Town of Mount Hope Town Board Meeting November 2nd, 2020
OFFICIALS PRESENT: Attorney D. Bavoso, Police Chief Rickard, Deputy Police Chief Maresca.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Supervisor Volpe called the meeting to order at 7:30pm & asked audience to silence cell phones.
MOTION TO ACCEPT PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell that the minutes of the October 19, 2020 meeting are accepted as submitted. All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
1. Supervisor’s office budget modification
2. Police Dept. budget modification
3. Letter of Interest from Tanya Jasper for BAR vacancy
4. Letter of Interest from Vincent Galligan III for BAR vacancy
5. Letter from US Army Corps. Of Engineers re: solar permit for OYA/Shoddy Hollow Road
6. Public hearing notice from T/O Mount Hope ZBA re: rear yard variance for SBL 6-1-19.21/Sweetman Realty
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilman Carey reported that Little League in-person registration will be 11/14/2020 at the senior center. They have masks and shirts for sale on their website: otisvillell.com.
Councilman Furman reported MVYFL had their last game this past Saturday. Hidden Valley looks like it is moving forward with the lab. We bought some materials. Thankfully the highway department will be helping us out with that. He went to a Assoc. of towns/cities meeting with Chad and the Chief & Mike. They got a lot of information about what’s going on with the police departments in NYS.
Councilman Jennings thanked Dean for allowing the Lions Club to borrow the cones this weekend for the drive-thru Halloween. It was a good turn-out. We had about 70 cars come through. He thanked FOTOS for allowing them to have it there. Village meeting is 11/5 at 7pm. Town planning board meeting is 11/18 at 7pm.
Councilman Howell reported we met with a couple candidates for our BAR opening. Of the 4 potential people, 2 came in tonight for their interview. One would be a returning inquiry from the last vacancy. The 4th was unable to attend due to their work schedule. He asked if the board would entertain waiting another 2 weeks for the next meeting to fulfill the last interview? Supervisor Volpe asked if these include the 2 new ones? Howell: one of these is the new one. Tanya was here tonight. Vincent was unable to attend due to work. Sheena Matthews was here tonight. Jan was the returnee. Supervisor: we have 2 openings? Howell: 1 opening. Councilman Carey: we will have 2. Howell: if the board wants to wait, we can reschedule the final interview. Supervisor: do you think by next meeting you’ll have both replacements? Howell: yes. Discussion on the appointment dates. (term runs 10/1 thru 9/30 each year) Councilman Howell next discussed Veteran’s Day. He will send an email to the town clerk for inclusion in the minutes. The Veteran’s ceremony will be on the 14th at the youth center. The general response from our Veteran’s is that they will attend virtually.
At this time, Councilman Howell read the proclamation into the record: (see attached to these minutes)
VETERAN’S APPRECIATION DAY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, November 11th is a federal holiday to honor the men and women who served in the US armed forces; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Mount Hope recognizes the dedication & sacrifice our Veterans have made to serve and protect our country; and
WHEREAS, through the service of our Veterans, our freedoms & liberties are preserved; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Mount Hope expresses its most sincere thanks and gratitude for their service to their country;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Town of Mount Hope proclaims November 14, 2020 as Veteran’s Appreciation Day in the Town of Mount Hope.
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Supervisor Volpe reported that there is a digital thermometer at the door to the board room. There’s one in each building. All visitors are to use it. He updated the board members that he met with Annie Hansen to do the sale of the town property. It’s not listed yet. She met with the building department, the assessor and Kathleen. All offers will come to the board for approval. He explained to her that it’s subject to permissive referendum.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT:
Supervisor Volpe reported that Dean’s guys hooked up the digital thermometers in all the buildings. We have ordered some lumber to re-do some stuff at Hidden Valley. The engineer sent over plans because there’s a big part of the lab that will not be re-done. Once we put a new roof on the existing building, the back part where there’s pumps, the pumps are actually gonna get moved. As the pumps get moved closer to where they need to be, the lab is gonna be much smaller but exactly what we need. This will end up giving us a surplus generator which the goal is to use at the youth center.
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Chief Rickard reported that they’ve seen a lot of people trying to do early voting. A sign was put on the door. He explained the budget modification is for ammo reimbursement for Officer Bongiorno. The officers have had their AED/CPR training updated. We are still waiting on Manny’s medical results to come back. Physical fitness was put back in the contract. Meghan did hers the other days. She had great #’s. She starts phase 2 next Wednesday. Councilman Carey confirmed with the Chief that the back-seat passengers must wear a seat belt effective Nov. 1st.
VILLAGE OF OTISVILLE:
Trustee Loeven reported that she made signs for the village hall to direct voters to Baker Street to vote. The village newsletter will be mailed out next week. She passed her condolences to Supervisor Volpe and his family on the passing of his mother in law. Garbage pick up will remain the same.
MOTION TO APPROVE SUPERVISORS BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Carey 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the following:
Increase revenue line A2770 unclassified rev by $1,000.00
Increase expense line A1620.4 building contr by $1,000.00.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO APPROVE POLICE BUDGET MODIFICATION:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Jennings to approve the following:
Increase revenue A1520 Police fees by $168.55
Increase expense A3120.4 police contr by $168.55.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
MOTION TO SURPLUS & DESTROY DVD RECORDER:
MOTION offered Councilman Howell 2nd Councilman Furman to surplus & destroy a Prime DVD Recorder.
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
TOWN TREE LIGHTING:
Supervisor Volpe spoke to the board about scheduling a date for the tree lighting at the youth center. He’d also like to have refreshments and a Christmas movie. He would like to have Santa there. After discussion, the board agreed on December 4 at 6:45pm.
YOUTH CENTER VOLUNTEERS:
Supervisor Volpe explained that after the board meeting at the youth center, a police officer’s wife approached him about volunteering her time to monitor the gym section of the youth center. He asked if the board might be interested in putting this out there on social media that we’d be looking for volunteers to do this on a regular basis. He’s thinking there might be a lot of people in the town that would be willing to volunteer to do this. We would have to show them what would have to be done after use. But it really should be set hours each week. Chief Rickard added that whomever is doing it would have to be responsible with keeping track. And the cleaning protocols would have to be followed. Councilman Howell asked if the protocols for this are similar to when people come in to town hall and we take their temperature & information. Supervisor: it would be pretty much the same. We have to have contact tracing. As long as they scan in – they’re allowed to be there. But 1st – temperature. Then I need your name, address, phone number because we have to have the contact tracing. You’d have to have a minimum of 14 days log. We can advertise and see where it goes and see how many volunteers we get – to see how many hours we can cover. Or, we can wait until the protocols are less. The health department would have to do their pre-inspection. Councilman Carey will put fliers up at the senior center for this. Councilman Jennings thinks it is a lot of responsibility for volunteers. Councilman Carey suggested that the board members volunteer their time as well.
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He’s willing to put some time in. Councilman Jennings is worried that we’d have the set time and then the volunteer wouldn’t show up. Councilman Howell is concerned with the cleaning aspect. And, that’s a lot of responsibility for a volunteer. Councilman Furman would like to get the feedback and go from there. He feels both ways. He’s like to get it open but it is a lot of responsibility. Supervisor would like to see what happens in the next 2 weeks.
MOTION TO AUDIT THE CLAIMS:
MOTION offered Councilman Jennings 2nd Councilman Howell to approve the following bills (Abstract #43 & #44):
Abstract #43:
GENERAL A: #612-621 $ 7,740.39 AND
Abstract #44:
GENERAL A: #622-633 $ 10,324.81
GENERAL B: #97-99 $ 30,782.76
HIGHWAY: #168-171 $ 2,915.51
SEWER: #89 $ 1,086.27.
(Councilman Carey is abstaining from Abstract #44/voucher #625.)
All in favor: Howell, Volpe, Jennings, Carey, Furman; carried.
YOUTH CENTER DISCUSSION FOR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH:
Supervisor Volpe explained that the presbyterian church used the youth center (at a discounted rate ½ price) to hold their service this past Sunday. They have used the pavilion in the past but it is getting cold. He wanted to see what the board’s thoughts are for this. Councilman Carey doesn’t think it’s been as clean as it was when he checked it after their service. He saw scuff marks on the floor. He doesn’t have an issue giving it to them at a discounted rate. Councilman Furman feels the same way. Councilman Howell doesn’t have an issue with it. Councilman Jennings has no issue with this either.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: NONE
BOARD COMMENTS:
Councilman Howell – no comments
Councilman Furman – ZBA has meeting on Wednesday night at 7pm. Grogan’s will be opening on Thursday. He reminded everyone to get out to vote.
Councilman Carey – Get out to vote 6am -9pm. He thanked the workers. He thinks it will be very busy tomorrow.
Councilman Jennings – no comments
Supervisor Volpe confirmed that Matt will reach out if he needs help with organizing Veteran’s Day. Supervisor will reach out to see what people can do for the Santa line-up. He would like a flier to be made. He would like Santa to come in on a police car or fire truck.
MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING:
MOTION offered Councilman Furman 2nd Councilman Howell to adjourn the meeting at 8:15pm. All in favor: Howell, Carey, Volpe, Jennings, Furman; carried.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2019 at 7:30pm at Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen A. Myers, RMC
Town Clerk
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