Town of Esopus Town Board Meeting Minutes

TOWN OF ESOPUS TOWN BOARD MEETING

MARCH 17, 2011

A regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Esopus Town Board was held on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall 284 Broadway in Port Ewen, New York with the following persons in attendance:

Supervisor John Coutant

Councilperson Gloria VanVliet

Councilperson Wayne Freer

Councilperson Donna McAuley

Councilperson Kyle Barnett

Administrative Recorder: Diane L. McCord, Town Clerk

Public Comment: None

1. Commission on Reapportionment

The Commission on Reapportionment met with the Town Board recently at a Workshop Meeting

to speak about redistricting the legislative districts from 33 representatives to 23 based upon the 2010 Census. They asked the Town Board for their opinions. The Town Board agreed they did not want any portion of the Town of Esopus to be connected to the City of Kingston. They preferred the association to be with the Town of Rosendale or Town of Lloyd. Only 7100 to 7900 people will be allowed in any one district. Since Esopus has approximately 10,000 people some will have to be tied into another legislative district.

The Town of Rosendale Town Board has requested that the community of Rifton, in the Town of Esopus, be combined with their legislative district. Rosendale’s population is about 6,300 people. The Esopus Town Board requested Eddyville in the Town of Ulster be combined with Rosendale. Councilperson Wayne Freer made it clear at no time would the Town Board look toward giving up anyone. We want our legislative district to stay intact and if we have any people that must be shared they would go to Rosendale or Lloyd. The Commission made it clear our people would still vote in their same area but a portion would have a different legislator. The election districts of the town would remain the same. Everyone in this town will continue to vote for local candidates. We did not want Kingston to take some of our voters. Even though we gave our opinions, the Commission will rely on a computer program to do the redistricting and it will be done according to the Census Blocks.

The Commission holds their meetings on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 3 pm in the county library and they welcome people to attend those meetings. The Supervisor has offered our Town Hall for public hearings which would be needed prior to passage. This Commission has a big challenge ahead of them. They will not please everyone. The Supervisor gave them a lot of credit because they are going town to town to gather input. They must have the process complete by May. Councilperson Gloria VanVliet was disappointed by the recent Daily Freeman article because it made it seem like some of our people would vote in Rosendale and this is not true.

2. New York State Town Clerk’s Association Scholarship

Supervisor John Coutant informed the Town Board that Deputy Clerk Holly Netter has been awarded a $500 scholarship toward her attendance at the New York State Town Clerk’s Association Conference in Buffalo this May. A letter informing us of this award was sent by Sharon M. Knight the NYSTCA Scholarship Chairman along with the following proclamation:

Whereas, a Town is only as great as those persons who demonstrate exemplary service to their community, whether through participation in voluntary programs, through unique personal achievement in their professional or other endeavors or simply through a lifetime of good citizenry: and

Whereas, the Town Board of the Town of Esopus has recognized the importance of their Deputy Town Clerk’s participation in education; and

Whereas, the New York State Town Clerks’ Association is a professional, nonprofit association that promotes continuing education and certification through university and provides networking solutions, services and benefits to its members worldwide; and

Whereas, New York State Town Clerks’ Association will be hosting a conference on May 1-May 4, 2011; and

Whereas, Holly has recognized the Town of Esopus gracious support of funding educational expenses and has sought to help offset the expenses whenever possible; and

Whereas, it is with honor the New York State Town Clerks’ Association has recognized and paid tribute to a Deputy Town Clerk who has made strong contributions to her community and serves as a role model for her peers; and

Whereas, Holly was chosen by the New York State Town Clerks’ Association Scholarship Committee as a recipient of one of the scholarships given throughout New York State to attend the 2011 Town Clerks’ Conference; and

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Supervisor of the Town of Esopus and the New York State Town Clerks’ Association does hereby resolve to recognize

Holly Netter

For her outstanding and heartfelt commitment to the Town of Esopus and the great

State of New York.

Dated: March 11, 2011

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Signature

John Coutant

Supervisor, Town of Esopus

Sharon M. Knight, CMC/RMC

Chairman Scholarship Committee

New York State Town Clerks’ Association

3. New York State Town Clerks’ Conference Authorization

RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE TOWN CLERK AND DEPUTY CLERK

TO ATTEND THE NEW YORK STATE TOWN CLERKS’ ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

MAY 1-4, 2011

WHEREAS, the Town of Esopus Town Clerk has requested authorization to attend the 2011 NYSTC Conference in Buffalo with her Deputy Clerk Holly Netter, and

WHEREAS, this expense has been budgeted in the Town Clerk’s budget and

WHEREAS, Deputy Town Clerk Holly Netter will receive a $500 scholarship from the NYSTCA to attend their annual conference and

WHEREAS, the Town Board recognizes the knowledge and efforts shown by Deputy Clerk Holly Netter,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, County of Ulster, State of New York, gives their authorization to Town Clerk Diane McCord and Deputy Town Clerk Holly Netter to attend the 2011 Conference on May 1st-May 4^th in Buffalo, New York.

Resolution offered by Supervisor John Coutant and seconded by Councilperson Donna McAuley

Supervisor John Coutant Aye

Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye

Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye

Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye

Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye

Resolution duly adopted.

4. Central Hudson Lighting Program

The State of New York has gone to Central Hudson to take part of their profits and put a program in place where Central Hudson pays for seventy percent of any municipal buildings cost to provide energy savings on lighting to the town and thirty percent is paid for by the NYSERDA. There is no cost to the town to provide these energy saving lighting fixtures. Contracts have been signed to install energy saving lighting systems in our Highway building and Port Ewen Water Treatment Plant amounting to $4,146.48 and $8,706.67 concurrently.

5. Presentation Church

Supervisor Coutant explained Presentation Church has been very good to the Town of Esopus and for the last twenty five years they have leased their parking lot to us for $1 per year. The Church would now like to sell us the parking lot, however, the lot consists of the parking lot and a lot which extends to Bayard Street. Rev. Carl Johnson attended our Workshop Meeting and the Town Board suggested the Church subdivide the property which would give the town the parking area we need and the second lot could be sold separately bringing in more money to the Church. Rev. Johnson will bring in the survey map.

In 2002, former Supervisor Ray Rice, secured a grant of $50,000 for a gazebo to be constructed on the base of the old lighthouse on the Rondout Creek adjacent to Sleightsburgh Park. A risk management assessment was done and the town was advised by our insurance carrier that they would not cover this venture. The grant was never spent. Assemblyman Kevin Cahill was responsible for obtaining the grant originally and he will now try to have the grant given to the town to obtain the parking lot at Ross Park.

6. Andrew Wright – Ulster County Ready to Go Site Selection

Mr. Wright is a developer and he had approached the town several years ago to place a Dunkin Donuts Shop on his property next to the diner. He was not happy with the Planning Board because they would not approve the project without considerable work being done for the storm water drainage. He then took his business to Kingston. Recently we received emails from Mr. Wright relating to a program sponsored by the county and he asked if the town would reduce their fees for him to develop his property in the town? The Town Board would like the property to be developed and they would consider the reduction. The Supervisor would like to know what the plans are for the 40 acre site Mr. Wright now has (former Williams Property on Clay Road)? Councilperson Gloria VanVliet did not believe the Supervisor’s email was supportive of the proposed project and she sent her own email encouraging the developer as did Councilperson Freer. The application for the Ulster County Ready to Go Site must be in by March 31^st.

7. Budget Adjustments

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

FEBRUARY 2011

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, County of Ulster as follows:

WHEREAS, the Town of Esopus has been presented with budget adjustments and the adjustments have been examined and approved by the Town Board,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following budget adjustments be approved for payments:

AO 1220.4 Supervisor Contractual AO 2701.000 Prior Year

$5622.50 $5622.50

Resolution offered by Councilperson Wayne Freer

Resolution seconded by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet

Supervisor John Coutant Aye

Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye

Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye

Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye

Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye

Resolution duly adopted.

The Supervisor explained money is being taken out of the funds in order to buy a gazebo out of the Main Street Grant and these funds are to be reimbursed when the grant comes in.

8. Payment of Vouchers

March 2011

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE Town Board of the Town of Esopus, County of Ulster as follows:

WHEREAS, the Town of Esopus has been presented with vouchers for payment and these vouchers have been examined and approved by the Town Board,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following vouchers be approved for payment:

General Fund 111101-111164 $40,164.71

Highway Fund 112030-112058 $35,253.23

Capital Fund 115008-115010 $11,311.79

Street Lighting 116003 $ 6,215.12

Port Ewen Sewer 113027-113041 $ 7,160.51

Port Ewen Sewer 114034-114067 $34,350.85

Total ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..$134,456.21

Resolution offered by Councilperson Wayne Freer

Resolution seconded by Supervisor John Coutant

Supervisor John Coutant Aye

Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye

Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye

Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye

Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye

Resolution duly adopted.

9. Reports of Boards and Committees

The following reports of Officials, Boards and Committees are available for inspection in the Town Clerk’s Office:

Assessors Report dated March 3, 2011

Building Department Report dated February 2011

Environmental Board Minutes dated February 16, 2011

Planning Board Minutes dated February 24, 2011

Town Clerk’s Monthly Report dated February 2011

Waterfront Advisory Board Minutes dated February 20, 2011

A Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilperson Wayne Freer at 8:12 PM and seconded by Councilperson Kyle Barnett. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane L. McCord, Town Clerk, CMC, RMC