TOWN OF ESOPUS TOWN BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
A regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Esopus Town Board was held on Thursday, Sept. 16, 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
Absent: Councilperson Wayne Freer
Councilperson Donna McAuley
Councilperson Kyle Barnett
Recording Administrator: Diane L. McCord, Town Clerk, CMC, RMC
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
Supervisor John Coutant called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
New York Section 3 Champions and New York District 16 Champions
Supervisor Coutant and the Town Board welcomed the 9-10 Year Old Girls New York Section 3 Champions who were also the 9-10 Year Old Girls New York District 16 Champions as well as their parents and coaches. The girls included:
Shannon Bonewit Sydney Bonewit Jessica Chilcott Kaitlyn Schrowang
Taylor Wells Emily Wagner Brook Gastin Noelle Sahloff
Alison Klein Patricia Kuster
A plaque was presented honoring the girls and will later be placed in the trophy case in the Town Hall. The Little League also presented each girl with a trophy. This was a most joyous occasion.
Coach Joe Schrowang said the girls had competed against teams with leagues that consisted of 200-300 kids. “We were small fish in a large pond. There has been nothing better than to work with these girls.”
PUBLIC COMMENT: Elissa Weil, a Connelly resident, complained about there being no center line on Connelly Road or Millbrook Road and she was almost involved in an automobile accident with a young man who crossed the center of the road. She suggested lines be painted. Highway Supt. Al Larkin responded stating only state and county roads had center lines painted. Town roads were not always
wide enough to have a center line and no town road was marked with a line. The cost and upkeep of providing center lines would be enormous and has never been done in Esopus.
Councilperson Kyle Barnett entered at 7:40 PM.
1. Presentation by Kevin Quilty U.C.D.C. Business Services Promotion Consultant
Kevin Quilty gave a presentation to the Town Board regarding Ulster County Development Corporation Business Support Services. The UCDC has been instrumental in the development of Ulster County. The new bank on Broadway in Port Ewen was only one of the projects. How can UCDC help our county to prosper? Kevin explained under the old system there were many layers of government and those layers have been extremely cut back to provide less red tape. There is a lot of information on the website www.ulsterbixhelp.com.
Our program is good for Ulster County residents who want to start up a business or maintain their present business. The county provides gap financing. If towns are doing any bonding they should call to see if we can give them a better rate. Business planning is necessary and they can help with free confidential services. This will save many jobs within the county.
The county has a number of sites that are available. The towns should update their listing. Market research assistance is available as well as statistical information. There are seven people available o keep tract of statistics.
Many trips abroad are offered in hopes of selling Ulster County products overseas. We provide free job training or training at a reduced rate. If there is any problem solving you need or technical support Ulster County Development will be here for you.
2. Storm Damage and Future Plan/Red Cross Status
The Supervisor explained Ulster County and the Town of Esopus experienced the worst storm we have had in centuries. If you look back we have never had a challenge like this before. We have eleven people working in our Highway Dept., four Town Board Members, two Recreation people and four Water Dept. ……we did not have enough to get the job done. The man-power that helped us was all the volunteer fire departments who aided our residents. The fire departments had equipment in excess of what the town has and they responded quickly and effectively. We are proud of all of our fire departments and the Town Board commends them for what they did.
Some of the things I have seen with this storm I have never seen before. Black Creek flooded, roads were covered at the Port Ewen School, Rousner Lane and Swartekill Roads were washed out. We did not have enough barricades to block off all the roads. It was amazing to look at the people on the Rondout Creek Bridge looking at the flooding in Kingston and taking pictures. Joggers were running in the storm when trees were falling. We were in a State of Emergency. After Rousner Lane and Swartekill road were repaired, it washed out again.
FEMA has been through the town and they are assessing the damage so the town and the home owners can get some financial relief. In the middle of this storm we looked at one another and asked could we do more? The answer is yes but when you look at the overall picture the town handled the storm well. Everything along the shore line, the boats the buoys went floating down the river. At another time we could do more pre-planning had there been better communications. We had no electricity at the Town Garage and no telephone. There are a few things we have learned and will fix in the future.
Councilperson Kyle Barnett commented that everyone did a great job and there are things we learned for the future. All in all he saw a lot of neighbors helping neighbors. It shows the kind of people we have in this town and we saw a lot of that. He appreciates everyone who pitched in.
Red Cross
In 2009 the Town of Esopus made an agreement with the Red Cross to use the Town Hall as an emergency center. We signed the agreement, sent it to the Red Cross, however, we never received a signed copy back from the Red Cross. Now the Red Cross has combined Ulster County with Dutchess County and they are based out of Poughkeepsie. It was the Supervisor’s opinion that our Town Hall should be made ready in case there is another emergency so we do not have to turn people away. The Army Corp of Engineers has emergency food supplies with a shelf life of thirty years.
Michael Cafaldo Comment:
The Esopus Fire house had twenty-five emergency crews from Buffalo running out of our fire house.
Marist Brothers provided beds for the men. There was a great deal of food at the fire house.
Supervisor Coutant said he declared a State of Emergency, however, the town was unable to provide services. There were many trees down during this emergency including the Sleightsburgh Spit where the gas line crossing under the Rondout Creek could not be accessed. The biggest problem during this storm was the lack of communication.
3. Solar Program
The Town Board is looking into another solar program. We have been asked for an analysis of how our present solar program is doing monetarily? The analysis cannot be done to compare year to year because this building only existed six months before our solar energy took effect. We have spent the same amount of money each year over the last three years. The cost for electricity in the old Town Hall was more than we are paying now. The square footage was 1,800 sq. ft. compared to 17,000 sq. ft. That is a good indication we are doing the right thing. We will have more information available later.
4. Special Burn Permit
As a result of the hurricane there is so much debris being taken to our Transfer Station that we have had to turn people away. The only thing we can do is to burn. We had a meeting with DEC about our burning and they suggested placing the debris off site such as our Highway Dept. Of course, there was no room there. They decided we could get a Special Burn Permit for thirty days in order to deal with our situation. We are now the only place in New York State that has a Special Burn Permit.
5. Propane Bid – Water Department
On September 12, 2011 a Bid Opening was held at 11 AM in the Town Clerk’s Office for propane for the Port Ewen Water Treatment Facility. Four bids were received:
Britt & Graff $1.20 per gallon
KOSCO $1.9733 per gallon
Heritage Energy $2.099 per gallon
Bottini $2.019 per gallon
The low bidder was KOSCO, however, this years’ prices compared to last year are up from $1.47 per gallon to $1.97 per gallon.
RESOLUTION PROPANE BIDS
WHEREAS, The Port Ewen Water/Sewer District advertised and received bids for Propane to be supplied for a period of (1) one year, beginning October 1, 2011 and ending September 30, 2012.
WHEREAS, bids were received and opened at the office of the Town of Esopus Town Clerk on September 12, 2011.
WHEREAS, the lowest bidder for Propane was KOSCO, P O Box 1269, Saugerties, New York 12477 at a price of $1.9733 per gallon.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Esopus Town Board award the bid to KOSCO.
Resolution offered by Councilperson Donna McAuley and seconded by Councilman Kyle Barnett.
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Absent: Councilperson Wayne Freer
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
6. Resolution to Apply For Justice Court Assistance Program Grant
Supervisor Coutant said all the people who work here are always looking to benefit the town. There is a $4,000 grant available through the Justice Court Assistance Program.
RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR
JUSTICE COURT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, in the County of Ulster, State of New York the following:
The Town Board of the Town of Esopus authorizes the Town Supervisor to sign the Justice Court Assistance Program Grant Application 2011-2012 with the following stipulation:
The following signature provides certification that: (1) any funds (and any goods or services) awarded pursuant to this application shall be used only in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 280 of the Laws of 1999 and with all rules and regulations governing the Justice Court Assistance Program; (2) any goods and/or services purchased with any Justice Court Assistance Program funds shall be obtained in accordance with acceptable procurement practices established by the governing municipality including, but not limited to, competitive bidding and procurement policies and procedures; (3) no funds awarded pursuant to this application shall be used to compensate justice or non-judicial staff or to reduce or otherwise supplant funding provided by a town or village to its justice court.
Resolution offered by Councilperson Kyle Barnett
Resolution seconded by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Absent: Councilperson Wayne Freer
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
7. Fall Festival & 200 Year Anniversary Celebration
Supervisor Coutant said he would be on WGHQ and WKNY Radio Stations with the Tax Collector and Town Clerk to discuss the Esopus Fall Festival and the Town Bicentennial. The Supervisor gave credit to the people in the Town Hall who have pulled this festival and bicentennial together along with Medrex, the Frozen Rainbow and Banner of Love Church where the Car Show is always a success.
8. Budget Adjustments
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
September 15, 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, the following budget adjustments be approved for payment:
Budget Adjustments
AO.0599.000 – Fund Balance AO.1460.400 Records Management $ 6.13
Resolution offered by Resolution seconded by Supervisor John Coutant and seconded by Councilperson Donna McAuley.
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Absent: Councilperson Wayne Freer
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
9. Payment of Vouchers
PAYMENT OF VOUCHERS
September 15, 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 111446-111494 $ 36,218.48
Highway Fund 112190-112211 $ 29,853.54
Capital Fund
Street Lighting 116009 $ 6,192.92
Port Ewen Sewer 113129-113144 $ 9,247.71
Port Ewen Water 114209-114229 $ 16,376.04
TOTAL……………………………………………………………….$ 97,888.69
Resolution offered by Councilperson Donna McAuley
Resolution seconded by Councilperson Kyle Barnett
Supervisor John Coutant Aye
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet Aye
Absent: Councilperson Wayne Freer
Councilperson Donna McAuley Aye
Councilperson Kyle Barnett Aye
Resolution duly adopted.
10. Kingston Public Access
Brian Barnes, our KPA representative, said there are several rumors about Channel 23 which are untrue. In November of 2010 the Town Board had a meeting and wanted a government channel. We are trying to have Time Warner do this and also have the Channel 23 calendar. We will not have programs that are taped.
Supervisor Coutant said he had been in communication with Time Warner representative Brenda Parks.
She has agreed to place the calendar wheel back on Channel 23 and she has agreed to give us a government channel for our meetings. She will provide any equipment we need. Time Warner has a line coming into our building. They only need to connect the service to our upstairs room.
11. Approval of Minutes
Councilperson Gloria VanVliet made a motion to approve the minutes of the August Meetings and Councilperson Kyle Barnett seconded the Motion. All Town Board Members present voted in favor. Motion Carried.
12. Communications and Reports of Committees
The communications for September are available for review in the Town Clerks’ Office. The following reports of officials, boards and committees are available for review:
Town Clerks’ Report for August 2011
Supervisors’ Report for September 2011
Port Ewen Water/Sewer Board agenda September 13, 2011
Environmental Board Minutes dated August 17, 2011
Assessors’ Report dated September 9, 2011
Building Department monthly report for August 2011
Planning Board Minute dated July 28, 2011
Planning Board Minutes dated August 25, 2011
A Motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Donna McAuley and seconded by Councilperson Kyle Barnett at 8:45 PM. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane L. McCord
Town Clerk, CMC, RMC