TOWN BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Esopus Town Board was held on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Town Hall 284 Broadway 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
Recording Administrator: Diane L. McCord
Town Clerk
Supervisor Coutant called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
Pledge to the Flag
Public Comment: None
1. Town of Esopus adv. American Residential – Authorize Hiring of Michael Bernholtz.
The Connelly Mobile Home Park, a.k.a. American Residential has filed a tax certiorari proceeding against the Town. As part of this proceeding the Town must have an appraisal report. The current assessment is $4,710,800 and they claim a value of $1,000,000. Our Attorney Paul Kellar has recommended we hire Michael Bernholtz to do the appraisal and he suggests this will be an expensive undertaking due to site inspections of the 100 units which is time consuming. This appraisal must be completed by January 14, 2011.
Councilperson Kyle Barnett believes it is necessary to have a proposal for the cost which could be between $5,000 and 25,000. Councilperson VanVliet agreed. Councilperson Freer suggested having the proposal by the October 21st Town Board Meeting. The Town Board was in agreement.
2. Resolution – Planning Board Appointment
Supervisor Coutant presented a resume from Margaret Yost, a resident interested in serving on the Planning Board. She has the Planning Board backing.
Councilperson Wayne Freer objected to the passage of the resolution since the Town Board had not interviewed the prospective member and he further asked if we did any type of advertising for the position or was it word of mouth? We should seriously take a look at the Planning Board and consider reducing the number from seven to five through attrition and suggested the matter be tabled. The Supervisor stated that is not the issue at this point and suggested a motion to enter into Executive Session to interview the candidate. There was no second to the motion. Councilperson VanVliet said we have not discussed this at all and we always interview the candidate and we are being asked to make a decision in just a few minutes. The Supervisor said you have had this information in your files.
Councilperson McAuley suggested the Town Board do the interview with Margaret Yost. The Supervisor said he agreed wanting to go into Executive Session. A point of order was called by Councilperson Wayne Freer.
A Motion to table the appointment was made by Councilperson Wayne Freer and seconded by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet. Councilperson VanVliet stated we always interview before we appoint and this appointment has not been discussed at a meeting. The Board was polled.
Supervisor John Coutant No
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Motion Carried the matter was tabled.
3. Resolution – Peddlers’ Permit
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, in the County of Ulster State of New York the following:
WHEREAS, Karen A. Schmitz has applied for renewal of her Peddling and Soliciting License,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Esopus Town Board authorizes the renewal of this license for a one year period (September 2010 – September 2011).
Resolution offered by Councilperson Kyle Barnett
Resolution 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. Water Chestnut Activities
The Water Chestnut Harvester has been removed from George Freer Memorial Park and placed at the Highway Garage. The Alternative Sentencing people will wash and store the machine. The harvester has done a wonderful job and the Supervisor wrote a letter to Jason Swinger thanking him for a job well done.
Three additional people have stepped forward to volunteered for running the harvester for next year.
There is no place at the Highway Dept. big enough to store the vessel. A tarp would cost over $220. The Supervisor priced plastic to cover the machine by shrink wrapping. He already has a shrink wrapping gun and the cost would be approximately $165. Councilperson Freer asked if the vessel would be stored behind the highway fence? Yes. The Supervisor will move forward with the suggestion.
5. Budget Adjustments
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
SEPTEMBER 2010
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 vouchers be approved for payment:
AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO1220.4 Supervisor Contractual $1,199.00
AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO7143.400 Water Chestnut $ 571.33
Resolution offered by Supervisor John Coutant
Resolution seconded by Councilperson Kyle Barnett
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
6. Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills – September 2010
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF BILLS
September 2010
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 101397-101438 $ 35,794.41
Highway Fund 102188-102203 $ 152,643.71
Capital Fund 105024-105026 $ 8,194.04
Street Lighting 106010 $ 6,061.91
Port Ewen Sewer Fund 103122-103137 $ 78,991.68
Port Ewen Water Fund 104204-104230 $ 19,418.04
Total………………………………………………………………………………………………………$301,103.79
Resolution offered by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet
Resolution seconded Councilperson Wayne Freer
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Councilperson Wayne Freer Aye
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
7. Approval of Minutes
A Motion was made by Councilperson Donna McAuley and seconded by Councilperson Wayne Freer to approve the previous months minutes. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.
8. Communications and Reports of Officials and Boards
The September Communications are available for review in the Town Clerks Office along with the following reports:
Town Clerk Report for August 2010
Assessors Report dated Sept. 9, 2010
Building Inspectors Report dated August 2010
Planning Board Minutes dated August 26, 2010
Environmental Minutes dated July 28, 2010
Waterfront Advisory Board Minutes dated July 27, 2010
Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes dated July 20, 2010
9. Miscellaneous Items
Councilperson Wayne Freer was concerned about the spending of our part time boards and departments before the end of the year and worried about the balancing of the budget for many of our lines are coming in close. He wanted to place a cap on spending between now and the end of the year. Supervisor Coutant asked for clarification. Do you want a cap on spending….anything over $100 the boards and department heads have to contact their liaison for approval? There was discussion about the $100 limit and about this being necessary for the purchase of any one item. It was decided the Highway Dept. and Water/Sewer Dept. bills over a certain amount would not be feasible. There was further discussion about raising the limit to $250.
Councilperson Kyle Barnett said we need to revisit charges for the Community Room. He understands there have been some complaints from people who want to reserve the Community Room regarding the costs. Non-for-profits are being hurt and he would like this topic to be placed on the next agenda. Councilperson Barnett believes whatever money we are generating…..we are losing community support.
10. Executive Session
A Motion to enter into Executive Session at 8:12 PM was made by Supervisor John Coutant and seconded by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet to interview Margaret Yost as a candidate for the Planning Board. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.
A Motion to adjourn from Executive Session was made by Councilperson Kyle Barnett and seconded by Councilperson Donna McAuley. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.
A Motion to adjourn was made by Supervisor John Coutant and seconded by Councilperson Wayne Freer at 8:43 PM. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane L. McCord, Town Clerk