Town of Esopus Town Board Meeting Minutes

TOWN BOARD MEETING

NOVEMBER 18, 2010

A regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Esopus Town Board was held on Thursday, November 18^th 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

Administrative Recorder: Diane L. McCord, Town Clerk

Public Hearing on Local Law No. 1 2010 – A Local Law to protect the health, safety and well being of persons and property by imposing restrictions on the keeping, licensing and identification of dogs within the Town of Esopus.

Supervisor Coutant explained the State of New York is no longer taking care of licensing dogs. The labor, postage, man-power, collections and enforcement is now in the hands of the Towns. However, the state still wants a portion of the profits. We have analyzed the situation very carefully to see how this could be accomplished. We interviewed another person to do dogs because there is not enough time in the day to deal with more dogs. The State saved $875,000 by stopping the licensing. They paid a computer company in California to do the computer work. Our dog numbers keep going down. Recently, we had Councilperson Kyle Barnett go door to door to campaign and he believes the 876 dogs we have registered are all within a four block area in Port Ewen. We may have to do a dog enumeration.

The purpose of recording the dogs is to make sure each dog has a rabies shot. It is definitely a health issue.

There were no public comments.

A Motion to close the Public Hearing was made by Councilperson Wayne Freer at 7:25 PM and seconded by Councilperson Donna McAuley. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.

Pledge to the Flag

1. 2010 Esopus Little League District 13 Champions – Section 3

Councilperson Wayne Freer presented a plaque to the team members stating:

2010 Esopus Little League 9-10 Year Old Softball Allstars

New York District 16 Champions, Section 3 Champions

Shannon Bonewit – Sidney Bonewit – Sophia Reinhardt

Jill Chilcott, Kaitlynn Schrowang – Allison Breithaupt,

Alyssa Villielm, Brooke Gastin, Sydney Jankowski,

Shawna Smith, Alison Klein, Mariah Johnston, Natalie Terrone

The plaque will be hung in the Town of Esopus trophy case.

1a. Resolution to Adopt Local Law No. 1

Be it Resolved, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, County of Ulster, State of New York as follows:

Whereas, the Town of Esopus Town Board has been presented with a Local Law to Amend Chapter 68,

Article II and Article III of the Town Code of the Town of Esopus and

Whereas, the purpose of this Local Law is to protect the health, safety and well being of persons and property by imposing restrictions on keeping, licensing and identification of dogs within the town,

Therefore, Be it Resolved, the Town of Esopus Town Board approve the adoption of Local Law No. 1, 2010.

Resolution offered by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet

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.

2. Resolution – Appointment of Carol Tomasetti – Waterfront Advisory Board

Be it Resolved, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, in the County of Ulster, State of New York, as follows,

Whereas, the Town of Esopus Waterfront Advisory Board has a vacancy to be filled and the Town of Esopus Town Board recommends the appointment of Carol Tomassetti,

Therefore, Be it Resolved, the Town of Esopus Town Board appoints Carol Tomassetti to this vacancy which will expire on December 31, 2010.

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.

3. Resolution – Old Mill Road Turnaround

Be it Resolved, by the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, in the County of Ulster, State of New York, the following:

Whereas, the Old Mill Road turnaround has been inspected and approved by Alan Lark, Highway Superintendent,

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Town Board of the Town of Esopus, County of Ulster, State of New York accepts the conveyance of the Old Mill Road turnaround at the end of Old Mill Road.

Resolution offered by Supervisor John Coutant

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.

Supervisor Coutant thanked Mr. Filopowitz for his generosity

4. Resolution Water/Sewer Rate Increases

Whereas, the law requires the cost of the operation and maintenance of the Port Ewen Sewer District to be paid by revenue derived from the sale of the service,

Whereas, this Town Board has adopted a Sewer District budget, for year 2011, based on a rate of a minimum charge of $13.84 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and a rate of $3.46 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter.

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Town Board increase the rate charged for sewer service from a minimum of $13.44 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and $3.36 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter, to a minimum of $13.84 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and the rate of $3.46 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter, with the new rate to be effective upon adoption of this resolution.

Resolution offered for adoption by Councilperson Gloria VanVliet 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.

Whereas, the law requires the cost of the operation and maintenance of the Port Ewen Water District to be paid by revenue derived from the sale of the service,

Whereas, this Town Board has adopted a Water District budget, for year 2011, based on a rate of a minimum charge of $16.56 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and a rate of $4.14 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter,

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Town Board increase the rate charged for water service from a minimum of $16.16 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and $4.04 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter, to a minimum of $16.56 for the first 0 to 4,000 gallons and the rate of $4.14 per 1,000 gallons thereafter, based on the water meter, with the new rate to be effective upon adoption of this resolution.

Resolution offered by Councilperson Wayne Freer and 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.

Supervisor Coutant commented that the water and sewer situation runs into the cost of electricity and chemicals increasing and it is difficult not to increase the rates. Our Town Hall building has the solar energy and we have saved 62% over last years’ bills. Our town compared to other towns, ….we are setting the lead. It is really happening in Esopus where the rest of the world is talking about it….we are doing it. We are now looking into solar energy for our water plant.

5. Update on Water Chestnut Machine

The Water Chestnut Machine has been taken out of the river and taken down to the Highway Dept. where it has been covered in plastic for the winter. The cost to do this should have been $750 but the final cost was only $250.

6. Holiday Parade – Dec. 11, 2010 @ 5:30 PM

We will hold our fourth annual Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 11^th at 5:30 PM. Children will be dropped off at 5 PM. Fire trucks will line up at BOCES and floats at the Town Hall.

7. Budget Adjustments

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

November 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 budget adjustments be approved for payment:

AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO 1110.400 Justice Contractual $ 342.76

AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO1220.400 Supervisor Contractual $ 1,900.00

AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO 3510.100 Dogs Personnel $ 645.50

AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO5182.400 Street Lighting Contractual $ 1,715.02

AO 0599.000 Fund Balance AO8011.400 ZBA Contractual $ 71.69

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.

8. Payment of Vouchers

Resolution Authorizing Payment of Bills November 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 101503- 101563 $ 45,278.58

Void – No. 101534

Highway Fund 102229-102249 $ 12,899.79

Capital Fund 105034-105036 $ 485,600.62

Street Lighting 106012 $ 5,942.87

Port Ewen Sewer Fund 103153-103172 $ 12,557.04

Port Ewen Water Fund 104257-104287 $ 26,844.63

Total………………………………………………………………………………………………………$ 589,123.53

Resolution offered by Supervisor John Coutant

Resolution seconded by 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.

Supervisor Coutant explained the work being done on the water plant is going along much quicker than

anticipated, therefore, we are paying 80% of the bills we received until the bonding money comes in December. We will be finished four months early. The expenses should be reimbursed by FEMO and SEMO.

9. Approval of Minutes

A Motion to approve the previous months minutes was made by Councilperson Donna McAuley and

seconded by Supervisor John Coutant. All Town Board Members voted in favor. Motion Carried.

10. Approval of Correspondence and Reports of Committees and Officials

The following correspondence and reports of committees and officials have been received and are on file in the Town Clerks’ Office:

Town Clerk’s Report for October 2010

Assessors Report dated November 17, 2010

Building Dept. Report dated October 2010

Port Ewen Water and Sewer Meeting dated Nov. 9, 2010

Planning Board Minutes dated September 23, 2010.

11. Motion to Adjourn

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

Respectfully submitted,

Diane L. McCord

Town Clerk, CMC, RMC