020 Fuel Agreements with: Village of Otisville, Cornell, Howells Fire District
- Letter from Hon. Stefan Neuhaus re: Countywide Public Safety Radio Network
- Fully executed Snow/Ice Agreement with County of Orange for 2019-2020
- Email from Howell Solar LLC re: site alteration update
- Letter of Interest from Ken Pinkela for planning board vacancy
- Copy of ZBA members list re: vacancy of alternate seat to be filled
- Letter from G. Plotsky re: potential changes to current zoning law
- Flier for FOTOS Holiday Swap-n-Shop, Dec. 14, 10am -1pm
- Police Dept 10-2019 report
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Jennings thanked everyone that attended playground ribbon cutting. Planning Board will meet on Nov. 20 at 7pm. Village meeting is Nov 21 at 7pm.
Councilman Furman reported there is no ZBA meeting as of yet. MVYFL D2 won the superbowl this weekend. Nice job with the playground.
Councilman Carey attended a meeting Nov. 13 for the village centennial. Otisville little league early bird registration is still going on & is extended through the end of November. There’s a discount and payment plans available as well. In person registration is Nov 21, 7-9pm @ the senior center. Veteran’s parade pictures will be posted. Facebook has 1284 followers. Town tree lighting is Dec 14 at 7pm. Santa may have elves. Mount Hope Historical Society holiday open house on Dec 8, 12-3:30pm. He requested executive session with board and David.
Councilman Howell noted that it was a good turnout for the Veteran’s parade. He thanked everyone involved. Renovations are progressing at the youth center.
Supervisor Volpe thanked Jim & Matt for heading up their committees for the parade and the ribbon cutting at the park. He is going to get a price on carpet for some of the youth center and other flooring options. He is hoping for 60-90 days ribbon cutting. Dean is away at a trade show in Atlantic City. There’s no fees involved except for gas and tolls.
POLICE DEPT.:
Chief Rickard requested a ‘quick’ executive session for a personnel matter. The contract with Orange County is for approval and for the supervisor to sign. We are already using some of the equipment. If anyone has any information/ has anything on video or saw something on the Hill Road incident, please call the Mount Hope police department or Inv. Anthony Eaton at 845-344-5351. We don’t feel it’s random. Please lock your doors and car doors. Councilman Howell clarified that this is the same radio contract we’ve been talking about for years. Chief: yes. This was a lease – the new set up is we are being given $51,000 worth of equipment. When the end of their life comes, we have to replace it. This is a one-time deal. It’s a much better system. There are some costs. This is an agreement saying they are giving us the stuff and the resolution saying we are going on to their system.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM INTEROPERABILITY AGREEMENT:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the PUBLIC SAFETY EMERGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM INTEROPERABILITY AGREEMENT as written and to authorize the town supervisor to sign said agreement. A full copy will be on file in the Town Clerk’s office. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
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VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reminded everyone of the tree lightings. They are looking for someone who would want to play the part of Mrs. Claus. They have the paraphernalia. She noted that while the Mayor is away for a week, Ike Palmer will be the Acting-Mayor. From their board to ours: Happy Thanksgiving.
MASTER PLAN:
Supervisor Volpe explained there was a little confusion as to how the emails came through for the master plan and the website. He worked with Matt and Kathleen – he thinks as of tonight it is rectified. The final approved plan will be on the website.
SPECTRUM:
Attorney Bavoso hasn’t heard anything in a few weeks with regard to Spectrum. He’s gonna take another look at the contract and advising how to go from there. It’ll be tough because of the density requirement that’s in there.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Jennings to enter into executive session at 7:47pm for police personnel and personnel. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to reconvene the regular meeting at 8:04pm. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPOINT MARYBETH HORZEPA TO PLANNING BOARD MEMBER FROM ALTERNATE POSITION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to appoint MaryBeth Horzepa to a permanent planning board position from the alternate position effective November 18, 2019, term will expire January 1, 2022. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 LIBRARY CONTRACT WITH PORT JERVIS FREE LIBRARY:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the 2020 contract with the Port Jervis Free Library and authorize the Supervisor to sign the contract. (copy on file in the Town Clerk’s office) All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Volpe, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2020 FUEL AGREEMENTS WITH THE VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE, HOWELLS FIRE DISTRICT & CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the 2020 fuel agreements with the Village of Otisville, Howells Fire District & Cornell Cooperative Extension and authorize the Supervisor to sign the agreements. (Copies on file in Town Clerk’s office). All in favor: Howell, Carey, Jennings, Volpe, Furman; carried.
GOLD AWARD PROJECT – ROSE PHILLIPS:
Miss Rose Phillips gave the following update on her resource room Gold Award project:
She thanked her family, neighbors and community for their donations as well as the very generous donations from the Otisville Lions Club, Otisville Country Fair, VFW Post 5497 and the Minisink Valley Rotary Club. She worked with her building advisor Phil Adamson & they were able to get the measurements of the room which allowed her to start her search for chairs, desk tops and other needed items. She will be taking advantage of cyber Monday to order items, books and games for the sensory corner as well as craft supplies & young adult/teen books. She will contact Mr. Volpe when she’s ready to move furniture in. She is building the bookcases from solid wood not particle board for safety and longevity. She needs to stain the wood. She has met with her educational advisor and youth event advisor regarding ideas. She has volunteers for story times. She thanked the board for the opportunity. Chief Rickard offered the garage for Rose to do the staining at the PD. Supervisor Volpe added that she could do the staining in the youth center since there’s no flooring in there yet. She would need to let the Supervisor know. Councilman Carey asked how much she still needed in donations. She said she has $1900 in donations and her initial goal was $2000. She will be doing additional fundraising since the initial donor of the laptops is no longer able to. She also needs locks to secure the laptops to the desks.
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MOTION FOR AUDIT OF CLAIMS (ABSTRACT #35 & #36):
MOTION offered by Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Furman to approve the following:
#35: GENERAL A: #704-723 $28,302.78
GENERAL B: #91-94 $1,826.99
HIGHWAY: #158-162 $8,249.19
SEWER: #96-97 $5,667.64
CRHE: #3 $154,699.50
#36: GENERAL A: #724-735 $47,120.69
GENERAL B: #95-97 $3,072.72
HIGHWAY: #163-168 $32,725.81
SEWER: #98-99 $1,205.50.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Diane Loeven spoke re: senior center. The light is still out across the street. They will address that with O&R. The light over the door is out also. Councilman Carey called Dean about it 1st thing this morning. He also spoke to O&R. She continued with the heat in that building. It’s very cold in there when they exercise. Discussion ensued regarding the programming of the temperature. She will make it a point to stop in next week.
MOTION TO APPOINT KEN PINKELA TO PLANNING BOARD ALTERNATE POSITION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman – there was no 2nd.
to appoint Ken Pinkela to a Planning Board alternate position to fill a vacancy.
Councilman Carey wants to advertise the vacancies for all 3 boards. Councilman Howell thinks the advertising is a good idea. All in favor – Furman, Volpe; NAYS: Howell, Carey, Jennings.
THIS MOTION NOT CARRIED.
TOWN BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Carey: we will be advertising on facebook for the 3 board positions tomorrow.
Supervisor Volpe: everyone take a ride up to see the new youth center when you have a chance.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to adjourn the meeting at 8:20pm. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Furman, Carey; carried.
The next meeting is December 2, 2019 at 7:30pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, Town Clerk
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